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Dante, The Mormon Wizard

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Revision as of 05:56, 3 December 2008 by Kblackmore (Talk | contribs) (References)

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Dante, The Mormon Wizard (1869-1899), born Oscar Eliason in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The name "Dante" is now mostly associated with Harry August Jansen.

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