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Tony Thomas Inner circle North Carolina 1248 Posts |
Al Flosso, the Coney Island Fakir. What an interesting character! I would have liked to have met him. Here he is performing "my all time favorite magical clip". Check this out...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Uxl7cMTsn4M His life timeline: 1895 - Born Al Levinson on October 10. Raised on Manhattan's Lower East Side, where he befriended Dunninger and the Marx Brothers. His childhood nickname - "Floss" - was derived from Flosterstein, his mother's maiden name. 1905 - Saw Harry Blackstone perform at Educational Alliance in New York City. Purchased first magic trick - barber's pole - at Martinka's. 1910 - Begins travelling with circuses, including Al G. Barnes, Miller's 101 Ranch, Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey, Sells Floto, Downie Brothers, Walter L. Mains and Sig Sawtele. 1915 - Develops magic and pitch act in platform show at Coney Island's Dreamland, doing tricks and selling ten cent magic kits to spectators. Bud Abbott works as Flosso's shill. 1938 - Featured in "Palace of Mystery," a big illusion show at Million Dollar Pier in Atlantic City 1939 - Purchased Martinka's - then called Hornmann Magic Company after death of Professor Ducrot, former owner. Appearing as "The Boy Magician," performed at S.A.M. National Conference Headliner Show, sharing the bill with Dale Vernon, Cardini, Nate Leipzig, Kuma and Hardeen, among others. 1941-45 - Along with Ed Sullivan and Eddie Cantor, does shows for military personnel at Mitchell Field, Long Island. 1952 - Appears on Ed Sullivan's "Toast of the Toast," the first magician to perform on Ed Sullivan television show. 1966 - Flosso performs at S.A.M.'s salute to Cardini 1973 - S.A.M. presents Flosso with Star of Magic Award. 1976 - Flosso dies after brief illness. The information above is from http://members.aol.com/AlFlosso/index.htm He is certainly remembered... |
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Get the book, "The Coney Island Fakir - The Magical Life of Al Flosso", by Gary R. Brown. Very amazing man!
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
jkesler Loyal user 246 Posts |
Tony, that is a great clip...from Don Alan's "Magic Ranch"...Thanks for the link.
Michael, I will look to for the book. I had a chance to WATCH your act at Clancy's...Great Job!!! Best Wishes, James |
sethb Inner circle The Jersey Shore 2719 Posts |
The Flosso book is available from many different magic shops, click HERE for more information.
And there's more good information and stories about Al HERE In addition to being a wonderful and unique performer, Al was also a great mentor. He wouldn't sell you a trick that was beyond your ability, or that he thought was not right for you. I tried several times to buy a set of Multiplying Candles from him; he simply said "You don't want that!" and that was the end of the discussion. I went home with a set of multiplying billiard balls instead. BTW, he was right, the billiard balls were easier to deal with and a lot safer. He also insisted upon selling (or giving) me one or two books with each load of magic tricks. Books like "Greater Magic," Jean Hugard's "Modern Magic Manual" and Bruce Elliot's "Classic Secrets of Magic." Forty years later, a lot of those tricks are discarded, but I still have and refer to those books. Nice job, Al. SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC |
jakeg Inner circle 1741 Posts |
I was living in Pittsburgh when my interest in magic peaked for the second time. I got to NYC about every 6 weeks. I would head for Flosso's place in the morning where I usually met Joe Dunninger. Although I haven't seen anyone make mention of it, Al always had a bunch of used vent figures in his place. He was also interested in Punch & Judy and once gave me a swazzle. He also had a bunch of props from the the Olsen & Johnson show, Hellzapopin. I was at the Cardini show in '66 and Al did the funniest egg bag routine that I have ever seen ... (along with the miser's dream and multiplying clocks.) I was always under the impression that Al took his name from a dog that he once owned, Flossy. That's what Joe Dunninger told me.
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todsky Inner circle www.magicstore.ca 2354 Posts |
Just read the book (Coney Island Fakir). Flosso was indeed a character, and an iconic one at that! As for Punch and Judy, he was a puppeteer for several years doing a P&J show. And the name Flosso was derived from his mother's maiden name (Flosterstein).
The book goes on at length about his carnival days, his store and all the magicians who hung out there, his Judy and Punch years, and of course his Miser's Dream. The list of famous magicians he knew or perfomed on the same bill with or who passed through his store is a who's who of magic. One of my favourite anecdotes was when David Berglas visited his store for the first time. Flosso had never met him, but as soon as Berglas introduced himself, Al excused himself and said he needed to go out to get something to eat, and left David behind the counter to mind the store. Al returned a couple of hours later. Fun read, and you really get a feel for this one of a kind character!
Todsky's Magic Shop: over 15,000 tricks, books, DVD s and Card decks. www.magicstore.ca
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jlevey Inner circle Montreal, Quebec, Canada 2076 Posts |
I can recall as a kid of 13, walking into Al Flosso's store and piles of props seems to be everywhere. As soon as my friend and I would walk in, Al would rush up to us to "recommend: what tricks we should buy. Hard to leave the store without a purchase (or two or three! He was always fast-talking but had kind and friendly manner towards us kids. "Enthusiastic" might be the best word to describe his approach.
Jonathan
Jonathan
Max & Maxine Entertainment Magicians with a touch of comedy! ___________________________________ www.maxmagician.com www.mindreadershow.com www.monsieurmagic.com |
todsky Inner circle www.magicstore.ca 2354 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-05-13 18:54, jlevey wrote: That's exactly how his shop is described in the book: piles of props everywhere, and if you asked him for something, he would rummage through piles to find the item. Wish I had had the chance to visit as well.
Todsky's Magic Shop: over 15,000 tricks, books, DVD s and Card decks. www.magicstore.ca
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southernmagi New user South Carolina 18 Posts |
I visited Al Flosso's in 1975. "The Magic Show" was at the Cort Theater and one of the hottest tickets in town. Doug Henning was off the night we went, but a more fun play was nowhere to be found! I also visited Tannen's Magic, but Al Flosso kept me coming back that week. Most cluttered store on earth, but one felt at home talking and taking Al's ribbing. I treasure my visits there.
Conrad Hartz
Professional Puppets in Wood Beaufort, South Carolina http://www.facebook.com/Conrad.Hartz |
southernmagi New user South Carolina 18 Posts |
Hey.......I have to ask this. I talked with Jackie Flosso once and he said Al used only 8 coins in his wonderful Miser's Dream routine? Anyone know or is it in Levent's DVD?
Thanks.....Conrad
Conrad Hartz
Professional Puppets in Wood Beaufort, South Carolina http://www.facebook.com/Conrad.Hartz |
Noel M Loyal user San Rafael. CA 208 Posts |
I remember Al at the 1966 Cardini show as well. Nothing like it.
I suspect that Al did only use 8 coins. I never spoke to him about it but I know that he would use as few as possible. If you watch the film clip you can see him shaking the can and reloading the coins. He sold me a set of P&L chrome cups for $10. I still have them. |
southernmagi New user South Carolina 18 Posts |
I bought a beautiful bouqu
et of flowers from Al to be produced from the sleeve. He showed me the ONLY way to produce them and then put them in a McDonald's bag his lunch came in!!! (:o) There'll never be another Al Flosso.
Conrad Hartz
Professional Puppets in Wood Beaufort, South Carolina http://www.facebook.com/Conrad.Hartz |
Father Photius Grammar Host El Paso, TX (Formerly Amarillo) 17161 Posts |
Al was an unique piece of work. Loved watching him perform, and a visit to him in the magic store was a memory worth a book regardless of how many times you were there.
"Now here's the man with the 25 cent hands, that two bit magician..."
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Noel M Loyal user San Rafael. CA 208 Posts |
Al always had the affus-gaffus from the Isle of Alla-Galla-Boola in stock.
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