Kellar, Magician, Dies in California -- March 10, 2022

Wilmington Evening Journal, 11-March-1922

Master magician Harry Kellar died 100 years ago today, on 10-March-1922.

KELLAR, MAGICIAN,

DIES IN CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES, March 11 -- Harry Kellar, world-famous magician, died at his home here yesterday after two years' ill health and a severe illness of several weeks. He was 73 years old.

Kellar was born in Erie, Pa., July 11, 1849, and in boyhood was apprenticed to a chemist of his native town. Later he sold papers in New York. An English clergyman named Harcourt adopted him, and took him to Canandaigua, N. Y., where the boy began studying for the ministry.

His first professional engagement was as the assistant to the "Fakir of Ava." an Illusionist.

Kellar was master of a dozen languages and had arithmetic and algebra at instant command. He invented several mysterious illusions which defied investigation, retired from the stage May 17, 1908, his last performance being in Ford's Opera House. In Baltimore. Md.

I would love to see his Self Decapitation. 

From the Facebook Group Vintage Advertising and Poster Art. 

Salt Lake Herald, 29-November-1898

Kellar performed the Self Decapitation along with the Hindoo Clock and "Kellar's masterpiece, The Blue Room," at the Salt Lake Theater on 29-November-1898.  He was accompanied by Mrs Kellar. 

Kellar -- Self Decaptation -- September 13, 2015

Harry Kellar was one of the great American magicians of the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth centuries.  I would love to see his Self Decapitation. 

From the Facebook Group Vintage Advertising and Poster Art. 

Salt Lake Herald, 29-November-1898

Kellar performed the Self Decapitation along with the Hindoo Clock and "Kellar's masterpiece, The Blue Room," at the Salt Lake Theater on 29-November-1898.  He was accompanied by Mrs Kellar. 

Kellar! The Great Magician -- March 6, 2014

Harry Kellar was one of the great American magicians of the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth centuries. Here he is featured at the Columbia Theatre in San Francisco. The ad is from the 07-November-1898 San Francisco Call.  Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version. 

Get Rid of Your Wife Instantly -- June 4, 2013

Harry Kellar was one of the great American magicians of the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth centuries. Here he is featured at the Columbia Theatre in San Francisco. The ad is from the 07-November-1898 San Francisco Call.  Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version. 

An article on the same page said:

The Columbia.

Kellar, the magician, appears at the Columbia this week. The following is said to be a simple statement of what he did at Daly's Theater in New York every night during his four months' run there last season:
The stage is open and clear from all obstructions. There is one chair in the middle of the stage and directly above it depends a big electric arc light. Aside from these, there isn't a scrap of furniture or ornamentation of any kind. The stage is brilliantly lighted all the time, yet, in the full glare of the big light.  Mr. Kellar takes his seat in the chair, makes a few passes and commands his body to dissolve into thin air. It gradually and slowly fades until the back of the chair is seen through his form. Finally it disappears altogether, much as a cloud of mist would be dissipated by the morning sun. He doesn't walk off the stage at all; he simply sits still and slowly vanishes. Then he sits in the same chair and turns himself Into Mrs. Kellar, who steps to the footlights and speaks to the audience.

Thurston, Kellar's Successor -- January 4, 2013

Magician Howard Thurston established himself as a successful vaudeville performer, then joined with Harry Kellar on his farewell tour.  When Kellar retired in 1908, Thurston carried on as his successor.  Thurston carried on performing until he suffered a stroke in 1935. 

The ad is from the 28-April-1910 Washington Times.

Conjurer, Illusionist and Pianist -- January 3, 2011

Robert Heller was a British-born American magician who had a successful career performing magic and playing the piano.  He retired from magic in 1875 but continued working as a musician until he died in 1878.  Heinrich Keller changed his name to Harry Kellar to reduce the chance of confusion with Heller.

This program, from Heller's 23-May-1867 appearance in Salt Lake City, was reproduced in The Old and the New Magic by Henry Ridgely Evans, 1906.

Magic #1 -- January 4, 2011

Harry Kellar was one of the great American magicians of the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth centuries. Here he is featured at the Columbia Theatre in Washington, DC. The ad is from the 10-March-1902 Washington Times.