New Trenton in Franklin County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Lester “Marvelo” Lake

1904–1977

Photo of entire marker wanted image. Click for full size.

1. Photo of entire marker wanted

Inscription.
Magician, humorist, and innovator Lester Lake was born in New Trenton. He began performing magic as a profession in Brookville by 1925 and was inducted into Queen City Mystics, Assembly 11 of the Society of American Magicians the same year. He traveled extensively performing at parks, theaters, schools, and nightclubs, 1925-1960. Toured Europe with USO during WWII.

Lake is credited with developing a wide array of tricks and illusions including Burned Alive (1929), The Guillotine (1931), and Disecto (1942). He developed new magic tricks independently and later became an associate of Abbott’s Magic Company in Michigan. His contributions to the field influenced many magicians, such as New Trenton native John Calvert. (Marker Number 24.2018.1.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1925.

Location. 39° 18.794′ N, 84° 54.155′ W. Marker has been damaged. Marker is in New Trenton, Indiana, in Franklin County. It is on U.S. 52 just south of St Peters Road, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: New Trenton IN 47035, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: New Trenton (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Snow Hill Covered Bridge (approx. 2.8 miles away); St. Joseph Catholic Church Original Cemetery Grounds (approx. 3.2 miles away); St. Leon Pole Raising

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(approx. 3.3 miles away); St. Joseph Catholic Church (approx. 3.3 miles away); General John Morgan (approx. 4½ miles away); St. John The Baptist Church (approx. 5.3 miles away); Dover (approx. 5½ miles away).

Also see . . .
1. Lester (Marvelo) Lake 1904-1977. Indiana Historical Bureau website entry:
Contains images of both sides of the marker and annotated text (Submitted on June 9, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Boiled, Burned, and Guillotined: The Inventions of Magician Lester “Marvelo” Lake. Untold Indiana blog entry (Submitted on June 9, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

3. Lester David “Marvelo” Lake. Find A Grave website entry (Submitted on June 9, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Remains of the Lester “Marvelo” Lake Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, August 22, 2021

2. Remains of the Lester “Marvelo” Lake Marker

This is a photo of side 1. New Trenton proper is just around the curve ahead.

Buried Alive Every Afternoon, Burned Alive Every Evening: The Life of Lester Lake image. Click for more information.

Photographed by J. J. Prats

3. Buried Alive Every Afternoon, Burned Alive Every Evening: The Life of Lester Lake

2016 book by Julie A. Schlesselman.
Click for more information.
This website may earn income if you use this link to make a purchase.

Lester “Marvelo” Lake image. Click for full size.

via Untold Indiana

4. Lester “Marvelo” Lake

About to be boiled alive

Credits. This page was last revised on April 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 3, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 780 times since then and 169 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 3, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 4. submitted on June 9, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.