Help us get to over 8,748 articles in 2024.

If you know of a magician not listed in MagicPedia, start a New Biography for them. Contact us at magicpediahelp@gmail.com

Jay Bedsworth

From Magicpedia, the free online encyclopedia for magicians by magicians.
Jump to: navigation, search
Jay Bedsworth

Genii, May 1948
BornJay F. Bedsworth
March 4, 1910
San Francisco, California
DiedJune 7, 1997 (age 87)
Danville, California

Jay Bedsworth (1910-1997) was part-time magician and restaurateur. He was to be known throughout his community as "The Amazing Mr. Jay."[1]

Biography

Bedsworth was an only child and his father died when he was about three years old. Before he reached his teens, he developed tuberculosis and was sent to a sanitarium in Livermore, California to recover. While there, a magician visited the hospital to entertain patients and he became entranced.

After recovering and becoming proficient enough in magic, he performed at the House of Murphy in Hollywood, where he attracted the attention of Bing Crosby. Crosby invited him to perform at Pebble Beach during his golf tournaments, which he would end up doing for 14 years. As a scratch golfer himself, Bedsworth also played in the tournaments.

He worked in the restaurant business, from busboy to chef to waiter to owner. In 1946 he would become part owner (and later sole owner) of the Tunnel Inn. After that he owned the Red Mill Restaurant in Lafayette, California. After getting out of the restaurant business, he became a general manager at the Round Hill Country Club in Danville, California.

Diagnosed with cancer around 1995, he fought the disease while teaching golf to people with disabilities at the Golden State Rehibilitation Clinic.

His Broken Wand Ceremony was performed by Lee Grabel.[2]

Bibliography

  • The Flying Card, Hugard's Magic Monthly, Hugard's Magic Monthly, Vol. 19, No. 1-2, Sept.-Oct.1961, p. 3
  • Bedsworth Reverse, Hugard's Magic Monthly, Vol. 19, No. 1-2, Sept.-Oct.1961, p. 16
  • "The Plunger Aces", Hugard's Magic Monthly, January, 1962.
  • Jay Bedsworth's Hit The Ceiling! in Apocalypse Vol. 7, No. 5, May 1984
  • Table Magic as a Business , Magicana (Woodfield) May 1948
  • The Secrets of Henry Sing; Table Magic as a Business Part 2, Magicana, June 1948
  • Table Magic as a Business Part 3, Magicana, July 1948


References

  1. Obit, Magic, August, 1997
  2. Obit, Linking Ring, August 1997