Theo Bamberg Europe's Great Shadowist ca. 1908

Bamberg, Theo. Thurston Presents Theo Bamberg Europe's Great Shadowist. Cincinnati, Strobridge Litho. Co., ca. 1908. Half sheet (20 x 30 ½") color lithograph depicting a full-length portrait of Theo Bamberg (Okito) and the hand shadows he performed as a specialty act on the Thurston show. Minor restoration to border not affecting image, otherwise very good condition. Linen backed. Scarce. Signed and inscribed by Okito. At the time this lithograph was printed, Bamberg — better known to magicians as Okito —was featured as a guest artist on the Thurston show, performing his hand shadows as an interlude in the full-evening entertainment. Though remembered today as an inventive magician and peerless craftsman of magic apparatus, Bamberg's first showbusiness successes were as a shadowgraphist. As a boy in his native Holland, Bamberg performed his hand shadow act for the nation's royal family. In 1908, after Thurston purchased the show of Harry Kellar, Bamberg was added to the program not only to lengthen the performance, but to also serve as a technical advisor to Thurston. He would later return to vaudeville and European variety theatres as Okito the magician, topping the bills and earning enviable salaries. He died in Chicago in 1963.