Evening star., 1936-09-13
Former Assistant to Thurston
] Writes About Famed Magician
Masfe rfmI Personality
Vas Reason for
His Success.
By Thomas the MAGICIAN


- undoubtedly the greatest
Snowman that the magic
L profession has ever
known" This was the tribute paid
to the late Master Of Magic, who died
last April, by one Of his own as
sistants, Mrs. DesMondae Rieman
Smith.
Mrs. Smith, who lives in Indianap-
oils, Ind, was associated with the
Thurston show for several years as
an assistant in the magician's pet
illusion, "Levitation," or "Frananda,
the Floating Lady"
According to Mrs. Smith, Mr.. T..
Gas the company called Thurston) was
very temperamental. Many times" !"
she recalls, Mr.. T. would mention
only slightly some glaring mistake
that had been made in the show.
On the other hand, he might fly into
fit over some trifiing thing that was
probably overlooked by the audience.
"The fact that the great magician
talked to his assistants in an under
tone all during the show was quite
distressing at certain times. For in
stance. I remember that on one oc-
casion Mr.. T. had us laughing 50
hard that the tears ran down our
cheeks-and right before the au-
dience. I'm sure now that they
wondered what was 50 funny!"
A MOTHER interesting character in
the Thurston show was George
White, the colored boy who had been
with Mr.. Thurston ever since he was
. lad Of 8.
To George, Mr.. Thurston was just
"the Governor. and never did the
magician write an article for a maga-
zine or newspaper that his boy
George" wasn't mentioned. Incl
dentally, George was chief assistant
for 40 years, and there is no doubt
that he added considerably to the sue
cess Of the show.
The Master Magician's greatness
was due only in small part to his
ability at sleight- hand, although he
was considered one of the most skilled
in that field. 1t was Howard
Thurston's masterful personality,
witty speech, clever acting and un-
canny psychology, coupled with his
love for children, that endeared him
to the hearts of American audiences.
He knew how to coax boys and
girls to the stage and make them,
under whispered instructions, provide
great deal of entertainment. He
had a carefree manner, gay and
amusing.
WHEN he appeared on the stage the
w music was playing loudly. Quickly
and seemingly from thin air, he pro-
duced huge. dripping fish-bowls, bou-
quets of flowers and ducks that
quacked and tapped their wings.
During this first delightful assault
upon the attention of the audience
Thurston was looking smilingly across
the footlights and seemingly saying
It love you all-every single one OF
you" 1t sounds sentimental, but his
box-ofiice receipts were quite realistic
Mrs. Smith says that Thurston made
several fortunes during his career
and lost and spent them. He was
at times, actually extravagant," she
points out. For instance, he spent
loads of money on hotel rooms, Wallets
and hospital care.
I'm fact. every once in while the
company would lay off for a week or
two, while Mr. Thurston would go to
a hospital and take health treatments
His dressing room was always on the
stage, and during his daughters act
in the show, he would go there and
take short nap on a cot which was
placed there just for that purpose"
His daughter, Jane Thurston. had
her magic act within her fathers
show, and presented some very nice
effects. These, combined with hel
singing and clever dancing, added
variety to the Thurston performance
MR.. THURSTON usually spent his
N Summers in research and study,
keeping in touch with current hap
penings in the worlds Of science and
art, investigating these aids of magic,