Nicola

From MagicPedia

Nicola (December 14, 1882- February 1, 1945) was born William Nicol in Burlington, Iowa. Performed on vaudeville for a number of years and did several world tours with his illusion show as the Great Nicola.

During his last world tour in 1939, on outbreak of World War Two, the ship he was on hit a mine and sunk with all his equipment off Singapore. After his return home he built a new smaller show, suitable for auditoriums and hospitals, and offered his services free of charge to the USO.