Peter Pit — stage name of Herman Claassen (11 March 1933 – 21 February 1999) — was a Dutch-American magician who rose to become a world champion and ultimately artistic director of the famous Magic Castle in Hollywood.
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From the Netherlands to the world's elite
After grammar school, applied-arts school and a training in advertising, Claassen first worked as a professional magician in the Netherlands. In 1958 he took first prize at the National Magic Congress in Hilversum.
That same year he won first prize in the General Magic category at the World Championship of Magic in Vienna — an achievement that launched his international career.
Martini bottles and the dancing cane
In the late 1950s and early 1960s Peter Pit was regularly on Dutch television with his best-known routines: the production of bottles of Martini from apparently empty tubes and his famous dancing cane.
With these elegant, refined acts he built a reputation that reached far beyond his country's borders.
Breakthrough in America
An appearance on the legendary Ed Sullivan Show gave Peter Pit entry to American show business. In 1962 he settled permanently in the United States, where he had his own television shows and performed in Las Vegas.
He grew into a celebrated artist who shared the stage with the greatest names of his time.
Artistic director of the Magic Castle
As a celebrated craftsman, Peter Pit was ultimately appointed artistic director of the Magic Castle in Hollywood — a position reserved only for the very greatest in the profession.
This places Peter Pit among the most successful Dutch magicians ever to break through in America.
Peter Pit proved that Dutch craftsmanship can reach the very highest world level. You will recognise that same ambition and refinement in the work of Sudesh Roman.