Jack Gwynne's Grave

Jack Gwynne was an American Magician and movie actor. He was one of the few magicians who made a successful transition out of Vaudeville into other markets. As Vaudeville died, Gwynne created a show that could be performed at nightclubs and on dance floors. That meant that his illusions had to set up quickly and could be performed surrounded.

He is credited for adapting the classic Doll's House Illusion and creating a brand new effect called The Temple of Benares or Temple of An-Gee. During World War II, Gwynne and his family traveled overseas to perform for the troupes. He was a popular attraction and if memory serves was given the honorary rank of Lieutenant.

Jack Gwynne was also a movie star. He had an uncredited roll in Citizen Kane, and he starred in The Dark Streets of Cairo and Model Wife. After his movie star days were over and the nightclub venues began to dry up, Jack once again transitioned into another market, this time the school show market. Jack Gwynne was born April 12, 1895 and died on December 7, 1969. He is buried in Lakeside Cemetery in Colon Michigan next to his wife Anne, and along with many of magic's notables.

A photo of the grave can be seen here. There is also a map/diagram of where the various magic graves in the Lakeside Cemetery are, click here.

(If you have a photo of the grave you would be willing to share, and that you own, please send it over to carnegiemagic@aol.com)

Compars Herrmann's Grave Update

photo courtesy of Heinz König

Compars Herrmann was a victorian era magician from Europe. He was the older brother of Alexander Herrmann who would become very well known in America as Herrmann The Great. Compars developed his interest in magic through his father Samuel who was also an amateur magician. At some point in time, the younger brother Alexander became part of the Herrmann show. Alexander took the look of his brother, dressing the same with the same physical appearance and facial hair.

Compars performed mainly in Europe although he did venture to the United States. On January 27th, 1862, Compars, who was also known as Carl appeared with his younger brother Alexander before President Abraham Lincoln, Mrs. Lincoln and his cabinet at The White House in Washington D.C.. One of the feature effects he performed was the Inexhaustible Bottle. This was an effect where any drink called for would come out of the bottle. Mrs. Lincoln requested tea, which Compars gladly poured from the bottle. Members of the audience asked for other drinks and Compars poured each drink called for from the bottle. This was a popular effect of the time and many magicians used it successfully.

Compars was friends with Johann Hofzinser another great Viennese Conjurer. It's said that a number of Herrmann's routines were adaptations of things he learned from Hofzinser. One in particular was the "Cone, Vase, Beans, Hat and Orange Trick" (quite the name huh), was originally called "Der Grosspapa" by Hofzinser. 

Compars is buried in the Vienna Central Cemetery, in Vienna Austria. There are three magicians buried in this cemetery and I will eventually post all three. The image above is how the grave looks today. Compare it to the image below  from the Sphinx Magazine 1906, a monthly magic periodical, and you'll notice that the decorative metal work on the grave is now missing.

Compars Herrmann -Born Jan 23, 1816 Died June 8, 1887

Wiener Zentralfriedhof (Vienna Central Cemetery)

: XI. Simmeringer Hauptstrasse 234, Vienna Austria

Section: T1 Group: 6 Row: 29 Grave: 38

Fakir of Ava's Grave

photo courtesy of Dave Pape

The Fakir of Ava was really Isaiah Harris Hughes and was born in Essex England on December 25, 1810. He moved to America and took the name of a previous employer and became The Fakir of Ava. Hughes traveled across the US during the Civil War and did quite well. He developed a type of show called 'The Gift Show' where he would give out basically inexpensive door prizes to audience members. This scheme really helped his business and he was able to retire with a good deal of money.

He was also Harry Kellar's mentor. The story is that Hughes put an ad in the paper looking for an assistant. A young Harry Kellar saw the ad and applied for the job. Kellar was met at the door by Hughes dog and Hughes told him to come in. Harry got the job! The reason...Harry Kellar was the first person that applied for the job that the dog actually liked!

Harry Kellar stayed with the Fakir of Ava and worked as his assistant for a number of years. When The Fakir felt that Harry was ready to go out on his own as a magician, he gave his blessing and off Harry went.

The Fakir of Ava died on May 24th, 1891 and was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo New York. Along with the Fakir of Ava, President Millard Filmore is also buried in Forest Lawn. Here is the New York Times Obituary for the Fakir of Ava. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A0CEED6163AE533A25756C2A9639C94609ED7CF

The website for the cemetery is http://www.forest-lawn.com