Ballas - Europe's Foremost Magician 

This post is devoted to a magician named George Ballas who, despite his scaling card proclaiming him to be "Europe's Foremost Magician" was, in fact, a local Philadelphia magician who likely never strayed further than the city limits. 

His scaling card (circa 1906-7) shows a young Ballas in stiff collar and bow tie using promotional cards supplied by Congress Playing Cards which note that they are "Best for social play." 

A search of Ask Alexander turned up a November 1906 ad offering his services as a magician. His address was listed as 2236 N. Chadwick St., Philadelphia which (after checking Google Maps) is an empty lot on the south side of the city. It had formerly been a row home. 

Other ads appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer in the 1906-7 range offering his services as magician. 

An issue of The Inquirer for Oct. 21, 1906 shows Ballas performing at the 9th and Arch Street Museum where he was sharing the platform with an armless and legless freak, singers, ventriloquists and other small time performers. 

Little more is known about Ballas including when he died and under what circumstances. It's just confirmation that with a blank scaling card and with a printer's local help, evern a 40-miler can use showman's privilege to portray himself as "Europe's Foremost Magician."