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{{Infobox person | {{Infobox person | ||
| image = | | image = GeniiCoverV13N5.jpg | ||
| image_size = | | image_size = | ||
| alt = | | alt = | ||
| caption = | | caption = Genii (January 1949) | ||
| birth_name = Richard Berry | | birth_name = Richard Berry | ||
| birth_day = | | birth_day = January 1, | ||
| birth_year = | | birth_year = 1930 | ||
| birth_place = | | birth_place = Decatur, Illinois | ||
| death_day = | | death_day = June 24, | ||
| death_year = | | death_year = 2022 | ||
| death_place = | | death_place = Orlando, Florida | ||
| resting_place = | | resting_place = | ||
| resting_place_coordinates = | | resting_place_coordinates = | ||
| nationality = | | nationality = American | ||
| known_for = | | known_for = Prince Marko, Fantom Follies, Theatre of Illusion, Circus World Museum | ||
| notable works = | | notable works = | ||
| flourished = 1940s - | | flourished = 1940s - 2000s | ||
| awards = | | awards = | ||
| box_width = | | box_width = | ||
| misc = | | misc = | ||
}} | }} | ||
''' | '''Richard L. "Dick" Berry''' was a magician, collector, author and builder of illusions who performed as "Marko the Magician" in eight decades.<ref>Cover: Marko The Magician (Richard Berry), Challenge Blindfold Drive [[Genii 1949 January]]</ref> | ||
As | == Biography == | ||
As with many amateur magicians in the early part of the 20th Century, Dick Berry caught the bug when he was given a [[Mysto Magic Set]] as a Christmas gift in 1937. As a youngster growing up during The Great Depression times were tough and young Dick Berry entertained himself by mastering the pocket tricks in the set and reading everything he could about the craft. In doing so he started a magic library which he continued to build over 70 years. | |||
On September 2, 1942 Berry was among those in the audience for a matinee performance given by [[Harry Blackstone]] at the Lincoln Theatre in his hometown of Decatur, Illinois. Just before the performance began, fire broke out in a drugstore next-door. After being told of the possible disaster, Blackstone, led Berry and the others in the audience into the street avoiding panic. That evening Dick’s parents took him to Blackstone’s hotel and thanked the magician for saving their son’s life, Blackstone encouraged the youngster’s interest in magic and gave the boy his mailing address. The two began a correspondence and developed a friendship. While still a teenager, Dick was hired as an assistant to the great magician – traveling for three years across the country, rooming with [[Del Ray]] and [[Nick Ruggiero]], and learning skills that would serve him well in the years to come. | |||
In 1945, Dick had been seriously injured during a football game, breaking a vertebra in his neck. During his recovery his teammates brought him the new Tarbell book (Volume IV) as a get-well gesture, he studied the text and spent hours of his recuperation practicing card manipulation and misdirection. | |||
In | In the spring of 1948 he joined the Blackstone "Show of 1001 Wonders" at Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theatre as an assistant. Over the next three seasons he traveled with Blackstone, and in 1950 was joined by his long-time assistant and new wife Phyllis. | ||
In the 1950s his spook show, “Fantom Follies” toured the Midwest during the winter months when construction slowed because of weather, and in the 1970s he created “Theatre of Illusion,” a concept that [[Frances Marshall]] wrote about in “The Success Book.” | |||
{{ | “Theatre of Illusion” was presented on college campuses as part of drama classes where theatre students were taught the art of illusion, and misdirection. At the end of the course the students appeared in performances. Many of those who he taught have continued their interest in magic decades after their first exposure. | ||
A long-time member of Hollywood’s Magic Castle, Berry served in various leadership roles, including President of IBM Rings in Decatur, Sarasota and Orlando as well as the SAM Assembly in Orlando. | |||
In 2016 he retired to Sanford, Florida.<ref>MUM, July 1992</ref> | |||
He died in Orlando on June 24, 2022 at the age of 92. | |||
{{References}} | |||
Latest revision as of 14:41, 19 July 2022
| Marko | |
 Genii (January 1949) | |
| Born | Richard Berry January 1, 1930 Decatur, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Died | June 24, 2022 (age 92) Orlando, Florida |
| Nationality | American |
| Flourished | 1940s - 2000s |
| Known for | Prince Marko, Fantom Follies, Theatre of Illusion, Circus World Museum |
Richard L. "Dick" Berry was a magician, collector, author and builder of illusions who performed as "Marko the Magician" in eight decades.[1]
Biography
As with many amateur magicians in the early part of the 20th Century, Dick Berry caught the bug when he was given a Mysto Magic Set as a Christmas gift in 1937. As a youngster growing up during The Great Depression times were tough and young Dick Berry entertained himself by mastering the pocket tricks in the set and reading everything he could about the craft. In doing so he started a magic library which he continued to build over 70 years.
On September 2, 1942 Berry was among those in the audience for a matinee performance given by Harry Blackstone at the Lincoln Theatre in his hometown of Decatur, Illinois. Just before the performance began, fire broke out in a drugstore next-door. After being told of the possible disaster, Blackstone, led Berry and the others in the audience into the street avoiding panic. That evening Dick’s parents took him to Blackstone’s hotel and thanked the magician for saving their son’s life, Blackstone encouraged the youngster’s interest in magic and gave the boy his mailing address. The two began a correspondence and developed a friendship. While still a teenager, Dick was hired as an assistant to the great magician – traveling for three years across the country, rooming with Del Ray and Nick Ruggiero, and learning skills that would serve him well in the years to come. In 1945, Dick had been seriously injured during a football game, breaking a vertebra in his neck. During his recovery his teammates brought him the new Tarbell book (Volume IV) as a get-well gesture, he studied the text and spent hours of his recuperation practicing card manipulation and misdirection.
In the spring of 1948 he joined the Blackstone "Show of 1001 Wonders" at Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theatre as an assistant. Over the next three seasons he traveled with Blackstone, and in 1950 was joined by his long-time assistant and new wife Phyllis.
In the 1950s his spook show, “Fantom Follies” toured the Midwest during the winter months when construction slowed because of weather, and in the 1970s he created “Theatre of Illusion,” a concept that Frances Marshall wrote about in “The Success Book.”
“Theatre of Illusion” was presented on college campuses as part of drama classes where theatre students were taught the art of illusion, and misdirection. At the end of the course the students appeared in performances. Many of those who he taught have continued their interest in magic decades after their first exposure.
A long-time member of Hollywood’s Magic Castle, Berry served in various leadership roles, including President of IBM Rings in Decatur, Sarasota and Orlando as well as the SAM Assembly in Orlando.
In 2016 he retired to Sanford, Florida.[2]
He died in Orlando on June 24, 2022 at the age of 92.
References
- ↑ Cover: Marko The Magician (Richard Berry), Challenge Blindfold Drive Genii 1949 January
- ↑ MUM, July 1992