The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-07-14
WAS ONCE GREAT
EST TRlCKSTER
HARRY KELLER HELD THAT
THAT DISTINCTION:
Away Popular.
Spiritualism and Like Only Tricks.
Easily Understood BY Those Who
Have Capacity to Understand.

although 1t was an american snow
man in the last century who enuncia-
ted the celebrated dictum, The public
likes to be humbugged," that princi-
pie has been known and acted upon
since the dawn of history. Under
such various names as magic, black
art, necromacy, illusion, medicine
making, taking, sleight-of-hand, wiz
ardry and spiritualism, the art of the
trickster has been practiced in every
age and in every cline. The ancient
priests used it as an aid to religion,
primitive people Of all lands have had
their supeystitious instincts quicken
ed by their medicine men and even in
these modern times we find clever
fakirs taking advantage of our awe of
the unknown world through what is
known as spiritualism.
Truly an ancient art compounded
one-half of natural quickness of wit,
manual dexterity and inventive inge-
nuity, and the other half pure nerve
and assurance. The magician pits his
wits against the public and wins in
variably for several reasons. His au-
dience is prepared to be fooled and he
is prepared to fool them. He is in the
advantageous position of a salesman
whose customers want his goods. He
knows perfectly every move that he is
going to make while his audience is
placed at the disadvantage of the un-
expected. In addition to the native
quickness of wit which he must pos
sess to be success inNhis profession,
he Is constantly making it sharper
and keener by daily brushes with the
public. Like trained athlete he at
tacks and defends yinstinct and he
has the same advantage that train
ed athlete has over a man of equal
strength who is not in condition. A
fourth advantage is in the fact that
he seldom has to fool the same audi
ence many times in succession. The
most clever magician could not hope
to face the same audience day after
day with the same tricks and not be
detected by some one.
Keller Now in the Seventies.
The art of magic or illusion is one
that is constantly growing in posi-
bilities. Compare the paraphernalia
that the old-time performers had to
work with and that of the modern il
: lusionist. 1t is like comparing the
j. stage of Shakespeare's time with the
spectacular productions of today.
With all the devices of electricity and
other inventions of modern science at
hand it is small wonder that the il
lusionist can battle his audience. But
in the old days it took something
more than ingenious appliances.
There is a man who has bridged
the gap between the days when
magician was but sort of sublimate
iuggler, depending entirely upon his
sleight-ot-hand and his quick wit and
the illusionist of today with his elab-
crate apparatus and mechanical para
phernalia.
Harry Keller, or Keller as he was
known on the stage, is now in his sew
enties. Ten years ago he retired from
the stage and purchased the beauti-
full home in Los Angeles where he
resides. He had we'll earned his re-
. tirement after forty-seven years OF
active service as magician and illu-
sionist, during which time he had ap-
peared in every country on the globe.
But the old master three years ago
proved that he had lost none Of the
cleverness which entitled him to be
called 'Kellar the Great when he
appeared at benefit performance
for the Antilles sufferers at the Hip
podrome in New York. The ovation
ne received On tIldt oSSoSAoA ID S'AAf
the talk of the theatrical circles.
Although retired, Mr.. Keller is tar
from being a recluse. He still retains
that quickness of intellect and vigor-
Gus energy that kept him for years IN
the forefront of entertainers. Los An
geles is second only to New York as
theatrical center and few are the stars
of stage and screen who fail to renew
their acquaintance with this well-be-
loved comrade.
Best nlusionists Are Americans.
Not only has Mr.. Keller known ev-
cry prominent member of the theatri-
cal world but his acQuaintanceshlp
embraces statesmen, diplomats, finan-
eiers, sportsmen, authors, editors, mu-
sicians and minister's 1t is difficult to
mention a great man of the past sixty
years whom Keller has not met. The
--o11e ~ b;e homo aro 1ina6 With anfO-