The Magic Collection of John Daniel

Dante (Harry August Jansen). Dante’s Makeup Kit. Metal makeup box painted green with the performer’s name, “Dante” hand-lettered on the lid in two colors, above the year 1947. Internal compartments hold brushes, combs, a green glass eye wash cup, pancake makeup and puff applicators, lipstick tube, makeup pencils, a rabbit’s foot used to apply blush, and an empty Garcia y Vega cigar tube. 11 ¼ x 6 ¼ x 2 ¼”. Dante (Harry August Jansen) was born in Copenhagen on October 3, 1883, and soon after immigrated to the United States. First performing under his given name, Jansen, he also owned a magic shop and built illusions for other performers. Later, he took out a show under the auspices of Howard Thurston as Dante the Magician. Under that banner, he scored his greatest theatrical and financial successes, playing the Morosco Theater on Broadway in 1940, and touring the globe with a gigantic illusion show. While know to many as a performer of stage-filling illusions, he was also an adept manipulator (particularly of billiard balls), and made features of “in one” tricks that showcased his personality. His catchphrase, “Sim-Sala-Bim” was also the name of his show, and was as closely associated with him as an ever-present cigar between his lips. (The tube containing one such cigar is included in this makeup case). Dante performed until just a few years before his death, which took place at his Northridge California ranch on June 15, 1955.