- In Europe
old by several fellow travelers who were artists ahead of my performance to look over the situa
hile it is English, still it is different," they war ould not know what a "deck" of cards was, as it cards. We used to use the word "deck" in Ameri
frequently than we do now.
hat was the least of my linguistic troubles. A lit , when I was actually performing in England, it ened that the leading managers from all the big continental theatres went to the Palace Theatre in London, to see the acts and to
On board ship my first trip abroad, I
g
eas
Another snag abroad was the matter of lighting effects. My success depended on adequate spotlights for my work, since all articles. Imagine my consternation when I learned that he house was practically unknown! Their spotlights came from the wings, or the sides of the stage, which was fatal to me, as the light striking my hands w my cards. So I had to stipulate in all contracts that I mu ront of the house. Here's a
discussing my first trick with cards which consiste One of the boys exclaimed: "I see how he does it. Th
slides."
Again, the Zoo Hippodrome in Glasg Bostock Circus family, had no balco Mr. Bostock came to me very much for you. I have no such light and no p It would have been fatal for me to wo one floor, without using a front spotl contract, something must be done.
Just before my first performance, the
out on the stage I found that a plat r .
At the end of this, facing me, was wh he
light I though t, as they had e.
my work was done with small a spotlight from the front of t from the sides would shado st have a spotlight from the f funny story about that:
Most of the houses found great difficulty in arranging for this light, not having the necessary cable, but since it was mentioned in the contract it had to be done. At the Palace Theatre in Cork, Ireland, the best they could do was to place a boy with a light in the Orchestra. The second night this boy told me that two young fellows sitting behind him in the front row were
d of rubbing off the spots.
e boy with the lantern has slides and he is changing the
ow, Scotland, owned by the Bostock's of the well-known ny, so there was no way of arranging a front spotlight.
perturbed and said, "I don't know how I can arrange this lace to put it."
rk in that size house, seating three thousand people on ight. I was compelled to insist that as it was in my
manager told me that it was arranged. When I stepped m had been built right over the orchestra and its leader at looked almost like a cannon. When they turned on t
borrowed a search light off a ship. It was so strong I could hardly stand it.
It is a strange thing in my life that every time anything extraordinary has happened to me, someone on this continent has been on the scene unknown to me, and has, several years later, bowled me over by telling me of incidents that happened which I did not think were known in this country.
For instance, I was once sitting in the Lambs Club. I ran into Armand Vecci, who used to conduct the orchestra at the Ritz Carlton in London and now has the same position in this country in New York at the Ritz. He asked me:
"Do you remember what King Edward said to one of the guests after you did the pencil trick?"
I said' "No, but what do you know about it?" He replied:
''I was standing right behind you. I was conducting the Red Hussar Band."
fo t I was sho
O
which I did not hear and may not repeat, proved that the King not only had an excellent sen of humor but was very much a human being like the rest of us.
Again, when I went to the Orpheum Theatre in Winnipeg in 1908, the first words Mr. Dean, the manager, addressed to me were:
"Nate, where is that gol se
presented by them to anyone, I understand, and presented to you because you baffled every magician in the Circle!"
I said, "What do you know about it?"
"Well," he replied, "I happen to be in the audience when it happened."
S
On an early booking around the world - England, Ireland, Scotland, Africa, Australia, America, and again England - on board ship en route to Africa, I was sought out by a Mr.
Sullivan, who at one time had had charge of the royal laundry at the Buckingham Palace. Mr.
Sullivan, it seems, had "never ceased hearing tell" of B
King and Queen of Denmark. He excitedly drew me into his cabin.
Two full dress shirts reposed on the E
because the size is seventeen, but I think you will appreciate it as a souvenir. I'm going to treasure the other."
I was delighted to have the King's shirt; but later, in Johannesburg, foolishly gave it to Mr. A.
Goldman, one of the le th
"That's just my size! Nate, I'd give anything in the world to own that." As he had been kind to me on many an occasion, I fell - I gave it to him. Afterwards I was very sorry that I did.
N
with Mr. Leipzig's astounding sorcery to the point where he was willing to give the Americ wizard the shirt off his back. But even a king may not disrobe before an illustrious compan So His Majesty beckoned to George Ashton who
m
And the royal edict was carried out. However, Mr. Leipzig found that he couldn't wear th shirt. 'W
m
f course, that was a very big surprise to me. What King Edward said to one of his guests, se
d medal that Mr. Maskelyne pinned on your coat at one of the big ances of the Magic Circle in St. Georges' Hall in London? The first and only medal ever
peaking of the King, I am reminded that I once was the proud possessor of one of his shirts.
my performance of legerdemain at uckingham Palace before King Edward and Queen Alexandra when they entertained the
man's bunk. "These were once the property of King dward, and I'm going to give you one," he explained. "I know you won't be able to wear it
ading bookmakers in South Africa, who, upon hearing the episode of e shirt, had said:
ow, I'm told that a reporter ran this story about the incident: "King Edward was delighted an y.
booked all the royal performances. 'That an Leipzig . . . I take off my shirt to him. See that he gets one,' was his Majesty's command.
e hy, it's size seventeen!' he complained to a friend. "That's just my size ... give it to e,' coaxed the friend. And Mr. Leipzig did."
The 1945 S.A.M. Conference in Chicago might take a tip from this photograph showing Nate Leipzig, then National President, producing rabbits to be sent as special invitations
atrons of the art.
hinking back to England, there comes to mind an amusing incident regarding Mark Twain. I The New York Sun, at Savage Club dinner and entertainment. The guests of honor were Mr. Brennan, inventor of
as the
ry.
eption. He was a very fine oking man with his white, bushy hair and his white mustache - altogether a very striking
"I
hen Tom Edwards, the clever English ventriloquist, came over for an engagement at the
te a number of performers, I need not arrive until eleven o'clock. I arrived t the door just at eleven, when who should come along but Tom. I said, Hello, Tom. You
e rang the bell, and the butler opened the door. We told him who we were. He said, "I will
ell
I awoke with a start - looked at my watch-found it was two o'clock in the morning. I woke Tom and said, "There's something wrong here." I went to the door; and at that moment Mr.
to distinguished magicians and p
T
was a guest of a Mr. Chamberlain, then editor of the London branch of a
the monorail railroad, and Mark Twain. This was just before his departure for America. There was one immense round table upon which a miniature monorail train was demonstrated centerpiece. It was interesting to see that if you pushed it while in motion, it came towards you, working, I understand, on the gyroscopic principle. It is well to mention here that this affair happened about a day or two after the Ascot Cup was stolen. This is mentioned to foreshadow a little incident that occurred which, I understand, has become a matter of histo When Mark Twain was announced, he stood up to a tremendous rec
lo
figure, all in white in a Panama suit. When the applause subsided, Mr. Mark Twain said, noticed two headlines in the paper this morning: One said, 'The Ascot Cup stolen'; the other said, 'Mark Twain leaves town'." This brought tremendous roars of laughter.
W
Palace Theatre in New York, two years ago, we had many laughs over a joint performance in London. George Ashton had asked me to appear at Alfred Vanderbilt's house, stating that, as there were to be qui
a
working here, too?" He said he was.
W
show you to a room and will send for you when you are wanted." The house was very large.
He took us upstairs, through a long corridor, to our room. Everything looked comfortable.
They had a table set with various kinds of drinks and a plate full of sandwiches. We had a drink or so and ate. Then I opened the door thinking I might hear something of the
performance, but I could not hear a sound. Re-entering the room I had a few more drinks and a few more sandwiches, with Tom. We waited a very long time; it seemed hours. We both f asleep.
have you been? I've been looking all over the house for you. There are so many rooms . . . the butler forgot where he put you. The guests are leaving. Only a very few people are left."
We went downstairs, to do a couple of minutes each, anyway.