"SIM SALA BIM" (EL ESPECTACULO QUE MARAVILLA) CON "DANTE"... ESPERANZA IRIS.... [AN ORIGINAL FLYER ADVERTISING A PERFORMANCE BY THE GREAT MAGICIAN DANTE] by [Jansen, Harry August]. Dante the Magician - [1943].

[Mexico], [1943].. [1943].. Very good. - sc - A 5-1/2 inch high by 8-3/8 inch wide broadside flyer printed on buff stock advertising a performance by Dante the Magician to celebrate the silver jubilee of the great theater "Esperanza Iris". A simple boldly printed flyer proclaiming "'Sim Salabin' (El Expectaculo que Maravilla) con 'Dante' el Mago Mravilloso y su cia. Internacional. Para celebrar las Bodas de Plata del Gran Teatro - Esperanza Iris - !!Muy Pronto!!". There is minor creasing to the top left corner. Very good. <p>Dante the Magician was the stage name of the Danish-born American magician Harry August Jansen (1883-1955). Making his debut as the Great Jansen at the age of 16 under Charles Wagner, he was picked up by the great magician Howard Thurston who gave him the starring role in his second unit show under the stage name Dante. Working in Vaudeville, burlesque, theatre and even film and television, Dante the Magician became known for uttering his trademark incantation "Sim Sala Bim". He used these very words in his appearance in the Laurel & Hardy comedy "A-Haunting We Will Go."<p>Founded in 1918, Mexico's Teatro Esperanza Iris was named for the operetta singer of the same name. Its construction was partially funded by her from earnings from a recent tour. Iris is said to have lived in the foyer of the building for a time. The theater was abandoned following her death in 1962. Mexico City revived it in 1976 to promote cultural events and changed its name to Teatro de la Ciudad for a while. In 2008, Mexico restored the original name of Esperanza Iris.