Australian Alberto

Before getting into the subject of this post, I would personally like to thank the many correspondents writing for magic magazines for their diligence and dedication to chronicling the travels, trials and tribulations of conjurors appearing around the world. Without their hard work the threads that make up the fabric of our conjuring profession would be lost. Thank you.

There are no shortage of magicians named Alberto, but our subject is often referred to as “Australian Alberto,” and therein lies the clue to his identity. He was Harold McAuliff and his introduction to magic came from Ellis Stanyon’s “Conjuring for Amateurs” about 1898. His first show was given in a loft in his hometown in Australia and seats could be had for a penny. No one asked for their money back and so Alberto considered this first show a success.

When he started performing professionally, Alberto spent a considerable amount of his time touring Australia and New Zealand where the April 1903 Sphinx reported him performing under the management of “Mr. R.P. Dix.” It notes he was the first magician to present the “Miser’s Dream.” The July Sphinx then reported he was getting out of magic as there was “nothing in it.” Luckily, such was not the case.

In 1904 he was touring Tasmania as part of Bain’s Company. The Magazine of Magic featured him on the cover for Dec. 1915, and according to the article, Alberto came to England in 1904. When asked to what effect, the magician modestly replied, “Just enough to write home about. I did not exactly set the Thames on fire.” Eventually he returned to Australia to play the famous Harry Rickard Circuit.