Hawkesbury People & Places
Anderson, Wizard of the North
Entertainers
Anderson, Wizard of the North. From https://travsd.wordpress.com/2013/07/16/john-henry-anderson-the-great-wizard-of-the-north/
John Henry Anderson also known as Professor Anderson, Wizard of the North was born in Aberdeen, Scotland in July 1814. He was intrigued by watching the magic tricks of entertainers who performed in the district and commenced his career as a magician at the age of seventeen. He perfected the bullet catch trick which mystified audiences as well as sleight of hand illusions such as pulling a rabbit out of a hat.
Anderson understood the value of publicity and distributed his own promotional material and flyers. His life was, however not without controversy and was charged in 1845 with setting fire to his own theatre in Glasgow. There was also some speculation as to whether Anderson was involved in the destruction of Covent Garden also by fire in 1856, a notion he strenuously denied.
Apart from touring Britain, Anderson also went on extensive sojourns in other countries around the world including America, Canada, Australia, and Hawai. In 1858, performed many times in Sydney and also travelled to Windsor where presented his show in an old brick building in Kable Street. He was the consumate showman and played to packed audiences who were enthralled and held spellbound by the mastery of his tricks.
He died in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1874 and was buried in St Nicholas’ Churchyard. He was survived by his wife and several children including his daughter Alice Hannah who had been his assistant on stage.
The following source refers to one of the many imitators of the original Professor Anderson, Wizard of the North who emulated his name and repertoire after his death.
Reference: 10 August 1901, p 3
‘Professor Anderson, the great wizard of the north, gave one of his clever conjuring entertainments in the Windsor School of Arts on Friday evening last, to a fair audience. Those who attended were well repaid, and the “show” was not only mystifying , but had a humourous side which was greatly enjoyed’.
‘At the entertainment at the School of Arts on Friday evening last, when Professor Anderson was performing his deceptive feat of cutting off a lady’s head, Mrs Connelly fainted and had to be carried home.’
Read more about the original Wizard of the North - https://geniimagazine.com/wiki/index.php?title=John_Henry_Anderson
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