David Stahl Presents: The Man That Houdini Envied
The Magic of the Highest Paid Entertainer of his time & his Tragic Death
Welcome
David Stahl Presents - The Great Lafayette - Museum of Magic Artifacts
For forty years, I've traveled the globe passionately performing Magic & in search of artifacts relating to the Magician "The Great Lafayette"
The journey has been full of surprises & continues to be an adventure unlike anything I could have imagined
Houdini gives The Great Lafayette a very special gift
Sigmund had changed his name to The Great Lafayette and was beginning to have some success as a magician. Harry Houdini was also beginning to receive some notoriety at the time. Both were booked on the same bill at The Nashville Opera House. Following their performance, Houdini was given a gift by the chief of police in Nashville - a dog. A mongrel that Houdini immediately re-gifted and gave to The Great Lafayette. It was Love at first sight. Lafayette was a rather flamboyant, larger than life type of character - everything was over the top. He loved the dog - but a simple Mongrel would not due, so he had official looking papers drawn up to show that the dog was in fact a rare select breed of Royal Gleckhundts from a tiny remote island in the Azores (extremely rare I might add, as no such bred exists).
Lafayette named the dog Beauty and told everyone that the dog was indeed his soulmate.
Until death do us part
Lafayette stated that when the day came that Beauty should die, Lafayette's own death would soon follow. No truer words were spoken. Beauty died on May 2nd, 1911. She was embalmed & buried in a glass top casket. Her funeral took place the morning of May 10th, 1911 Shockingly Lafayette did NOT attend the funeral service
Stranger Than Fiction
In an eerie, Nostredamus like manner - The Great Lafayette had indeed predicted his own demise with pinpoint accuracy.
The Great Lafayette died horrifically, mere hours BEFORE Beauty's funeral took place.
The Great Lafayette died along with nine others in the Edinburgh Empire Palace Theatre fire the evening of May 9th, 1911.
As strange as this sounds, This is only the first of "many" strange circumstances surrounding the death of The Great Lafayette.
AJourney for Answers
For every question answered, two new questions arise.
Years ago, while standing next to Lafayette's Grave - I met a elderly man who had actually attended the funeral in 1911 as a young child.
To my astonishment, he still possessed & allowed me to acquire, several original artifacts pertaining to The Great Lafayette that had been in his safe keeping for roughly ninety years.
I've physically ventured into the underbelly of the Scottish theatre to see firsthand where Lafayette's body laid beneath its stage.
I have visited and spent countless hours conducting research at the following academic institutions. I'd like to once again extend my gratitude for all of their help and hospitality.
Portrait of The Great Lafayette
Academic Studies at the following Institutions
Harvard
Library of Congress
Brown University
The Harvard Theatre Collection is the oldest collection of its kind in America
Brown University
Library of Congress
Brown University
The H. Adrian Smith Collection of Conjuring & Magicana
Library of Congress
Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The McManus - Young Rare Book and Pictorial Materials Collection
University of Texas
The Magic Circle - London
University of edinburgh
Harry Ransom Center
University of edinburgh
The Magic Circle - London
University of edinburgh
research archives
The Magic Circle - London
The Magic Circle - London
The Magic Circle - London
Research Library & Archives
The World's Leading Scholars
I have received a tremendous amount of help and support from the most highly regarded magical historians (both past and present) for which I will be forever grateful.
Special thanks goes to the following Notable Scholars.
Dr. Edwin Dawes, Ricky Jay, & Peter Lane.
The Exhibit
Select Pieces On Display for the Magic Collector's Expo 2019
Houdini envied him, Audience's loved him. He became the highest paid performer of his time and was booked years in advance. However, following his death in 1911, famed magician and author Will Goldston referred to The Great Lafayette as "The Most HATED Magician of ALL TIME"
A Rare Cabinet Photo of The Great Lafayette & His Beloved Dog Beauty
Extremely Rare Bank Check
Beauty and a Bag of Gold - The Great Lafayette's Two Best Friends
The Crowned Jewel of the collection
The Sword was key in identifying the body of The Great Lafayette.
This sword was kindly and generously gifted to the collection by my dear friend Ken Klosterman on June 22nd, 2018 in Cincinnati following my presentation regarding the life and death of The Great Lafayette.
Since the 1970's it had been on display in his magnificent museum
"The Salon de Magie"
it is with heart felt sincerity that I say,
"Thank you Ken, Your generosity and kindness will never be forgotten."
Saying goodbye to a dear friend.
Ken Klosterman January 26, 1933 - October 21, 2020
Rest In Peace
Media
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