Schulte: Penman of Performers Patter

The subject of this post is one George Frederick Schulte, a magician and author who created more humorous patter and one-liners than anyone of his time. This was long before Robert Orbin started turning out patter books. Schulte was born May 22, 1887 in Athens, Wisconsin. He lived there until 1899 when he moved to Chicago, which became his permanent home.

So popular a performer in the Windy City, Schulte was billed as, "Chicago's Most Popular Magician." His first appearance in the city came in 1900. Our subject had a very nice scaling card featuring his photo on the front, his name printed in red at an angle with "The Magician" printed beneath. It had the Deland back in blue.

In 1912, Schulte was presenting a Vaudeville magic act called "Magic As You Like It." I learned this when searching through my photo files and I came upon what I assumed was a postcard of the performer. Turning it over, however, I discovered it was actually part of an image from a larger photo that someone cut down. You can just see the edge of a table in the lower right and one must wonder what he was gesturing at. This was Schulte in his prime. 

He was best known for his series of soft cover booklets of humorous patter and one-liners. He published "Talks for Tricks" (1916); "Magical Monologues," (1919); "Patter Paragraphs," (1921); and "Words for Wizards," (1924). These booklets are prized by collectors. According to Magicpedia, his favorite trick was the Conradi Coffee and Milk effect which was published in Dorny's book Trix and Chatter.  

An auctioned "Words for Wizards" autographed by Schulte

Speaking of collecting, Schulte gathered an impressive amount of material including letters and scrapbooks and photos, many of which were stamped, "Schulte Collection." A number of these items went up for auction in recent years including on Haversat & Ewing Galleries, Potter & Potter, Swann Galleries, and the Christian Fechner auction. One auction included a letter from Houdini to Schulte thanking him for sending his most recent publication. 

Another letter came from Harlan Tarbell who provided Schulte with a complimentary copy of his Tarbell Course with the admonition not to let anyone know he'd done so or he would be overwhelmed with requests. 

Schulte also sold collectible magic at a time when magic collecting was barely in its infancy. He ran an ad in the May 1928 Linking Ring adverting "Old Programs" for sale. The dozen he offered included Thurston, Houdini, Blackstone, The Great Leon, Dunninger, Thorn and others. A buyer that month could have bought them all for $3.75. Sold today, these programs would be worth thousands of dollars. He even offered copies of old time magic dealer catalogs very cheaply. 

Sphinx ad from 1928. 

Noted historian Henry Ridgely Evans once wrote to Schulte complaining about the lack of interest in magic history. His letter noted that he (Evans) should probably just publish all of the articles that he contributed to The Sphinx in the form of a book, which he did some years later. 

He contributed funny lines and quirky patter to The Sphinx for decades, always under amusing titles like, "Funology ala Magic," "Patter from Merryland," "Magicalities," and many others. These short columns featured insightful philosphies on magic and theater as well as self-effacing comments on magic enthusiasts, many who billed themselves as "Great" but rarely were. 

In the fall of 1926, he was featured on the cover of The Linking Ring, and earlier in June 1917, on the cover of The Magic World, published in Philadelphia. He also appeared on the cover of The Osirian in June 1925. 

In 1910 in Chicago, The World's Master Magicians was formed and met in the showrooms of Halton, Janson & LeRoy. The club had about 25 members at best but most were very famous magicians. Members included: Laurant, Roterberg, Christianer, Ralph Read, Lockman, Gilbert, Tarbell and others. The onslaught of World War I caused the club to disband around 1915. It eventually became The Chicago Magician's Club. 

During World War I, Schulte performed with the famous touring entertainment troupe, the U.S. Navy "Jacks of All Trades." He also performed for troupes during World War II as well. Schulte died March 15, 1967, age 79 and was buried in Port Hudson Cemetery in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. 

Harry McDaniel – He was in Hot Water!

Many magicians would have advertisements on the back of their throw-out cards that had nothing to do with magic. In many cases, the product being advertised would be well known,  such as soda pop, Cracker Jacks, candy, typewriters, and car tires. Usually these sponsors helped to subsidize, or even completely cover the cost of the card for the performer on the front of the card. Harry McDaniel, a Dallas, Texas based magician decided to go this same route, however in this case he owned the company advertising the hot water heaters on the back of his card!

Harry Henry McDaniel was born in Ellis County, Texas on August 15, 1896. As a child growing up in the town of Venus, Texas, the town marshal showed Harry a trick and the art of magic gained another devotee for life.

McDaniel was a veteran of World War I and performed magic for his comrades using small items such as coins and cards which would fit in his “quicky pack”.  After the war, he returned to Texas, got married, and settled in Dallas. Over the years, he became somewhat of a force on the Dallas magic scene.

From The Linking Ring for June, 1944

McDaniel was a charter member of the Dallas Magic Circle and helped to organize it in 1924, and when it was brought into the Society of American Magicians by Houdini while Houdini was in Texas. McDaniel also served as President of the Dallas Magic Circle at one time. McDaniel also was a member of the I.B.M. and in The Linking Ring for December, 1928 they wrote this about McDaniel.

 

Whether this referred to Harry McDaniel’s throw-out card shown above or a different one, it illustrates that McDaniel had the idea of using a card to advertise himself early on.

McDaniel was also known for inventing some magic and he had “a magical emporium and factory, and announces that he is equipped to take care of anything in this line. At surprisingly reasonable prices, he will repair or rebuild your illusions, or equip a complete show” so said The Linking Ring in 1934. McDaniel ran this ad in The Linking Ring for January of 1929.

 

When speaking of a McDaniel performance in The Sphinx for January 20, 1931 it was said, “Topping off the evening’s entertainment, Harry McDaniel, perhaps Dallas’ best-known magician, kept the audience gaping with The Root of All Evil, The Elusive Ball, Restoring the Napkin, Silver Thimbles Among the Gold, Miser’s Dream, The Hella Fez, and The Hindu Rooster. Mr. McDaniel is a manufacturer of hot water heaters when not otherwise occupied with magic”.

While living in Highland Park, Texas with his family, McDaniel constructed a fifty seat theatre that he called “Mack’s Magic Theatre”. It was built over a two-car garage and was well equipped with a stage, and all the lights and sound equipment anyone could ask for.

From The Linking Ring for June, 1944.

A Who’s Who of known magicians performed in this theatre such as “Blackstone, Dorny, Chas. H, Larson, Max Terhune, John Snyder, Jr., the Thayers, and many others” according to The Linking Ring for June of 1944. Here is a photo of Blackstone and McDaniel from that issue.

 

Harry H. McDaniel passed away on December 19, 1962 at the age of 66 in Dallas. His lifelong interest in magic was so strong that it is commemorated on his family cemetery marker with the word “Magician”, along with emblems of the magic societies he belonged to.

Photo taken by VA CURR for Find A Grave.

 

Ernest Schieldge

Ernest K. Schieldge (aka Don Rogers) was born February 20, 1900 in Hartford, Connecticut. At an early age of twelve, young Ernest saw the performance of William J. Hilliar who was under contact with the Barnum & Bailey Circus in Hartford. Young Ernest watched Hilliar as he performed amazing card and coin effects. Hilliar had noticed there was one familiar face in each of his performances throughout the day. After either the fifth or sixth show, Hilliar approached his young fan, introduced himself. Hilliar took young Ernest under his wing and taught him the building blocks of the art of magic. Once the master performer explained a few basic tricks of magic to the lad; Ernest was hooked.

Ernest took the name stage name Don Rogers. He continued his newfound interest in magic and performed at churches, lodges, and service clubs in the surrounding areas of Hartford. Living in Hartford had a number of prime advantages and the best one was the Parson's Theatre on Prospect Street. Don was able to enjoy performances of numerous magicians who happen to visit. Houdini, Blackstone, The Great Leon, and even Adelaide Herrmann came to to Hartford to entertain and Ernest made sure he was in the audience. Using his knowledge of what he had learn from the books and tricks he purchased from his well-worn Roterberg catalog, Don continued to perform as many shows as he could.

In 1922, three young performers got together and took their idea of a “correspondence society” to be able to exchange ideas on magic and created what is known today as International Brotherhood of Magicians. The name was the idea of Len Vintus of Winnipeg, Canada. Included in this triangle of tricksters was Gordon Eugene Avery who went by the name Gene Gordon. Gordon created the name of the club’s first mimeographed issue of The Linking Ring. The last member of the team was Don. He was the co-editor, secretary, and also designed the official emblem of the I.B.M. that is still being used today. Don remained affiliated with the magazine for two years while he continued to book his magic and ventriloquism shows.

The back of this card is a red Bee design.

In 1930, he met a concert singer from Cleveland by the name of Bertha L. Spery. Only months after their first meeting, the couple was married in Hartford and moved to Philadelphia. Don continued his schedule of working the local clubs, as well as the Antrim Lyceum Circuit. During the Second World War, Don traveled from Rhode Island and throughout the upper eastern states and performed for the troops in the U.S.O. shows. His show included illusions like Shooting through a Woman, the Guillotine, and a number of smaller effects. Bertha would assist Don and create wonderful images with her rag picture demonstration.

 In 1948, Don and Bertha moved to Southern California. He continued to perform both his magic and ventriloquism acts for the Elks, the Chamber of Commerce, and his own Masonic club. He was a past I.B.M. International Vice President and always kept his love for the art alive throughout his life. Don was booked for an appearance at the social hall of the First Christian Church in North Hollywood on June 4^th, 1971. The performance never took place. Don’s health was failing and on July 5, 1971 he passed away.