Louis Comte: The King’s Conjurer

Louis Apollinaire Christien Emmanuel Comte (1788-1859) is one of the first figures of modern magic, and the man who originated the trick of pulling a rabbit out of a hat (1814), although its continuous is believed to have begun with John Henry Anderson a few decades later. Robert-Houdin was one of his principal admirers and successors. ‘

Born in Geneva, Comte performed for three French kings (Louis XVIII, Charles X, and Louis-Philippe) during the Bourbon Restoration, earning him the nickname, “Conjurer of the Three Kings”. Late in life he was made a Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur for his services to France.

To learn more about the roots of variety entertainment, consult No Applause, Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous, available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and wherever nutty books are sold.