Lives of the Conjurers Volume One

Biographies of magicians, mentalists, illusionists, prestidigitators, and fraudulent mediums of the past • HENRY SLADE Was he a medium or a magician? • CAGLIOSTRO The Mystery Man of Europe • KATTERFELTO Lecturer, conjurer, and quack • SERVAIS LE ROY He levitated a pianist and her piano • C.W. STARR His vanishing act was for sheriffs • TORRINI His greatest illusion was himself • SIGNOR BLITZ What he pulled from a hat one night kept a family together • CHARLES MORRITT His masterpiece was the Disappearing Donkey • THE BOTTLE CONJURER How was he going to jump into a bottle? • MAELZEL There was more to his Chessplaying Automaton than met the eye • ROBERT HELLER His mindreading act mystified audiences • THE BANGS SISTERS Both the spirits and the police visited their parlor • OTTO MAURER His magic shop in a Bowery basement was spooky • BERT REESE What was the secret of his psychic powers? • BELLACHINI He bewitched the Emperor's pen--and was appointed Court Conjurer • COMUS With his Horologium, he could read minds from miles away • ETIENNE-GASPARD ROBERTSON He hosted the Phantasmagoria • HENRY BOX BROWN, HOCUS POCUS, and THE FAMOUS MR. FAWKES