Name:
Harry Kellar
Lifetime:
1849 - 1922

Born Heinrich Keller in Erie, Pennsylvania in 1849, Harry Kellar would grow to become "America's Greatest Magician" before his death in the first half of the 20th century. Working as an apprentice in a drugstore at the age of ten, Kellar accidentally blew a hole in the floor of the shop while mixing chemicals. Rather than face the consequences of the damage, Kellar hopped a train and lived the life of a drifter for some years before being taken in by a kindly minister in upstate New York. Kellar become enthralled with magic and illusions after seeing a performance by "The Fakir of Ava" and would eventually seek and attain apprenticeship with the conjurer.

Years later, Kellar learned to perform his illusions on stage to admiring audiences and joined the Davenport Brothers, spiritualists who roused the crowd with instruments and inanimate objects brought to life by marshaled spirits. In 1873, Kellar left the Davenports, but took one of the members of the group with him.

On one trip to England in 1875, Kellar and his partner were involved in a shipwreck that resulted in Kellar forming "The Royal Illusionists" when his partner from the Davenports decided to return to his former position. Over the next thirty years, Kellar would establish himself and his act as one of the premier tours in the world. Always eagerly seeking the newest illusions, in 1908 Kellar names Howard Thurston his successor.

In 1908, nearing the age of sixty, Kellar passed the mantle to his successor, Howard Thurston, who, along with Houdini, would dominate American magic in the beginning of the 20th century. Kellar was often seen in the company of Houdini at his Los Angeles home after his retirement and the two became very close friends. Houdini even arranged a special departure from the stage for the revered Kellar at a benefit show where he was to be carried off the stage by nearly six thousand people serenading the illusionist with an appropriate song. Harry Kellar eventually passed away in 1922 at the age of 73