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Dick Brooks (entertainer)
Encyclopedia
Dick Brooks, considered a magician of renown has been a professional performer since leaving school, was born in New York City. As a teenager he joined a Department of Parks magic club headed up by the official magician of New York City, Abe Hurwitz (Peter Pan the Magic Man), who was also the father of the soon to be famous Shari Lewis
. When Hurwitz left the Peter Pan Magic Club, the members wanted a more mature name after famous magician Carl Ballantine
joked to the members, "I love your peanut butter!" Brooks, came up with the name F.A.M.E., which stood for Future American Magical Entertainers
, and the club lasted for many years thereafter. Then six magicians from the Society of American Magicians
, who at first did not allow youngsters to join, formed the Society of Young Magicians
(S.Y.M.) for youngsters in 1984.
, of the Magic Towne House
on the Upper East Side
that presented magic in New York City for over 15 years.
According to William Dorflinger's book on magic history, The Magic Catalogue, "The Towne House is a discovery for magic lovers"... and Ray Carter (aka Dick Brooks (entertainer)) performs a wide range of magic effects also, and is well known for his demonstrations of ESP and mind reading."
Wanting a larger facility and a place to house his collection of Houdini memorabilia he opened The Houdini Museum
with Dorothy Dietrich
in the Scranton- Wilkes-Barre-Pocono Mountain region of northeast Pennsylvania
.
Imam would, after several years, break away and form his own competing club downtown in Greenwich Village. Dick Brooks along with partner Dorothy Dietrich
resurrected Brother Theodore
's career in the 1970s. Dick Brooks searched out Brother Theodore
who he had seen perform in Greenwich Village years before, whose career had waned, to do several seasons of midnight shows at The Magic Towne House
, and helped to bring him back to prominence that led to Theodore appearing on The Tom Snyder Tomorrow Show and a long series of TV and movie appearances. A picture of the Magic Towne House ad that appeared in local New York
Newspapers such as the Village Voice and The New York post can be found at Shock Cinema Magazine at http://www.shockcinemamagazine.com/brother.html
Upon the closing of the Magic Towne House
, performers who developed there, Michael Chaut and Peter Samelson along with others would later develop "Monday Night Magic" which still runs successfully in New York City.
Dick Brooks conceived, edited and wrote a widely distributed 64 page magazine for magicians, "Hocus Pocus Magazine", for three years.
in Scranton, PA which was featured in the recent book The Hollywood Walk of Fame as a fun and mysterious institution. It is said to be the only building in the world devoted to Houdini.
. He is an author and inventor of several books and magical effects.
in NYC, The Americana Hotel in Puerto Rico for 3 months, held over, and returned and headlined Number One Fifth Ave in New York City (Barbra Streisand
and Woody Allen
also headlined there), the Morocco in Montreal, repeatedly at New York's Living Room with Jack Jones and others, as well as Three Rivers in Detroit, and a series of other top cabarets.
He has appeared on the same bill, usually the opening act, with Jack Jones
, Jerry Vale
, Lou Monte
, George Kirby
, Pat Cooper
, Neil Sedaka
, Bobby Darin
, Don Cornell
and others.
, Pepsi
, Frito Lay, Maidenform, First Boston, Yago Sangria, Pool Trol, etc., with shows written by him that revolved around the product.
His television appearances include Atlantic City Alive, Travel Channel
's "Magic Road Trip", Biography Channel's "Dead Famous-Houdini", Evening Magazine, Good Morning America
, Home Box Office
, Canada's Deals From The Dark Side", as well as many local and news programs.
He has been hired for major society parties by Diana Ross
, Brooke Shields
, Carly Simon
, Barry Manilow
, John Lithgo, David Merrick
, Stevie Wonder
, multiple times for the Rockefeller family
and others. See photos on right.
His schedule includes traveling for outside events.
Shari Lewis
Shari Lewis was an American ventriloquist, puppeteer, and children's television show host, most popular during the 1960s and 1990s...
. When Hurwitz left the Peter Pan Magic Club, the members wanted a more mature name after famous magician Carl Ballantine
Carl Ballantine
Carl Ballantine was an American magician, comedian and actor. Billing himself as "The Great Ballantine", "The Amazing Ballantine" or "Ballantine: The World's Greatest Magician", his vaudeville-style comedy routine involved transparent or incompetent stage magic tricks, which tended to flop and go...
joked to the members, "I love your peanut butter!" Brooks, came up with the name F.A.M.E., which stood for Future American Magical Entertainers
Future American Magical Entertainers
F.A.M.E. was a pioneering organization in the magic field, now defunct, for young people, that existed in New York City, USA. From the early 1940s it was called the Peter Pan Magic Club...
, and the club lasted for many years thereafter. Then six magicians from the Society of American Magicians
Society of American Magicians
The Society of American Magicians is the oldest fraternal magic organization in the world. Its purpose is "to advance, elevate, and preserve magic as a performing art, to promote harmonious fellowship throughout the world of magic, and to maintain and improve ethical standards in the field of...
, who at first did not allow youngsters to join, formed the Society of Young Magicians
Society of Young Magicians
The Society of Young Magicians is a group of magicians, age seven through seventeen, which is sponsored by the Society of American Magicians. The Society of Young Magicians has clubs, known as "assemblies" around the world usually associated with an adult S.A.M group.Youth aged 7 through 17 may...
(S.Y.M.) for youngsters in 1984.
The Magic Towne House
Brooks was founder along with Dorothy DietrichDorothy Dietrich
Dorothy Dietrich is an American stage magician and escapologist, and the first and only woman to have performed the bullet catch in mouth. She was also the first woman to perform a straitjacket escape while suspended hundreds of feet in the air from a burning rope Dorothy Dietrich is an American...
, of the Magic Towne House
Magic Towne House
The Magic Towne House was a well known magic show spot on three floors at 1026 Third Avenue, north of 60th Street, New York City, in the 1970s and 1980s. It was in the posh area of the Upper East Side of Manhattan on Third Avenue and 61st Street next to Bloomingdale's Department Store...
on the Upper East Side
Upper East Side
The Upper East Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, between Central Park and the East River. The Upper East Side lies within an area bounded by 59th Street to 96th Street, and the East River to Fifth Avenue-Central Park...
that presented magic in New York City for over 15 years.
According to William Dorflinger's book on magic history, The Magic Catalogue, "The Towne House is a discovery for magic lovers"... and Ray Carter (aka Dick Brooks (entertainer)) performs a wide range of magic effects also, and is well known for his demonstrations of ESP and mind reading."
Wanting a larger facility and a place to house his collection of Houdini memorabilia he opened The Houdini Museum
Houdini Museum
The Houdini Museum was established in 1988 at 1433 N. Main Avenue in Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA. It is in a turn-of-the-20th-century building that has been entirely renovated. Houdini performed in Scranton and did several special challenges there. His brother, Hardeen, also appeared in Scranton...
with Dorothy Dietrich
Dorothy Dietrich
Dorothy Dietrich is an American stage magician and escapologist, and the first and only woman to have performed the bullet catch in mouth. She was also the first woman to perform a straitjacket escape while suspended hundreds of feet in the air from a burning rope Dorothy Dietrich is an American...
in the Scranton- Wilkes-Barre-Pocono Mountain region of northeast Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Imam would, after several years, break away and form his own competing club downtown in Greenwich Village. Dick Brooks along with partner Dorothy Dietrich
Dorothy Dietrich
Dorothy Dietrich is an American stage magician and escapologist, and the first and only woman to have performed the bullet catch in mouth. She was also the first woman to perform a straitjacket escape while suspended hundreds of feet in the air from a burning rope Dorothy Dietrich is an American...
resurrected Brother Theodore
Brother Theodore
Brother Theodore , born Theodore Gottlieb, was a German-American monologuist and comedian known for rambling, stream-of-consciousness dialogues which he called "stand-up tragedy".-Early years:...
's career in the 1970s. Dick Brooks searched out Brother Theodore
Brother Theodore
Brother Theodore , born Theodore Gottlieb, was a German-American monologuist and comedian known for rambling, stream-of-consciousness dialogues which he called "stand-up tragedy".-Early years:...
who he had seen perform in Greenwich Village years before, whose career had waned, to do several seasons of midnight shows at The Magic Towne House
Magic Towne House
The Magic Towne House was a well known magic show spot on three floors at 1026 Third Avenue, north of 60th Street, New York City, in the 1970s and 1980s. It was in the posh area of the Upper East Side of Manhattan on Third Avenue and 61st Street next to Bloomingdale's Department Store...
, and helped to bring him back to prominence that led to Theodore appearing on The Tom Snyder Tomorrow Show and a long series of TV and movie appearances. A picture of the Magic Towne House ad that appeared in local 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...
Newspapers such as the Village Voice and The New York post can be found at Shock Cinema Magazine at http://www.shockcinemamagazine.com/brother.html
Upon the closing of the Magic Towne House
Magic Towne House
The Magic Towne House was a well known magic show spot on three floors at 1026 Third Avenue, north of 60th Street, New York City, in the 1970s and 1980s. It was in the posh area of the Upper East Side of Manhattan on Third Avenue and 61st Street next to Bloomingdale's Department Store...
, performers who developed there, Michael Chaut and Peter Samelson along with others would later develop "Monday Night Magic" which still runs successfully in New York City.
Author and publisher Hocus Pocus Magazine
While at the Magic Towne HouseMagic Towne House
The Magic Towne House was a well known magic show spot on three floors at 1026 Third Avenue, north of 60th Street, New York City, in the 1970s and 1980s. It was in the posh area of the Upper East Side of Manhattan on Third Avenue and 61st Street next to Bloomingdale's Department Store...
Dick Brooks conceived, edited and wrote a widely distributed 64 page magazine for magicians, "Hocus Pocus Magazine", for three years.
The Houdini Museum
He conceived and founded the Houdini MuseumHoudini Museum
The Houdini Museum was established in 1988 at 1433 N. Main Avenue in Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA. It is in a turn-of-the-20th-century building that has been entirely renovated. Houdini performed in Scranton and did several special challenges there. His brother, Hardeen, also appeared in Scranton...
in Scranton, PA which was featured in the recent book The Hollywood Walk of Fame as a fun and mysterious institution. It is said to be the only building in the world devoted to Houdini.
The Houdini Grave Site Restoration
On September 27, 2011 Dick Brookz of The Houdini Museum along with Dorothy Dietrich and Steve Moore, who later came to be known by the media as the Houdini Commandos secretly restored the missing statuary bust at Houdini's grave site that was destroyed by vandals in 1975. It was reported worldwide in a half page story in the New York Times.Houdini consultant
Both TV and the press have utilized the service of Dick Brooks as consultant including The Criss Angel show, NBC, The Travel Channel The New York Times, The London Times, Inside Magic and The New York Daily News. The producers of the Travel Channel found his work and performance worthy of Highlighting on their show Magic Road Trip which played in the USA and on the CBC as well.Magic consultant
He has acted as magic consultant for The New York Shakespere Festival, Woody Allen's "The Magic Light Bulb" at New York's City Center, and Radio City Music Hall. Because of his reputation he also manages to get exclusive interviews with hard to reach celebrities such as Uri GellerUri Geller
Uri Geller is a self-proclaimed psychic known for his trademark television performances of spoon bending and other supposed psychic effects. Throughout the years, Geller has been accused of using simple conjuring tricks to achieve the effects of psychokinesis and telepathy...
. He is an author and inventor of several books and magical effects.
Appearances
Brooks has appeared in top venues such as Rainbow Grill at the Waldorf AstoriaWaldorf-Astoria Hotel
The Waldorf-Astoria is a luxury hotel in New York. It has been housed in two historic landmark buildings in New York City. The first, designed by architect Henry J. Hardenbergh, was on the Fifth Avenue site of the Empire State Building. The present building at 301 Park Avenue in Manhattan is a...
in NYC, The Americana Hotel in Puerto Rico for 3 months, held over, and returned and headlined Number One Fifth Ave in New York City (Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
and Woody Allen
Woody Allen
Woody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
also headlined there), the Morocco in Montreal, repeatedly at New York's Living Room with Jack Jones and others, as well as Three Rivers in Detroit, and a series of other top cabarets.
He has appeared on the same bill, usually the opening act, with Jack Jones
Jack Jones (singer)
John Allan "Jack" Jones is an American jazz and pop singer. He was one of the most popular vocalists of the 1960s.-Overview:...
, Jerry Vale
Jerry Vale
Jerry Vale is an American singer.-Career:In high school, in order to make some money, he took a job shining shoes in a barbershop in New York City. He sang while he shined shoes, and his boss liked the sound so well that he paid for music lessons for the boy...
, Lou Monte
Lou Monte
Lou Monte born Louis Scaglione, was an Italian American singer best known for a number of best-selling, Italian-themed novelty records which he recorded for both RCA Records and Reprise Records in the late 1950s and early 1960s...
, George Kirby
George Kirby
George Kirby was an American comedian, singer, and actor from Chicago, Illinois.Kirby broke into show business in the 1940s at the Club DeLisa, a South Side establishment that employed a variety-show format and preferred to hire local singers, dancers, and comedians...
, Pat Cooper
Pat Cooper
Pat Cooper is an American actor and comedian. Cooper is primarily known for his stand-up routines, where he often makes reference to his Italian heritage from Mola di Bari, Italy...
, Neil Sedaka
Neil Sedaka
Neil Sedaka is an American pop/rock singer, pianist, and composer. His career has spanned nearly 55 years, during which time he has sold millions of records as an artist and has written or co-written over 500 songs for himself and other artists, collaborating mostly with lyricists Howard...
, Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin , born Walden Robert Cassotto, was an American singer, actor and musician.Darin performed in a range of music genres, including pop, rock, jazz, folk and country...
, Don Cornell
Don Cornell
Don Cornell was an American singer prominent mainly in the 1940s and 1950s noted for his smooth but robust baritone voice....
and others.
Corporate appearances
He has worked as an entertainer for major corporations such as ColecoColeco
Coleco is an American company founded in 1932 by Maurice Greenberg as "Connecticut Leather Company". It became a highly successful toy company in the 1980s, known for its mass-produced version of Cabbage Patch Kids dolls and its video game consoles, the Coleco Telstar and...
, Pepsi
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
, Frito Lay, Maidenform, First Boston, Yago Sangria, Pool Trol, etc., with shows written by him that revolved around the product.
Television appearances
Travel Channel
The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,...
's "Magic Road Trip", Biography Channel's "Dead Famous-Houdini", Evening Magazine, Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
, Home Box Office
Home Box Office
HBO, short for Home Box Office, is an American premium cable television network, owned by Time Warner. , HBO's programming reaches 28.2 million subscribers in the United States, making it the second largest premium network in America . In addition to its U.S...
, Canada's Deals From The Dark Side", as well as many local and news programs.
Celebrity clients
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
, Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields
Brooke Christa Shields is an American actress and model. Some of her better-known movies include Pretty Baby and The Blue Lagoon, as well as TV shows such as Suddenly Susan, That '70s Show and Lipstick Jungle....
, Carly Simon
Carly Simon
Carly Elisabeth Simon is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and children's author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records, and has since been the recipient of two Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award for her work...
, Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow is an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor, and performer, best known for such recordings as "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana ."...
, John Lithgo, David Merrick
David Merrick
David Merrick was a prolific Tony Award-winning American theatrical producer.-Life and career:Born David Lee Margulois to Jewish parents in St. Louis, Missouri, Merrick graduated from Washington University, then studied law at the Jesuit-run Saint Louis University School of Law...
, Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, multiple times for the Rockefeller family
Rockefeller family
The Rockefeller family , the Cleveland family of John D. Rockefeller and his brother William Rockefeller , is an American industrial, banking, and political family of German origin that made one of the world's largest private fortunes in the oil business during the late 19th and early 20th...
and others. See photos on right.
Shows
Brooks currently starring in Psychic Theater's production "HAUNTED! Mind Mysteries & THE Beyond! The show has been held over for the past three years, runs up to 4 hours and has gotten excellent reviews. The Fall issue of the Pennsylvania Pursuits put out by the Pennsylvania Tourism Office of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania picked Brooks' Psychic Theater as one of the 10 most haunted places in Pennsylvania, placing it at number 9.His schedule includes traveling for outside events.