Join us on Facebook
Magic Tricks For Kids
  • Home
  • Magic Lessons
    • Magic Lessons #1 – Paper Bag Magic Trick
    • Magic Lessons #2 – Change Bag Magic Prop
    • Magic Lessons #3 – Audience Magic Tricks
    • Magic Lessons #4 – Halloween Magic Trick
    • Magic Lessons #5 – Magic Paddle Move
    • Magic Lessons #6 – Knife Magic Trick
    • Magic Lessons #7 – Vanishing Coin Magic Trick
    • Magic Lessons #8 – Stage Magic Trick
    • Magic Lessons #9 – Magic Seeds Wand
    • Magic Lessons #10 – Rubber Band Magic Trick
    • Magic Lessons #11 – Water Magic Trick
    • Magic Lessons #12 – Food Magic Trick
    • Magic Lessons #13 – Jumping Carrot Magic Trick
    • Magic Lessons #14 – Match Box Magic Trick
    • Magic Lessons #15 – Newspaper Magic Trick
    • Magic Lessons #16 – Win a Coin Toss
    • Magic Lessons #17 – Money Magic Trick
    • Magic Lessons #18 – Penetrating Matches Trick
    • Magic Lessons #19 – Finger Illusion Trick
    • Magic Lessons #20 – Instant Star Magic Trick
    • Magic Lessons #21 – Torn and Restored Napkin
    • Magic Lessons #22 – Jumping Rubber Band Trick
    • Magic Lessons #23 – Cut and Restored Balloon Trick
    • Magic Lessons #24 – Balloon Penetration Trick
    • Magic Lessons #25 – Disappearing Sugar Trick
    • Magic Lessons #26 – Cups and Balls Trick
    • Magic Lessons #27 – Linking Shoelace Trick
    • Magic Lessons #28 – Age Prediction Magic Trick
    • Magic Lessons #29 – Clipped Card Trick
    • Magic Lessons #30 – Paper Rose Napkin Magic Trick
    • Magic Lessons #31 – Comedy Card Trick
    • Magic Lessons #32 – Jumping Flea Magic Trick
    • Magic Lessons #33 – Jingle Bell Monte
    • Magic Lessons #34 – Sneaky Card Sleight
    • Magic Lessons #35 – Frog Prince Magic Trick
    • Magic Lessons #36 – Hindu Force
    • Magic Lessons #37 – Bigger Smaller Magic Trick
    • Magic Lessons #38 – False Shuffle
    • Magic Lessons #39 – Fantastic Mr Plastic Magic Trick
    • Magic Lessons #40 – Magic Force Bag
    • Magic Lessons #41 – Quiz Show Magic Trick
    • Magic Lessons #42 – That Magician Is Me
    • Magic Lessons #43 – Appearing Wand Magic Trick
    • Magic Lessons #44 – Can I Call You?
    • Magic Lessons #45 – Towel Elephant
    • Magic Lessons #46 – Elephants Never Forget Trick
    • Magic Lessons #47 – Sheikh Mabooty
    • Magic Lessons #48 – Smart Feller
    • Magic Lessons #49 – CSI Magic Trick
    • Magic Lessons #50 – Coin Fold Magic Trick
    • Magic Lessons #51 – Crazy Matchbox Trick
    • Magic Lessons #52 – Mystery of the Missing Sock
    • Magic Lessons #53 – Pencil Magic Trick
    • Magic Lessons #54 – It’s Magic Time
    • Magic Lessons #55 – Glass Through Table Trick
    • Magic Lessons #56 – Magazine Prediction Trick
    • Magic Lessons #57 – Nut and Bolt Trick
    • Magic Lessons #58 – Lucky Coin Trick
    • Magic Lessons #59 – Sneaky Shoelace Trick
    • Magic Lessons #60 – Misdirection Lesson
    • Magic Lessons #61 – Jumping Bean Trick
    • Magic Lessons #62 – Secret Magic Code
    • Magic Lessons #63 – Grandma’s Bra Trick
    • Magic Lessons #64 – Magic Pen Trick
    • Magic Lessons #65 – Safety Pin Trick
    • Magic Lessons #66 – Floating Steel Ball
    • Magic Lessons #67 – String Trick
    • Magic Lessons #68 – Dice Trick
    • Magic Lessons #69 – Behind Back Card Force
    • Magic Lessons #70 – Long Card Trick
    • Magic Lessons #71 – Get Down Trick
    • Magic Lessons #72 – Easy Card Force
    • Magic Lessons #73 – Missing Card Hotline
    • Magic Lessons #74 – Magic String Trick
    • Magic Lessons #75 – Magic Mail Box
    • Magic Lessons #76 – Card-O-Matic Trick
    • Magic Lessons #77 – Need a Magic Hand?
    • Magic Lessons #78 – My Friend Has Three Eyes
  • All Tricks Index
  • Magicians Dictionary
  • About US
  • History of Magic
    • Fox Sisters
    • Kuda Bux
    • Al Goshman
    • Richard Potter
    • Shin Lim
    • Nate Leipzig
    • Max Malini
    • Dedi the Magician
    • Orson Welles
    • Fred Kaps
    • Cardini
    • Derren Brown
    • Charles Dickens
    • Ali Bongo
    • The Amazing Kreskin
    • Theodore Hardeen
    • David Blaine
    • Louis Haselmayer
    • Joseph Dunninger
    • Burling Hull
    • Penn and Teller
    • Haruo Shimada
    • Professor Louis Hoffmann
    • Hieronymus Scotto
    • Theodore Annemann
    • Zanzigs
    • Talma
    • Murray
    • Uri Geller
    • James Randi
    • Tommy Cooper
    • Stewart James
    • John Henry Anderson
    • Annie Abbott
    • Kalanag
    • Dante the Magician
    • Al Koran
    • Paul Daniels
    • Matthias Burchinger
    • Siegfried and Roy
    • Harry Blackstone Sr.
    • Robert Harbin
    • Dai Vernon
    • Criss Angel
    • Juliana Chen
    • Lance Burton
    • John Nevil Maskelyne
    • Mark Wilson
    • Dynamo
    • David Copperfield
    • Chung Ling Soo
    • Edgar Wilson Benyon
    • Doug Henning
    • Aldo Colombini
    • Jean Eugène Robert Houdin
    • Harry Houdini

The Magic of Nate Leipzig

July 22, 2016 by David O'Connor Leave a Comment

The Magic of Nate Leipzig

History of Magic: Nate LeipzigPart of the History of Magic are hundreds of magicians and illusionists who have gained fame and success as wonderful show business stars. One of these is the Swedish magician Nathan Leipzeiger, better known as Nate Leipzig. He was born in Stockholm on May 31, 1873. It is suggested that his parents were Polish or Russian and his interest in magic began sometime in the late 1800’s when he saw a birthday party magician. He studied magic books, earnestly believing that magicians were self-taught and rather than using the methods they found in books, they developed their own methods. Because of this, better known as Nate Leipzig began to amaze not only his lay audiences but fellow magicians as well. Leipzig became one of the early pioneers who used common everyday objects for magic rather than fancy boxes and cabinets and gadgetry. Initially he was an optician, but he left this profession to become a full-time performer. One of his early creations was the Coin Roll with a silver dollar that rolled not only across the back of his hand, but also across his palm. T. Nelson Downs (known as the King of Koins) was highly impressed with this effect. The Japanese magician TenIchi even traded his version of the Japanese Thumb Tie for Nate’s Ring on a Stick routine. Dozens of card tricks and card sleights are attributed to Nate, like a version of the Cabaret Card Stab, the Side Steal, and his Rising Card effect. His levitation of a coin inside a glass of beer was quite special, too.

In 1901 he was approached by a rag painting act performed by Alex and William Berol for a partnership that he accepted for the experience. But after two years, he decided to break into Vaudeville by filling in for stage magician Warren Keene in New York City’s Proctors Theatre. His act consisted of sleight of hand, manipulation, coins, and playing cards. The famous theatrical agent William Morris was so impressed with Leipzig that he immediately offered him a contract on the Keith Vaudeville Circuit. The Keith Circuit Agency was the largest and most successful theatrical agency at the time, but this did not deter Leipzig from negotiating a higher salary.

In 1906, Nate Leipzig, who had a commanding and pleasant stage presence, decided to tour Europe and added a thimble routine, billiard balls, torn and restored cigarette paper, cane, and silks with card manipulation to his act. Being innovative, he also included the use of a Vitascope machine, an early version of the movie projector. Using this, he was able to project his hand magic onto a large screen, allowing him to perform in larger theatres.  He introduced magic tricks like the Rising Cards, tricks with knives, matches, walking canes, cigars, and even his waistcoat and common everyday objects. He so impressed his audiences and even other magicians because he used different methods that were unknown to his colleagues. He was a very original performer, and although he was not a humorous or comedic magician, he did present the image of a more sedate, gentleman entertainer.

Nate Leipzig performed for two British kings, as well as a Spanish and Danish king. Queen Eugenie wrote about him, “Leipzig’s conjuring tricks puzzled us all.” He was acclaimed by famous critics as “the king of card manipulators and the most expert prestidigitator in the world.” He was a clever raconteur and befriended and helped many fellow magicians who were less fortunate. He always made time for even amateur magicians.

After a very successful European tour, Nate Leipzig returned to America but soon left for England in 1908 seeking more engagements. While touring the UK, he met and married his wife Leila. For the next few years, he continued to travel the world and returned to America just before the outbreak of World War I. Because of his rather ‘German’ sounding name, he was forced on occasion to bill himself as Nat Lincoln. With the advent of war, there was a decline in Vaudeville as movies began to become prominent, so Leipzig changed direction and began to accept bookings for private functions. He remained one of the most original and influential magicians of the time.

Dai Vernon's tribute to Nate LeipzigLeipzig finally took in three students that he taught and shared his magic with. They were Roy Benson, Fred Keating, and John Scarne who all became well-known in their own way. Leipzig also influenced Professor Dai Vernon, who wrote with Lewis Ganson the book Dai Vernon’s Tribute to Nate Leipzig. It acknowledgement what Nate had contributed to the art and craft of magic during his career.

One of the most important lessons Nate Leipzig passed onto his students was to never ever embarrass or humiliate a volunteer. Nate also believed in a natural approach to magic and felt that fancy finger flinging and flourishes were unnecessary in the execution of magic tricks. His obvious exception was the famous Coin Roll, which is somewhat enhanced by a flourish and a little showmanship. Nate Leipzig became the first magician to be presented with the gold medal of the London Magic Circle for Supreme Skill. He became a president of the Society of American Magicians as well. Nate was also an enthusiastic member of the exclusive Lambs Club, America’s first professional theatre club established in 1874.

Nate Leipzig passed away on October 13th 1939 but his work and mark in the history of magic are faithfully recorded for future magicians to learn from. He lies buried next to his wife at the Mount Hope Cemetery Hastings in Hudson, New York, which is maintained by the American Society of Magicians.

Follow the Magic Tricks For Kids Team to Keep Up With New Posts!

YouTube

Twitter

Facebook

Do you want to read more about the history of magic? Click here!

Filed Under: History of Magic Tagged With: History of Magic, magic tricks for kids, Nate Leipzig

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Easy Card Tricks For Kids

Easy Card Tricks For Kids Card magic is … Click the picture to see more

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Youtube
  • Twitter

Welcome

  • All Tricks Index
  • Magic Lessons
  • Magician's Dictionary
  • History of Magic

Information

  • About Us
  • Info for Parents
  • Terms of Service
    Privacy Policy
© 2023 - The Magic Tricks For Kids.
All Rights Reserved
Design by Muse