Servais Le Roy
Encyclopedia
Servais Le Roy was a Belgian magician
, illusion designer and businessman. He is known for the act Le Roy, Talma and Bosco and as the inventor of the classic levitation illusion Asrah the Floating Princess
.
Le Roy began his career in Belgium but later moved to London, where he established a supply house for illusions and scenery. At one time he performed with German-born illusionist Imro Fox and Frederick Eugene Powell as The Triple Alliance. However he is best known as a performer for the long-running act he developed with his wife Talma
and Leon Bosco. Working as "Le Roy - Talma - Bosco" they were sometimes also billed as The Comedians de Mephisto Co. Talma (whose real name was Mary Ford), specialised in sleight of hand and was known as a brilliant manipulator of coins. Bosco, who was a rotund man, played a buffoon character. Although the act was very much a partnership to which all three contributed as magicians, Servais Le Roy sometimes received additional headline billing. According to Wm Rauscher's biography, Monarch of Mystery, Bosco was played by no less than nine different performers over the years.
Servais Le Roy and Talma first performed the Asrah levitation
in London in 1914. In this trick, Talma would lie on a couch and Servais would cover her with a sheet. He would then appear to make her rise into the air, pass a large hoop over her floating body, and finally pull away the sheet to reveal that she had vanished. Le Roy is also credited with developing other respected tricks and illusions, including Where do the ducks go?, Modern Cabinet, the Palanquin and the Costume Trunk.
Le Roy later put his own show into storage and accepted a contract from Horace Goldin
to front one of several companies that were touring with Goldin's show, featuring the then sensational Sawing a woman in half
illusion.
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
, illusion designer and businessman. He is known for the act Le Roy, Talma and Bosco and as the inventor of the classic levitation illusion Asrah the Floating Princess
Asrah levitation
The Asrah levitation is an illusion effect whereby the magician hypnotizes an assistant and commands them to recline on a table or couch. The assistant is then fully covered with a cloth and levitated under the cloth. The form of the assistant is still visible while levitating. Moments later, the...
.
Le Roy began his career in Belgium but later moved to London, where he established a supply house for illusions and scenery. At one time he performed with German-born illusionist Imro Fox and Frederick Eugene Powell as The Triple Alliance. However he is best known as a performer for the long-running act he developed with his wife Talma
Talma (magician)
Talma was the stage name of Mary Ann Ford , a female magician who is best known for performing with her husband Servais Le Roy in the act "Le Roy, Talma & Bosco". Talma was born in England while her husband was Belgian...
and Leon Bosco. Working as "Le Roy - Talma - Bosco" they were sometimes also billed as The Comedians de Mephisto Co. Talma (whose real name was Mary Ford), specialised in sleight of hand and was known as a brilliant manipulator of coins. Bosco, who was a rotund man, played a buffoon character. Although the act was very much a partnership to which all three contributed as magicians, Servais Le Roy sometimes received additional headline billing. According to Wm Rauscher's biography, Monarch of Mystery, Bosco was played by no less than nine different performers over the years.
Servais Le Roy and Talma first performed the Asrah levitation
Asrah levitation
The Asrah levitation is an illusion effect whereby the magician hypnotizes an assistant and commands them to recline on a table or couch. The assistant is then fully covered with a cloth and levitated under the cloth. The form of the assistant is still visible while levitating. Moments later, the...
in London in 1914. In this trick, Talma would lie on a couch and Servais would cover her with a sheet. He would then appear to make her rise into the air, pass a large hoop over her floating body, and finally pull away the sheet to reveal that she had vanished. Le Roy is also credited with developing other respected tricks and illusions, including Where do the ducks go?, Modern Cabinet, the Palanquin and the Costume Trunk.
Le Roy later put his own show into storage and accepted a contract from Horace Goldin
Horace Goldin
Horace Goldin was a stage magician who was noted for his lightning fast presentation style and who achieved international fame with his versions of the Sawing a woman in half illusion. -Early life:...
to front one of several companies that were touring with Goldin's show, featuring the then sensational Sawing a woman in half
Sawing a woman in half
Sawing a woman in half is a generic name for a number of different stage magic tricks in which a person is apparently sawn or divided into two or more pieces.-History:...
illusion.