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Henry Roltair
Henry Roltair (1853 - 1910) born in London, who began his career working for Alexander Herrmann, 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.
Henry Roltair | |
Born | 1853 London |
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Died | 1910 |
Roltair is credited with 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)