|
|
Go to page 1~2 [Next] | ||||||||||
David Leon New user 84 Posts |
Hello every one.
I am the Great Grandson of the Great Leon and Grandson of Leon M. Leon. Yes, I am into magic too! I would be interested if anyone has any information, stories, props relating to These two Leon's. When my Grandfather passed his wife at the time got rid of everything at auction at the Magic Castle. (I was suppose to get a lot of books and other items, My name is in some of the books too) And, I would love to see if anyone has video tapes of my Grandfather Leon M. Leon performing. He did a lot of convention. p.s. I do already have "The Great Leon" book by Cavney. It is an un-number presentation copy signed to me by Grandpa Leon. Thank you for any information you can provide. You can PM me. |
|||||||||
Julie Inner circle 3936 Posts |
Sent P.M.
|
|||||||||
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Hello David,
While not speciically about your family, here is a webpage I made that partially documents building my version of the Miniature Haunted House that your great-grand father designed. http://themagiccompany.com/haunted_house.html ~michael
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
|||||||||
mtpascoe Inner circle 1932 Posts |
I have fond memories of his round tables. It was an afternoon gathering in his backyard and certain selected people would have lunch and talk about anything. And at times, even magic was discussed. Those that attended was Whit Haydn, Billy McComb and a few others I cannot remember.
Leon Leon had a great spirit and had a bunch of stories. He was fun. |
|||||||||
Whit Haydn V.I.P. 5449 Posts |
Leon Leon was a wonderful man, a delight to listen to, and a great host.
He was the inventor of the clapboard--that icon of the movie industry. |
|||||||||
mtpascoe Inner circle 1932 Posts |
Yeah, I remember him talking about being in the movie industry, but I don't remember him mentioning about the clapboard. He was a clever man. I remember an act he did for the IBM dinner where he bumbled his way through, milking the laughs along the way. It was so funny. He took advantage of his age and pretended like he was senile. He knew how to handle comedy real well.
|
|||||||||
David Leon New user 84 Posts |
Wow, thanks for the great info. Thank you julie for the PM!
Mr. Baker, that is a great House! Looks fantastic, I have a copy of the book and thinking about re-doing it (new versions of animated products are now available) but not sure yet. Please let me know how the house comes along. mtpascoe, I have been to my grandfathers house when he had the "Gang" there, I was about 12-16 yaars old, I don't remember who all was there. I do remember Marvin Roy though...can't forget smomeone named Mr. Electic! I have the table cloth that my Teddy had everyone sign and then she stitched the names. It is folding in plastic but I can see Dante on the front. I wish I can go back in time and be there now! Whit, I have a lot of stories about the movie business and the inventions that has changed what they do today. I loved to hear the stories Grandpa would tell. I do feel blessed to have known him and to have him teach me about Magic! |
|||||||||
sethb Inner circle The Jersey Shore 2719 Posts |
There is a chapter about Leon's "Haunted House" in Mike Ching's "New Animations" book about the Dancing Handkerchief. SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC |
|||||||||
Mike Ching Regular user Honolulu, Hawaii 192 Posts |
I actually built a version of leons' "house". it was fun to work on. Here is our "Neighborhood House" project for this year: http://gravestonecastle.blogspot.com/
|
|||||||||
The Cardfather Veteran user Long Beach, CA 347 Posts |
I have a first edition Bobo that has a small address lable on the inside cover. It states "Leon Leon" with I think a North Hollywood street address. The book is packed away from a recent move otherwise I'd check.
I was told it was purchased from his widow. I bought it at Presto's magic shop in Long Beach, CA. about 15 years ago (Now called Riot Magic at his new location on Viking Way in the same city.) He has a lot of old, used magic books, perhaps he still has some of Leon's books. Presto is 77 years old and probably in his final year of operation so visit soon. Open till 5:30 Tuesday-Saturday. One of the few brick and mortar magic shops still in existence. Rick Bloom |
|||||||||
mtpascoe Inner circle 1932 Posts |
Yeah, Leon Leon lived in North Hollywood. It's been awhile, but I don't remember the street he lived on.
|
|||||||||
The Cardfather Veteran user Long Beach, CA 347 Posts |
10718 Acama Street
I dug the book out of the box. The lable has his middle initial as well: Leon M. Leon 10718 Acama Street North Hollywood California, 91602 |
|||||||||
The Cardfather Veteran user Long Beach, CA 347 Posts |
The book has a set of instructions for Chanin's Marvel Coins folded in thirds. Leon was probably using as book mark.
|
|||||||||
houdinisghost Loyal user 287 Posts |
Hi there, David,
Leon Leon was one of the very best guys it has ever been my privilege and honor to know. He was an angel in human form and so was Teddy. That aside, he is a motion picture pioneer. He was a techi at Universal when sound came in and he just stepped into it. The mike in those days came with blueprints from Western Electric for towers from which a line was suspended. The large, square, mike hung form the line and moved back and forth clothesline style. It was limiting after the camera freedom of the silent era, so Leon invented the mike boom. He wasn't the only guy who invented it, the studios didn't share their secrets, so someone had to hit on it at each studio, which they did. Leon may have been first. The Klaxon was another thing he invented to fill a vital need: to synch up picture and sound before you started editing. He could have been a top comedy magician. He was as good at being magic and funny as anyone I ever saw. He and Teddy had a son who died very young of polio. The family had gone to see off a Navy ship and somehow that boy picked up a rare strain of polio. Years after his death, there was an aricle in Look magazine that mentioned that a rare strain of polio that a young boy had contracted while visiting a Navy ship had led to the discovery of the Salk vaccine. Leon contacted the magazine who were not aware of the boy's name and told them, "I think that may have been our son." They said they would look into it. A few days later, the reporters and, as I recall, Mayor Poulson showed up at that house on Acama. Leon's kid was a hero. My own kid turned 18 this year. Leon came to his first birthday party and performed a great comedy magic routine. At that party, he was reunited with one of the hundreds of people with whom he shared his love of magic. My neighbor, Stan Livingston, had told me that he'd gotten into magic when he was on "My Three Sons." "We had a sound man who was a magician. . ." I broke in: "Leon Leon!" Anyway, they had a joyful reunion at that party. I'll bet a dollar you've heard a lot of people say they loved him. I mean really loved him. Patrick Culliton |
|||||||||
mtpascoe Inner circle 1932 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-10-13 10:08, The Cardfather wrote: That’s correct, it is off of Lankersheim by the wash right before it crosses into Cahuenga. Even though I was only at those Round Table lunches for a brief time, I remember it fondly. |
|||||||||
Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
I have a set of cups that belonged to the Great Leon. They were made by P&L, chrome plated brass.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
|||||||||
David Alexander Special user 623 Posts |
Leon Leon worked for the sound company Glen Glenn. In front of his house, if I recall correctly, was a sign that lit up, bent glass tubing that spelled out his name: a "neon Leon."
|
|||||||||
David Leon New user 84 Posts |
WOW, I hadn't check this section in a while. Great stories from all of you. I remember the Neon Leon sign! My family use to visit them every Thanksgiving so I have many great memories of the Leon's House. I remember going to the Castle for Sunday Brunch and meeting many people. I have been at the house when Leon had his Magi friends over. I remember meeting Marvin Roy but don't remember who else was there. Jack (Goldfinger) was a real good friend of the Leon's and I have met him a few times.
I have the news artical with the Mayor, the doc. and Leon are in a photo talking about the Polio Vacine. My Mom and her Brother are still alive (Leon's two other children) Leon had a lot of books that were suppose to go to me and Les Arnold when he passed and Leon's Widow just gave or sold everything at auction. We didn't get anything. Leon did hand down boxes of tricks and books though to me when he was alive so that is good. Some where there are books out there with a note saying it is suppose to go to me. Maybe I will find them someday. Leon's House on Acama was suppose to go to a family member too but it was just sold. Alicia (Leon's Wife after Teddy) did take good care of him when he was alive and then screwed everyone when he passed. Thank you again for all your great stories. I remember Gramps telling me all about the movie business too. I was in My Three Son's too! I was 6 months old and Leon was the sound director. He recorded me crying and when the oldest son had triplets their cry was me. My first acting gig! |
|||||||||
Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
I saw your father do his robot magician routine at a convention a long time ago. I was impressed with how clever and creative it was. He was a really nice man.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
|||||||||
msmaster Special user 522 Posts |
I have fomnd memories of seeing Leon's robot magician at a Bob Wagner and Bill Taylor's Magic Dungeion Academy carnival held in the backyard of Leon's North Hollywwod home with a big show put on Leon's garage theater.
|
|||||||||
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Magicians of old » » The Great Leon and Leon M. Leon (0 Likes) | ||||||||||
Go to page 1~2 [Next] |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.06 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |