Help us get to over 8,770 articles in 2026.
If you know of a magician not listed in MagicPedia, start a New Biography for them. Contact us at magicpediahelp@gmail.com
Magicpedia:Today's featured article
Previous featured articles are located in Category:Featured Article Proposed candidates are listed in Category:Featured Article Candidate
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".
Biography
Known as 'Mac', hence his stage name "Amac", was also said to be for "A Most Amazing Conjuror".
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.
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. 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."