page_title: Alexander Herrmann
section_title: Career
hierarchical_section_title: Alexander Herrmann / Biography / Career
caption_attribution_description: English: theatrical poster for Herrmann the Great
context_page_description: Alexander Herrmann was a French magician, better known as Herrmann the Great. He was married to Adelaide Herrmann, another magician known as the Queen of Magic.
context_section_description: With the departure of Carl, Alexander began his independent career in 1862.  Carl returned to play to the capitals of Europe. Alexander brought his own show to London in 1871 and began a three-year stretch at Egyptian Hall, which he called his "one thousand and one nights".  Egyptian Hall was one of the first buildings in England to be influenced by the Egyptian style, inspired by Europe's new interest in the various temples on the Nile, the Pyramids and the Sphinx.  By the end of the 19th century, the Hall was also associated with magic and spiritualism, as a number of performers and lecturers had hired it for shows.  So when Alexander began his run there, it was already the hallmark of a professional magician's career.
  As he got older, he came to resemble his brother Carl.  Carl wore an imperial beard and handlebar moustache, and his hair was thinning.  Alexander had a full set of curly hair, a thick goatee and a moustache with upturned ends.  Even though they resembled each other, Alexander developed his own distinct, magnetic personality.  Carl's humor was sly and he presented his magic in a mysterious manner; he was from the old school of magic.  Alexander's performance style, on the other hand, was to interweave comedy with his magic.  He was a humorist who aimed to make his performances a joyous occasion.
  Herrmann's philosophy about performing magic was that "the magician depends for the success of his art upon the credulity of the people. Whatever mystifies, excites curiosity; whatever in turn baffles this curiosity, works the marvelous."
  Despite his performances' humorous elements, Alexander still mystified his audiences.  His intense eyes, imposing mustache and goatee gave him a satanic appearance; in person he looked like a magician. According to H. J. Burlingame, Alexander Herrmann's personality presented "an atmosphere of mystery about the magician." Burlingame also noted that Herrmann was one of the kindest and gentlest of men.
  Rumors emerged that Carl was Alexander's uncle, or that they were not related.  A lawsuit claimed that Alexander's real name was Nieman.  It went on to say that Carl adopted young Nieman and used him as an assistant so he could groom him to become his successor.  The suit claimed that Nieman had adopted the name Herrmann.  In 1895, Alexander printed a statement to a San Francisco newspaper that contradicted everything in the lawsuit.  He told the newspaper that he had been born in France on February 11, 1843, of German parentage.  (His date of birth given here contradicts records that show that he was born February 10, 1844, according to Herrmann expert James Hamilton).  He stated that his father was a physician in Germany and had moved to Paris before Alexander was born.  Nevertheless, the rumors persisted even after his death; Alexander's widow had to disprove them many times.
  Carl retired during Alexander's three-year stint at Egyptian Hall.  While in America, Alexander had learned the value of making the press; he used that ability during his run in London.  While strolling down Regent Street with a friend, he gathered a crowd.  He stepped up to two gentlemen and picked a handkerchief from one.  He did this clumsily to get the attention of two policemen that were behind him.  As the two bobbies came towards him, Alexander deftly poached the watch of the second gentleman.
  Alexander's friend offered to vouch for him.  As he was telling the virtues of his friend, the second man discovered that his watch was missing.  He insisted that Herrmann took it.  Alexander professed his innocence and asked the policemen to search him.  They did not find the stolen items.  Herrmann suggested that the two policemen should search themselves.  The handkerchief was found on one of the cops, the missing pocket watch was on the other.  Then one of the policemen noticed his badge missing.  They searched one of the gentlemen and found the missing badge.  Herrmann smiled and said, "It seems that I am the only honest person here."
  He tried in vain to explain to the police that the entire thing was just a
caption: Theatrical poster for a Leon "Herrmann the Great" stage show
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