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Billy O'Connor
Billy O'Connor (ca. 1895 - 1974) was born Eugene Devot in Britain to French parents.
He started performing just before World War I. Since he was bi-lingual, he was able to perform in many countries throughout Europe. Eugene was vice president of the Universal Society of Magicians in Glasgow, Scotland.
He performed card magic as Billy O'Connor And His Fifty-Two Assistants for over forty years. There is a story about one venue that misunderstood his billing and reserved twenty-seven rooms for him and his assistants.
At P.T. Selbit's request, he presented many of Selbit's creations.
O'Connor invented the Instanto Deck (which was published in Jinx no. 115, october 19th, 1940, page 677), The Educated Die, and the 10-20 Force.
His last card act performance may have been in 1951 at Harry Stanley's International show at the Scala Theater in London.
