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[[File: LeonMandrake1.png|right|thumb|200px|[[ Leon Mandrake]]]] | |||
'''Leon Mandrake''' (b.1911–d.1993) was an Italian-American born magician, mentalist, illusionist, escapologist, ventriloquist and stunt performer known worldwide as "Mandrake the Magician". | |||
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== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
He | He began his magic career in 1922 performing a magic act in [[vaudeville]], in New Westminster, British Columbia. He later joined the [[Ralph Richards]] touring Magic show in 1927. In the late 1930s, he toured extensively in the U.S. with his full-evening show, with great success. He was conjurer, illusionist, mentalist, manipulator, ventriloquist and sometimes fire eater. The title character in the comic strip, [[Mandrake the Magician]], was said to be drawn to resemble him. Additionally the comic strip featured a character named Narda, the name of Leon's first wife. He toured Universities in his later career and received a Performing Fellowship from the [[Academy of Magical Arts]] in Hollywood in 1978, along with his wife and partner, Velvet. | ||
Born April 11, 1911 in Washington state, Mandrake was very young when his mother brought him to New Westminster, British Columbia on the West Coast of Canada to live with his aunt Mildred. As a child, he watched magicians at the local Edison Theatre and attended circus shows at the Pacific National Exhibition. | |||
He studied the great vaudeville magicians when they came to town. One year he was given the props and costumes of a magician who had left the show. He soon learned to perform magic acts from some of the greats of that time, such as [[Howard Thurston]], [[Alexander]] (The Man Who Knows), [[Chefalo]], [[Doc Verge]], [[Ralph Richards ]](The Wizard) and [[Bannister]]. | |||
In 1922, at 11 years old, he began his magic career giving vaudeville performances in New Westminster, British Columbia. He took the stage as one of the vaudeville acts of the Edison Theater in New Westminster. In 1925, at 14 years old, he performed at the Moyer's Carnival for the Pacific National Exhibition. By this time, he learned fire-eating, mind-reading and ventriloquism. In 1927, at 16 years old, he joined the Ralph Richards touring magic show for 6 months, traveling across North America until the tour ended in Winnipeg, Manitoba. By the 1930s, he traveled with his own magic show. | |||
[[ | [[Leon Mandrake|Read more about Leon Mandrake....]] | ||
Revision as of 11:14, 25 May 2025
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Leon Mandrake (b.1911–d.1993) was an Italian-American born magician, mentalist, illusionist, escapologist, ventriloquist and stunt performer known worldwide as "Mandrake the Magician".
Biography
He began his magic career in 1922 performing a magic act in vaudeville, in New Westminster, British Columbia. He later joined the Ralph Richards touring Magic show in 1927. In the late 1930s, he toured extensively in the U.S. with his full-evening show, with great success. He was conjurer, illusionist, mentalist, manipulator, ventriloquist and sometimes fire eater. The title character in the comic strip, Mandrake the Magician, was said to be drawn to resemble him. Additionally the comic strip featured a character named Narda, the name of Leon's first wife. He toured Universities in his later career and received a Performing Fellowship from the Academy of Magical Arts in Hollywood in 1978, along with his wife and partner, Velvet.
Born April 11, 1911 in Washington state, Mandrake was very young when his mother brought him to New Westminster, British Columbia on the West Coast of Canada to live with his aunt Mildred. As a child, he watched magicians at the local Edison Theatre and attended circus shows at the Pacific National Exhibition. He studied the great vaudeville magicians when they came to town. One year he was given the props and costumes of a magician who had left the show. He soon learned to perform magic acts from some of the greats of that time, such as Howard Thurston, Alexander (The Man Who Knows), Chefalo, Doc Verge, Ralph Richards (The Wizard) and Bannister.
In 1922, at 11 years old, he began his magic career giving vaudeville performances in New Westminster, British Columbia. He took the stage as one of the vaudeville acts of the Edison Theater in New Westminster. In 1925, at 14 years old, he performed at the Moyer's Carnival for the Pacific National Exhibition. By this time, he learned fire-eating, mind-reading and ventriloquism. In 1927, at 16 years old, he joined the Ralph Richards touring magic show for 6 months, traveling across North America until the tour ended in Winnipeg, Manitoba. By the 1930s, he traveled with his own magic show.