At the turn of the century, magician and Jersey City regular Adelaide Herrmann stood before a firing squad at Metropolitan Opera House in New York City and allegedly caught six bullets fired at her by local militiamen.
Weehawken resident and magician Margaret Steele will recreate performances by the “Queen of Magic” at the 100th annual “Salute to Magic” presented by the Society of American Magicians on May 16 at the Manhattan Center in New York City.
The “Salute to Magic” is the longest running annual show in New York. It has welcomed some of the world’s most famous magicians, including the one and only Harry Houdini. This year the show includes magicians like Paul Daniels and The Pendragons from “America’s Got Talent.”
“There aren’t very many women in magic.” – Margaret Steele
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Herrmann rose to fame as an assistant to her husband Alexander Herrmann, widely accepted as the best magician of the 19th century before his death in 1897. Mrs. Herrmann is well known in Jersey City lore, performing regularly in Jersey City’s Vaudeville houses before and after her husband’s death.
“There aren’t very many women in magic,” Steele said. “She was the only professional female magician of her time, and she was a star.”
A magician is born
Steele first fell in love with Herrmann and magic in 1987 and has been working as magician ever since. Steele’s former incarnation, Magical Margo, performed children’s magic for over two decades at venues around the country including hundreds of performances in northern New Jersey. Her magic has been featured on national TV shows like Today in New York and has worked with New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Hudson Valley Philharmonic, and the U.S. Army Band at West Point.
“Magic is fascinating,” Steele said. “It’s timing and skill – not everyone can do it. But to see the look on the audience’s faces when they’ve just seen a skillfully performed magic trick is breathtaking.”
In addition to magic, Steele is a Juilliard-trained musician and has traveled the world, performing in Japan, Australia, South America and other countries.
‘Cornucopia’
Steele will be performing the famed “Cornupcopia” trick, made famous by Mrs. Herrmann herself, which literally translates to horn of plenty. Steele will pull out silk scarves from a piece of paper rolled up into a cone; Herrmann conjured up artificial flowers.
“The trick was very popular 100 years ago, but nobody that I know of is doing it now,” Steele said.
“The Salute to Magic” also features live new illusions, created just for the historic event, while two giant screens will show clips from past performances.
“I’m incredibly excited for the show,” Steele said. “There are incredible magicians from around the world coming to perform like Paul Daniels, who is practically the Johnny Carson of England.”
The 100th “Salute to Magic” takes place at the Manhattan Center, 311 West 34th St. in Manhattan, on May 16 starting at 8 p.m. Tickets are $75, groups of 10 or more are $65, and can be purchased at www.sampa1.com/salute or by calling Tom Klem at (212) 725-5258.
Sean Allocca can be reached at current@hudsonreporter.com