Oscar Eliason the Original Dante the Great - Magic in Sydney

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Oscar Eliason - The Original 'Dante the Great'
His life and travels in Australia and New Zealand 1898 - 1899
by Kent Blackmore
Ask almost any magician today to tell you about Dante and they will start to discuss Harry Jansen (  1883 - 1955 ), the illusionist who took the name 'Dante' to great and deserved heights of fame. But there was another 'Dante' before Jansen; a magician whose talents, although scarcely known today, deserve to be recorded. Oscar Eliason ( 1869 - 1899 ) showed the potential to have become one of the magical greats of the early twentieth century.  Only the tragic earliness of his death prevented his skill becoming more widely known.
In these chapters Oscar Eliason's story is told, with emphasis on his Australasian tours between 1898 and 1899. It has been possible, through newspaper research, to build up an almost complete tour route for this period, which together with theatrical reviews and portraits, makes up an interesting history of the man who first performed as DANTE.
ABOUT THE BOOK
© 1984 - 2020
The information contained in these web pages is the current revision of previous publications. Originally published in 1984, "Oscar Eliason - The Original Dante The Great"  was revised and reprinted in 1987 as a 40-page booklet in light card covers. This website contains major updates to the original work, in particular the chapters on Eliason's early years from 1893-1898. Further minor updates will be posted on occasion. I am always interested to  learn more about Eliason and would welcome your assistance.
You  may also be interested in my later book, "Levante: His Life, No  Illusion", the biography of the Australian illusionist Les Levante.  Details can be found HERE.
        

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Most of the information in this story has been found by newspaper research in the State Libraries of New South Wales and Victoria. Thanks also to:-
  • Gerald Taylor, publisher of 'Magical Nights at the Theatre' (1980) for permission to incorporate from the book the notes and memories of  Charles Waller.
  • Mrs Lois Polanshek, the niece of Oscar and Frank Eliason for much valuable assistance regarding the family's history.
  • Janine Barrand (Performing Arts Museum, Melbourne) and Ian Park for making available Dante memorabilia.
  • The 'Friends of Waverley Cemeteries' for their active interest in the Eliason grave, and March 2021 restoration of the broken wreath.
  • Ardis Parshall for extracts of newspaper articles from Salt Lake City.
  • Joe Pecore for assistance including locating references to Frank Eliason post-1899.
  • Richard Hatch for his contributions concerning Eliason and magic in Utah.
  • Online images, including from the W.G. Alma Conjuring Collection held in the State Library of Victoria.
  • Gina Riner, great grand-daughter of Virginia ‘Edmunda’ Eliason (via her  third child) for valuable details of her years after Australia.
  • Lindsey Arkley for her research showing Edmunda's performances with magician Robert 'Doc' Cunningham.
  • Sarah Beltrame for sharing an image of a Frank Eliason handbill.       
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