The magicians of the era liked the mysticism of the far east as a gimmick for showmanship. The turban because a trademark of Alexander. Claude Alexander performed feats of mind-reading and psychic prediction that defied explanation. He lived between 1880 and 1954 and performed on stage as "Alexander" between 1915 and 1924. Off stage he was a womanizer, a con man, and a perfectionist, all of which let to his exit from the magic theater.