The poster is iconic... can anyone tell me the plot of this?

I don't know the specific story but I did a replica painting
of it on a leather jacket... it has such beauty and detail.

I do know from what I understand from my father that the
Moth illusion that Papa Blackstone did is based off of
Keller's Butterfly.

The Mascot Moth ...

The Mascot Moth ...

And I believe the Mascot Moth effect is discussed in Jim Steinmeyer's "Hiding the Elephant." Originally done by Maskeleyne and Devant.

So that makes at least two illusions that Kellar "borrowed" from M&D (the other being the Levitation of Princess Karnac). SETH

Thanks much everyone. I have a friend who is working up a routine with a butterfly. I mentioned the poster, and he asked me what the routine was. I drew a blank because I actually did not know. I am somewhat familiar with the Mascot Moth, though! Thanks again!

Oh, and Frances... I've seen your jacket work. Very nice!

~michael

I am almost positive (although not sure) as sethb mentioned
in Hiding the Elephant that Jim does talk about it but
he might have explained the routine. Jim is very good about
describing exactly that.

I haven't been painting jackets lately, I've been doing
felted letter purses and jackets. The last painted item
I did was a purse tho (last summer). I've gotten a lot
of positive feedback. But I've not put any up on my ETSY
page yet.

I found the Mascot Moth description in Hiding the Elephant, but have yet to find any reference for the Golden Butterfly. Kellar's thievery so far seems limited to the levi, from what I found there.

Frances, what is your ETSY seller name, or a link to your page?

Ceck inside a Sharpe 's book" Cojuror Mechanical etc.etc."

Kellar was not a thief. The evidence suggests he had a long business relationship with Maskelyne who did not travel with his show. Kellar performed Psycho in England and Maskelyne, known for being litigious, did not bring an action against Kellar. Kellar had all the Maskelyne automatons at one time or another. It was cheaper for Kellar to buy the illusions from Maskelyne as they had been audience-tested and perfected in performance. Kellar had most of the major Maskelyne illusions over a 20-year period. Unlikely that he was continuing the steal them over that long a time.

Further, David Devant was more than happy to have a long and friendly relationship with Kellar. Kellar improved Devant’s Gollywog Ball and had the improved apparatus made in Martinka’s shop for Devant. Devant gave him permission to perform it in his show.

It is highly unlikely that Devant, Maskelyne’s partner, would have had anything to do with Kellar had he been a thief. Kellar was beloved in magic by a great many people including Karl Germain and Houdini.

David Alexander,

Thanks for setting me straight, as I selected a bad choice of phrasing, based on the words of others from sources other than here.

~michael

Michael,

This was not posted to get in your face. I've seen others repeating the same erroneous conclusion based on a poor reading of historical evidence by others. Kellar was a Mason and widely respected in show business, beloved by luminaries in magic. It is unlikely that if he was a thief that he only stole from one person and those people never showed up. He was a good businessman, buying the Flying Birdcage from De Kolta (whose widow later claimed it was purchased from a cousin or other relative) for a very high fee and later trading the secret of the cage to someone who built a show for him…it was that highly prized. Kellar knew the value of things.

He lived out his retirement in Los Angeles, dying in 1922, heavily mourned in magic and Masonic circles.

David,

I did not take this as a spanking. But, thanks for your additional explanation. I am always open to the truth about magic history. FYI, if you have watched A&E's "The Story of Magic" (the one hosted by Ricky Jay), then you'll know where my original info came from. I will admit that I was a bit taken aback when I first heard that accusation.

What information I knew about Kellar before that time, was sketchy and possibly prone to some magic writers' tendancy to "add the shine", before "adding dirt" became popular. Those earlier stories are what helped fuel my interest in magic almost 50 years ago. I did however, trust that the (credible) source knew more about history than I did.

So again, your enlightening information is appreciated! It's comforting to know things are more like my original beliefs. In spite of what others may want, I really don't want to see the great ones fall from grace. The world needs something to believe in.

~michael

Magic!

Hi:
I saw the Great Lyle perform the Magic Moth illusion in the 1950s I think. It was quite astonishing.
james1a