Help us get to over 8,755 articles in 2024.

If you know of a magician not listed in MagicPedia, start a New Biography for them. Contact us at magicpediahelp@gmail.com

Harold Alberto: Difference between revisions

From Magicpedia, the free online encyclopedia for magicians by magicians.
Jump to navigation Jump to search
mNo edit summary
mNo edit summary
Line 23: Line 23:
'''Harold Alberto''' (1882 - 1964) was a comedy magician, famous for his "More Water!" growing plant routine.<ref> Who's Who in Magic: An International Biographical Guide From Past to Present By Whaley, Bart (1990)</ref>  
'''Harold Alberto''' (1882 - 1964) was a comedy magician, famous for his "More Water!" growing plant routine.<ref> Who's Who in Magic: An International Biographical Guide From Past to Present By Whaley, Bart (1990)</ref>  


== Biography ==
Alberto started his performing career in 1902, billing himself as "The Gay Deceiver" and "The Droll Conjurer".
Alberto started his performing career in 1902, billing himself as "The Gay Deceiver" and "The Droll Conjurer".


Line 38: Line 39:


He was a member of the[[Los Angeles Society of Magicians]] for many years.<ref>MUM, AUGUST, 1964</ref>
He was a member of the[[Los Angeles Society of Magicians]] for many years.<ref>MUM, AUGUST, 1964</ref>
{{References}}
{{References}}




   
   
[[Category:Professional magicians]]
[[Category:Professional magicians]]  
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alberto,Harold}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alberto}}

Revision as of 09:56, 12 February 2014

Harold Alberto
BornHarold McAuliffe
August 14, 1882
Sydney, Australia
DiedJune 10, 1964 (age 81)
California
NationalityAustralian

Harold Alberto (1882 - 1964) was a comedy magician, famous for his "More Water!" growing plant routine.[1]

Biography

Alberto started his performing career in 1902, billing himself as "The Gay Deceiver" and "The Droll Conjurer".

Alberto wrote to the Magic Mirror from Ontario Canada in 1912 that he "has changed his name to that given at his baptism, Harold McAuliffe".[2]

He joined Harry Rickard's Tivoli company with early tricks, The Miser's Dream and The Vanishing Lamp. He later furthered his career in England and America.

In the 1930s, he left magic to work in Hollywood as a technical adviser for special effects with First National and Warner Bros. pictures.[3]

The 1940 U.S. census shows that he was single, and a lodger in Abbey Hotel in Los Angeles.[4]

In the 1952 issue of the Tops, it was reported that Alberto had suffered a nervous breakdown and was in the Gardena Sanitarium at Gardena, California.[5]

Alberto committed suicide in California after years of struggling with severe clinical depression.

He was a member of theLos Angeles Society of Magicians for many years.[6]

References

  1. Who's Who in Magic: An International Biographical Guide From Past to Present By Whaley, Bart (1990)
  2. Magic Mirror, Oct 15, 1912
  3. http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/13672400?versionId=16196759
  4. http://blogs.nla.gov.au/the-eloquent-page/2013/02/25/sad-finale-for-a-droll-entertainer/
  5. Tops, February 1952
  6. MUM, AUGUST, 1964