Lulu Hurst's chair act

Collection:

New Georgia Encyclopedia

Date:

1884-07-26

URL at Partner site:

http://georgiaencyclopedia.org/file/11051

DLG URL:

https://dlg.usg.edu/record/nge_ngen_m-7882

Subject:

Vaudeville--Georgia, Magic tricks--Georgia, Entertainers--Georgia, Women entertainers--Georgia, Men--Georgia, Women--Georgia, Chairs--Georgia, Spiritualists--Georgia, and Amusements--Georgia

Spatial coverage:

United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018

Medium:

engravings (prints)

Description:

Image of an illustration of Lulu Hurst's chair act which appeared in Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper on July 26, 1884. Hurst is depicted touching a wooden chair, and four men gather around the chair, seemingly unable to lift it. In September 1883 she gained local attention by demonstrating mysterious abilities: chairs, canes, and umbrellas, held by others, seemed gripped by an invisible power when Hurst touched them lightly. Word of her demonstrations quickly spread beyond Georgia, as Hurst toured much of the country with her parents in 1884 and 1885. Beginning in 1883, several young women from Georgia astonished the nation by demonstrating strange powers in their vaudeville acts. For years afterward, they were among the most popular and controversial variety performers in America and Europe. Lulu Hurst, the first Georgia Wonder, was born in 1869 in Polk County, Georgia.

Holding Institution:

Hargrett Library

Rights:

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/