Wilmont Barclay

Wilmont Barclay
Born	Wilmont A. Barclay Kingston, Jamaica
Died	circa 1932

Wilmont Barclay (?-c.1932) was a professional mind reader, hypnotist, magician who performed as "Maharajah".

Biography

Barclay had an illusion show for many seasons in Luna Park, Coney Island, New York, and later in Starlight Park in the Bronx.

One anecdote has it that Barclay used the term "escape artist" prior to Houdini, and allegedly taught Houdini his first handcuff escapes in 1895 while they were both performing at a dime museum in Boston.

In November, 1906, Barclay made the London newspapers by placing his wife in a state of suspended animation and burying her six feet underground for 104 hours.

During the 1920s, Barclay worked with Rhadolph Marcelliee. Marcellic and his wife performed a mental act and Barclay as Professor Maharajah performed fifteen illusions with an escape from the milk can as a finale. The troupe of "Professor Maharajah's Yogis annd Gooroos of India" disbanded late in 1932 when Barclay died.