On May 16, 1908, at Ford's Theatre in Baltimore, Harry Kellar passed his magician's wand to Howard Thurston who was performing with him on his farewell tour, thus extending the Royal Dynasty of Magicians which represents the premier classicist magician in the world. The Dynasty began in 1896 when Hermann the Great (Alexander Herrmann) died, passing the mantle to Harry Kellar. Upon his retirement in 1908, Kellar passed the mantle to Howard Thurston. Thurston died in 1936, having selected Dante the Magician (Harry August Jansen) to carry on the tradition. In 1955, Dante passed the mantle on to Lee Grabel. And although Grabel retired in 1959, he waited until 1994 when he finally found a magician worthy of the honor, to pass the mantle once again. On May 12, 1994, Grabel chose Lance Burton as the next member of the Royal Dynasty of Magicians.