I’m very interested in Eliason. In fact, I provided material to Will (which he graciously acknowledged, as is his habit) for his Tribune two-parter. I’ll look up your radio program concerning him, too. He’s the kind of Utahn I like to remember, in part because he is so unaccountably unknown today.

I appreciate knowing that you read the Keepapitchinin.

I’ve enjoyed the blog. Colorful and insightful. Keep the stories coming.

You might be interested to know that in addition to a mythic “Wizard of the Wasatch,” there was also an historical one (of sorts). Oscar Eliason, alternatively called the “Mormon Wizard” and “Dante the Great,” was an illusionist who started his magical career touring LDS wardhouses. Over time, he developed an international reputation.

For what it’s worth, I featured Eliason’s story on a short weekly radio program about Utah history that I produce for KCPW and Utah Public Radio (KUSU). You can find the audio file on Eliason here. You can also see the script on the show’s blog.

Will Bagely published two articles on Eliason in the Tribune. They were printed respectively on September 24 and October 1, 2000.