Leon Mandrake began his magic career in 1922 performing on the vaudeville stages of New Westminster, British Columbia.
In the late 1930s, he toured extensively in the U.S. with great success. He was a conjurer, an illusionist, a mentalist, a manipulator, a ventriloquist and fire eater. The title character in the comic strip, Mandrake the Magician, was said to be drawn to resemble him.
He toured universities in his later career and received a Performing Fellowship from the Academy of Magical Arts in 1978, along with his wife and partner, Velvet.
Complete with top hat, tails and a bunny girl assistant (his wife Velvet), this piece captures the essence of classical magic.