Oscar Eliason (1869–1899), known by the stage name Dante the Great, was an American illusionist.
Career in the United States Oscar Eliason was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on 8 July 1869,Salt Lake Herald-Republican, 1 December 1899, page 8 the third of nine children of Mormon pioneers Olof Larsson Eliasson (1836–1920) and Ingar Emma Andersson (1838–1893), who had migrated to the United States from Sweden.1870 United States Census; Salt Lake City Ward 20, Salt Lake, Utah Territory; Roll: M593_1611; Page: 727ADeath certificate of Olof Lars Eliason, 15 December 1920, Utah, Death and Military Death Certificates, 1904-1961 He would claim that through his mother, he was related to the Scottish professional magician John Henry Anderson (1814–1874), known as "Professor Anderson" and the "Wizard of the North". Oscar Eliason was also known for being an addict, specifically to some certain drugs and alcohol. He later passed away from an overdose, and research confirmed that he had died in his home in Utah, no one was alerted until a few days after his passing. According to some reports, he was Anderson's grandson or great-grandson. Certainly, aspects of Eliason's performances would have resemblances to Anderson's, and he would claim to have been coached as a child by his maternal grandfather. But he stated his mother's father was an amateur, and evidence proving a direct link with Anderson is lacking.Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser, 9 December 1899, page 1397Dubbo Dispatch and Wellington Independent,1 December 1899, page 4Otago Daily Times 12 January 1899 page 6The Era, 22 February 1874, page 12The Ballarat Star, 15 June 1899, page 2Quiz and the Lantern (Adelaide), 17 August 1899 page 4 Census records indicate that only Oscar Eliason and his younger brother, Franklin (1878-?), survived childhood.1880 United States Census, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah; Roll: 1337; Page: 153D; Enumeration District: 049 Eliason began acting at St Mark's school in Salt Lake City,Salt Lake Tribune 12 June 1886 page 4 and in his spare time entertained his friends by showing them magic tricks. "I began conjuring as a small boy," he told an Australian reporter in 1899.Dubbo Dispatch and Wellington Independent, 1 December 1899 page 4Deseret Evening News 30 November 1899 p1 After leaving school, he took up an apprenticeship with his father, Olof, who taught him his trade of jewellery and watchmaking. At the same time, Eliason would study performances of any magicians appearing at the Salt Lake Theatre, then try to replicate their tricks.Salt Lake Tribune, 1 December 1899, page 8 According to Eliason, his father also "dabbled" in magic and was enthusiastic when he used the mechanical skills he'd learned to invent new tricks.Evening News (Sydney),15 October 1898, page 1 Eliason later claimed his father was sceptical that he could make a living as a professional magician, but after impressing audiences as an amateur, it seemed an inevitable career path.Salt Lake Tribune 1 December 1899, page 8Evening News (Sydney), 15 October 1898, page 1
On 24 May 1892 in Salt Lake City, Eliason married Virginia "Verge" Edmunda Hammer.Salt Lake County Marriage Records, 1887–1904, online database, image No. 002733 Around the same time, he turned professional and she became his performing partner. Usually using the name Edmunda, she often acted as his assistant, though parts of his entertainment programs would focus on her performances.
Eliason's popularity received a major boost when he publicly challenged so-called mediums and spiritualists – people who claimed the ability to "converse" with or serve as a "channel" of communication with spirits of the dead. John Henry Anderson, the Scottish magician to whom he claimed ancestral ties, had done the same thing decades earlier, but spiritualism had continued to grow and by the 1890s, was believed to have had millions of followers in the United States and Europe. In April 1893, Eliason demonstrated his ability to reproduce the supposed feats of Annie Eva Fay, a medium well known across the US.Salt Lake Tribune, 30 April 1894, page 8 Many professional bookings followed. For example, in August 1873, Eliason was appearing at the Saltair resort in Utah as "The Greatest Living Prestidigitateur" and "The equal of Anna Eva Fay as a Medium".Salt Lake Tribune 2 August 1893 page 8 The following year, Eliason responded to a challenge from Harry H. Waite, a spiritualist visiting Salt Lake City, by declaring: "I will so completely expose the sham, humbuggery and duplicity of all mediums and spirit manifestations that a belief in their supernatural power or production cannot find lodgment in any sensible and logical mind." To sell-out audiences, Eliason not only replicated feats that Waite and other spiritualists claimed to perform with spiritual help, but explained to his audiences how he had done them by trickery.Salt Lake Tribune, 24 April 1894; Ibid. 30 April 1894; Ibid. 1 May 1894
As Eliason became more well-known, media reports dubbed him the "Mormon Wizard"Salt Lake Herald Republican, 17 June 1896 page 6Ephraim Enterprise, 23 February 1898, page 4 because he had been born into the Mormon religion. He accepted the name in his advertising, though he later stated that, unlike his parents, he was not a Mormon.The Star, 15 August 1898, page 1 During his tour of the US, Mexico, and Cuba, he started incorporating "Dante" into his stage name.Deseret Evening News, 30 November 1899, page 1 In November 1897, he returned to his home state for the final time.Salt Lake Herald-Republican, 31 October 1897; Ibid. 5 November 1897 His last tour of Utah was in January and February 1898.Logan Journal, 27 November 1897, page 1Davis County Clipper, 21 January 1898, page 4Springville Independent, 3 February 1898, page 4Lehi Banner, 8 February 1898, page 10
Eliason regularly modified his repertoire, often changing his programs in the same venue to encourage repeat visitors. He told one interviewer was always trying to think of new ideas, but they could take months of practice to perfect. Nevertheless, some aspects of Eliason's performances, including a "bullet catch" trick,Salt Lake Herald Republican, 31 October 1897, page 11 became regular fixtures. In the "Marvellous Bicyclist" act, Edmunda would appear to be riding in mid-air, even perpendicular to the stage. In the "Trilby" trick, she would also appear to have no means of support after he took away two chairs and left her suspended in mid-air. In the "Madame Sans Gene" trick, she would seem to disappear while suspended in a structure above the stage, only to re-appear in the audience. His "Beggar's Dream" act also involved Edmunda, being transformed from a beggar girl in rags to a richly-dressed woman, then to only a skull.The Daily Tribune (Salt Lake City), 29 August 1896, page 11Sunday Times (Sydney), 9 October 1898, page 2 After a brief season in Vancouver, Canada,Dubbo Dispatch and Wellington Independent, 1 December 1899, page 4 Eliason and Edmunda decided to head to New Zealand and Australia, accompanied by management and support staff as well as their first child, Ethel, then aged six,Entry for Ethel Eliason, Salt Lake County Birth Records, 1890–1915, online database, image No 004121037 00175), and his brother, Frank.Daily Telegraph, 23 July 1898, page 2 On the way, Eliason put on several performances at the Hawaiian Opera House in Honolulu.The Independent (Honolulu), 13 June 1898, page 2
Performances in Australasia
During a three-month tour of New Zealand, Eliason was usually called "Professor Dante". It began in early August 1898 at the Theatre Royal in Christchurch, and ended at the Auckland Opera House.The Press, 29 July 1898, page 5Evening Post, 26 July 1898, page 4The Observer, 8 October 1898 page 15 Eliason was authorised to advertise that the tour was "by special permission", under the "patronage" of the New Zealand Governor, Lord Ranfurly, who was given a private performance at Government House in WellingtonPoverty Bay Herald, 17 September 1898, page 3 Eliason received glowing press coverage throughout – including in Dunedin,Evening Star, 10 August 1898 page 3 InvercargillOtago Daily Times, 19 August 1898, page 3 Timaru,Timaru Herald, 25 August 1898, page 3 Wellington,New Zealand Times, 1 September 1898, page 2 and Masterton.Wairarapa Daily Times, 5 September 1898
While in New Zealand, Eliason took on a new business manager for an Australian tour – the well-known theatrical agent, Lewis J. Lohr, who had heard of the American's popularity and had travelled all the way from South Australia to sign him up.Poverty Bay Herald, 15 September 1898, page 2 Under arrangements made by Lohr, Eliason went from Auckland to Sydney in October 1898 for a record-breaking season of 66 consecutive performances at the Palace Theatre.Daily Telegraph 8 October 1898, page 6 Advertisements for his act at the Palace called him "Dante the Great", with the words: "The things you know can't happen do happen, and though you don't believe them, you see them." Dante the Great became the main stage name he would use for the rest of his short life.Sydney Morning Herald, 6 October 1898 page 2Sydney Morning Herald, 19 November 1898 page 2The Australian Star, 18 November 1898, page 2 At his 40th appearance at the Palace, the audience included the New South Wales Governor, Lord Hampden, who also received a private show at Government House.The Australian Star, 15 November 1898, page 2 Eliason was thereafter able to claim Hampden's patronage in his promotions, a rare privilege.Evening News, 24 November 1898, page 6 From Sydney, Eliason had a brief season in Tasmania, where, through a private performance at Government House, he won the patronage of a third Governor, Lord Gormanston. Eliason performed in Hobart,The Mercury, 12 December 1898 page 2 Zeehan,Zeehan and Dundas Herald, 13 December 1898, page2 and Queenstown.The Mount Lyell Standard and Strahan Gazette 24 December 1898 page 2 In January and February 1899, he crossed the Tasman again for what was described as a "brief farewell tour of New Zealand", starting in Invercargill.New Zealand Mail 5 January 1899, page 15 Other stops included Gore,Mataura Ensign, 5 January 1899 page 5 Dunedin,Otago Daily Times, 5 January 1899, p4 Wanganui,;Wanganui Herald 11 January 1899 p2 Oamaru,The Oamaru Mail, 14 January 1899, page 2 Christchurch,Lyttelton Times, 14 January 1899, page 1 and WellingtonNew Zealand Times, 20 February 1899, page 5 before Eliason returned to Sydney and began advertising a "brief farewell season" at the Palace Theatre.The Australian Star, 6 March 1899 page 2