LAURANT, Eugene (1875 - 1944). Eugene Laurant's Datebook. 1898 - 1910s. Being a small leather bound three-ring binder owned, kept, and maintained by Laurant, and chronicling the many thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) of miles he traveled across rural America presenting his stage-filling illusion show. Neatly organized state-by-state - entries appear behind alphabetical tabs - the datebook discloses the venues where the magician and his company worked, and for how many nights. Approximately 8vo, with over 200 pages, the vast majority filled with typed records of Laurant's appearances in vaudeville, legitimate theaters, and rural stages. A unique and revealing relic chronicling the career of this accomplished magician who was one of the three or four most prominent magicians in his field.

Eugene Laurant scored his biggest artistic successes on the rural entertainment circuits known as Chautauqua and Lyceum. Beginning in 1896, he steadily worked his way across the country with a magic show that was ever-evolving. Performing under the auspices of the famed Redpath Bureau (and others) he crisscrossed the nation developing a trademark style and feature effects including the Sands of the Desert, The Witch of the Flame illusion, and a unique Linking Ring routine. This route book records many of the earliest performances of his professional life.

Several leaves dampstained, but generally good and sturdy condition, with most pages and the binding intact. Good to very good.