Max Holden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Max Holden
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| Born |
William Holden Maxwell
August 20, 1884 |
| Died | July 3, 1949 (aged 64) Oceanside, New York, U.S.
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| Occupation | Professional magician |
| Spouse(s) | Clotilda (Cora) Amaral (m. Feb. 15, 1913-Oct. 28, 1913; her death) Elizabeth "Tess" Maxwell (m. May 3, 1921–July 3, 1949); his death |
| Children | 2 |
William Holden Maxwell (known as Max Holden) was a famous magician. He was born in Scotland in 1884. He became a well-known performer in America. Max Holden entertained many people with his magic tricks. He passed away in 1949.
Early Life of a Magician
William Holden Maxwell was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on August 20, 1884. His father was a cabinetmaker. From a young age, William loved magic.
When he was a teenager, he placed an ad in Magic: The Magicians Monthly Magazine. He used the name Max Holden. He wanted to learn about magic tricks and juggling. He also trained with a British magician named David Devant. Soon, he started performing on his own. He toured Great Britain as a magician and juggler.
In 1905, Max moved to America. He settled in Boston, Massachusetts. His parents and brother joined him the next year. In 1915, Max became an American citizen.
Max Holden's Magic Career
Max Holden became a very successful magician in America. He performed on big theater circuits like Keith-Albee-Orpheum. He was famous for his shadowgraphy shows. These shows used shadows to tell stories.
In 1914, Max made his shadowgraphy shows even better. He invented a way to add colors to the screen. He traveled a lot during his career. He crossed the Atlantic Ocean many times, performing his magic.
In 1929, Max stopped performing on stage. He opened a magic shop in Manhattan. Later, he opened more shops in Philadelphia and Boston. His shop on 42nd Street became a popular spot. Magicians, both pros and amateurs, would visit. They came to learn new tricks and share ideas.
In 1933, Camel Cigarettes ran ads that upset magicians. The ads showed how some magic tricks were done. Max Holden's involvement in these ads was not known until after he died.
Family Life
Max Maxwell married Clotilda (Cora) Amaral in 1913. They had a daughter named Madeline. Clotilda worked as his assistant. Sadly, she passed away in 1913 after childbirth.
Max later married Elizabeth Morrison on May 3, 1921. They had a son, William Jr., in Melbourne the next year. This was while they were touring Australia. Elizabeth, also called "Tess," performed with Max. They were known as Holden and Graham.
Later Years and Passing
William Holden Maxwell passed away on July 3, 1949. He had been ill for a long time. He died in Oceanside, New York. His wife and son survived him. His son, William Holden Maxwell Jr., passed away in 2011.
