Lee Grabel: Lee Grabel was the successor of Dante in a Royal Dynasty of Magic, a lineage of great magicians that goes back five generations of professional magic. As part of the tradition, Lee named Las Vegas magician Lance Burton as his successor in 1994. Lee and Helen Grabel traveled throughout the country in their big illusion show and later a smaller show with just the two of them. During his last years Lee performed at numerous magic conventions. He was the recipient of many awards including Academy of Magical Arts Master’s Fellowship. Profiled in books, periodicals and newspapers, he performed his last show at the age of 86.

History of Royal Dynasty of Magic: The Royal Dynasty of Magic began with the unexpected death of popular magician Alexander Herrmann in 1896. That’s when Harry Kellar, hoping to capture Herrmann’s crowds, started to bill himself as the successor of Herrmann. When Kellar neared retirement in 1908, he named young magician Howard Thurston as his successor in a Royal Dynasty of Magic. In 1933, as Thurston’s long and successful career was coming to an end, he chose Dante the Magician as his successor. And Dante in retirement chose Lee Grabel in 1958. In 1994, Grabel named Las Vegas headliner Lance Burton as his successor.