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MagicBus Inner circle Kalamazoo, Michigan 2869 Posts |
Earl Ray Wilcox was a wonderful manipulator who appeared at Abbott's Magic Get-Together 6 times from 1970-1994. Nathan Kranzo in "The Kran-Zone" on page 72 of M-U-M Magazine a few months ago talked about Earl's classic act. Earl was a wonderful member of Ring 211 in Grand Rapids, Michigan- we dedicate our yearly "Hocus Pocus" event to his memory. Just a great, caring man. I have posted on youtube I believe his act from 1976 at Abbott's- introduction by Harry Blackstone, Jr. with Wilma Rench on the organ. It includes Earl's Miser's Dream coin routine, Linking Rings using mini hula hoops, billiard ball and card manipulations and the giant deck fans. Earl's act often featured intentional "mistakes" which where then "upped" upon correction. Enjoy this blast from the past at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTLSAL26SOM
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MagicBus Inner circle Kalamazoo, Michigan 2869 Posts |
Earl died in Michigan in 2001 at the age of 74. Class act.
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Dave Scribner Assistant Manager Lake Hopatcong, NJ 4849 Posts |
Thanks for the vid. I remember Earl very well both as a friend and as a mentor. I'll aways remember his first advice to me. "every move has a meaning and an act is not just one trick after another"
Earl was truly a gentleman and a class act.
Where the magic begins
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donsmagic Loyal user 258 Posts |
I knew Earl too. He had a magic shop in basement that I visited quite often.
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hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
I worked a couple of shows with Earl. In fact, he let me tape the entire show we were on in Buffalo for NY. Earl was very protective about having hit act film.
I remember that Earl said that he would never touch his lapels. When he took Chavez, that was the standard cue for audience applause. So Earl would never touch his lapels. We had a lot of fun together on the shows and he was always a class act to work with. Thanks for sharing and reviving some memories. Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
andrew martin Veteran user 394 Posts |
Loved it. Thank you for posting. Earl was one of the best !!
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MagicBus Inner circle Kalamazoo, Michigan 2869 Posts |
Thanks! I sold Earl one of my custom made patter tricks way back when in the early 70ties- it was a cute little routine/poem involving the names of about 30 different detergent brands all glued to a thick colored poster board. ("Duz you Dreft along with Tide? Well, now is the time for All to Cheer up!" etc.- on and on the poem went)- which was also combined with a "box within a box" soap box/changing silk trick. Earl told me he used it in his banquet shows to wonderful reaction. Made me feel terrific when he told me that- although he may have just been being nice to me as I was selling my stuff to anyone who would buy it (using cheap home made materials) so I could raise money to get through college. I used to dumpster dive at all the laundramats in Kalamazoo area collecting the various empty boxes and cutting the labels off so I would not have to buy so many full boxes. Earl I believe managed a Russ' Restaurant in the Grand Rapids area as well, I think he may have given me some free food which I also no doubt appreciated. Earl was also a terrific magician as one can tell from the video on youtube.
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
I was able to see Earl Ray Wilcox a couple of times in my life. Enjoyed his acts very much. He was unique in his manipulations. I even seen him product Giant cards as a finale on one of his performances. I was those medium size poster cards. He always had something new an unique to his acts.
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MagicBus Inner circle Kalamazoo, Michigan 2869 Posts |
Totally unbeknownst to me, Earl's daughter (who I have never met or spoken to) saw her father's routine which I placed on youtube and just posted a very nice comment on how proud she was to have his act available for all to see there 10 years after his death. Earl was a class act both on and off the stage.
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tropicalillusions Special user Tulsa Okla 631 Posts |
I remember my first professional booking was thru Mr. Earl Ray, he booked myself and Hank Moorehouse in Indianna, Very good to work with. I will have to get over and watch that video, Thanks for sharing it.
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MagicBus Inner circle Kalamazoo, Michigan 2869 Posts |
Just type in "Earl Ray Wilcox magic" or "Earl Ray Wilcox" in the search box at http://www.youtube.com and it will link you right to the video clip of Earl performing back in the 1970's at Abbott's Magic Get-Together in Colon, Michigan. Introduction by Harry Blackstone, Jr., Wilma Rench playing live on the organ, not sure who the live drummer with her was back then.
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donsmagic Loyal user 258 Posts |
Actually MagicBus he managed a Mr.Fables restaurant in GR.
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MagicBus Inner circle Kalamazoo, Michigan 2869 Posts |
Yep- that's right- I remember that now. I think it may have been in a former Russ' Restaurant location (their two locations in Kalamazoo closed- I don't know how many still survive in the GR area or if Mr. Fables is still there). But yep- it was Mr. Fables- a large family type restaurant similar to Big Boy.
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magic_guy New user Bangor, Michigan 13 Posts |
Great video Roger. Brings back some good memories. Earl AND Blackstone on the same stage. You KNEW it was a good night at the Get-Together!
"Where'd all these kids from from?!"
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