Wednesday, December 11, 2024

The Grave of The Amazing Kreskin

 


Kreskin has died. The most famous mentalist of the late 20th Century into the 21st Century. Born  January 12th 1935, George Joseph Kresge Jr first appeared as a baby in Montclair NJ. As a boy he was inspired to become a magician by reading the comic strip Mandrake the Magician. 

He clearly had an interest in the history of magic because it's claimed he used the names Harry Kellar and Houdini to come up with KRESKIN. You can figure that one out on your own. 

During the 1960, 70s, 80, 90s and beyond Kreskin was the most popular mentalist in American. His name was synonymous with reading someones mind. He appeared on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson 88 different times. And he made appearances on every other major talk show. 

His most astonishing feat was having his paycheck hidden by a member of the audience and then, while blindfolded, he would proceed to find it! He only ever lost the check a couple times in his career.

He died Dec 10th , 2024, of complications of dementia. He was in an assisted living facility and surrounded by family when he passed. 

Kreskin is bured in the Gates of Heaven Cemetery in Caldwell NJ.

Sunday, September 8, 2024

Sears The Illusionist

 


Harry Sears Knight was a remarkable man. He had an interest in magic from an early childhood. In his teens, he started to perform professionally. By his mid 20s he was performing in England and all over Europe. He developed a show with 45 people as well as animals like, an elephant, a camel, horses, snakes and much more. His sets were extravagant, he was way ahead of his time in the manner in which he performed. Very theatrical.

Then he seemingly vanished. More appropriately he went underground. To find out more on his life and what happened to him, listen to my podcast episode 103. 

Harry Sears (Knight) is buried in Woodlawn Memorial Park in Colma California, which is in San Mateo County. He died June 4th, 1961.

There is a photo of the grave on https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/84550444/harry-sears

Sunday, May 19, 2024

Grave of Rameses The Egyptian Mystic

 


Albert Marchinsky was born in Poland in 1876. He came from a very large family. He had 3 brothers and 5 sisters. At age 14 he saw a magician at the Royal Aquarium Theater in London and got hooked on magic. He started doing shows shortly thereafter. 

Eventually, Albert chose the moniker of Rameses, an Egyptian character to present his magic and to set himself apart from other performers. This was not a parody act and some sources claim he was very serious about his portrayal, having studied Egyptology in depth.

It is said his magic was not anything new, but the manner in which it was presented was very unique. He and his cast wore elaborate Egyptian style clothing, his backdrops and curtains all had beautiful painted scenes with pyramids and statues. 

Albert Marchinksy was only 54 when he died, the same age his father was when he died. He is buried in the Edmonton Federation of Synagogues Cemetery in Edmonton, London Borough of Enfield, Greater London, England. He died July 31, 1930.

To learn more about Rameses, check out The Magic Detective Podcast, Episode 101




Monday, April 1, 2024

The Grave of Dr. Hoy

 


Dr. David Edwin Hoy was born July 21st, 1930 in Evansville Indiana. According to newspapers, he was a renowned psychic, but we know him as a mentalist. He performed under the name Dr. Faust. His popular booklet; The Bold and Subtle Miracles of Dr. Faust, is full of amazing feats, including his most popular creation, the Tossed Out Deck. 

Hoy died rather young, at only age 50, on April 2, 1981. He is buried in Paducah, KY in the Oak Grove Cemetery , Old Add, Sec7, Lot 98 Gr1.

(watch for an upcoming article on the Magic Detective blog on Dr. Hoy.)