Ed Alterman

Ed Alterman
Born	Ed Alterman August 29, 1931
Died	April 15, 1994 (age 62)

Ed Alterman (b.1931-d.1994), was a Los Angeles area magician, active member of Los Magicos and magic clown who performed as Ronald McDonald.

Biography

Ed held I.B.M. membership number 21254 and was a member of the Order of Merlin. He was a life member of Ring 21 of Hollywood, California and a "mover and shaker" of the Ring, serving as co-chairman for their Hollywood Cavalcade of Magic from1968 to 1982. He also co-chaired two conventions for the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians.

He was an early member of the Magic Castle, holding membership R1356 and also performed there in the early days of its existence. He was for many years a member of the entrance committee for those wanting regular membership. Other magical organizations he benefitted were the Los Magicos, where he served as Secretary-Treasurer for 12 years, and he was a founding member of Wizards West, a group of magicians in the Santa Monica area.

He was a premier children's magician in the Los Angeles area as Archie the Clown and had two other magical acts: as Ed Alterman and as Fargo Ed (in cowboy garb, six shooters and all). His greatest love was doing magic shows and entertaining children. He entertained rich and poor alike, from Beverly Hills to Watts as long as there were children to entertain. He was an understudy to the late George Voorhis as Ronald McDonald, doing magic shows and parades all over Southern California for ten years.

Ed was also a prime mover in Western gun shooting, a member of the NRA, the Americana 1800 Adventure Club, Panorama Sportsman Club and a member of SASS, the Single Action Shooting Society. He ran target events, such as Boomtown, Jack-a-lope Junction and the Northfield Raid, all in the Western mode. Ed was an environmental test engineer for Hughes Aircraft, the missile division, in Canoga park, California, retiring in 1989. He was forever being kidded as the original "shake and bake" man making sure that the missiles he tested would fire in freezing cold or scorching heat.

Ed is survived by his wife of 36 years, Jan; sons, Adam and David; daughter in-law, Susan; a daughter, Tammy; and his son-in-law, Cliff.

From his family:

Ed Alterman was born in August 1931 and lived his life in Southern California in the city of Chatsworth.

He was Interested in magic from an early age and built friendships and relationships with other magicians. He was doing public performances in the 1960's and involved in magic organizations as well. In the 1970's Ed along-side his professional career as an Environmental Engineer with defense contractors, Ed was a member of the Magic Castle and performed there on several occasions. He was also a member of Los Magicos while his wife Jan was in the Magigals. He served as president several times during his 20+ year membership.

Ed was also a member of the IBM Ring 21 for more than 20 years and served as it's President, as well as its Convention Chairman for the local Ring 21 which organized and hosted the national annual Hollywood Cavalcade of Magic. There were 13 conventions over the years drawing hundreds of attendees, national magic vendors, shows, lectures, and an annual public magic show featuring international performers which was always a sold-out event in Pasadena.

Ed loved entertaining but was especially drawn to performing for children and thus was the birth of Archie the Magic Clown. Ed performed as Archie at children's birthday parties, events, and corporate engagements for 25 years, Ed infused an adult-\ike quality to the Archie persona and treated cnnaren as equals or adults. This resonated with audiences and is believed to be a key factor in the success of Ed and his alter-ego.

His success as a magical clown also led to him performing as Ronald McDonald in parades and public appearances for more than two decades all throughout southern California. Aside from the joy of entertaining thousands of people during his magic career, one of Ed's greatest thrills was serving as an honorary ringmaster as Ronald for a performance of the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Baily Circus.

Ed sadly passed away at the young age of 62 from cancer, survived by his wife Jan and his three adult children Adam, Tammy, and David, but he left a legacy of love and support for the craft of magic which was such a defining part of his life.