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[[File: Amac1.png|right|thumb|200px|[[Bill Amac]]]]
[[File: LaFollette1.png|right|thumb|200px|[[Great LaFollette]]]]


'''Bill Amac''' (ca. 1890 - 1961), born Robert William McFarlane, was a Birmingham mechanical engineer and British magician who presented an original illusion called the "[[Elusive Lady]]".
'''The Great LaFollette''' and '''Rush Ling Toy''' were the stage names of '''George P. Reuschling''' (b.1886-d.1960) from Baltimore, Maryland who performed both a successful Chinese and traditional magic act.


== Biography ==
== Biography ==


Known as 'Mac', hence his stage name "Amac", was also said to be for "A Most Amazing Conjuror".  
At one time was partnered with [[Jean Hugard]] in a Luna Park theatre of magic.  


Amac began performing around 1916 in English theaters. In 1921, he presented his original illusion "[[Find the Lady]]" (also known as the "Elusive Lady"). The illusion using three huge cards suspended from the flies and his lady assistant on stools behind them. As in the Three-card Monte, she could never be found, and finally she vanishes and reappears from the back of the theater.
Beginning in 1908, he was performing as The Mysterious Reuschling in the D.C./Baltimore area. By 1912, he was performing his Chinese act as  Rush Ling Toy in [[Vaudeville]]. Later he developed The Great LaFollette, "International Transformist", in which he would change and perform as [[Herrmann the Great]], [[Harry Kellar]], [[Buatier de Kolta]], [[Servais Le Roy]] and his Chinese alter ego Rush Ling Toy.


During the 1920s, he toured America's [[Vaudeville]] theaters, with just this one act, and also did a European tour with his "Elusive Lady". The illusion and sole performing rights were bought by The [[Great Lyle]] for his "CAVALCADE OF MYSTERY" show in 1941, when Amac became his stage director.
LaFallette toured Cuba with [[Carl Rosini]], South America with [[Carl Herrmann]], played in The Main Street Follies in New York. He did a magic show in New York in 1931 and performed the Production of bowls of water, Three Card Monte, the Jam Illusion and ended with the Cremation Illusion and Vanish from Cabinet.
Amac also create the pocket tricks: ''Educated Pencil'', ''It's That Girl Again'' (1951) and ''Third Man''.


At the 38th Annual [[Magic Collectors' Weekend]] in Schaumburg Illinois in 2007, Jim Steinmeyer delivered a keynote lecture entitled "Why Amac Drank."
After Vaudeville, he settled in the Boston area, where he performed until retiring and moving to Florida. There, he opened and ran a magic shop in St. Petersburg. Among his inventions were The La Follette Rice Combination, Wooden Soldier Illusion, Flight of the Mandarin, The Russian Anarchist, The Spinning Girl, The Phantom Studio and The Spirit Bungalow.  


[[Bill Amac|Read more about Bill Amac...]]
[[Great LaFollette|Read more about Great LaFollette...]]

Revision as of 15:04, 13 April 2025

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

The Great LaFollette and Rush Ling Toy were the stage names of George P. Reuschling (b.1886-d.1960) from Baltimore, Maryland who performed both a successful Chinese and traditional magic act.

Biography

At one time was partnered with Jean Hugard in a Luna Park theatre of magic.

Beginning in 1908, he was performing as The Mysterious Reuschling in the D.C./Baltimore area. By 1912, he was performing his Chinese act as Rush Ling Toy in Vaudeville. Later he developed The Great LaFollette, "International Transformist", in which he would change and perform as Herrmann the Great, Harry Kellar, Buatier de Kolta, Servais Le Roy and his Chinese alter ego Rush Ling Toy.

LaFallette toured Cuba with Carl Rosini, South America with Carl Herrmann, played in The Main Street Follies in New York. He did a magic show in New York in 1931 and performed the Production of bowls of water, Three Card Monte, the Jam Illusion and ended with the Cremation Illusion and Vanish from Cabinet.

After Vaudeville, he settled in the Boston area, where he performed until retiring and moving to Florida. There, he opened and ran a magic shop in St. Petersburg. Among his inventions were The La Follette Rice Combination, Wooden Soldier Illusion, Flight of the Mandarin, The Russian Anarchist, The Spinning Girl, The Phantom Studio and The Spirit Bungalow.

Read more about Great LaFollette...