Certainly the man who created the artful disappearing act deserves a place on this page:

“Harry Houdini began his professional career at age 17 doing magic shows before civic groups in music halls, at sideshows, and at New York City’s Coney Island amusement park, where he sometimes performed 20 shows each day. For a time he worked with his brother Theo as ‘The Houdini Brothers’.  This changed when Harry met Beatrice Raymond, a teenaged singer and dancer who was also attempting a career in show business.  Harry and Bess married in 1894 and Bess joined the act as Harry’s new partner.  Harry and Bess remained devoted companions for the rest of his life. Harry gave her the credit for his success, and developed the habit of writing her a love note every day.  Harry did magic, Bess sang and danced, and together they performed a trick called ‘Metamorphosis’, in which they switched places in a locked trunk.”

*Title taken from Barry Hannah’s Geronimo Rex, page 26.