Born 4 Boston Terrace, Holloway, as David Wighton. His stage name was taken from the title of a painting ‘David devant Goliath’ (David before Goliath), and was first used, aged 17. Married his, no doubt beautiful, assistant in about 1888. Had a long and successful partnership with Maskelyne who had been one of his early inspirations. 1905 – 1915 they performed at St George’s Hall, next door to the Queen’s Hall. One of the first to recognise the potential of the Lumières’ 1896 demonstration in London of moving pictures. First president of the Magic Circle in 1905. Appeared in the first royal command variety performance in 1912. Died at the Royal Hospital for Incurables, Putney, from a progressive palsy which had caused him to retire from public performing in 1919.
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
David Devant
Commemorated ati
David Devant
David Devant, 1868 - 1941, magician, lived here in flat no. 1. English Heritage
Other Subjects
Laurence Olivier, Baron Olivier
Born Dorking, Surrey, as Laurence Kerr Olivier. With his wife Vivien Leigh, he managed the St James's Theatre from 1950 to its closure in 1957. Founding Director of the National Theatre, 1963 - 197...
Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson
Actor. Born London. Died St. Margaret's Bay, near Dover.
London Hippodrome
From Hippodrome Casino: "Originally opened in 1900 by the renowned theatre architect Frank Matcham as a circus variety theatre, the Hippodrome featured a 100,000 gallon tank in which elephants, pol...
Biograph Theatre
Designed by architect Keith D. Young, for light entertainment and music hall, and named the Spread Eagle Assembly Rooms. In 1900, it was re-named Wandsworth Palace of Varieties, and showed animated...
Joan Littlewood
Theatre director. Born Stockwell. 1945 set up the Theatre Workshop which moved into the Stratford Theatre Royal in 1953, many of the company living on site while it was being restored. 1963 created...
Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in to see them