Carl Hertz

Carl Hertz (1859-1924) was an American magician

Biography

Born Louis Morgenstein in San Francisco and after becoming proficient in the art of magic, he used the stage name Carl Hertz and toured America and Europe appearing in various music halls. Like other magicians of the time, such as David Devant, Hertz acquired one of the first Theatrograph projectors made by Robert Paul, and included film projections in his act.

In 1896 he went on a tour of South Africa and the antipodes, taking this speciality item with him. Having shown it in South Africa, he then went on perform and display his Theatrograph in Australia, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), India, China, Japan, the Fiji Islands and Hawaii.

In 1924 he published his autobiography.

For more on Hertz, see: https://www.victorian-cinema.net/hertz

Contribution to SA film

Having arrived in South Africa, Hertz travelled to Johannesburg in the ZAR, where he began his tour, which would include various towns in South Africa. Among the performances were:

May 9, 1896: He gave a press show to demonstrate the Cinematographe at the Empire Palace of Varieties.

May 11, 1896: He presented what is probably the first time public demonstration of film projection in Southern Africa, again at the Empire Palace of Varieties. The films shown included scenes of Highland Dances, Street Scenes in London, Trilby Dance, Military Parade and the famous Soldier's Courtship, which Paul had shot on the roof of the Alhambra Theatre, Leicester Square in April.

July 9, 1896: Hertz demonstrated the Cinematographe at the Opera House in Port Elizabeth.