Help us get to over 8,769 articles in 2026.
If you know of a magician not listed in MagicPedia, start a New Biography for them. Contact us at magicpediahelp@gmail.com
John H. Percival: Difference between revisions
mNo edit summary |
|||
| (2 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
| caption = | | caption = | ||
| birth_name = | | birth_name = | ||
| birth_day = | | birth_day = August 28, | ||
| birth_year = | | birth_year = 1888 | ||
| birth_place = Providence, Rhode Island | | birth_place = Providence, Rhode Island | ||
| death_day = | | death_day = November 13, | ||
| death_year = | | death_year = 1974 | ||
| death_place = | | death_place = | ||
| resting_place = | | resting_place = | ||
| Line 21: | Line 21: | ||
| misc = | | misc = | ||
}} | }} | ||
''' John H. Percival''', as the "Mysterious John and Rene," performed an act in clubs, churches and lodges throughout New England with his wife. | ''' John H. Percival''' (b.1888-d.1974), as the "Mysterious John and Rene," performed an act in clubs, churches and lodges throughout New England with his wife. | ||
His debut as a paid performer came on February 26, 1907 with the name of "Mysterious John" at the Town Hall in Plainsville, Massachusetts (at other | == Biography == | ||
times he adopted the name "Rene".)<ref>Cover, MUM, January 1969</ref> | His debut as a paid performer came on February 26, 1907 with the name of "Mysterious John" at the Town Hall in Plainsville, Massachusetts (at other times he adopted the name "Rene".)<ref>Cover, MUM, January 1969</ref> | ||
His interest in magic started as a child and he began buying books and equipment and attending performances of magicians touring the area. | His interest in magic started as a child and he began buying books and equipment and attending performances of magicians touring the area. | ||
| Line 32: | Line 32: | ||
Percival was very active in the magic community. He was a correspondent for the [[Combined Magical Club Bulletin]] as part of the Providence Society of Magicians (which he was a president). He served as president of the Rhode Island Assembly of the [[National Conjurers Association]]. He was a member of the [[SAM]] Boston Assembly No. 9 (which he served as president)and helped organized Assembly 76 in Miami. He was a member of the [[I.B.M.]] starting in 1927, attending meetings at Ring 122 (Boston), Ring 44 (Providence), and Ring 150 (Ft. Lauderdale, FL). | Percival was very active in the magic community. He was a correspondent for the [[Combined Magical Club Bulletin]] as part of the Providence Society of Magicians (which he was a president). He served as president of the Rhode Island Assembly of the [[National Conjurers Association]]. He was a member of the [[SAM]] Boston Assembly No. 9 (which he served as president)and helped organized Assembly 76 in Miami. He was a member of the [[I.B.M.]] starting in 1927, attending meetings at Ring 122 (Boston), Ring 44 (Providence), and Ring 150 (Ft. Lauderdale, FL). | ||
He wrote articles in such magazines as [[M-U-M]], [[Sphinx]], the [[Boston Barnstormer]].<ref>CONVENTION CITY -1961 ACTION IN THE | He wrote articles in such magazines as [[M-U-M]], [[Sphinx]], the [[Boston Barnstormer]].<ref>CONVENTION CITY -1961 ACTION IN THE SPIRIT'S CABINET (Spirits of 76, that is) Part II, MUM, March 1961</ref> | ||
Percival retired from the New England Telephone Co. in 1953 after some 48 years, where he was a general personnel assistant in the Boston office. He was a president of the Bristol County Telephone Pioneers of America.<ref>Broken Wand, Linking Ring, February 1975</ref> | Percival retired from the New England Telephone Co. in 1953 after some 48 years, where he was a general personnel assistant in the Boston office. He was a president of the Bristol County Telephone Pioneers of America.<ref>Broken Wand, Linking Ring, February 1975</ref> | ||
During his lifetime, he had amassed a large library of magic books which he donated over 1,500 of them to the Providence Public Library.<ref>Tricks That Mystify by Will Goldston (1934)</ref> He also collected palming coins and magic convention badges. | During his lifetime, he had amassed a large library of magic books which he donated over 1,500 of them to the Providence Public Library.<ref>Tricks That Mystify by Will Goldston (1934)</ref> He also collected palming coins and magic convention badges. | ||
== Contributions == | == Contributions == | ||
* The Percival Shoe Lace Trick in [[Master Mysteries of 1933]] By [[Adrian Smith]]. | * The Percival Shoe Lace Trick in [[Master Mysteries of 1933]] By [[Adrian Smith]]. | ||
| Line 42: | Line 43: | ||
* Concerning "Elliots Last Legacy", MUM, Vol. 59, no. 8, January 1970, page 21. | * Concerning "Elliots Last Legacy", MUM, Vol. 59, no. 8, January 1970, page 21. | ||
{{References}} | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Percival,John}} | |||
[[Category:Collections]] | [[Category:Collections]] | ||
Latest revision as of 20:29, 27 August 2024
| John H. Percival | |
| Born | August 28, 1888 Providence, Rhode Island |
|---|---|
| Died | November 13, 1974 (age 86) |
John H. Percival (b.1888-d.1974), as the "Mysterious John and Rene," performed an act in clubs, churches and lodges throughout New England with his wife.
Biography
His debut as a paid performer came on February 26, 1907 with the name of "Mysterious John" at the Town Hall in Plainsville, Massachusetts (at other times he adopted the name "Rene".)[1]
His interest in magic started as a child and he began buying books and equipment and attending performances of magicians touring the area.
He became a close friend of Thurston, Blackstone and Houdini (whom he at one time acted as "stooge"). A was also a mentor to H. Adrian Smith.
Percival was very active in the magic community. He was a correspondent for the Combined Magical Club Bulletin as part of the Providence Society of Magicians (which he was a president). He served as president of the Rhode Island Assembly of the National Conjurers Association. He was a member of the SAM Boston Assembly No. 9 (which he served as president)and helped organized Assembly 76 in Miami. He was a member of the I.B.M. starting in 1927, attending meetings at Ring 122 (Boston), Ring 44 (Providence), and Ring 150 (Ft. Lauderdale, FL).
He wrote articles in such magazines as M-U-M, Sphinx, the Boston Barnstormer.[2]
Percival retired from the New England Telephone Co. in 1953 after some 48 years, where he was a general personnel assistant in the Boston office. He was a president of the Bristol County Telephone Pioneers of America.[3]
During his lifetime, he had amassed a large library of magic books which he donated over 1,500 of them to the Providence Public Library.[4] He also collected palming coins and magic convention badges.
Contributions
- The Percival Shoe Lace Trick in Master Mysteries of 1933 By Adrian Smith.
- I Stooged for Houdini, MUM, Vol. 53, no. 5, October 1963, page 232.
- Concerning "Elliots Last Legacy", MUM, Vol. 59, no. 8, January 1970, page 21.