Willard the Magician

In my forthcoming book on Herman Weber (Namreh), I discuss some of his major influences and fellow magicians in the Allentown, Pennsylvania area. Willard Warmkessel was certainly one, if not the, most important contact for Weber. And, of course, he had scaling cards with his own unique designs. 

 Besides Weber, Warmkessel is the second most well-known magician coming from Allentown. Using his first name, he toured professionally under the name “Willard the Magician.” This title was already taken, of course, by various members of the actual Willard family of conjurors in Texas. And, while the Texas Willard’s performed entirely under canvas, Allentown’s Willard mostly appeared on the stages of county fairs in Pennsylvania, New York, California and throughout the south.

This scaling card back came from an era when the swastika
was still a sign of good luck, not evil. 

Willard offered spook show effects as well
as illusions. 

Warmkessel was born June 2, 1900 and became interested in magic as a 14-year-old usher at the Lyric Theater in Allentown and gave his first magic performance at 16. The show was a benefit for the other ushers at the theater. After touring with his full-evening illusion show, Warmkessel operated the American Letterhead & Envelope Company for 38 years. In 1948, he retired from that business and devoted all of his time to magic. He passed away January 9, 1936.

It is interesting to note that Willard’s equipment and major illusions were especially well-built, most likely in cooperation with, or entirely by, Weber. Many years after Warmkessel’s death, George Goebel, Baltimore magician and owner of the A.T. Jones & Sons Costumers, heard that his widow might have blueprints of her late husband’s illusions. She owned and operated a printing shop and Goebel travelled to Allentown to meet her. 

Entering the shop he introduced himself and inquired about the blueprints. She confirmed she had them but suggested he might be more interested in the actual illusions. Taking him to a rear storage area Goebel found it packed with illusions. There was Warmkessel’s Water Tank Escape, Modern Cabinet, a Throne Chair, a Giant Cone for producing an assistant, a small production chariot, and a remarkably inconspicuous set of stairs that could be used to introduce a hidden assistant or take her away, as the case warranted. Goebel bought all of the illusions and incorporated many of them into his large illusion show.

Warmkessel was instrumental in helping form the first local magic club in the city, the Allentown Magicians’ Association. It was organized in 1917 with William Whitenight being the driver behind its creation. Willard Warmkessel was its first president. 

A card from one of Willard's frequent appearances
at the Lyric Theater

 

On January 31, 1947, Warmkessel appeared at the Lyric Theater in Allentown presenting his full-evening illusion show. It was the same one he’d performed across the United States for the previous 16 years and which he transported in a large trailer. 

Warmkessel died in January 1966 at the age of 65. He is not often remembered by the public today but he lives on in his promotional material including the cards featured here on Propelled Pasteboards.

Tom Ewing