Future American Magical Entertainers
Encyclopedia
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. Later in the 1950s it would be called F.A.M.E. till the 1980s.
This was an important club in New York City, the then center for magic in the world. It was the incubator for many magicians who would make their mark in later years. From the 1900s through the 1960s, no magic organization would allow youngsters to join. Many of the teenage members of the organization would later become famous magicians, magic writers, authors, and creators. This would include many prize winners, a least one President and the Dean of the Society of American Magicians, a Pulitzer Prize winning author who would write a definitive biography on Houdini, as well as the founder of the and The Magic Towne House
and the Houdini Museum, and a world famous television star.
Dr Hurwitz was a city recreation director when Mayor Fiorello La Guardia gave him the official magician title during the Depression. For 18 years, he took his magic show to schools and recreation centers and put on annual magic shows in parks in every borough. For years after he left the department he continued his magic shows as a volunteer. Among his proteges was his daughter, television star Shari Lewis
, the world famous ventriloquist and developer of Lamb Chop.
Abe Hurwitz was born in Lithuania
in 1906. He graduated from City College of New York
, obtained his Masters degree from Columbia University
and his Ph.D. in educational guidance from New York University
. He began mixing magic with teaching as a guidance counselor at the Brooklyn Hebrew Orphanage. He retired from Yeshiva
in 1974. He died September 29, 1981.
(Blackwood
), George Sands, Vic Sendax, Len Cooper, Sonny Sklar, Jerry Bergman, Howie Schwarzman
, Shari Lewis
.
(who would found the Magic Towne House
and the Houdini Museum
), Ken Silverman
(who became a Pulitzer Prize
winning author and wrote a biography of Houdini), John Hope, Robert A. Olson, (Hope and Olson later wrote a column on coin magic in Hugard's Magic Monthly), Richard Bangs, Al Callus, David Levy
, Burt Kaplan, Jeff Spiller, Dan Ritchard, Mike Eberton, Melvin Kelger, Sheldon Weiner, Mike Goldstein, Leonard Heller, Kichi Iamoto, Hank Lifson, Jerry Goldstein and many others. (see official 1952 roster) At that time it was run by Antoinette Deutch, Bob White, and Lou Dick. The acronym FAME came about when the members decided the Peter Pan name was a bit childish, especially after a comment from comedy magician Carl Ballantine
, "I love your peanut butter". The FAME acronym was suggested by Dick Brooks (entertainer)
. Among later magicians who joined included Jeff Spiller, Diane Zalph, Jeff Silverstein, Debbie Leifer
, Jeff Sheridan
, Robin Lane
and others.
During its peak, the I.M.P.S. met once a month in Manhattan at the West Side YMCA on West 63rd St; here, in addition to giving the young members a chance to perform and polish their technique, adult performers/lecturers would often take part in the proceedings by offering guidance, advice, and impromptu performances for the young magicians and ventriloquists that comprised the club. Several times in the mid and late 1960s, the group was even visited by talent scout Mark Letti (who was well known in NY entertainment circles as a 'talent spotter' for Ed Sullivan's popular Sunday night television variety show).
In addition to their I.M.P.S. sponsorship, the S.A.M. awarded "scholarships" to qualifying IMPS when they became old enough to apply for SAM membership. A North Jersey branch was established in the late 1960s that met in Tenafly as well as another New Jersey branch which met several times a year in Perth Amboy (until the late 1960s). The New York I.M.P.S. club remained active into the 1970s (although meeting less frequently) and for a brief time survived the passing of its founding leader, Arnold Belais. Currently, young people can join a new organization, SYM Society of Young Magicians
, which is a branch of the Society of American Magicians
. SYM was conceived in 1981 and founded in 1984 by 6 members of the S.A.M. Dan Rodriguez, Edward Schuman, Ray Corbin
, Wendel Gibson, Dick Laneau and Donald Lea.
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
field, now defunct, for young people, that existed 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...
, USA. From the early 1940s it was called the Peter Pan Magic Club. Later in the 1950s it would be called F.A.M.E. till the 1980s.
This was an important club in New York City, the then center for magic in the world. It was the incubator for many magicians who would make their mark in later years. From the 1900s through the 1960s, no magic organization would allow youngsters to join. Many of the teenage members of the organization would later become famous magicians, magic writers, authors, and creators. This would include many prize winners, a least one President and the Dean of the Society of American Magicians, a Pulitzer Prize winning author who would write a definitive biography on Houdini, as well as the founder of the and 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 the Houdini Museum, and a world famous television star.
Founder
Dr Abraham Hurwitz, also known as Peter Pan the Magic Man, originally headed up the club. Hurwitz was a Yeshiva University education professor who was so deft and admired at his magic act that he was named New York City's "official magician" by Mayor Fiorello La Guardia.Dr Hurwitz was a city recreation director when Mayor Fiorello La Guardia gave him the official magician title during the Depression. For 18 years, he took his magic show to schools and recreation centers and put on annual magic shows in parks in every borough. For years after he left the department he continued his magic shows as a volunteer. Among his proteges was his daughter, television star Shari Lewis
Shari Lewis
Shari Lewis was an American ventriloquist, puppeteer, and children's television show host, most popular during the 1960s and 1990s...
, the world famous ventriloquist and developer of Lamb Chop.
Abe Hurwitz was born in Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
in 1906. He graduated from City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
, obtained his Masters degree from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and his Ph.D. in educational guidance from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. He began mixing magic with teaching as a guidance counselor at the Brooklyn Hebrew Orphanage. He retired from Yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
in 1974. He died September 29, 1981.
Early members
A few earlier members of the Peter Pan Magic Club before it changed its name to F.A.M.E. included George Schindler (would become President of the Society of American Magicians and then its Dean, a life long position), Stan Burns, George Gilbert (Lott), Albert Goshman, Ken Krenzel, Jack London (Harry Rifas), Danny O'BrienDanny O'Brien
Danny O'Brien is an English technology journalist and civil liberties activist. He wrote weekly columns for the Sunday Times and the Irish Times; and before that for The Guardian, and acted as a consultant in helping The Guardian formulate its online strategy. He worked for the UK edition of...
(Blackwood
Blackwood
-Botany:* African Blackwood , decorative timber tree native to seasonally dry regions of Africa* Australian Blackwood, Acacia melanoxylon, native to eastern Australia...
), George Sands, Vic Sendax, Len Cooper, Sonny Sklar, Jerry Bergman, Howie Schwarzman
Howie Schwarzman
Howard Schwarzman is an American magician, card manipulator, sleight of hand expert, and trick inventor. Considered a "living legend" in the Eastern United States magician community, he is best-known as a columnist within the magician trade press, and an importer of very rare tricks from outside...
, Shari Lewis
Shari Lewis
Shari Lewis was an American ventriloquist, puppeteer, and children's television show host, most popular during the 1960s and 1990s...
.
Name change to F.A.M.E.
In the 1950s, the then members decided the name of the club was childish and changed it to FAME Future American Magical Entertainers and included Dick BrooksDick Brooks (entertainer)
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 , who was also the father of the soon to be...
(who would found 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 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...
), Ken Silverman
Ken Silverman
Ken Silverman is a game programmer, best known for writing the Build engine used in Duke Nukem 3D, Shadow Warrior, Blood, and more than a dozen other games in the mid- to late-1990s...
(who became a Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
winning author and wrote a biography of Houdini), John Hope, Robert A. Olson, (Hope and Olson later wrote a column on coin magic in Hugard's Magic Monthly), Richard Bangs, Al Callus, David Levy
David Levy
David Levy may refer to:* David A. Levy , U.S. Representative from New York* David Benjamin Levy , American musicologist** 3673 Levy, an asteroid named in his honour* David H. Levy , Canadian astronomer and science writer...
, Burt Kaplan, Jeff Spiller, Dan Ritchard, Mike Eberton, Melvin Kelger, Sheldon Weiner, Mike Goldstein, Leonard Heller, Kichi Iamoto, Hank Lifson, Jerry Goldstein and many others. (see official 1952 roster) At that time it was run by Antoinette Deutch, Bob White, and Lou Dick. The acronym FAME came about when the members decided the Peter Pan name was a bit childish, especially after a comment from comedy 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...
, "I love your peanut butter". The FAME acronym was suggested by Dick Brooks (entertainer)
Dick Brooks (entertainer)
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 , who was also the father of the soon to be...
. Among later magicians who joined included Jeff Spiller, Diane Zalph, Jeff Silverstein, Debbie Leifer
Debbie Leifer
Debbie Leifer was named 2006 Greater Atlanta Magician Of The Year by the International Brotherhood of Magicians and the Society Of American Magicians Atlanta chapters. Debbie is the first female corporate magician to receive that honor in the 35 year history of the prestigious award.She is one of...
, Jeff Sheridan
Jeff Sheridan
Jeff Sheridan is an American magician who started his career by specializing in street magic. Sheridan began working in New York City around 1967. He studied briefly at the School of the Visual Arts in NYC in the late 1960s. He authored the 1977 book, Street Magic, An Illustrated History of...
, Robin Lane
Robin Lane
Robin Lane is an American rock singer and songwriter. Her band, Robin Lane & the Chartbusters, released three albums on Warner Bros. Records in the early 1980s, and was known for its single "When Things Go Wrong"....
and others.
Society of American Magicians
In the early 1960s the S.A.M. sponsored a club for young magicians known as the I.M.P.S. (Independent Magical Performers Society). This club had its original branch in New York City under the direction of veteran magician (and inventor of magical apparatus) Arnold Belais, who was in his late 70's; at most meetings, Belais was assisted by Marshall Johnson, a magic enthusiast who was employed as a television producer/director at the CBS studios on 57th St.During its peak, the I.M.P.S. met once a month in Manhattan at the West Side YMCA on West 63rd St; here, in addition to giving the young members a chance to perform and polish their technique, adult performers/lecturers would often take part in the proceedings by offering guidance, advice, and impromptu performances for the young magicians and ventriloquists that comprised the club. Several times in the mid and late 1960s, the group was even visited by talent scout Mark Letti (who was well known in NY entertainment circles as a 'talent spotter' for Ed Sullivan's popular Sunday night television variety show).
In addition to their I.M.P.S. sponsorship, the S.A.M. awarded "scholarships" to qualifying IMPS when they became old enough to apply for SAM membership. A North Jersey branch was established in the late 1960s that met in Tenafly as well as another New Jersey branch which met several times a year in Perth Amboy (until the late 1960s). The New York I.M.P.S. club remained active into the 1970s (although meeting less frequently) and for a brief time survived the passing of its founding leader, Arnold Belais. Currently, young people can join a new organization, SYM 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...
, which is a branch of 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...
. SYM was conceived in 1981 and founded in 1984 by 6 members of the S.A.M. Dan Rodriguez, Edward Schuman, Ray Corbin
Ray Corbin
Alton Ray Corbin is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Minnesota Twins from to .-External links:...
, Wendel Gibson, Dick Laneau and Donald Lea.
Sources
- Thanks to magician and Dean and former SAM President George Schindler for his help in accumulating and checking the accuracy of much of the information on this page.
- The Who's Who in Magic
- Obituary: Abraham Hurwitz Dead at 76