Posted 9 years ago
Circuspost…
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Thurston Presents Tampa England's Court Magician
Devil Panel - 1926
By Chris Berry
circusposters@gmail.com
In the late 1920s, the great American magician Howard Thurston realized that his popularity was such that if he enlisted the right associates he could use another magician to "front" the production, and the enterprise would benefit from the use of his name and some of his illusions. With that in mind he engaged both Harry Jansen ("Dante") and Raymond Sugden ("Tampa") to do just that. During this period there were actually three traveling illusion shows carrying the Thurston name.
Raymond Sugden, who Thurston renamed as "Tampa England's Court Magician," was a Pittsburgh illusionist who had been inspired by seeing a performance by the great Kellar, and later framed his own show - a presentation titled "Chau Tung Mysteries" where he and magician Ray Hartman presented themselves as Chinese magicians.
The Thurston/Sugden partnership which began in November of 1925 capitalized on the Thurston name, and including marketing material such as this lithograph - originally designed for the Thurston "Wonder Show of the Universe. This poster is a half-sheet panel (42"x14") executed by the Otis Lithograph Company of Cleveland, Ohio. It is based on a design created for Thurston about the same time. A similar poster was also created for "Thurston Presents Dante."
This particular poster was never used and was acquired by performer/historian Richard Berry when he purchased much of the Tampa show in 1971. It has been professionally restored and linen backed so that it can be viewed and enjoyed by generations to come.
(Chris Berry Collection)
circusposters@gmail.com
