Dante, The Mormon Wizard

For the name most associated with stagename "Dante", see Harry August Jansen.

Dante, The Mormon Wizard
Born	Oscar Eliason July of 1869 Salt Lake City, Utah
Died	November 29, 1899 (age 30) Australia
Resting place	Waverley Cemetery, St Thomas Street, Bronte, New South Wales 2024, Australia

Dante, The Mormon Wizard (b.1869-d.1899), born Oscar Eliason in Salt Lake City, Utah, toured throughout the Western United States.

Biography

After touring his home state, Eliason turned pro in 1893 and began playing throughout the West as "Dante the Great". His act included "The Mahatma Miracles," "Escape From the Gallows" and "The Japanese Trunk Mystery." He also created his own Bullet Catch feat which he performed to live audience where six soldiers from Fort Douglas fired point blank at him.

Like Harry Houdini, he also exposed fraudulent mediums.

He was killed as a result of a shooting accident while hunting in Australia.

Oscar's brother, Frank Eliason, took over the touring show and adopted the name "Dante" in 1899 when Oscar died. He left Australia in late 1904 and the last reference located about Frank Eliason was a reported in Magic Mirror" magazine, Australia, August 15, 1911. He was performing in the United States under the name "Cunning" although this may be incorrect as there were other magicians using the name at the time. Eugene Laurant recollects, in the "The Sphinx" magazine March 1942, meeting Frank some years after 1899, when Frank was "performing the Spirit Seance in vaudeville."

References

• http://historytogo.utah.gov/salt_lake_tribune/history_matters/092400.html
• Angus - The Australian "Dante" By Kent Blackmore
• Eliason biography by Kent Blackmore
• Al Munroe's Magical Miscellany, October, 1947
• Magical Nights at the Theatre : A Chronicle by Waller, Charles