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Just recently returned from Scotland after visiting my relatives, and we had a few hours spare, so decided to visit Edinburgh, and see if there was anything magical happening?? Apart from a few buskers trying a bit of streetmagic, there was not much happening. So was told about a grave site of a old magician, who performed a magic act in Scotland.. So off I went to pursue this once famous magician.. After a few yards in the cemetery I came across the grave stone of this Early 20th century magician.. And was very surprised to read about his colorful life he lead back in the day.... Sadly he died very tragically on stage doing what he loved most.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmund_Neuberger" Anyway this link should help a few of you guys who are interested in reading about this once great man who performed amazing magic back in the day.. Garry.

I was hoping to visit that grave when I was up that way recently but we didn't have enough time unfortunately. He's one of the unsung heroes in many respects, theatre safety was beefed up following his death and he was the highest paid performer of his day - quite an achievement considering few people actually liked him - just Chung Ling Soo/William Robinson and Harry Houdini who gave him his pet dog, Beauty. The well used phrase, 'The more I see of people, the more I love my dog' was one of Lafayette's and he had it printed on his personal stationery. One or two books such as Hocus Pocus: A Tale of Magnificent Magicians by Paul Kieve and The Illustrated History of Magic by Milbourne Christopher, Maurine Christopher and David Copperfield devote sections to Lafayette's life and career.

he wasn't a nice man. Many accounts tell of how for instance, he made all his staff salute him when ever they saw him.

By all accounts he was hated by most people in showbiz which gave rise to the theory that the fire was no accident but deliberately started to cause enough confusion to give the opportunity to murder him.

The main reason he died was he always insisted that the stage Pass Doors (doors which lead from the stage directly into the audience) were blocked with scenery. This was to prevent anyone (probably thought it would be jealous magicians) sneaking from the auditorium, into the wings and spotting his secrets.
It was after this disastrous fire, in May 1910 in the Empire Theatre. that a law was passed ensuing that Pass Doors were never to be blocked in anyway.
This because IF fire broke, it was almost certain it would be on stage or backstage and the artistes had to have an escape route.

They firemen and some soldiers discovered bodies in the dressing rooms, and passages. 8 bodies were removed.Plus the corpses of a horse and a lion in one corner of the stage.
A body was identified as that of Layayette by the sword he was wearing and his shoes. The body was taken away and cremated in Glasgow.
They nearly buried it BUT
Layfayette's solicitor, sent a member of his staff, to go rumage in the debris to see if anything of value remained.
He found ,in a large hole at the side of the stage, which had been covered by the safety curtain--another body!!!
He knew that Layfayette had 2 large very valuable diamond rings and they were on this body.
The wrong man (Layfayette's double in some of the illusions) had been cremated.
Lafayette's ashes were placed in an urn and set in between the paws of his beloved dog--Beauty--in a transparent box. These are in the grave.
Even Buckingham Palace sent a letter of condolence
A few years back in Abra magazine--there were tales--written by Chris Brinson--one I think from a stage hand of seeing Layfayette running in front of him & one by the famous magician Chris Charlton===or was it his ghost???

Brian Lead,A Head of English by profession & a magician wrote a long article on TGL in Stan Allen's Magic Magazine,April 1996 and I think he wrote a small booklet or compiled a wallet folder of memories of the Great Magician.

Arthur Setterington published a book, 'The Life & Times of The Great Layfayette' in 1991--with many photos and explanations of his illusions. Published by Abraxas
Publications

A Fascinating Mystery

Allen Tipton

Some interesting replies guys.. It was good to read a few more facts about this magician, that I never knew about... I may continue to follow up more info on this magician now I have been fed more knowledge. Thanks Garry

TGL's story is very compulsive, his shows were classed as the ultimate in big stage grandeur and were full of colourful costumes, scenery and special effects - plus a bit of magic or two! He was originally a quick change artist who moved on to magic but kept the idea of showy costumes and sets. He virtually killed his dog by over indulging it, a professional chef was employed to cook Beauty three meals a day, snacks were produced throughout the day for dog to chomp on , it had it's own bedroom on Lafayette's private train and a miniature bed and a specially commissioned bathtub in Lafayette's London town house. You can see where current 'celebs' get their ideas of grandeur and OTT spending!

One member of Lafayette's Company, Mabel Nooan, said of him-'He was one of the bravest men on earth and we shall never have another master as good as he was'.
The funeral consisted of '20 carriages, headed by the hearse and drawn by 4 magnificent Belgian Horses, wearing black plumes'.
The crowds were 8 to 12 deep and very subdued as they waited for the procession. Thousands were there to pay their last respects to the magician who had brought such spectacular magic to entertain them over the years. A show of Public sympathy never before seen.


'Police said, that at 9am THE FOLLOWING MORNING, the streets were 'black with people'. 'And some arrests were made' Typical of crowds then & now.
130 police guarded the cemetary walls to prevent people invading over them'.
There was 'well into the next morning, after business hours had started, a large number of people continuing to visit the magician's last resting place'.

Floral tributes were received from Houdini : 'To the memory of my friend who gave him his best friend, Beauty'. The tribute was in the form of a floral head of a dog, made up from forget me knots.
Other tributes came from John Martin Harvey (one of the day's leading actors,) Chung Ling Soo, Horace Goldin & Carl Hertz.
'The most magnificent tribute was a 6 feet by four feet set piece, representing the proscenium arch of a theatre with the front curtains made up of red roses which were 'drawn' to show a backdrop which was made up from Lillies of the Valley and worked into this curtain, with for get me knots, the words--The Last Act.'
This was from Lalla Selbini.
There are photographs available to show TGL's ashes in between Beauty's paws.

So, reading all the above, do you think that The Great Lafayette was --' 'The most hated magician who ever lived'--the last comment was made by the all lying , publicity seeking for his own books-Will Goldston. Hmmm!

Allen Tipton

Thanks everyone for the above insights. I never realised there was so much history surrounding this guy and his demise.

Yeah, very true, you never know what you can find when you dig into someone's past..... Regards Garry

Now you know Discomb. WHY it is important to study, read, & absorb Magic's Past.
What has gone before paved the way for what is today.
Learn the traditions of our great Art.
Then as you go along your Magic Journey--PASS the tradition on to the younger ones.
Amaze yourself with the Great Masters.
And some of the great stories--did you know Chung Ling Soo was never divorced from his first wife? Married?? his 2nd--the famous Dot--had 3 kids with his mistress and at least one other kid whilst married to his first wife--not hers!!

And if it is tricks & methods you seek--start with the 19th. & early 20th.Century books as Prof. Hoffman's, Hercat's, Cremer, Sachs & of course Robert Houdin.
One 'new'??? effect I bought from Singapore last year I found later in Sachs. The onky difference--plastic now instead of glass then.
Some of the methods and tricks are so old--they are new to audiences and even magicians.

And for a really good wallow into tricks of the imagination--a lot pretty impossible but a lot of good ideas and a great pick up and put down when you want to relax--Buy Dunninger's Complete Encyclopedia of Magic --288 page book, hundreds of illustrations.
I have had 6 copies. The one I retain--one for each magic student in Scotland, Germany, the USA and for my son in Portugal..and last week one for, my 2nd. son in Surrey only £6 second hand and in mint condition.

Allen Tipton

I heard he was good to his staff and that when they reached a new venue, he would make a point of personally inspecting the accommodation of his staff to ensure they were good enough. He also paid them more, mainly to ensure they didn't jump ship and share secrets but he would none the less ensure they were given everything promised.

Yes Dave M--he was good to his staff--strict but the way magicians then & now! steal other magicians' effects well--can you blame him.
We had one well known magician who actually took a tape measure backstage & measured a well known magic act's props.!!

As I have said the supposed evil , most hated reputatation that was ascribed to him was founded by Will Goldston. He also hinted that Chung Ling Soo had financial etc. troubles & planted the crazy idea that when Soo was killed by the Bullet Catch--it was suicide--And Soo had planned his own suicide!!! On stage in front of a Full House.
As my great friend the late Val Andrews said--' He was selling his latest book--Sensational Tales Of Mystery Men', to which Val added--'They were indeed, JUST that--Sensational Tales'

Allen Tipton

Thanks again TM people for all your post on this subject, especially Allen........ Regards Garry

do you think that The Great Lafayette was --' 'The most hated magician who ever lived'--the last comment was made by the all lying , publicity seeking for his own books-Will Goldston

'hatred' = professional jealousy! Goldston's own strory is also somewhat convoluted.