Submitted by James Alan on
Arkansas Gazette features Michael Claxton's book on Dell O'Dell
Author of Don't Fool Yourself, The Magical Life of Dell O'Dell, Michael Claxton talks about his book and magicienne, Dell O'Dell with Ron Wolfe from the Arkansas Gazette.
Michael explains his desire to chase the story about the "Queen of Magic" and her connection to Arkansas. From the article:
"Dell toured Arkansas with her circus, the Della O'Dell Society Circus," Claxton says. The rarity of a woman's name on a wagon show would have made people look in 1926.
Her arrival "came in the midst of a drought," the author says. Hard times "hit the strawberry farmers badly, so business was sometimes slow." O'Dell -- born Odella Newton -- was circus man "Lucky Bill" Newton's daughter, and the show went on.
