Al Flosso
Encyclopedia
Albert Levinson was a Jewish American
magician and entertainer, better known by his stage name
Al Flosso.
Levinson was born in Brooklyn
, New York
, and took his stage name from a vernacular
or slang
term for cotton candy
: "floss".
Originally performing primarily in Vaudeville
and at Coney Island
, he was noted among his peers for perfecting the "Miser's Dream" illusion of producing numerous coins out of thin air and dropping them with a loud clang into a bucket. Later, he appeared on a number of early TV shows, such as "The Ed Sullivan Show", the "Toast of the Town", and the "Steve Allen Show", among others. He also appeared in several films, including the 1931 Marx Brothers
film "Monkey Business
".
From 1939 - 1976 Flosso owned and operated Martinka & Co
, in New York City
, America's oldest magic company, once co-owned by Harry Houdini
, also later known as the Flosso/Hornman Magic Co. Levinson died in New York City in 1976. Following his death, Martinka Magic, which is still in operation, was taken over by his son, Jack Flosso, also a magician, who died in 2003.
The New York Times described the Flosso's Magic Shop as, "a messy Aladdin's cave of magical marvels from trick cards and ropes to a live lion that one owner, the magician Carter the Great, kept in the back room. It was also an atmospheric fraternity house where a visiting European magician, a superstar like David Copperfield
and a curious teenager from Queens might rub elbows, ideas and magic wands. The younger and older Flossos held court on an old sofa, both making smart comments in an accent not unlike that of W. C. Fields
. Over the years, they, former owners and generations of customers liked to say that the store was the oldest magic store in continuous operation in the world, but it was not. With its dust and cobwebs, it just looked it."
Another writer and amateur magician recounts how overjoyed he was the day Jack Flosso first invited him to see the back room, and tells of having bumped into, on various visits to the shop, such diverse notables as illusionist David Copperfield
, magic enthusiast Muhammad Ali
, and even Larry Fine's
grandaughter, a performing clown magician in New York.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
magician and entertainer, better known by his stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Al Flosso.
Levinson was born in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and took his stage name from a vernacular
Vernacular
A vernacular is the native language or native dialect of a specific population, as opposed to a language of wider communication that is not native to the population, such as a national language or lingua franca.- Etymology :The term is not a recent one...
or slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
term for cotton candy
Cotton candy
Cotton candy , candy floss or candyfloss or candy buttox , or fairy floss is a form of spun sugar. Since cotton candy is mostly air, a small initial quantity of sugar generates a tremendously greater final volume, causing servings to be physically large and voluminous...
: "floss".
Originally performing primarily in Vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
and at Coney Island
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
, he was noted among his peers for perfecting the "Miser's Dream" illusion of producing numerous coins out of thin air and dropping them with a loud clang into a bucket. Later, he appeared on a number of early TV shows, such as "The Ed Sullivan Show", the "Toast of the Town", and the "Steve Allen Show", among others. He also appeared in several films, including the 1931 Marx Brothers
Marx Brothers
The Marx Brothers were an American family comedy act, originally from New York City, that enjoyed success in Vaudeville, Broadway, and motion pictures from the early 1900s to around 1950...
film "Monkey Business
Monkey Business (1931 film)
Monkey Business is a 1931 comedy film. It is the third of the Marx Brothers' released movies, and the first not to be an adaptation of one of their Broadway shows. The film stars the four brothers: Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, and Zeppo Marx, and screen comedienne Thelma Todd. It is...
".
"Al Flosso grew to be a legend in Magic. Of The Coney Island Fakir world famous entertainer Joseph Dunninger said, "If there is a better all round magician I have yet to discover him!" Although only 5' 2" tall Flosso became a giant to his audiences as he honed his act in the tough carnival world of Coney Island. Flosso was also a master Punch and Judy worker and can be seen in the movie 'A Night at The Opera' starring the Marx Brothers. Al was at home on any stage however big or small and in 1973 became Magician of the Year after an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. At his funeral Dr. Arnold Boston said, "From ten performances a day on the platforms of Luna Park and Dreamland to numerous appearances on national television, he never gave a bad show." from Fantasma Magic
From 1939 - 1976 Flosso owned and operated Martinka & Co
Martinka
Martinka & Company is America's oldest magic company. Throughout the years the company has acquired and combined with over 30 other magic firms including Hornmann and Milton Chase and its roots date back to the early 19th century.-Beginnings:...
, in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, America's oldest magic company, once co-owned by Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini was a Hungarian-born American magician and escapologist, stunt performer, actor and film producer noted for his sensational escape acts...
, also later known as the Flosso/Hornman Magic Co. Levinson died in New York City in 1976. Following his death, Martinka Magic, which is still in operation, was taken over by his son, Jack Flosso, also a magician, who died in 2003.
The New York Times described the Flosso's Magic Shop as, "a messy Aladdin's cave of magical marvels from trick cards and ropes to a live lion that one owner, the magician Carter the Great, kept in the back room. It was also an atmospheric fraternity house where a visiting European magician, a superstar like David Copperfield
David Copperfield (illusionist)
David Copperfield is an Emmy Award-winning American illusionist, and was described by Forbes as the most commercially successful magician in history. Copperfield's network specials have been nominated for 38 Emmy Awards and won a total of 21 Emmys...
and a curious teenager from Queens might rub elbows, ideas and magic wands. The younger and older Flossos held court on an old sofa, both making smart comments in an accent not unlike that of W. C. Fields
W. C. Fields
William Claude Dukenfield , better known as W. C. Fields, was an American comedian, actor, juggler and writer...
. Over the years, they, former owners and generations of customers liked to say that the store was the oldest magic store in continuous operation in the world, but it was not. With its dust and cobwebs, it just looked it."
Another writer and amateur magician recounts how overjoyed he was the day Jack Flosso first invited him to see the back room, and tells of having bumped into, on various visits to the shop, such diverse notables as illusionist David Copperfield
David Copperfield (illusionist)
David Copperfield is an Emmy Award-winning American illusionist, and was described by Forbes as the most commercially successful magician in history. Copperfield's network specials have been nominated for 38 Emmy Awards and won a total of 21 Emmys...
, magic enthusiast Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
, and even Larry Fine's
Larry Fine
Louis Feinberg , known professionally as Larry Fine, was an American comedian and actor, who is best known as a member of the comedy act The Three Stooges.-Early life:...
grandaughter, a performing clown magician in New York.