Servais Le Roy

Servais Le Roy (May 4, 1865-1953) was a Belgian magician, illusion designer and businessman. He is best known for the act Le Roy, Talma and Bosco and as the inventor of the classic levitation illusion Asrah.

Le Roy began his career in Belgium but later moved to London, where he established a supply house for illusions and scenery. At one time he performed with German-born illusionist Imro Fox and Frederick Eugene Powell as The Triple Alliance. However he is best known as a performer for the long-running act he developed with his wife Talma and Leon Bosco. Working as "Le Roy - Talma - Bosco" they were sometimes also billed as The Comedians de Mephisto Co.

Servais Le Roy and Talma first performed the Asrah levitation in London in 1914. In this trick, Talma would lie on a couch and Servais would cover her with a sheet. He would then appear to make her rise into the air, pass a large hoop over her floating body, and finally pull away the sheet to reveal that she had vanished. Le Roy is also credited with developing the Modern Cabinet, the Palanquin and the Costume Trunk illusions.

Le Roy later put his own show into storage and accepted a contract from Horace Goldin.

References

Servais Leroy - Monarch of Mystery by Mike Caveney and William Rauscher