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[[File: JNHilliard.png|right|thumb|200px|[[ John Northern Hilliard]]]]
'''John Northern Hilliard''' (1872 - 1935) was a Rochester newspaper man  and clever amateur magician.


''' Celeste Evans''' (1931-2017), possibly one of the first women magicians to perform dove magic, played every venue from her early shows in the Far East to banquets, night clubs and as a State Department entertainer representing both the United States and the United Nations.
== Biography ==
== Biography ==
[[File: CelesteEvans.png|right|thumb|200px|[[Celeste Evans]]]]
Hilliard was dramatic critic with The Chicago Herald and later on the staff of The Rochester (N. Y.) Post Express. After moving to New York, he met [[Howard Thurston]] while a reporter on The New York World and became interested in magic. John was credited with securing the master magician with his first engagement on the stage. Several years later Thurston induced Hilliard to give up his newspaper work and become his personal representative.
Evans began at the age of nine with her first sleight-of-hand effect, throwing knots into silk, which she opened her act throughout her career. Within a year she was performing in public. After graduating from high school, she was earning her living on the carnival circuit, touring the country, doing tent shows.
In 1952, Celeste left Canada to entertain troops in Korea and Japan under the auspices of the Canadian Legion.


While touring with country and western groups, she was called to appear on the Canada's "Pick the Stars", her first nationwide television appearance. In New York she became a regular on the "Paul Winchell Show", "Arthur Godfrey", "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "To Tell the Truth", as well as on the Barbara Walter's show, "Not For Women Only". On "To Tell the Truth", Celeste escaped from a straight jacket in nine seconds (a commercial was due) and won the thousand dollar award.
With the urging of [[Floyd G. Thayer]], John starting writing for [[Thayer's Magical Bulletin]] magazine. In 1925, Hilliard became an advance man for The Thurston show. During this time he accumulated notes on what he was learning about magic. In 1932, Carl Waring Jones urged him to turn his notes into a book, offering to publish it. But Hilliard suddenly died of a heart attack in 1935 while in a hotel room in Indianapolis.


[[Celeste Evans|Read more about Celeste Evans...]]
[[John Northern Hilliard|Read more about John Northern Hilliard…]]

Latest revision as of 09:23, 20 February 2026

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John Northern Hilliard (1872 - 1935) was a Rochester newspaper man and clever amateur magician.

Biography

Hilliard was dramatic critic with The Chicago Herald and later on the staff of The Rochester (N. Y.) Post Express. After moving to New York, he met Howard Thurston while a reporter on The New York World and became interested in magic. John was credited with securing the master magician with his first engagement on the stage. Several years later Thurston induced Hilliard to give up his newspaper work and become his personal representative.

With the urging of Floyd G. Thayer, John starting writing for Thayer's Magical Bulletin magazine. In 1925, Hilliard became an advance man for The Thurston show. During this time he accumulated notes on what he was learning about magic. In 1932, Carl Waring Jones urged him to turn his notes into a book, offering to publish it. But Hilliard suddenly died of a heart attack in 1935 while in a hotel room in Indianapolis.

Read more about John Northern Hilliard…