William Hilliar

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Magician William Hilliar was born November 27, 1876 in Oxford, England, and moved to the United States in 1902 to play vaudeville. He was not just a professional magician, writer, and founder of The Sphinx magazine, but he also managed sideshows for Barnum and Bailey Circus, and for several other large outfits.

He once performed in disguise as Howard Thurston while Thurston was sick. He also wrote a column on magic for The Billboard magazine for many years.

He was both a friend and rival of Harry Houdini. Hilliar died on November 15, 1936 by suicide.