Antonio Blitz

Background

Antonio Blitz was born on June 21, 1810, in Kent, England, though his autobiographical Fifty Years in the Magic Circle (1871) mentions his seeing "white cliffs across the water" and his traveling to England from his birthplace.

Career

In his Autobiography Antonio Blitz tells of picking up tricks from passing gypsies, and of astonishing the countryside with them to such an extent that his father sent him out with a servant to make a fortune with his entertainment when he was thirteen years old. His first professional appearance was in Hamburg in 1823 and he was exhibited in central and western Europe for two years. Shortly after his return his mother died and he left home thereafter alone. His performances were often viewed with alarm by the superstitious country people, particularly as he was fond of playing practical jokes on the people wherever he happened to be. He had become a ventriloquist by this time and the ignorant were quite sure that the devil accompanied him.

In 1834 Blitz came to New York, appearing at the Masonic Hall and at Niblo's Garden with much success. He toured the States, the West Indies, Canada, and finally had a long engagement in Philadelphia, where he resided thenceforward. He was also a bird-trainer and his combination of sleight-of-hand, ventriloquism, and bird tricks gave a program that was varied enough to avoid monotony. He appeared for a long time in Philadelphia at one of the museums established in imitation of Barnum's. Having made a moderate fortune, he gave much time to performances for charity.

Achievements

• Antonio Blitz has been listed as a noteworthy magician by Marquis Who's Who.

Personality

Blitz was a genial little man with a fringe of whiskers.

Connections

Blitz married a Breton woman, whose first name was Marie, and in the following year the first of their several children was born.

Spouse:

Marie Blitz