A “MAGIC” FOUNTAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19239, 1 August 1924, Page 5

A “MAGIC” FOUNTAIN

HOW CARL HERTZ BECAME WEALTHY. Carl Hertz, the famous magician, who has just died in England at the age of 65 has left an estate believed to be worth not less than a quarter of a million—a record for a stage performer. Ho was of German origin, and began life as an outfitter’s assistant. Ho soon tired of selling shirts for a few shillings a week, and practised legerdemain, at which he was so successful that he decided to become a professional. Manchester gave him his first opportunity. He had to give a trial week free of charge to demonstrate his skill. He was jin instantaneous success, on tho second night he packed the theatre, and continued°to do so for the remainder of the week. He became a “star” in a night. His fee until a fortnight before bis death was £2OO a week ih London, and £250 in the provinces. He had earned this salary for more than 40 years. “He made most of his money, however, in the provinces,” said Mr Will Goidston, vice-president of Hie Magician’s Club and the intimate friend of Mr Hertz, to . a Daily Express representative. “Many halls preferred to engage him on the sharin/, system—so per cent. each. I have known him make over £9OO a week in this way, not once, but hundreds ol times. Hertz was a brilliant magician, but he was equally clever as a business man He put all his savings in bricks and mortar. His specialty was buying up old property and rebuilding. He bought decrepit buildings in good positions in San Francisco and New York, and erected in their places residential flats, which ho let at enormous rents. He also owned property in the West of London from which lie derived a large income. Mis estate cannot bo worth less than £200,000 to” £300,000.” Mr Hertz lived quietly and modestly in a small flat in Hyde Park mansions. He made structural alterations which enabled him to display his “magic” in unexpected fashion to his guests. He caused furniture to disappear, produced “ghosts” at unexpected moments, and surprised and amused his visitors in a hundred different ways.