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[[File: BobKlineBook.jpg |right|thumb|200px|[[ Bob Kline]]]]
[[File: JNHilliard.png|right|thumb|200px|[[ John Northern Hilliard]]]]


'''Bob Kline''' (March 17, 1912 - June 26, 2004) marketed his creations as Kline Kraft Magic & Products. He was the architect, builder and designer of the Fairyland Forest theme park at Conneaut Lake Park in Pennsylvania.  
'''John Northern Hilliard''' (1872 - 1935) was a Rochester newspaper man  and clever amateur magician.


He also did his own magic shows in the park's outdoor theater.
== Biography ==
Born Robert Kline in Indiana, Pennsylvania, to a former mayor of that town, Warren P. Kline, he received a master's degree from Columbia University and became a High School arts and crafts teacher. Kline was popular with his students and known for his colorful bow ties. Throughout his teaching career, Kline and his wife Billie (also a teacher), performed magical acts, most of which he had invented and built himself. Bob retired in 1974 after 40 years of teaching
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.


For several years, he assisted Gene Gordon with the annual "PIFF PAFF POOF" convention held at the lake Conneaut Hotel.
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.


[[Bob Kline |Read more about Bob Kline...]]
[[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…