Stage magic videos – Frederik Eugene Powell on stage

Frederik Eugene Powell on stage.

This is a snippet of a 1926 / 27 performance of Frederik Eugene Powell.

He performed with Imro Fox and Servais LeRoy as part of the billing called the “Triple Alliance”. He went on to create his own illusion show touring the United States, South America, and the West Indies. He performed for over 8 decades and was a major attraction in P.T. Barnum’s circus.

Powell’s entire stage show was destroyed twice, once 1915 by a fire and again in 1921 by a flood in San Antonio. He survived fires, floods, earthquakes, and even the Mexican Revolution. Powell continued to perform. His last public performance was in November, 1934. Powell retired to New Haven, Connecticut.

In 1922, Powell headed one of the four touring companies for “The Houdini Wonder Show of 1922”, which was presented in connection with Houdini’s film “The Man From Beyond”.

In his later years, he was conferred with the conjuring profession’s highest honor Dean of American Magicians by both the National Conjurors’ Association and the esteemed Society of American Magicians.

He was Dean of The Society of American Magicians from 1922 to 1938.

Powell lived with the John Petrie during his last years who filmed some 16mm movies including studies Powell (a copy of the film is now part of the S.A.M. Film Library.)

He led a fascinating life from his birth in 1856, to his death in 1938.