Russell, William. Russell the Magician. A Night in Wonderland. Erie: Walker Litho Printing Co., ca. 1906. Half-sheet color lithograph of William Russell presenting a levitation illusion, his assistant clad in a long blue robe floating before the performer and a dark green curtain. 29 ? x 21?. Minor wear at extremities; A. Linen backed. Rare. Russell performed primarily in the Northeast, working in both vaudeville and legitimate theaters, and later touring with a show called Russell?s Magic Circus. An avid supporter of the International Brotherhood of Magicians and a host of two of its early conventions, today he is an underappreciated creator and builder of magic tricks. According to his friend Gene Gordon, it was Russell who invented the Paper Bag Escape for Houdini (and built Houdini?s Milk Can escape), in addition to devising some of the choreography for Thurston?s Floating Ball and building several illusions for the famed illusionist.