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The Great Lafayette (1871-1911) was the highest paid magician of his time.

Biography

Born Sigmund Neuberger (Newburger) in Germany, his family moved to the United States early in his life. Neuberger began his career as an imitator of Ching Ling Foo, but went on to become the highest paid magician of his time. In 1900 he appeared in London changing his name from Sigmund to the Great Lafayette. His act included a quick-change routine as well as dramatic illusions such as his own Lion's Bride (lady to lion). The pampered object of The Great Lafayette's affection was Beauty, a perky terrier given to him as a pup by fellow conjurer Harry Houdini. Beauty had her own suite of brocaded rooms, ate five course meals, and wore a diamond studded collar.

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+[[File: TheGreatLafayettePoster.png|right|thumb|200px|[[ Great Lafayette]]]]
-[[File: JNHilliard.png|right|thumb|200px|[[ John Northern Hilliard]]]]
+'''The  Great Lafayette''' (1871-1911) was the highest paid magician of his time.
-'''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.
+Born Sigmund Neuberger (Newburger) in Germany, his family moved to the United States early in his life. Neuberger began his career as an imitator of [[Ching Ling Foo]], but went on to become the highest paid magician of his time. In 1900 he appeared in London changing his name from Sigmund to the Great Lafayette.
+His act included a quick-change routine as well as dramatic illusions such as his own Lion's Bride (lady to lion).
-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.
+The pampered object of The Great Lafayette's affection was Beauty, a perky terrier given to him as a pup by fellow conjurer [[Harry Houdini]]. Beauty had her own suite of brocaded rooms, ate five course meals, and wore a diamond studded collar.
-[[John Northern Hilliard|Read more about John Northern Hilliard…]]
+[[Great Lafayette|Read more about The  Great Lafayette…]]

Magicpedia:Today's featured article: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 09:02, 20 February 2026

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