Is he still alive? Is his collection intact?
Thanks in advance

I believe that he is very much alive and that his collection, if anything, continues to grow. I know someone who has made several of the rarer items in the collection.

Dr. Albo is still very much alive. However, according to a source close to him, Dr. Albo recently sold his entire collection to a major illusionist who has a very large collection.

According to my source, the contract was so tight that Dr. Albo was not allowed to keep a single item from his collection. Evidently, he did not read the contract as closely as he should have.

Thanks for your replies gentlemen.

Sorry, I should have done this before posting, but Google shows that Dr. Albo is now 78 years old and retired as a surgeon.

Sad to hear about the selling of the collection to, I assume, DC. I remember the article (I think from the New Yorker) where Ricky Jay had some choice comments on the nature of that illusionist's collection.

OTH, I suppose it is a good thing that the collection is intact and will probably be taken care of.

Ah, but the illusionist has missed a few props. He will probably never get the ones that are in the ruins of Magic Island in Houston.

Dr. Albo has been in a wheelchair for about a year and a half.

He is really a nice man with a great sense of humor.

Bob Albo is a terrific guy.

When I was appearing in a Bay Area hotel in the late 1960s Bob gave me a tour of his collection. While that was early in his collecting days his Okito items were works of art...perfectly square corners...deep lacquer finishes...just wonderful to look at.

He ended up with one of my Martin items and the write up describing it is by me.

Buma (Marvin, not Mark) told me that Dr. Albo would come into his shop, still wearing his surgical greens and say, "Where is the antique magic you just got in? I can SMELL it!"

The sale of Bob's collection to David Copperfield is well known, at least in the collecting community.

Never met Dr Albo, but had one thing in common...being UCSF medical school alumnae

I purchased Volume 2 of Albo's Classic Magic Series at a bookfair at Stanford University. When I got home and started looking it over, I noticed on the front end page was written "To Bing Crosby, with regards & best wishes, Bob Albo." I naturally contacted Dr. Albo as he lived in northern California, He stated that he used to golf with Bing and had given him volume 1&2.
I think due to its provenance it has a little more value.
Rennie

Charles Schultz of Peanuts fame has a museum, in which his art studio is on display. On one the shelves is a complete file of Albo's books. Doc also, early on, worked at Disney as an animator.

He was an All American baseball player drafted by the Giants, but opted to go to medical school. He's the chief medical officer for the Oakland Raiders, and when he was the chief medical officer for the San Francisco Seals hockey team, I was the team's photographer.

I may be wrong, but I do not believe his collection has been delivered as yet.

I just recieved his latest offering, THE COMPLETE THAYER. A set of two incredible books with 12 DVDs, that IMHO is probably the FINEST PAIR OF BOOKS EVER PUBLISHED.

Ssdly, Doc is now in a wheel chair with a nerve disorder affecting his legs. He's in great spirits, though, and still very active.

Dr. Albo and Charles Schulz were very close friends. In fact, he delivered the eulogy at Schulz' funeral.

Joe

Did not know that Joe. Going to NEMCA?

Richard

This is all extremely fascinating. Thanks for the background everyone. I had no idea he was so accomplished. A true Renaissance man.

sure is.
and it is an interesting deal that david set up as to the money is being handled.
I remember a few years ago when he told me about us about via the phone a couple
of years ago.

his collection is throughly extensive but despite everything okito's favorite
robes were not part of the collection.

Dr. Albo, the world's greatest collector of magical apparatus passed away. May he rest in peace.

I just learned this on the Thayer Magic website. This is very sad news.

A great loss.

I just checked some records and Doc Albo and I met and worked together 49 years ago. He had just returned from Hawaii and was suffering with what he told me was, "Similar to Lou Gherig's Disease."

He will be sadly missed.

Wow, that is unfortuante! He published some great books and by the sounds of it was a terrific guy.