Talma was the stage name of Mary Ann Ford (1861 – 13 July, 1944), the magician, who is best known for performing with her husband

Servais Le Roy Servais Le Roy (4 May 1865 – 2 June 1953 ) was a Belgian magician, illusion designer and businessman. He is known for the act ''Le Roy, Talma and Bosco'' and as the inventor of the classic levitation illusion '' Asrah the Floating Princess''. L ...

in the act "Le Roy, Talma & Bosco". Ford was born in England, while her husband was Belgian. As a performer, she adopted the name Mercedes Talma, but was generally known just as Talma. When Talma was an assistant to a mind reader in London, she met

, who was a sleight-of-hand artist. Talma and Le Roy were wed in 1890. Talma became accomplished at performing

sleight of hand Sleight of hand (also known as prestidigitation or ''legerdemain'' ()) refers to fine motor skills when used by performing artists in different art forms to entertain or manipulate. It is closely associated with close-up magic, card magic, card ...

and manipulation acts, especially coin manipulation, and she was often billed as "The Queen of Coins". Talma formed a long-running stage partnership with her husband and their colleague Leon Bosco. They named their act "The Comedians de Mephisto Co" but they were much better known as Le Roy, Talma & Bosco. Le Roy is credited with devising the

Asrah levitation The Asrah levitation, sometimes called Lighter than Air, is a classic levitation illusion. Effect The magician hypnotizes an assistant and commands them to recline on a table or couch. The assistant is then fully covered with a cloth and levitat ...

illusion, which he and Talma first performed in London in 1914. Talma performed sleight of hand for their show.

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