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jimplunk1 0 Posts |
I've always been a great fan of all kinds of magic and decided to join so I can learn more about it. I'm retired and will never be a magician, although I do a few things to entertain my grandchildren, most of which were taught to be by uncle. Some of you may know of him, his name is Wally Dean. He was famously connected with the Miser's Dream. He became a great comedian in his later years and sadly passed away in 1992. If anyone knows where I could find more on his magic career aside from the book Classic Secret's of Magic, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.
Jim Plunkett |
Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
Welcome jimplunk1,
I'm often not very welcoming to non-Magicians but since you do Magic to entertain your Grandchildren, you ARE a Magician. We have many members who only study Magic, perform for friends and Family or collect Magic. I don't know of Wally Dean myself but someone here may. Best luck in your newish hobby. -Mary Mowder |
jimplunk1 0 Posts |
Thanks for the good wishes.
Jim |
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Greeting(s) from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan! --(where I am retired from performing "on the road" for about 50 years!)
An early mentor, professional performer, STUART ROSS, helped me learn the Misers Dream when I was 14, in 1946. Stuart "learned me real good, and, I stayed teached!" The routine was straight from Harlan Tarbell's (correspondence) "Course in Magic". Stuart's receptacle for the coins was not a Champagne bucket! He had started performing at the beginning of the Great Depression. He used a common item of the time: a tin lard pail!, painted with "aluminum" paint, and a dozen Green River Whiskey advertising "coins". Stu gave me a handful of the "coins" (provided free by the Green River Distillery to any magician who asked for some). I "found" a #10 tin can, and I used Green River coins and that #10 for a few years. At 16, I got a job in a carnival side show, and, almost wore out that tin can, doing 12 to 15 shows a day. Buzz Worth, another carnie helped me learn the DOWNS palm (as described in Bruce Elliott's "Classics". at 17, I bought "white tie, and tails", and began using a wine glass instead of that tin can. I was trying to br "swayve & deboner", but, I wasn't! (It took me 3 years to find out that I wasn't!) An agent told me to "make 'em laugh", and he would get me work. I listened to the agent, bought a nice aluminum bucket, from JACK CHANIN, and, started making them laugh. I never met Wally Dean, but, he was known! Bruce Elliott's book, in 1953, (illustrated by STANLEY JAKS) helped make your uncle, well known! Night clubs were "big" then, and, he had an act that was VERY SUIABLE! After the Navy, and, college, I started doing school assembly programs, and toured the USA, until I retired at 76. The Misers Dream was a featured part of my show. FAUCETT ROSS, who had known T. NELSON DOWNS, told me that DOWNS had told him: "The ENTERTAINMENT is in pulling coins from the kids' ears and noses!" I quit producing coins from the "air", and switched to kids" ears! The MD has closed the show for many years! In his day, your uncle's routine was "it"! By the time that I came along, the night club era was gone, and, I had to "adjust" to fit in! The MD has "helped" me to entertain for almost 70 years! So! You had a good "mentor"!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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jimplunk1 0 Posts |
Thanks so much for sharing this with me. It sounds as if you had such a wonderfully fulfilling career. I often wish that I had made more of the opportunity.
Here's my uncle Wally Dean's head shot taken in about 1940. Click here to view attached image. |
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
No wonder that I never made the "big time"! --I was never that handsome! Besides, I could never make that neat a double fan!!! heehee
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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jimplunk1 0 Posts |
I believe at one time he was called the Dean of Cards. Back in the early 50's he had taught me his version of the "Ghost Deck," whereby the deck cuts itself and offers the chosen card. I neat illusion that I've had fun with for years.
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