Adelaide Herrmann

Heroes of Magic Utopia, Part II: Adelaide Herrmann.

Heroes are able to overcome suffering and share happiness with the world. Of all of the heroes in the world, we like magic heroes the best. In our history, there are many individuals who have beaten the odds by using magic, and for the sake of magic, so that others may experience joy. Their lives and good works continue to serve as ideals for our community. We think of these individuals as Heroes of Magic Utopia.

When her husband Alexander died in 1896, Adelaide Herrmann suffered from a grief too great for many of us to comprehend. Despite the early difficulties of continuing her husband’s (Herrmann the Great) production when she was 43-years-old, Adelaide was able to continue his high quality tradition of magic performance with her own shows well into her seventies. Her independent spirit, artistic flair, and bold personality graced American stages and earned her the name “Queen of Magic.” In a time when the magic industry was “an old boys club,” Adelaide challenged the male dominated stage with her unique style of sleight-of-hand, human levitations, and demonstrations of catching bullets fired from a gun. She even produced elephants seemingly from nowhere. In addition to these, she designed some of the most beautiful theater sets in magic history. Many scholars believe that when she died at the age of 78, the Golden Age of magic had died with her. We couldn’t agree more.

Adelaide’s love for her husband and for magic reminds us that there is more to our art than just “tricks.” Great magicians like Adelaide Herrmann inspire us to make our magic more meaningful and beautiful. We hope she inspires you, too.

For more, see:

James Hamilton’s article “Adelaide Herrmann” in Genii magazine, Vol 63 No. 8 (2000; pp. 40-52).

James Randi’s chapter “The Ubiquitous Herrmanns” in his book “Conjuring” (1992; St Martin’s Press; pp. 68-72).

Thanks to James Hamilton for allowing us to display his image of Adelaide on this blog. Please do not copy this or use the image without Mr. Hamilton’s expressed written consent or permission.

For more on James Hamilton and his magic, please visit:

http://www.amazingmagicshow.com/Hamilton.htm

Haiku

Wand in hand he cries,

“Magic is a way of life;

Living filled with joy”