Howard Thurston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Howard Thurston
|
|
|---|---|
1914 promotional poster
|
|
| Born | July 20, 1869 Columbus, Ohio, United States
|
| Died | April 13, 1936 (aged 66) Miami, Florida, United States
|
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Magician |
Howard Thurston (born July 20, 1869 – died April 13, 1936) was a famous magician. He was from Columbus, Ohio, in the United States. Howard had a tough childhood. He even ran away to join the circus! Later, he met Harry Kellar, who would become his magic partner. Thurston saw a show by a magician named Alexander Herrmann. He was so amazed that he decided to become a great magician himself. Howard Thurston became one of the most well-known magicians of his time. His magic show was huge. It needed eight train cars to move all his equipment!
His Early Life
Howard Thurston was born on July 20, 1869. His parents were William and Margaret Thurston. His father, William Henry Thurston, made wheels and carriages. He also served briefly in the Civil War. Howard went to Mount Hermon School for Boys. This school was in Northfield, Massachusetts. Famous people like Lee de Forest, who helped create American radio, were also students there.
The King of Cards
Thurston was very famous for his amazing card tricks. There's a story about a Mexican magician. This magician visited a magic shop in New York City. He showed how he could make cards disappear one by one. The shop owner, Otto Maurer, then showed this trick to Thurston.
Thurston used this trick in his own shows. He also added a trick called "Rising Cards." He learned this from a book called Modern Magic. For this trick, he would ask people in the audience to pick cards. He would shuffle the deck and put it in a clear glass. Then, he would call out the chosen cards. One by one, the cards would magically rise to the top!
Thurston showed his skills to Leon Herrmann, a famous magician's nephew. Leon was completely fooled by Thurston's act. After this, Thurston called himself "The man that fooled Herrmann." He used this to get shows in big theaters in the U.S. and Europe. He became known as the King of Cards.
Floating Illusions
Thurston was also well known for a trick where a lady seemed to float in the air. This illusion was called "Levitation of Princess Karnac". Another magician, John Nevil Maskelyne, first performed it. But it was made most famous by Harry Kellar.
A magic expert named Jim Steinmeyer said Thurston made this trick a masterpiece. He said it was perfect for Thurston's smooth voice. By 1908, many famous magicians wanted to do this floating trick. Magicians like Charles Joseph Carter and Chung Ling Soo also performed it.
Later Years
Thurston kept performing the Thurston–Kellar Show. He did this even after Kellar retired. He continued his shows for about 35 years. On March 30, 1936, he had a stroke. He passed away on April 13 in Miami Beach, Florida. Doctors said he died from pneumonia. He is buried in Green Lawn Abbey in Columbus, Ohio. This special building opened to the public again in 2021.
Legacy
Howard Thurston is mentioned in a famous book. It's called How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. He is quoted as an expert in the book. You can also see a poster of Thurston in the TV show The Magicians. The poster hangs in the students' dorm. This makes viewers think Thurston might have been a student there. It suggests his magic was "real" magic.
See also
In Spanish: Howard Thurston para niños
