David Devant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Devant
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| Born | 22 February 1868 |
| Died | 13 October 1941 (aged 73) |
| Occupation | Magician |
David Devant (born David Wighton on 22 February 1868 – died 13 October 1941) was a famous English magician. He was also known for his shadow shows and for showing early films. Many magicians consider him one of the best at performing magic with style and humor. Some even say he was the greatest magician of the 20th Century!
A Magician's Life
David Devant was part of the well-known Maskelyne & Cooke magic company. He often performed at the Egyptian Hall in London.
In 1905, Devant became partners with John Nevil Maskelyne, another famous magician. Devant was admired for inventing new tricks and performing them so well. He was even asked to perform for royalty at special events called Royal Command Performances.
Devant was funny and charming. He was a master of both big stage illusions and smaller, close-up magic tricks. His witty jokes were a new style, different from the serious magicians before him. You can still read some of his funny lines in his book, Our Magic, which he wrote with Nevil Maskelyne. It's said that Queen Alexandra laughed out loud during his "A Boy, Girl and Eggs" trick! In this trick, Devant pulled many eggs from an empty hat, confusing an audience helper.
Two of Devant's most famous tricks were the "Magic Kettle" and "Mascot Moth". The "Magic Kettle" could pour out any drink the audience asked for. The "Mascot Moth" made a winged assistant disappear in an instant!
Devant was a top star in music halls, which were like variety shows. In 1893, he started sharing the stage with John Neville Maskelyne. In 1904, they moved to St. George's Hall, London. Their partnership became very successful and lasted for ten years.
Their "House of Magic" theatre became famous worldwide. It was a place where the best magicians of the time performed. Devant himself called it "the true home of the conjurer's art."
Many British magicians agree that Devant was the best performer of his time. He was so well-known that he was chosen to represent magic at a special performance for King George V in 1912.
Devant was also a pioneer in early movies. On March 19, 1896, he showed the first films ever seen in the UK. He used a special film projector called the Theatrograph. He also worked with Georges Méliès, a famous filmmaker known for special effects. Devant sold Méliès' films and cameras in Great Britain. Devant even appeared in a few films himself! Méliès also used one of Devant's stage acts, where a painting of a woman came to life, to create his 1903 film, The Spiritualist Photographer.
Devant's health began to decline, and he had to retire in 1920 due to an illness.
Some people believed Devant had real psychic powers, but he was just a very clever magician. For example, he performed a trick where he seemed to read a message sealed inside an envelope. Later, in his 1936 book Secrets of My Magic, Devant explained how he did this trick.
Devant's Lasting Impact
David Devant is remembered for making magic shows truly entertaining. He was the first President of both The British Magical Society and The Magic Circle. The Magic Circle even named a room in their London headquarters after him!
Devant's advice to young magicians is often quoted. When a magician boasted about knowing hundreds of tricks, Devant calmly replied that he knew only a few dozen, but he performed them very well. One of his famous sayings was that his magic was done "All by kindness."
Devant wrote several books about magic, including Our Magic with Nevil Maskelyne. He inspired many other famous magicians. For example, Nate Leipzig said Devant was "one of the finest entertainers in magic I ever hope to see." He also mentored the Scottish-American magician Max Holden.
Devant lived in Hampstead, London. In 2005, a blue plaque was placed on his former home to remember him.
The indie band David Devant & His Spirit Wife is named after him.
David Devant passed away on October 13, 1941, and is buried in Highgate Cemetery.
Selected Films
- D. Devant, Conjurer, 1897 by Georges Méliès
- The Great London Mystery (1920)
