Throughout history some of the most famous magicians have been women.
We’ve put together a short list of the most important ones and provided a brief overview of their life and career. Read about these female magician through the ages!
In recent history, German-American magician and stage name “Penn” Jillette has been one of the star performers on TV shows like “Penn & Teller: Bullshit!”
Furthermore, as one of two people who were instrumental in bringing magic back to public prominence following its decline in popularity during World War II, he had a big influence on contemporary society.
He’s also known for his appearance in The Prestige (2006). His estimated net worth is $12 million USD .
Some of the Famous Female Magician Through The Ages :
1. Houdini, Bess (1876–1952)
Houdini, the most famous magician in history, was born on March 24, 1874.
Her family, who were Jewish and lived in Hungary, immigrated to the United States while Bess was still a baby. They settled in Appleton, Wisconsin.
Houdini’s father died before she was born and her mother died when she was only four years old.
As a result of these tragedies and the family’s poverty, Bess was sent to an orphanage where she lived with her brother while they attended school.
When Houdini was 11, the superintendent of the orphanage, Mr. Weldon, taught her how to do spectacular tricks with cards and coins.
Soon Houdini was presenting a magic show for the other children at the orphanage.
At 13 years old, Bess bought her first set of magic books and set out on her own as a street magician.
She spent many cold nights sleeping in subways and parks while she scrounge for food. A few years later Bess met Harry Keller.
He worked as a produce vendor who sold his wares from a horse-drawn wagon and gave Bess some much needed financial support during her difficult early days in show business.
2. Houdini, Maud (1876–1964)
She was born on October 18, 1876 and died on July 31, 1964. She married Harry Houdini in 1894. In 1918 Houdini gave Maud the honor of being the first woman voted into the Society of American Magicians, an organization three years younger than she was.
Maud became a successful author. Her books included Miracle Mongers and Their Methods (1922), The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin (1923), Margery: The Life Story of a Medium (1925), Silent Heroines (1927), and My Life With Harry Houdini (1931).
3. Giardini, Eva Marie (1889–1940)
She was born on March 25, 1889. Her father died when she was young and her mother raised her daughter.
Eva Marie’s talent for magic became obvious at a very early age. She began performing professionally at the age of 14.
In 1910, after being signed with a theatrical agency in New York City, Giardini began working as a professional magician and juggler.
She traveled extensively and performed in many countries in Europe and South America.
4. Asti, Virginia (1892–1981)
Virginia Asti was born on December 5, 1892 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States as Virginia Brownell Sigourney.
She was an American actress and magician . She was married to magician John Giardini. She died on December 6, 1981 in The Woodlands, Texas.
5. Geller, Ruth (1894–1978)
She was born on January 26, 1894 in Poland and died on February 27, 1978 in New York City, USA. A pioneer of early television programming and special effects, Ruth joined the United States Army Signal Corps in 1917.
She became an official film censor while working there during World War I. After the war she joined her husband Reuben Fine’s company Rayoxyde Corporation in Hollywood to produce low-budget films which included her husband’s magic act .
Ruth Geller is famously known for her illusion of levitating a water glass, which she demonstrated on the December 30, 1948 episode of “The Ed Sullivan Show”, and for her invention of the “Icy-Hot” brand of cold therapy.
6. Nola, Sophie (1895–1977)
She was born on April 3, 1895 in Chicago and died February 17, 1977 in New Orleans , Louisiana .
Sophie was noted as an inventor by U.S. Patent Office in 1942 with a 3D drawing of the famous double up card trick .
7. Drewe, Gretta (died 2003)
She was a British author and magician. She was born cindy linton on November 23, 1931 in London and died on April 5, 2003 in Hove , England. Her greatest claim to fame was being Britain’s funniest magician (according to The Sunday Times).
In the 1950s she appeared on television as a magician with her husband Ronald Drewe performing their act “The Three at a Time”. The act can still be seen on YouTube.
