Signor Blitz

Signor Blitz
Born	Antonio van Zandt June 21 1810 England
Died	January 28 1877 (age 66) Philadelphia
Resting place	Cypress Hills Cemetary, Brooklyn, New York
Categories	Books by Signor Blitz

Signor Blitz (1810 - 1877) born Antonio van Zandt in Deal Kent County, England, was an accomplished magician, ventriloquist (with his dummy Bobby), juggler and bird handler. He would advertise himself as a Moravian as he found he could get more work in England as a foreigner. He even perpetuated the myth in his autobiography.

Biography

Antonio Blitz arrived in America from Europe in 1834. He was a great showman who used magic in his acts usually accompanied by humor. Laughter and mystification were his goals.

At the height of his career, a dozen other magicians were performing under the name "Blitz" in an effort to capitalize on his popularity.

His favorite effect was the Bullet Catching act (but eventually dropped it as being too dangerous) and Plate Spinning.

He was living in Philadelphia at the time of his death where gave lessons from his home .

His grave was later rediscovered in New York by Benjilini and has since been restored.

Books

• Fifty Years in the Magic Circle (1871)

References

• New York Times Obituary
• Life and Adventures of Signor Blitz By Antonio Blitz (1872)