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Difference between revisions of "McDonald Birch"

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| caption                  = Cover of Genii (1940)
 
| caption                  = Cover of Genii (1940)
 
| birth_name                = George McDonald Birch  
 
| birth_name                = George McDonald Birch  
| birth_day                =  
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| birth_day                = January 28, 
 
| birth_year                = 1902   
 
| birth_year                = 1902   
| birth_place              =  
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| birth_place              = Columbus, Ohio
 
| death_day                = April 28,  
 
| death_day                = April 28,  
 
| death_year                = 1992   
 
| death_year                = 1992   
| death_place              =  
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| death_place              = McConnelsville, Ohio
 
| resting_place            =  
 
| resting_place            =  
 
| resting_place_coordinates =   
 
| resting_place_coordinates =   
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| misc                      =
 
| misc                      =
 
}}
 
}}
'''MacDonald "Mac" Birch''' (1902-1992) was born George McDonald Birch and grew up in McConnelsville, Ohio. Known as Mac to his friends, he began performing on the [[Lyceum]] and [[Chautauqua]] circuits. He quickly gained a reputation for his work offering a full unassisted two-hour show.
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'''McDonald "Mac" Birch''' (1902-1992) was born George McDonald Birch and grew up in McConnelsville, Ohio. Known as Mac to his friends, he began performing on the [[Lyceum]] and [[Chautauqua]] circuits. He quickly gained a reputation for his work offering a full unassisted two-hour show.
  
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== Biography ==
 
Later, his wife Mabel Sperry, a xylophonist and also played the marimba , provided the musical interlude in his shows, as well as working as his chief assistant.  Two of his featured acts were the Vanishing Pony and the Silk Mirage.
 
Later, his wife Mabel Sperry, a xylophonist and also played the marimba , provided the musical interlude in his shows, as well as working as his chief assistant.  Two of his featured acts were the Vanishing Pony and the Silk Mirage.
  
MacDonald Birch was a contemporary of other master illusionists like [[Blackstone]], [[Thurston]] and the great [[Harry Houdini]].  In 1924, Howard Thurston made plans to make Birch the successor to the Kellar-Thurston "magic mantle".  Thurston, however, never got around to retiring.  
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McDonald Birch was a contemporary of other master illusionists like [[Blackstone]], [[Thurston]] and the great [[Harry Houdini]].  In 1924, Howard Thurston made plans to make Birch the successor to the Kellar-Thurston "magic mantle".  Thurston, however, never got around to retiring.  
  
 
After over 50 years as a headliner, Birch retired from performing in the 1960s.  
 
After over 50 years as a headliner, Birch retired from performing in the 1960s.  
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{{References}}
 
{{References}}
 
{{Wikipedia}}
 
{{Wikipedia}}
 +
* The Sphinx, Vol. XXIII, No. 3, May 1924, MCDONALD BIRCH by O.V. Stout, page 79
 
* Cover [[Genii 1940 January]], Vol. 4, no. 5, page 145.
 
* Cover [[Genii 1940 January]], Vol. 4, no. 5, page 145.
* Cover [[Genii 1945 September]]
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* Cover [[Genii 1945 September|Genii, Vol. 10, No. 1, September 1945]], McDonald Birch, page 19
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* M-U-M, Vol. 44, No. 11, April 1955, MCDONALD BIRCH magician-of-the-month by LESLIE P. GUEST, page 483
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* Cover [[Genii 1968 July]]
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* The Linking Ring, Vol. 59, No. 12, December 1979, Memoirs Of A Magician's Ghost by John Booth, "MC DONALD BIRCH ATTRACTS HOWARD THURSTON", page 61
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* [[Genii 1992 July|Genii, Vol. 55, No. 9, July 1992]], Obituaries, MacDonald Birch, page 636
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* M-U-M, Vol. 82, No. 2, July 1992, Broken Wands, McDonald Birch, page 40
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* The Linking Ring, Vol. 72, No. 7, July 1992, Obituary GEORGE MCDONALD BIRCH 1902–1992, page 114
 
* http://sdrcdata.lib.uiowa.edu/libsdrc/details.jsp?id=/birchm/2&ui=1
 
* http://sdrcdata.lib.uiowa.edu/libsdrc/details.jsp?id=/birchm/2&ui=1
 
* http://www.operahouseinc.com/newmagic.htm
 
* http://www.operahouseinc.com/newmagic.htm
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[[Category:Biographies]]
 
[[Category:Biographies]]
 
[[Category:American magicians]]
 
[[Category:American magicians]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Birch}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Birch,McDonald}}

Revision as of 20:57, 14 February 2014

McDonald Birch

Cover of Genii (1940)
BornGeorge McDonald Birch
January 28, 1902
Columbus, Ohio
DiedApril 28, 1992 (age 90)
McConnelsville, Ohio

McDonald "Mac" Birch (1902-1992) was born George McDonald Birch and grew up in McConnelsville, Ohio. Known as Mac to his friends, he began performing on the Lyceum and Chautauqua circuits. He quickly gained a reputation for his work offering a full unassisted two-hour show.

Biography

Later, his wife Mabel Sperry, a xylophonist and also played the marimba , provided the musical interlude in his shows, as well as working as his chief assistant. Two of his featured acts were the Vanishing Pony and the Silk Mirage.

McDonald Birch was a contemporary of other master illusionists like Blackstone, Thurston and the great Harry Houdini. In 1924, Howard Thurston made plans to make Birch the successor to the Kellar-Thurston "magic mantle". Thurston, however, never got around to retiring.

After over 50 years as a headliner, Birch retired from performing in the 1960s.

The auditorium of the Opera House Theater in Morgan County, Ohio was dedicated "Birch Hall" as tribute.

Awards

  • Received the "Master Fellowship" award from the Academy of Magical Arts (1980)
  • Given a Presidential Citation by IBM in 1990.
  • Cincinnati Academy of Magic and Allied Sciences (C.A.M.A.S.) bestowed him the "Honored Wizard" in 1990.

References

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