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Robert Heller

Posted: January 17th, 2011, 9:16 pm
by Joe Pecore
Check out my Dean Carnegie's Magic Detective Blog. This week he has info on Robert Heller: http://deancarnegie.blogspot.com/

Re: Robert Heller

Posted: January 18th, 2011, 6:34 pm
by Joe Pecore
Part 2 of Dean's story about Heller is now up http://deancarnegie.blogspot.com/2011/0 ... art-2.html

Re: Robert Heller

Posted: January 19th, 2011, 2:26 am
by Richard Hatch
These are really great, thanks, Joe. I'm especially interested in the role E. P. Hingston played in Heller's career. Before Hingston managed Artemus Ward, he managed Anderson, the Great Wizard of the North, and later Washington Simmons (aka, Dr. Lynn). I think Hingston's role in 19th century magic is worth further exploration.

Re: Robert Heller

Posted: January 19th, 2011, 9:54 pm
by Joe Pecore
I put together a quick bio on Hingston on MagicPedia http://geniimagazine.com/magicpedia/E._P._Hingston (hoping others can add to it!)

Re: Robert Heller

Posted: January 20th, 2011, 9:51 am
by Richard Hatch
Excellent stuff, thanks, Joe!

Re: Robert Heller

Posted: January 21st, 2011, 4:52 pm
by Dean Carnegie
I did a short piece on Dr. Lynn back in December though I didn't mention E.P. Hingston. It's also no where near as detailed as the Robert Heller piece which is probably the most in depth piece I did. I try to keep the blog entries fairly short, but Heller was fascinating and it was easier to break it up into three parts.

Actually there is a fourth part, but I'm holding it till later in the year in the hopes I can get some fresh photos and locate some Heller props that still exist.

Re: Robert Heller

Posted: January 21st, 2011, 5:39 pm
by Richard Kaufman
Dean, I haven't read the second part of your piece, but what years would Heller have been selling magic sets?

Re: Robert Heller

Posted: January 21st, 2011, 7:04 pm
by Joe Pecore
Does anyone know if Heller ever became an American citizen?

Re: Robert Heller

Posted: January 22nd, 2011, 12:32 am
by Dean Carnegie
Richard, That is a good question. I don't have an definitive answer other than an educated guess. His return to magic was in the 1860s and around 1864 he met up with E.P. Hingston who helped propel his career. My guess is that it would be between 1864 and 1878. I do know in 1875 he had a booklet printed up called "His Doings". He was touring in Europe and abroad at that time. He came back to the US in 1877 with a ton of supplies, 49 tons to be exact (or that's what he claimed). I'm sure magic sets were among that 49 tons.

But in all honesty, I didn't even know he had magic sets. I'm researching the actual 'magic' he did right now and that will probably come up in the research.

Do you have a Heller Magic Set?

Re: Robert Heller

Posted: January 22nd, 2011, 10:09 am
by Joe Pecore
In regards to Heller's possible American citizenship status, Dean and I can not find any records in which he thought out citizenship. I did find this summary of the history of American Naturalization process interesting http://history.sd.gov/Archives/Data/Nat ... fault.aspx

Since he married an American woman, it might be possible that she may have lost her citizenship and became British, but I'm not positive. Everything is a bit fuzzy to me about the procedures on becoming a US citizen prior to The Naturalization Act of June 29, 1906 which declared standard fees and forms and created the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization.

Re: Robert Heller

Posted: January 22nd, 2011, 12:14 pm
by Dean Carnegie
If anyone has any Robert Heller props or memorabilia you'd be willing to share photos/stories of, please let me know. My final blog on Heller will be about his magic but I'm taking my time on that and trying to track down as much stuff as I can.

Re: Robert Heller

Posted: January 22nd, 2011, 2:33 pm
by Richard Kaufman
Heller (and Hartz) magic sets are very rare, however several folks in New England have Heller sets.

Re: Robert Heller

Posted: January 22nd, 2011, 4:00 pm
by Dean Carnegie
Wow. I know that Heller's will stated that all his stuff be destroyed upon his death, but he had a death bed change of heart so his things were supposed to go to the magic dealer Hartz for him to sell.