T. Nelson Downs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
T. Nelson Downs
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| Born | March 16, 1867 |
| Died | September 11, 1938 (aged 71) |
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Thomas Nelson Downs (born March 16, 1867 – died September 11, 1938) was a famous magician. He was especially known for his amazing coin tricks. People often called him "The King of Koins" because he was so good with coins.
A historian named David Price said that Downs was "the first of the great manipulative magicians." He also thought Downs was probably the best of them all.
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Who Was T. Nelson Downs?
Thomas Nelson Downs was born in Marshalltown, Iowa. He was the youngest of six children. His family had moved to Iowa from New York. Downs' father passed away when Thomas was less than a year old.
Learning Magic Tricks
Downs never took magic lessons from anyone. He taught himself all his tricks. By the time he was 12 years old, he was already very skilled. He was great at handling both cards and coins.
He got even better at magic when he was 17. He took a job as a railway telegrapher. This job gave him lots of free time to practice his coin tricks.
Starting a Magic Career
In September 1895, Downs decided to become a full-time magician. He quit his telegrapher job. At first, he traveled around Iowa with his friend, Sam Spiegel, who played the mandolin.
By 1897, Downs decided to focus only on coin tricks. This was very unusual for magicians at that time. He became famous in vaudeville, which was a popular type of stage show for magicians.
Becoming a Star Magician
Downs' success helped him get shows in big cities. He performed at Tony Pastor's New York theatre. Soon after, he went to London's Palace Theatre.
At the peak of his career, Downs traveled a lot. He even performed for kings and queens. When he did his tricks, he could hide up to 60 coins in his hand at once.
One of his most famous tricks was "The Miser's Dream". In this trick, it looked like he was pulling endless coins out of thin air.
Life After Retirement
In 1912, when he was 42, Downs decided to retire. He moved back to Marshalltown, Iowa. He rarely left his hometown after that.
Downs didn't like being completely retired. So, he opened a vaudeville theater on Main Street. He also sold magic equipment. Many other magicians visited his home. They came to share new tricks and meet the famous "King of Koins." Famous visitors included Chung Ling Soo and Dai Vernon.
Downs was friends with the famous magician Harry Houdini. However, they also had a friendly competition. Downs wrote several books about magic. His first book, Modern Coin Manipulation, came out in 1900. People still read it today.
Downs was married two times. He had a son with his first wife, Nellie Stone. She passed away in 1895. He later married Harriett Rocky in 1905.
He fully retired around 1928. In 1935, people held a special dinner to honor him.
How Did T. Nelson Downs Die?
T. Nelson Downs passed away on September 11, 1938. He died in Marshalltown, Iowa. He had a stroke, which made one side of his body unable to move.
He was buried at Riverside Cemetery in Marshalltown. His gravestone has a special message: "King of Koins."
What Is His Legacy?
The Historical Society of Marshall County has a special display about T. Nelson Downs. You can see it in their museum.
