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Adelaide Herrmann (1853 - 1932) was born of Belgian parents in London, England. She came to the United States in 1868, when sixteen years old, as a member of the Kiralfy family of celebrated dancers. After her marriage to Alexander Herrmann she was chief assistant for her husband. She continued his show after his death with his nephew Leon Herrmann. She later created and starred in her own oriental act. Adelaide died 1932 in the Community Hospital, 8 St. Nicholas PL, New York City, of pneumonia.
Biography
Adele Celine Scarcez (Adelaide) met Alexander Herrmann while he was performing at Egyptian Hall in England. At the time she was part of the Kiralfy’s Dance Troupe. She later learned to ride a Velocipede, which was an unusual kind of bicycle, which became a specialty act that she could perform.
The two would run into each other again a short time later and began a relationship. On March 27th, 1875 Alexander and Adelaide were married in New York.
Adelaide was quickly brought into the Herrmann act, though in the earliest days she actually dressed in male clothes and was referred to as “Mr. Alexander”. Eventually, her male clothes gave way to female attire as Adelaide became an important part in the illusions presented by Herrmann. Their version of the Aerial Suspension was called “The Slave Girl’s Dream” and they created a unique presentation for the effect. Other routines which featured Adelaide included the Spirit Cabinet, The Cremation Illusion, and an act where Adelaide was shot out of a cannon!