FUN FACTS ABOUT HOWARD THURSTON
Long before he became one of America's greatest magicians,
Howard
Thurston worked as a jockey at the tender age of nine.
He earned a living as a bellboy, a potato peeler pitchman (having invented a particular design of peeler) and even a professional pickpocket
before setting his sights on magic.
Though one of the most successful stage magicians of the early 20th century,
times were rough for everyone during the 1930s.
Just presenting his stage performances was not enough- he had to hustle.
Thurston made (and lost) several fortunes with
inventions like his anti-snoring device, which he sold through mail order, and lucky coin tokens and dream books, which he sold after his shows.
He was also a notoriously bad investor, notably losing his shirt in an ill-fated and badly-timed orange grove investment in his later years.
Thurston also became a 32nd Degree Mason in 1910, at the age of 41.
He considered that to be one of the greatest, most important achievements
of his life.
