John Calvert (magician)
Encyclopedia
Madren Elbern "John" Calvert (born August 5, 1911) is an American
magician who has performed on stage (including Broadway) for eight decades both in the United States and worldwide. He is also a film actor who appeared in numerous movies. He was the subject of a biographical documentary entitled John Calvert – His Magic and Adventures.
perform in Cincinnati, Ohio. Shortly afterward, he performed his first trick for his Sunday school class - he made an egg appear from under another boy’s coat.
He made his initial magic tour when he was eighteen, performing in town halls in Kentucky backroad towns. His small troupe consisted of one assistant and “Gyp the Wonder Dog”. He returned home with a $2.65 profit.
and into the 1940s, he continually increased the size of his magic show, adding illusions and personnel, and he gained notoriety by performing daredevil stunts for publicity.
”.
His biographer, William V. Rauscher, has called Calvert a “real-life Indiana Jones” because of his reputation for surviving dangerous circumstances in his travels.
Calvert was invited to perform his magic act both on Broadway in New York City and at the London Palladium Theatre
on his 100th birthday.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
magician who has performed on stage (including Broadway) for eight decades both in the United States and worldwide. He is also a film actor who appeared in numerous movies. He was the subject of a biographical documentary entitled John Calvert – His Magic and Adventures.
Early years
Calvert was born in New Trenton, Indiana and became fascinated with magic at age eight when his father took him to see the magician Howard ThurstonHoward Thurston
Howard Thurston was a stage magician from Columbus, Ohio.-Life:Thurston had the largest traveling magic show for the time, requiring more than eight entire train cars to transport his props across the country...
perform in Cincinnati, Ohio. Shortly afterward, he performed his first trick for his Sunday school class - he made an egg appear from under another boy’s coat.
He made his initial magic tour when he was eighteen, performing in town halls in Kentucky backroad towns. His small troupe consisted of one assistant and “Gyp the Wonder Dog”. He returned home with a $2.65 profit.
Depression era to the mid 40’s
Through the depression yearsGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and into the 1940s, he continually increased the size of his magic show, adding illusions and personnel, and he gained notoriety by performing daredevil stunts for publicity.
Acting career
From the mid-1940s through the late 1950s, he performed in approximately forty films, including starring roles in three Film Classic releases, in which he portrayed a debonair detective known as “The FalconThe Falcon (literary character)
The character of Gay Stanhope Falcon, also known simply as The Falcon, was created in 1940 by Michael Arlen in his short story, "Gay Falcon", which was first published in 1940 in Town & Country magazine...
”.
Fifties-present
Calvert continued performing magic during his Hollywood days. In the mid-1940s, he transported his show’s equipment and personnel worldwide in a Douglas DC-3 airliner, and in later years on yachts.His biographer, William V. Rauscher, has called Calvert a “real-life Indiana Jones” because of his reputation for surviving dangerous circumstances in his travels.
Calvert was invited to perform his magic act both on Broadway in New York City and at the London Palladium Theatre
London Palladium
The London Palladium is a 2,286 seat West End theatre located off Oxford Street in the City of Westminster. From the roster of stars who have played there and many televised performances, it is arguably the most famous theatre in London and the United Kingdom, especially for musical variety...
on his 100th birthday.
Personal life
Calvert has been married to his wife Tammy since 1982. He turned 100 in August 2011.External links
- Photographs of Calvert, plus one poster http://www.pictureaustralia.org/apps/pictureaustralia?action=PASearch&mode=search&complete1=true&attribute1=subject&term1=Calvert%2C+John%2C+1911-
- www.johncalvertmagic.com http://www.johncalvertmagic.com