Joseph Ovette
(Naples, Italy: 20th January 1885 - 24th July 1946)
Stage name of Giuseppi "Joseph" Olivo, billed as "Magical Ovette" and "The Great Ovette". Brought to New York City at age 3. Pro fire-eater turned magician at age 12 with Kickapoo Medicine Show. In WW I entertained troops near the front. After 1919 toured USA and Canada, working fairs, vaudeville, and his own show. Also did a pseudo-Chinese act as "Lung Chang Yen" and a mind-reading act as "Mar-Jah".
Moved to Canada. Worked with assistant-wife Frances. Dealer (Treasure Magic) in Cornwall, Ontario, with 1927 catalog (50pp). Died of throat cancer in a Buffalo hospital. His collection of magic books was acquired by Lloyd Jones.
Invented the Master Move = Kelly Bottom Placement by 1927. Edited Echo 1932-35 (16 issues). Co-edited "Hocus Pocus Parade" in Linking Ring 1941-42.
Wrote Magician's New Field (1916, 30pp), Trickery Tricks (1917, 24pp), Advanced Magic (60pp), Practical Telepathy, Publicity Miracles (1928), Eggstraordinary Ways of Egghibiting with Eggs (1932, 36pp), Tricks and Illusionettes (1944, 31pp; repr 1952), Miraculous Hindu Feats (1947, 15pp), Fast Ones (1952; repr 1971, 31pp), and The Gambler's Paradise (12pp). Articles in magic magazines.
