Grave of the Frito-Lay Magician

Louisville, Kentucky

In 1970 Harry Leon Collins made an unusual career switch: from Frito-Lay sales manager to full-time Frito-Lay corporate magician. Known professionally as "Mr. Magic," he became one of Louisville's most popular entertainers, and traveled the country performing feats of prestidigitation, and pulling quarters out of kids' ears.

When Harry died unexpectedly in 1985, his widow -- who was also his on-stage assistant -- commissioned local sculptor Barney Bright to make a life-size bronze of Harry for his grave. Barney sculpted Harry wearing his magicians' tuxedo -- no doubt stuffed with collapsable birdcages and yards of silk scarves -- smiling as he gestures in greeting to his imaginary audience (And probably palming a card in his hand). Behind Harry, half hidden under his magician's cape, is a wheeled box of props for his magic tricks.

Harry's bronze feet are surrounded by pennies tossed by appreciative visitors.

The lengthy epitaph carved into the slab covering Harry's grave concludes:

Never again will we see the twinkle of his eye, the sleight of his hand
That drew the children of the land

Harry is buried only a few plots away from another junk food hero, Colonel Sanders.