Davenport Brothers
The Davenport brothers were an American magician duo, consisting of Ira Eratus Davenport (* 1839 ; † 1911 ) and William Davenport (* 1841 ; † 1877 ).
The Davenport brothers put on a successful show of spiritualist media in the 19th century . They produced spiritualistic manifestations while they were (seemingly) chained. In their most famous performance, they sat in a cupboard and brought all kinds of musical instruments to play, even though they were tied up. They performed in America between 1855 and 1864 . After the outbreak of the American Civil War , they preferred to tour England , France , Germany and Russia . In 1868 they returned to America. In 1873 they separated and Ira became a farmer. A comeback attempt in 1895 failed. The Davenport brothers had a lasting influence on the magic of their time with their show . A former associate, Harry Kellar , later became a famous US magician; Harry Houdini was also inspired as a spectator by the Davenports Brothers in 1887 and became friends with Ira in 1909 in his final years.
In contrast to its announcers, the duo never claimed themselves to have psychic powers or to be in league with spirits, but left it open what nature their abilities were. As a result, antispiritists working magic colleagues like John Henry Anderson , John Nevil Maskelyne and Houdini found themselves challenged to publicly reveal the Davenports' tricks.
literature
- James Randi : Conjuring. Being a definitive account of the venerable arts of sorcery, prestidigitation, wizardry, deception, & chicanery and of the mountebanks & scoundrels ho have perpetrated these subterfuges on a bewildered public. St. Martin's Press, New York NY 1992, ISBN 0-312-08634-2 .
- E. Better: The Unveiled Wonder Cabinet . In: The Gazebo . Issue 43, 1867, pp. 679–682 ( full text [ Wikisource ] - illustrated).