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Difference between revisions of "Leon"

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Leon married Edythe Packard (of the Packard car company family) who became an integral part of his show.  Early in his career he performed an Oriental act as Chunda Hula and later as Kadan Sami.  
 
Leon married Edythe Packard (of the Packard car company family) who became an integral part of his show.  Early in his career he performed an Oriental act as Chunda Hula and later as Kadan Sami.  
  
Leon went to great lengths and was quite careful to register and patent his original illusions. In correspondence sent to Variety and the National Vaudeville Artists, Inc., Leon asks for and receives protective registration for all of the items he listed: Shrink and Shrunken, Fire and Water, The Miniature Haunted House, Ribbon Shot Through a Woman, Duck Tray, and The Doll House.
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Leon went to great lengths and was quite careful to register and patent his original illusions. In correspondence sent to Variety and the National Vaudeville Artists, Inc., Leon asks for and receives protective registration for all of the items he listed: Shrink and Shrunken, Fire and Water, The Miniature Haunted House, Ribbon Shot Through a Woman, Duck Tray, and [[The Doll House]].
 
   
 
   
 
The Great Leon's shows were known for their fast pace. His signature illusion was "Fire and Water", in which an assistant was wrapped in paper and set on fire then reappeared in a water-filled tank on the opposite side of the stage.  
 
The Great Leon's shows were known for their fast pace. His signature illusion was "Fire and Water", in which an assistant was wrapped in paper and set on fire then reappeared in a water-filled tank on the opposite side of the stage.  
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==References==
 
==References==
* "The Lost Papers of The Great Leon" Vol. 1, Issue 2, Magnus Mirabilis:
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* "The Lost Papers of The Great Leon" Vol. 1, Issue 2, Magnus Mirabilis
  
 
[[Category:Biographies|Leon]]
 
[[Category:Biographies|Leon]]
 
[[Category:American magicians|Leon]]
 
[[Category:American magicians|Leon]]

Revision as of 02:44, 8 October 2008

The Great Leon (1876-1951) was born Leon Harry Levy in New York. He became a leading performer in Vaudeville.

Leon married Edythe Packard (of the Packard car company family) who became an integral part of his show. Early in his career he performed an Oriental act as Chunda Hula and later as Kadan Sami.

Leon went to great lengths and was quite careful to register and patent his original illusions. In correspondence sent to Variety and the National Vaudeville Artists, Inc., Leon asks for and receives protective registration for all of the items he listed: Shrink and Shrunken, Fire and Water, The Miniature Haunted House, Ribbon Shot Through a Woman, Duck Tray, and The Doll House.

The Great Leon's shows were known for their fast pace. His signature illusion was "Fire and Water", in which an assistant was wrapped in paper and set on fire then reappeared in a water-filled tank on the opposite side of the stage.

By 1932, The Great Leon had given his last performance as a vaudeville headline and retired to California. Les Levante purchased Leon’s entire show.

His grandson David Leon and Nephew Les Arnold is caring on the magic tradition.

Books

  • The Great Leon: Vaudeville headline by Mike Caveney

References

  • "The Lost Papers of The Great Leon" Vol. 1, Issue 2, Magnus Mirabilis