Kar-Mi
Magic stone litho poster vintage advertising poster for the stage magician known as
Kar-Mi. His real name was Joseph Hallworth, an American performer who adopted an "oriental" persona as the "Prince of India".
The Magician and the Mystery
Performer: Joseph Hallworth (ca. 1872–1956) was a vaudeville entertainer who used several stage names, including "Victorina" and "Kar-Mi". He often wore makeup to darken his skin as part of his Indian character, a practice common in early 20th-century entertainment.
The Act: The poster advertises his "most startling mystery of all India," an illusion referred to as "Selma". The image depicts a skeletal figure over a golden sarcophagus, and terrified turban-clad men in the foreground, creating an atmosphere of horror and mystery.
The Illusion: The "Selma" trick involved the cremation and subsequent resurrection of his female assistant from the sarcophagus shown in the poster. The name "Selma" was simply chosen because it sounded "Far Eastern and mysterious" and was not the name of his assistant or wife.
Other Acts: In addition to "Selma," Hallworth's shows included daring feats like sword swallowing and a signature trick where he would swallow a gun barrel and shoot a cracker off an assistant's head.
The original lithograph poster was published in 1914 by the National Printing & Engraving Co.
Kar-Mi. His real name was Joseph Hallworth, an American performer who adopted an "oriental" persona as the "Prince of India".
The Magician and the Mystery
Performer: Joseph Hallworth (ca. 1872–1956) was a vaudeville entertainer who used several stage names, including "Victorina" and "Kar-Mi". He often wore makeup to darken his skin as part of his Indian character, a practice common in early 20th-century entertainment.
The Act: The poster advertises his "most startling mystery of all India," an illusion referred to as "Selma". The image depicts a skeletal figure over a golden sarcophagus, and terrified turban-clad men in the foreground, creating an atmosphere of horror and mystery.
The Illusion: The "Selma" trick involved the cremation and subsequent resurrection of his female assistant from the sarcophagus shown in the poster. The name "Selma" was simply chosen because it sounded "Far Eastern and mysterious" and was not the name of his assistant or wife.
Other Acts: In addition to "Selma," Hallworth's shows included daring feats like sword swallowing and a signature trick where he would swallow a gun barrel and shoot a cracker off an assistant's head.
The original lithograph poster was published in 1914 by the National Printing & Engraving Co.
After
Mounted
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