18 Facts About Howard Thurston

Howard Thurston was a stage magician from Columbus, Ohio, United States.

Howard Thurston eventually became the most famous magician of his time.

Howard Thurston's traveling magic show was the biggest one of all; it was so large that it needed eight train cars to transport his road show.

Howard Thurston was born July 20,1869, in Columbus, Ohio.

Howard Thurston was the middle son of William and Margaret Thurston.

Howard Thurston's father William Henry Thurston was a wheelwright and carriage maker who served briefly as a private during the Civil War in the Third Ohio Regiment.

Howard Thurston attended Mount Hermon School for Boys in Northfield, Massachusetts, class of 1893.

When he was a child, Howard Thurston practiced sleight of hand, but his mother viewed this as "devil's work".

Howard Thurston later sent Thurston away to undertake Bible studies.

Howard Thurston is still famous for his work with playing cards.

Maurer showed Howard Thurston the move, which he would later feature in his act.

Howard Thurston added the "Rising Cards" trick from Professor Hoffman's Modern Magic, the book from which Thurston had learned the rudiments of magic.

Howard Thurston arranged an impromptu audition with Leon Herrmann, nephew of Alexander Herrmann.

Howard Thurston became well known for performing a floating lady illusion known as the "Levitation of Princess Karnac".

Howard Thurston continued presenting for about thirty-five years until, on March 30,1936, he suffered a stroke from a cerebral hemorrhage.

Howard Thurston is entombed at Green Lawn Abbey, a mausoleum in Columbus, Ohio, which opened again to the public in 2021 after more than fifty years.

Howard Thurston is quoted as a subject matter expert in Dale Carnegie's book How to Win Friends and Influence People.

The poster's placement in the show would lead viewers to believe that Howard Thurston was possibly a student of the school, and thus his performances used "real" magic.