Women in Magic

When she wrote in her 1944 high school yearbook that she wanted to be a performer, Ruth Taylor had little idea that her wish would come true. Her natural out-going personality and flare for the stage, forged her and her husband a successful career in magic.

Starting a career in magic around 1948, she presented colourful bird act that was presented elegantly, beautifully, garnering high praise for her glowing performances. She was also an integral part of her and her husband's electrifying act—setting the stage for Mr. Electric and Carol to emerge.

Find out how an off-putting first encounter with magic transformed—as if by magic—Maria Ibáñez's long career in magic. After rediscovering magic through her son's interest, almost overnight, Maria the magician was born.

Gloria Jerome was not just a pretty face. She was genuinely talented with cards, billiard balls, cigarettes, ropes, and silk magic. While, of course, she used her appearance to her best advantage, the “Charming Little Faker” flourished on the night club circuit for several years, offering solid and lively entertainment.

It was tough to pick just one. I could feature thousands of performers who have assisted magicians, and each one would have a separate story to tell. But to stand in for them all, I’ve selected Velvet Mandrake, who for nearly forty years worked alongside one of our most celebrated illusionists, Mandrake the Magician.

One nineteenth-century royal who went from spectator to student was Maria Henrietta, Queen Consort of Belgium, who had the unique distinction of learning magic from both of the Herrmann brothers.

Her father may have sparked her original interest, but a trip to the Columbus Magi-Fest in 1983 sealed her fate. She enroll in the Chavez school, where she studied with Neil Foster. Only the third woman to complete the course, Jania still loves to do the card fans, billiard ball productions, and zombie routine that she perfected there.

Frances Usher certainly deserves credit as one half of an extremely successful mind-reading act. She joins a long line of women—Kitty Baldwin, Agnes Zancig, Mary Floyd, to name just a few—as indispensable second-sight partners. And to clarify—these are not assistants. They are partners. Without them there is no act.

Vonetta was an illusionist and quick-change artiste from Scotland who flourished in the British music halls in the early years of the last century. Learn how she carved out a considerable career during a restrictive time for women to learn, shine and flourish on the stage.