Harry August Jansen (1883 - 1955) and his family came to the
United States and settled in Chicago. Jansen made his stage debut at the age of
sixteen. Years later, he toured the world as "The Great Jansen – America’s
Greatest Transformist". From 1908 to 1911, Jansen and his partner I. F.
Halton built magic props under the name Halton and Jansen Company. In 1922, Jansen
began working for magician Howard Thurston in the capacity of shop foreman and master
prop builder. Once the show was built, Jansen’s options were coming to a close.
