Mons. Adrian (?-?)

Mons. Adrian (also spelled Adrien, Adrean) was born Victor de Lille in France, in the early part of the 19th century. In his young adult years Adrian learned vaudevillian acts, such as plate spinning and ventriloquism.

By the mid-1800s, Adrian grew in popularity as a magician and was reputed to have become a household name in America and Europe.

Managed by T.P Bersnard, Adrian performed the Lyceum circuit as well as other venues throughout the Eastern US, and had a large fan base in New York.

He would perform a limited number of shows in each city, and was reported to have one hundred different magic tricks to his repertoire; He added diversity and freshness to each performance by showcasing different illusions every evening.

Adrian was hailed as the "King of the Necromaners," "The Wizard of France" and "The Great Magician." His shows would be presented in various themes, such as the "The Wizard's Palace, or The Temple of Enchantment," "Indian Metamorphosis" and the "Megascorama."

Adrian would often mystify his audiences with his eery exhibitions in necromancy or the black arts. Some of his finale stage illusions would include the vanishing of two or three people. His show would also include an exhibition of "Dissolving Views," which were a form of early cinematographic entertainment.

At the height of his career, Adrian became one of the most successful, and highest paid magicians of the late 19th century.

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