Henry Roltair

Henry Roltair (1853 - 1910) born in London, was a vaudeville illusionist in the United States and famous for creating "set location" illusions he did for places such as Coney Island amusements parks and Barnum and Bailey's Circus.

Credited with created the Spider Girl or Spidora illusion, an elaboration on the living-head illusion or Sphinx Illusion.

For the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, Roltair designed "Creation" (opened by May 10). The ride could take up to two hours and included a "boat trip" illustrating the works of God and climaxed with a display in a great dome representing the six days in the "Creation of the World".

References

• Roltair "Genius of Illusions" by John Alexander McKinven (1980)
• Secrets of the sideshows by Joe Nickell (2005)
• http://webpages.charter.net/mtruax/1904wf/Pike%20Rides.htm
• Coney Island: the people's playground By Michael Immerso (2002)

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