Lindhorst - Two Magicians, One Name

This is about two magicians, Will Lindhorst and his cousin Charles Lindhorst.  Both men were from Saint Louis, Missouri and both left their mark on magic.

The Bicycle backs from left to right are:  Cupid back, Cyclist No. 2 back, and New Fan back.

William L. Lindhorst was born on April 22, 1890 and became interested in magic by the age of eight. During 1911-1912, Will worked as an assistant to Howard Thurston who taught him much about stagecraft and showmanship. Thurston evidently thought so highly of Will that there was talk at one time of Lindhorst heading one of Thurston’s road companies. He entertained the troops during World War I, and was a charter member of the St. Louis S.A.M. Assembly in 1921. He was also a long time member of the I.B.M. ring in that city.


From "The Linking Ring" for April 1929

Lindhorst was known as a magician, illusionist, author, inventor, and manufacturer. For many years he operated a magic shop at various locations around St. Louis. He also was known as “Chandu the Magician” when it was popular as an early radio program. Another title for Lindhorst was as “The Magic Piano Salesman” selling pianos for the Baldwin Piano Company and utilizing magic as part of his selling of the pianos.

The Bicycle backs from left to right are:  Wheel No. 2 back, New Fan back, and Rider back.



Will Lindhorst incorporated his various endeavors such as Chandu, piano salesman, box office man, and his magic shop into producing many throw-out cards with the different vintage backs that Bicycle had to offer.

Will Lindhorst was well known and a well-respected member of the magic community for decades. Will passed away on March 7, 1954 at the age of 63 in his native St. Louis.

Will Lindhorst’s cousin Charles W. Lindhorst also had a long involvement in magic though maybe not quite as well-known as Will.  While I found several references to him over the years in the magic journals, there is very little about him of a personal nature. I could only find one Charles W. Lindhorst on “Find-A-Grave”. As it was for a man in St. Louis, it may be him. It said that he was born on June 23, 1893 and died on April 12, 1971 in St. Louis. This does differ however from his brief “Magicpedia” entry. It was this entry by the way that says the two Lindhorsts were cousins.

Charles was a long time member of the S.A.M and is best remembered as a manufacturer and craftsman of magic apparatus.  To those in magic who are familiar with the late Danny Dew and his abilities as a producer of fine magic apparatus, it should be noted that Charles Lindhorst not only tutored Dew in the performance of magic, but taught him the skills needed to become the renowned manufacturer that he became.

The Bicycle backs from left to right are:  Automobile No. 2 back, Expert back, and Rider back.

 

I have three throw-out cards for Charles Lindhorst and as with Will they have some early Bicycle backs. After acquiring all of these different Lindhorst cards, it took me a little while to figure out who was who, and to separate these two men.

One thing I know for sure. They both had some fantastic throw-out cards!