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[[File: DellODell1.png|right|thumb|200px|[[Dell O'Dell]]]]


[[File: Metamorphosis1.png|right|thumb|200px|[[Metamorphosis]]]]
'''Dell O'Dell''' (b.1897-d.1962), born Nell Odella Newton, was an American magician regarded in her profession as a pioneer who provided a role model for modern female performers and noted for being one of the first magicians to appear on television. 


== Biography ==


'''Metamorphosis''' is the name of a stage illusion invented by [[John Nevil Maskelyne]], but most often associated with [[Harry Houdini]] and performed to some renown (for speed) by [[The Pendragons]]. It is also known as the Substitution Trunk (often abbreviated to Sub Trunk).
At the height of her career she was billed as "The World's Leading Lady Magician" and "The Queen of Magic."
In the illusion, an assistant (Houdini employed his wife Bess) is locked inside a large box or trunk, often after being restrained with handcuffs, ropes, bags, etc. The magician stands upon the trunk and holds a curtain up to momentarily conceal his entire body. When the curtain is lowered, it is revealed to now be the assistant standing atop the box, the magician and assistant having changed places instantaneously. When the box is opened, it is shown to contain the magician, restrained as the assistant had been.
Maskelyne presented a version in England, as early as 1865, to prove that he could outdo the [[Davenport Brothers]]. He would curled inside a small wooden box, which was locked, covered with a canvas and laced, then escape.  


[[Metamorphosis|Read more about Metamorphosis...]]
Nell Newton's father worked in carnivals and she began learning magic from him when she was young. She developed a style that featured snappy patter and cute rhymes, which became something of a trademark. Dell was known to hire writers for her special rhyming patter, with some being printed in [[Genii]] magazine.
 
She married [[Charles Carrer]], a famous juggler, who managed her show and constructed props for her.  She and Charles established homes in New York, Florida and California.
Early on  O'Dell bought the rights to the comedy magic act of [[Frank Van Hoven]] (1886-1929) and was successful with her own version.
 
She became a pioneer of television magic when The Dell O'Dell Show began transmission on a local station in the Los Angeles area in California on 14 September 1951.  She thus pre-dated several other noted pioneers of television magic, such as [[Mark Wilson]], whose first television show began in 1955, and [[Richiardi Jr]] who made the first of his record run of appearances on the [[Ed Sullivan Show]] in 1956.
 
O'Dell wrote extensively on the subject of magic. She contributed a column titled "Dell-lightfully" for the magicians' magazine [[The Linking Ring]]. Her Stamp Album presentation was published in volume 4 of the [[Tarbell Course in Magic]].
 
[[Dell O'Dell|Read more about Dell O'Dell...]]

Revision as of 15:57, 30 March 2025

Previous featured articles are located in Category:Featured Article Proposed candidates are listed in Category:Featured Article Candidate

Dell O'Dell (b.1897-d.1962), born Nell Odella Newton, was an American magician regarded in her profession as a pioneer who provided a role model for modern female performers and noted for being one of the first magicians to appear on television.

Biography

At the height of her career she was billed as "The World's Leading Lady Magician" and "The Queen of Magic."

Nell Newton's father worked in carnivals and she began learning magic from him when she was young. She developed a style that featured snappy patter and cute rhymes, which became something of a trademark. Dell was known to hire writers for her special rhyming patter, with some being printed in Genii magazine.

She married Charles Carrer, a famous juggler, who managed her show and constructed props for her. She and Charles established homes in New York, Florida and California. Early on O'Dell bought the rights to the comedy magic act of Frank Van Hoven (1886-1929) and was successful with her own version.

She became a pioneer of television magic when The Dell O'Dell Show began transmission on a local station in the Los Angeles area in California on 14 September 1951. She thus pre-dated several other noted pioneers of television magic, such as Mark Wilson, whose first television show began in 1955, and Richiardi Jr who made the first of his record run of appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1956.

O'Dell wrote extensively on the subject of magic. She contributed a column titled "Dell-lightfully" for the magicians' magazine The Linking Ring. Her Stamp Album presentation was published in volume 4 of the Tarbell Course in Magic.

Read more about Dell O'Dell...