ProvenanceThis item is part of a collection of magic and entertainment props which belonged to Harold Watson. He was born on 20 March 1900 in Meadows. Besides his career as a school teacher in South Australia, he was fascinated in magic research and became a semi-professional magician. Known as The Wizard Watson he had his own branded props to entertain the audience with mystery and excitement in his shows. Harold Watson was an initiator of the Adelaide Magicians' Club in 1920. The Australian Society of Magicians had been founded in Sydney on 15th January 1907.SignificanceA number of items of magic paraphernalia in the State History collection give us the opportunity to take a look behind the curtain of magicians and their magic.
One of just over 30 items in a collection which belonged to magician Harold John Watson.DescriptionA cream rectangular piece of cardboard with a black image of a skull imposed over a cream circle on a black background. Along the top of the cardboard reads 'Flying Saucers" Over Australia'. Below the image of the skull is some more text, reading 'Stare steadily at the cross, then at the sky. You will see a ghostly "Flying Saucer"'. Below this is a logo for The Wizard Watson, two owls sitting on a magic stick, with stars behind them, and a postal address.Creator (person)Harold WatsonAcknowledgementDate of CreationBetween 1st January 1917 and 31st December 1982Date of UsageBetween 1st January 1917 and 31st December 1982MaterialCardboard
|Paper Accession NumberHT 2017.1533