Alexander Herrmann was part of a dynasty of French magicians who had his greatest success on the American stage. He began performing with his older brother, Carl, in America, and launched his solo career in 1862. He performed across Europe, including a 3-year engagement at the Egyptian Hall, before returning to America in 1874. In 1875 he married Adelaide Scarcez and they toured as one of the most successful magic acts in America for the next two decades. Although the types of illusion he presented were often variations of existing tricks, Herrmann’s shows were particularly noted for their humour and his showmanship. He was one of the few magicians to actually pull a rabbit from a hat, by taking a hat from the audience and dropping in a rabbit concealed in his jacket.