Thomas Nelson Downs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Nelson Downs
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | March 16, 1867 |
| Died | September 11, 1938 (aged 71) |
| Spouse(s) |
|
Thomas Nelson Downs (born March 16, 1867, died September 11, 1938) was a super famous magician. He was especially known for his amazing coin tricks! People called him "The King of Koins" because he was so good with coins. A magic expert named David Price even said that Downs was the very first and maybe the best "manipulative magician" ever.
Contents
The Life of 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. Sadly, his father passed away when Thomas was less than a year old.
How Downs Learned Magic
Downs never went to a magic school. He taught himself all his tricks! By the time he was 12, he was already very skilled with cards and coins. He got even better at 17, when he worked as a railway telegrapher. This job gave him lots of free time to practice his coin tricks.
Becoming a Professional Magician
In September 1895, Downs decided to become a full-time magician. He started by touring Iowa with a friend who played the mandolin. By 1897, Downs decided to focus only on coin tricks. This was very unusual back then! He became famous in vaudeville, which was a popular type of stage show for magicians.
Downs's success led him to perform in big cities. He played at Tony Pastor's New York theatre. Soon after, he performed at the Palace Theatre in London.
Downs's Amazing Tricks
At the peak of his career, Downs traveled a lot. He even performed for kings and queens! He was so skilled that 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 right out of the air!
Retirement and Later Life
In 1912, when he was 42, Downs decided to retire in Iowa. He moved back to Marshalltown and rarely left. But he didn't stay idle for long! Downs opened a vaudeville theater on Main Street. He also sold magic equipment. Many other magicians, like Chung Ling Soo and Dai Vernon, visited his home. They came to share magic secrets and meet the famous "sleight of hand" artist.
Downs was friends with the famous magician Harry Houdini. However, they also had a friendly rivalry. Downs had spoken out against spiritualism (people claiming to talk to spirits) even before Houdini did. Downs also said he performed a stage escape from handcuffs years before Houdini.
Downs wrote several books about magic. His first book, Modern Coin Manipulation, came out in 1900. It is still printed today! He also wrote Tricks with Coins (1902) and The Art of Magic (1909).
Downs was married twice. He had a son with his first wife, Nellie Stone. She passed away in 1895. He later married Harriett Rocky in 1905. He officially retired around 1928. In 1935, he was honored at a special dinner.
His Later Years and Passing
Thomas Nelson Downs passed away on September 11, 1938, 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 says "King of Koins".
Remembering the King of Koins
The Historical Society of Marshall County has a special display about T. Nelson Downs in its museum. It helps people remember his amazing contributions to magic.
