Kellar and his perplexing cabinet mysteries

Harry Kellar (July 11, 1849 – March 10, 1922) was an American magician who presented large stage shows during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Kellar was a predecessor of Harry Houdini and a successor of Robert Heller. He was often referred to as the "Dean of American Magicians" and performed extensively on five continents. One of his most memorable stage illusions was the levitation of a girl advertised as the "Levitation of Princess Karnack", which was similar to an illusion invented by John Nevil Maskelyne, from which Kellar copied by bribing one of Maskelyne's theater staff.

Harry Kellar (1849–1922) was an American magician of the late 19th and early 20th century, famous for his large stage shows during which his head seemed to float apart from his body. He performed tricks such as the “The Levitation of Princess Karnac” and “Self Decapitation”. He was hugely popular in his time, inspiring the likes of Harry Houdini, and reportedly acting as a model for the bald-headed wizard in "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" published in 1900.