Adolph Carll - Thurston's Chief Mechanic

You never know what treasure will be discovered when you search for an obscure magician on the Conjuring Arts Research Center’s “Ask Alexander” database. For this posting, it turns out that a scaling card given out by Adolph Carll, revealed an interesting story.

Carll was born in Baltimore July 28, 1882. According to census records, his father was Henry Carll, mother Louisa Ziegler and he had two brothers, Gusdolph and Otto. By the 1910 census, his father must have passed away as he is no longer in the household.

A red Bicycle Acorn Back

 

The very first search produced two programs for Howard Thurston for the Brandeis Theatre in Omaha, Nebraska for January 10-12, 1914, and Philadelphia’s Boyd Theatre, November 12, 1916. There at the bottom of the program which featured the Levitation of the Princess Karnac, The Mystery of “Oh” and the Triple Mystery, is the list of executive staff and Adolph Carll is listed as Thurston’s Chief Mechanic. Given the complexity of Thurston’s illusions, this was not an insignificant job.

      

Carl did not come late to magic, as the 1910 Census lists him as a magician and in the category of “Number of weeks out of work” the census taker has noted “0.” So, he was working steadily. I have not been able to determine when Carll left the Thurston show, but it must have been at least by the beginning of the 1920’s for the Billboard of May 28, 1921, notes the following:

Adolph Carll’s Night in Mysteryland Company has closed a successful road season and will mystify attendants at Joyland Park, Atlantic Highlands, N.J. for the summer. Mlle. Zoe Leona and a company of high class artists support Carll and the show boasts some magnificent stage settings and startling electrical effects. Manager Geo. P. Elman invites members of the profession to “drop in any time,” and explains that Alex S. Fisher, owner of the park is having nine boat trips a day from New York City.

One of the members of his troupe must have been his brother Otto, for the August 27, 1921 Billboard reports, “Some flattering offers are claimed for the services of Otto and Adolph Carll, illusionists at the close of their engagement at Joyland Park, Atlantic Highlands, N.J. Mlle. Zoe Leona is a member of the company.”

By way of background, Joyland Park was originally named Bay View Park, then Joyland and finally, Atlantic Beach Amusement Park. It opened in 1915 and stood on 17 acres by the bay. Each day from May to September the steamboat Mandalay brought hot visitors from New York at a clip of 2,000 a trip. It cost 10 cents to enter and offered sun, sand, sports, entertainment, dancing, dining, and rides.

There was a wonderful roller coaster there as well as a carousel imported from Germany. A large theater was built there in 1920-21 and hosted dances and entertainers and Adolph Carll and Company. Apparently the park also offered Cesar’s Great Magic Show performed by Cesar Devlin. And, for those seeking more thrills, visitors could see “The Great Nervo” (Al Morton) do his “Slide for Life” daily at the park. It closed its doors in 1940 after a series of devastating fires. The site now has private homes.

In 1928, Carll was living at 1626 Hollins Ave. in Baltimore and the City Directory lists his profession as “Magician.” In 1933, Arthur Gans, (see his own scaling card below) a representative of the Society of Osiris, in Baltimore, reported in The Sphinx, “Adolph Carll, former chief mechanic for Mr. Thurston, and his brother Otto are building a new and startling illusion which they will offer to Mr. Thurston. They have a business shop in Baltimore.” Gan's card promotes the New York Consolidated Card Co.'s No. 92 Bee back - back No. 67.

 

I haven’t found a date of death yet, but the U.S. Social Security records have him listed in September of 1940. Perhaps others reading this blog can provide additional information on Carll. It seems from what I’ve found that he had a long and interesting magical life both behind the scenes and in front of the curtain.  

Tom Ewing