:: Magic, Illusion, and Death

Born in 1872 in Munich, Sigmund Neuberger, later known as 'The Great Lafayette', was the highest paid magician of his time. Making a sum equal to about five million dollars a year in today's money, the Great Lafayette was booked a full ten years in advance..

But it's not the money that secured Sigmund's fame in the annals of magic history, nor the fact that he was the most hated magician of his time - it was the fire.

The Empire Theatre was filled with a capacity crowd of 3,000 paying admirers. Lafayette, dressed flamboyantly, changed places with his double and prepared to don the lion skin for the finale of The Lion's Bride. As the lion roared, an oriental lantern from the set caught fire. Flames licked round the proscenium, draughts forcing the smoke outwards. The fire curtain was brought down and panic was averted by the genius of the conductor who instructed the orchestra to begin the national anthem. On cue the audience stood and was ushered to safety.

Read the whole story HERE.