The Last Greatest Magician in the World
Howard Thurston versus Houdini & the Battles of the American Wizards
Book Summary
The best-selling author of Hiding the Elephant traces the life and legacy of the turn-of-the-20th-century magician, providing coverage of topics from his vaudeville successes and rivalry with Houdini to his role in setting the standard for magical performances today.
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New Angles On Houdini's Competition, 'The Iliad' And Obama's Dad
Mention the name Howard Thurston these days and you're likely to get a blank stare. But 90 years ago, Thurston was the greatest stage magician in the country, and one of the biggest names in show business. As Jim Steinmeyer explains in his book, The Last Greatest Magician in the World, Thurston's great rival — and occasional friend — was the escape artist Harry Houdini. The two met as struggling sideshow performers at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, and for the next 30 years they
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