Quick Facts
- Died:
- April 13, 1936, Miami, Fla. (aged 66)
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Thurston, Howard
Poster of Howard Thurston, 1908.
Howard Thurston
American magician
Howard Thurston (born July 20, 1869, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.ādied April 13, 1936, Miami, Fla.) was an American magician who led the largest magic show in history.
(Read Harry Houdiniās 1926 Britannica essay on magic.)
lithograph advertising a Howard Thurston magic showColour lithograph advertising a Howard Thurston magic show, 1935.
Thurston was originally a card manipulator and toured the world (1904ā07) with a full-evening show. He returned to the United States to become successor to Harry Kellar, the leading American magician. For more than 20 years he toured with a three-hour show and became best-known for his large stage illusions, such as the āfloating lady.ā In 1931 he shortened his program to appear as the stage attraction at motion-picture theatres. He wrote My Life of Magic (1929).
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