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Chefalo

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Chefalo (1885-1963), born Raffaele Cefalo, was an Italian born magician.

Chefalo
BornRaffaele Cefalo
1885
Italy
Died1963
Korea
NationalityItalian
Flourished1920s
Known forLinking Rings,Production from Drum

He learned magic as a boy in America and played vaudeville bills throughout the world with his wife. First as Capretta and Chefalo, then as Palermo and Chefalo and eventually as The Great Chefalo.

His friend Houdini suggested that he change his style to mostly pantomime in 1907.

During World War I, he toured South America. After the first war, Chefalo also toured Australia with his wife and a troupe of midgets in 1926 and 1933.

He spent the War World II years performing in home country Italy and Czechoslovakia. He even gave a gala show for the troops when the American army arrived. After the war, he returned to performing in Vaudeville, featuring P. T. Selbit's illusion, Million Dollar Mystery.

He was still a star, touring with a circus in Korea, when he died in 1963. [1][2][3]

Contributions

  • Invented the Girl in Drum illusion
  • Invented the Chefalo knot.

Publications

  • Some of his rope magic effects are in the Stewart James' Encyclopedia of Rope Tricks.

References

  1. The Illustrated History of Magic By Milbourne Christopher (1973)
  2. Poster from the Alma collection
  3. http://www.chefalo.net/