As Dante once wrote, “Result is the thing that matters.” The primary goal of this website is to promote greater understanding and knowledge of Harry Jansen, Edna Herr Jansen and their magical family and friends.
Dante the Magician is dedicated to Harry A. Jansen; his devoted wife and partner, Edna Herr Jansen; and the globe-trotting family and troupe that comprised one of the best and most enduring magical stage acts of the 20th Century.
Of copyrights and collectors
Most of the content on this website derives from the works of Harry A. Jansen, which he often attempted to protect by copyright or use of phrases including “All Rights Reserved.” Whether any U.S. copyright claims were perfected through these efforts is perhaps a moot point, given that no legal claims arose regarding Dante the Magician’s intellectual property following Jansen’s death in 1955.
Assuming some or all of Dante’s original works were published with valid notice of U.S. copyright, there is no record any such copyrights were renewed by Dante or by any family or business successor. With or without any such renewals or extensions, 70 years has now passed since Dante’s death. His original written works belong in the public domain due to copyright expiration.
Some authors, collectors and historians have laid claim to preserving Dante’s legacy by repurposing and repackaging his written materials, posters and other belongings. The webmaster has gratefully published credited excerpts from third-party materials and in so doing has not knowingly violated any U.S. or other valid copyright or trademark claim. Authors and collectors risk very little in sharing their treasures with the general public via this website, Wikipedia, Magicpedia or other public platforms. The greater risk is that Dante’s legacy will be limited to the universe of magic art and collectibles, a deep rabbit hole indeed.
Michael S. Green, curator and webmaster.