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Great Leonard
| Great Leonard | |
| Born | Leonard Hicks circa 1887 |
|---|---|
| Died | April 2, 1966 (age 78) Florida |
Great Leonard (Leonard Hicks) was a protege of Houdini in the early 1900s. He was said to be the only man outside the family who knew the famed escape artist's complete repertoire.[1]
He started as a desk clerk at the old Saratoga Hotel and in 1904 he went to work at the Morrison Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. One afternoon in 1906 he caught Harry Houdini's act at the Majestic Theatre (later the Schubert).
A young Hicks suggested a few ideas to Houdini, who was so impressed he coaxed the him to go on tour with him under the name of "The Great Leonard". He toured with Houdini for three years.
His father, a well-to-do Virginia dairy owner, thought it best for him to get back into the hotel business. He would spend 62 years in the hotel business. Hicks worked as manager of the Morrison Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, became president of the American Hotel and Motel Association, and the Hotel Greeters of America.
In 1949 Hicks moved to Florida to retire, but ended up working at the Pick Hotels Corporation. He was Vice President of the Pick Hotels Corporation and Managing Director of the Pick-Congress until his death.[2]