Jean Hugard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jean Hugard
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| Born |
Jean Hugard
4 December 1871 |
| Died | 14 August 1959 (aged 87) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Professional magician |
| Known for | Card magic, sleight of hand |
Jean Hugard (born December 4, 1871 – died August 14, 1959) was a famous Australian magician. He was known for his amazing sleight of hand and card magic. Jean Hugard became one of the world's greatest stage magicians. Many people called him the "Dean of Magicians."
Contents
Early Life and Magic Beginnings
Jean Hugard was born John Gerard Rodney Boyce. His birthplace was Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. He went to Toowoomba Grammar School. Later, he worked at the Queensland National Bank.
In 1880, he saw a magic show by Haselmayer. This show inspired him greatly. Even though he started magic later in life, he became a professional magician in 1896.
From Bank to Stage
In 1898, Gerard left his job at the bank. He tried a business venture with meatworks. This business did well for a few years. However, problems like drought and a lack of experience caused it to fail.
He returned to Toowoomba and took on temporary jobs. One job was secretary of the Toowoomba General Hospital. He organized shows to raise money for the hospital. He often performed his own magic tricks in these shows.
A Magician's Journey
Jean Hugard used several stage names during his career. Some of these names were Oscar Kellmann, Chin Sun Loo, and Ching Ling Foo. He also used the name Jean Hugarde.
In 1915, he moved to the United States. From 1916 to 1918, he performed in vaudeville shows. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment with many different acts. One of his special acts was called "Birth of the Sea Nymph."
Famous Performances
Jean Hugard toured Australia and New Zealand. He presented a full evening show that was a silent Chinese act. He was also famous for his "The Great Rifle Feat." This was a bullet catch routine. He was the first magician to perform this trick using modern guns of his time.
From 1919 to 1929, he owned and performed in a magic theater. This theater was located at Luna Park in Coney Island. In 1928, he even appeared in a Broadway show called "The Squealer."
Writing and Editing Magic
After he stopped performing, Jean Hugard moved to Brooklyn. He focused on writing and editing books about magic. He wrote more than 30 books on the subject.
He helped complete a very important magic book called Greater Magic. The original author, John Northern Hilliard, had only written the first chapter. Jean Hugard finished and expanded the book to over 1,000 pages. This book became a standard textbook for magicians. Henry Hay, another author, called it "one of the best and largest books ever written about magic."
From 1943, he was the editor of a magazine called Hugard's Magic Monthly. In 1951, he was named the fourth "Dean of Magicians" by the Society of American Magicians. This was a very high honor.
Later Life and Legacy
Near the end of his life, Jean Hugard became blind. He lost his eyesight after operations for cataracts. Even with this disability, he continued to work in the magic field. He worked from his home in Brooklyn, NY.
Jean Hugard passed away in the United States in 1959. He was 87 years old. He was known everywhere as "The Great Hugard." The New York Herald Tribune newspaper published a large obituary about him. This kind of space was usually given to important leaders or movie stars.
Awards and Honors
Jean Hugard received many awards and honors for his contributions to magic:
- He was chosen for the Society of American Magicians Hall of Fame.
- He received the Magic Circle's highest award, the Silver Wand.
- He won the "Milbourne Christopher Award." This award was given to magicians who showed "brotherly love."
- The International Brotherhood of Magicians Ring 136 in Brisbane, Australia is named in his honor.
- He was an honorary life member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.
