Dante the Great (magician), 1869-1899

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Oscar Eliason (1869 - 1899) was the first of many stage magicians to perform under the name "Dante". He was an American Mormon and born in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1869 to Swedish immigrants. His father was a jeweller by profession but enjoyed magic as a hobby, and so Oscar pursued his own interest in magic, making his amateur debut in 1889 and turning professional four years later. During the mid 1890s he toured Texas, Mexico, Cuba and Canada, performing with his wife who was billed as Madame Edmunda. By 1898, he had adopted the stage name Dante the Great, and toured to Australia and New Zealand, performing in Honolulu en route. For over a year the young Dante and his company greatly impressed audiences throughout Australia and New Zealand. His career as a great magician, however, was cut short by tragedy, as while in Dubbo, New South Wales, Dante joined a rabbit shooting party and was accidentally shot. Three days later he died of his injuries. [Information from the Arts Centre, Melbourne] This material relates to Oscar Eliason (1869 - 1899), the first magician to use the stage name "Dante", distinct from Harry August Jansen (3 October 1883 - 15 June 1955), a Danish-born performer who settled in the United States and travelled the world as a professional magician also using the stage name "Dante the Magician". Link to catalogue record.

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