Lucas Strack-Bellachini

Lucas Strack-Bellachini , birth name Kaspar Ludwig Strack (born April 23, 1861 in Ebsdorf ; † November 17, 1930 in Marburg ), was a well-known magician (illusionist) in Europe in the decades around 1900 .

From band master to magician

Strack-Bellachini's father was the master shoemaker Johann Strack (1829–1906), married to Hennriette Luckhard (1829–1907). The family moved from Ebsdorf to Marburg around 1870.

Around 1880 Strack Stadt became Kapellmeister of Marburg. He directed the chapel The Seven Ravens . The Marburg painter Otto Ubbelohde depicted the band in a pen drawing in his volume From beautiful old times at a Sunday performance at the Marburg excursion destination Spiegelslust . Strack turned to magic early on. He found a job as Kapellmeister in Ernst Basch's magic circus . When the latter gave up his trade and founded a magic apparatus factory, Strack bought props and magic tricks from Basch and went on tour himself.

"The Marburger Bellachini"

At first he had little success. He experimented with lighting effects, a black stage and phosphorescent material. It was used to paint bones on black body clothing, making them reflect the light. He always endeavored to include the latest technical and scientific knowledge such as magnetism in his program. His breakthrough came in November 1886 when he performed at the court of Duke Ernst II of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha . This success gave him access to the highest circles in the German Empire. Duke Ernst is said to have suggested that he use the name of Bellachini, who died shortly before, as a new stage name. With the name Der Marburger Bellachini he followed in the footsteps of his famous predecessor.

He transported his company's props across Europe in several railroad cars. He employed several assistants and musicians. During the winter months he performed in the major cities of the German Empire, but also in the largest halls in London, Milan, Vienna and Budapest, and in the three decades leading up to the First World War entertained an audience of millions. In the circus town of Krems an der Donau (Austria) he performed as a solo entertainer on the large circus square, where circus tents for up to 15,000 spectators could be set up . He usually performed in cities on five days, with the penultimate day reserved for the children's performance. The newspaper Dorfchronik und Grafschafter (Moers) reported in 1909 that more than 2000 children were present at the children's performance in the afternoon. During the First World War he still performed as a magician in hospitals .

Late years and death

After the war he sold his company. Some of his employees continued to work as magicians in the period that followed. The most successful of them was Franz Schweizer . Schweizer had asked the artist whether he could continue to use the name Bellachini, which Strack-Bellachini allowed him.

Strack-Bellachini had managed his income well and had become a wealthy man selling his props and magic pieces. He was considered a millionaire in Marburg and had access to the city's dignitaries. On January 24, 1912, he was accepted into the Freemason Lodge Unity and Loyalty in Kassel . From 1915 he was the “constantly visiting brother” of the Marburg Lodge Marc Aurel zum Flammenden Stern , of which he became a member around 1920. However, with the exception of his house, he lost almost all values ​​in the inflation of 1923. Until 1930 he worked as a healer. For many years he had been well acquainted with the “clay pastor” Emanuel Felke and had acquired homeopathic knowledge from him . His great charisma had also brought great recognition and success in his work as a homeopath. He died of a stroke in Marburg at the age of 69 .

Many of the later magicians - a list shows more than fifty namesake who used the effective advertising name of the original Bellachini (1828–1885) - visited his grave, which still exists today in the Marburg cemetery on Ockershäuser Allee. Also Kalanag , film producer and Magicians, came when he appeared in 1948 in Marburg, with his ensemble to his grave stone.

Awards

• by Duke Ernst of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha: Medal for Art and Sciences (1891)
• by Duke Ernst of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha: Duke Ernst Medal (1892)
• by Duke Ernst of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha: Appointment as Ducal Saxon court artist (1893)
• by the Royal Italian Circolo Frentano in Larino (Italy): Golden Frentano Merit Medal (1900)
• by Duke Friedrich von Anhalt: appointed court artist (1905)
• by Prince Leopold zur Lippe: Awarded the Lippische Rose am Ring (1911)

literature

• Karl-Heinz Gimbel: The Marburger Bellachini, memories of Lucas Strack-Bellachini (1861-1930). In: Small series from Marburg. Volume 7, Marburg 2013, ISBN 978-3-89703-793-9 .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Helmut Keiler: Marburg Freemason Documentation , Gießen 1980 (Marburg University Library)