Dodworth’s Hall

“That wonderful veteran, Signor Blitz, made his reappearance at Dodworth Hall last evening, to a highly respectable audience. Fifteen years of absence from New York have made no perceptible difference in the appearance of the redoubtable master of the necromantic art, who amused and astonished the fathers and mothers of the present generation… He exhibited a ‘magic drum’ which was beaten without any apparent instrumentality… [Goes on to describe some of the magic tricks; no mention of music.] 

“The Signor should, and probably will, become a great favorite, especially with the young. Those who attend his exhibitions will be sure to spend a pleasant evening.”

“A merry-hearted old gentleman who amused the fathers of the rising generation with his feats of magic and ventriloquism and his little school of learned birds, appeared last night before the sons and daughters of his earliest admirers with his old-fashioned entertainment, and with every bit of his old-fashioned success… Signor Blitz’s entertainment is altogether a peculiar one. There is a little bit of trick magic, and a little bit of sleight-of-hand, and a little bit of magnetism, and a little bit of jugglery, and a little bit of humorous ventriloquism and vocal imitation; and all these little bits use up an evening in the most delightful manner… Heller’s spirit drum is reproduced with improvements that Heller never dreamed of. The drum is beaten by its invisible spirit while in the hands of strangers, and in any part of the hall… A feat of jugglery, by which he keeps half a dozen dinner plates dancing time to music on a table, was equally well relished by last night’s audience… Last night a foolish display of automaton minstrels brought the entertainment to a lame conclusion. We have so many troupes of real good minstrels and real bad ones in the City at present, that any imitation of either seems superfluous. Signor Blitz announcest [sic] matinées for Wednesday and Saturday. We heartily commend his entertainment for ladies and children.”

No mention of music.

“The performances of the veteran conjurer are very much enjoyed by large audiences.”

“Sig. Blitz, a gentleman well known in the profession for the past thirty years as a magician, makes his re-entre into this city, after an absence of fifteen years, at Dodworth Hall, this evening, with his troupe of canary birds.”