Wizard Oil & Wonders – The Peculiar Legacy of Frank Weston the Wizard Oil Prince
An exploration of the quackery of nineteenth- century travelling showman Frank Weston through magic, song and history.
Frank Weston, the self-proclaimed Dr and Wizard Oil Prince was a charismatic American showman who captivated audiences across Australia and New Zealand from the 1860s to the 1880s. Known for his bold Yankee wit, Weston toured with his two-hour extravaganza of jokes, songs, and comic tales, weaving in relentless plugs for his “miracle” cures; Wizard Oil, Magic Pills, and Mexican Mustang Liniment.
Join historian Dr. David Waldron and magician Dr. Jo Clyne as they bring Weston’s curious world back to life in an electrifying fusion of history and illusion. With The Drongo and The Crow performing the original music from Weston’s travelling medicine show, this one-of-a-kind event will reveal the charms and deceptions behind the 19th-century craze for magical cures and quackery