Historical Reminiscing with Robert B. Hitchings
The Great Lafayette, Magician & Illusionist
A few weeks ago I was at my desk working on the history of Lafayette Residential Park, Norfolk, Virginia. As I was going through the old maps and old newspapers, especially the Virginian-Pilot, I kept running into an ad of a man called The Great Lafayette now playing at the old Granby Theatre here in downtown Norfolk, Virginia. The year was 1901. Interestingly, the man was a famous magician who took America by storm. He was another Houdini of his day and is ranked among the great illusionists of his time. But, over time, his name has disappeared. No one remembers the Great Lafayette or his show. He had a most fascinating story that ended tragically.
The great Lafayette was born Sigmund Neuberger on February 25, 187, in Munich Germany. In 1884 he and his family immigrated to the United States. At the age of 19 he began performing in vaudeville and he quickly learned the ropes that caught the eyes of the audience. He also could mimic other performers like the great magician of the day, Ching Ling Foo (1852-1922). He quickly adopted the name “The Great Lafayette” and, with his 18th century style clothes, he was a huge sensation in England in 1892. His excellent speed in changing clothes, and his illusions with his “Lions Bride” and “Doctor Kremser-Vivisectionist illusions” made him very popular with the audiences everywhere. Within a few years, he was one of the highest paid performers in vaudeville, earning close to 3.6 million in today’s prices.
In 1900 he was touring the continent and the United States with his 40 performers, all working together with this magic and menagerie of pets including a lion which he used in his illusions.
In 1911 he met Harry Houdini, a great admirer and friend. Houdini knew he was an animal lover and presented to the Great Lafayette a mongrel puppy which Lafayette loved dearly. He loved this dog so much that he gave her the name Beauty. Beauty was pampered with a wealthy life-style including gold chokers and five-course meals to which she wore her diamond studded collar.
In 1911 in Edinburgh, Scotland, Beauty became sick, and four days before the opening of his show at the famous Empire Palace Theatre she died. The Great Lafayette was devastated, shocked by the loss of his dog. His team of performers saw how upset and sorrowful he was. As so many of his employees said that day when they learned of Beauty passing, “It was simply heartbreaking to see a man so full of grief for the loss of his dog.” He loved that dog and grieved heavily for the loss of Beauty. The Great Lafayette arranged for the dog to be buried in a lovely cemetery for people called Piershill Cemetery in Edinburgh. After much controversy with the city council and cemetery officials, they all agreed to provide a nice plot to bury Beauty as long as the Great Lafayette would be buried there too!
Four days later the Great Lafayette was performing to a sellout audience at the Empire Palace when a freak accident occurred. During his signature illusion, “The Lion Bride” a kerosene lantern fell onto the stage. The stage was quickly on fire. Many of the audience thought this was part of the show. They did not move or evacuate until the theater manager shouted, “stage on fire.” To get the audience to stand and move out the orchestra played, “God Save the king”. Unbeknownst to the audience, many of the stage hands and performers were trapped on stage when the safety curtain was lowered and jammed. Soon the stage became an inferno. All the doors had been locked by the Great Lafayette himself, ensuring that no one would sneak in without a ticket. The Great Lafayette escaped the inferno, but quickly returned to save his horse. He was trapped in the burning building and died. Ten performers were also killed in this inferno.
The great Lafayette’s body was recovered and sent to the crematorium in Glasgow. Two days later, the firemen and workers found another body, dressed in 18th century clothes. After examining the body, they quickly realized that this was the real Lafayette and the other body was his illusionist body double.
On May 14, 1911, a crowd of about 250,000 spectators and admirers witnessed the Great Lafayette funeral and watched tearfully as the urn of his ashes was laid to rest next to his beloved dog Beauty at Piershill cemetery. Part two of this story, Beauty had been stuffed by her master.
Norfolk and Portsmouth have had many talented magicians come to our area to perform. I remember reading about the Great MAGI, Mr. Sevigne, who captivated the audience on a cold winter night at the Eagle’s Hotel, in January 1837. He was noted for his card tricks and cutting up tickets and making them reappear whole again. And we cannot forget the great Houdini who appeared twice in Norfolk.
In the 1980s as a young man, I remember David Copperfield’s television specials. He was known for his storytelling and his illusions, which as a historian mesmerized me. I remember some of his illusions including the disappearance of a jet aircraft plane and the vanishing and reappearance of the Statue of Liberty. David Copperfield was breathtaking, especially walking through the Great Wall of China and so much more. Yes, I was mesmerized like so many by his magical illusions.
On May 4, 2005, David Copperfield appeared at Norfolk’s Chrysler Hall. The reviews I remembered were simply great, though I was not able to attend.
Magicians and illusionists come and go throughout the centuries, but they always seem to captivate an audience, young and old, leaving something unusual behind. Creating illusions of the impossible are feats of great entertainment. How these magicians can deceive the audience and baffle everyone is magic itself. And at the end of the show, the amazed audience leaves saying, “Wow, how did he do that!”
Piershill Cemetery, Edinburgh, Scotland* * * * * *
Robert B. Hitchings is a seventh generation Norfolk resident, graduating with an Associate's Degree in Biology from Old Dominion University and BA in history from Virginia Wesleyan University. During his studies he was awarded a scholarship at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, England, and he was an exchange student at Brooks-Westminster College, Oxford, England. From 1999-2014 he worked as head of the Sargeant Memorial History Room at Norfolk Public Library, and since then has headed the Wallace History Room at Chesapeake Public Library. He is also the President of the Norfolk County Historical Society, and for six years was a columnist for The Virginian-Pilot. Robert may be reached at nchs.wallaceroom@gmail.com
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