History of St. Louis Magicians:

Discuss the historical aspects of magic, including memories, or favorite stories.
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DonRataj
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History of St. Louis Magicians:

Postby DonRataj » July 22nd, 2010, 6:02 pm

I am searching for information on 1950's St. Louis Magicians by the name of Darnell (Joseph Shertz), Phil Destefano, Harley Day, Le Roba Collins, Phil Craig (Petit Pisalle magic bar owner)Forest Hendricks, Joe Scott, Will Lindhorst and the magic shop The Soudhan Magic Co in St. Louis.
Thanks for any information you can provide. Don
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians:

Postby Joe Pecore » July 22nd, 2010, 6:40 pm

Did a quick search on MagicPedia and a couple of those names show up in:

http://geniimagazine.com/wiki/index.php/Day_Dreams

http://geniimagazine.com/wiki/index.php ... n_Hilliard

Feel free to add any information you find out about them to MagicPedia!
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians:

Postby Joe Pecore » July 22nd, 2010, 7:16 pm

Do you have access to Ask Alexander http://askalexander.org/?

A must for anyone doing Research.

An example found: Linking Ring April 1952 has Forest Hendricks on the cover and a St. Louis Parade which contains a short write-up and picture of Joseph L. Shertz (page 60).
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians:

Postby Richard Hatch » July 22nd, 2010, 11:32 pm

Roger Linden has written several well researched booklets about St. Louis magic history, including one on Will Lindhorst and another that includes material on Joe Scott (I believe he is one of the four in QUARTET).
Here's a link to the Linden titles we have in stock:
http://www.magicbookshop.com/advanced_s ... en&x=0&y=0

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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: Andrew Buel

Postby DonRataj » November 1st, 2010, 5:26 pm

Andrew Buel (18901960)
Gene Gordon established the first local group, Ring 1, in Rochester, New York. The original Ring 1 eventually disbanded, and St. Louis, Missouri later assumed the vacated title of Ring 1, which it continues to hold today.
The very first IBM Ring One President was Andrew Buel: From 1927 to 1936 Andrew Buel was the President of IBM Ring One in St. Louis. Andrew was born on March 22, 1890 and his interest in magic started at age 10. He worked in St. Louis vaudeville during the 1907 to 1910 years performing magic shows and club dates. In November 1922 he decided to become a double act, marry Linda Sutter, great niece of General Sutter of California gold rush fame. Andy was one of the original members of the St. Louis magic club, later it formed into the SAM Assembly. When this Assembly was disbanded he formed the St. Louis Society of Magicians. In 1927 Andy created the idea of rings and wrote President W.W. Durbin for permission to form Ring One.
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: Andrew Buel

Postby DonRataj » November 1st, 2010, 5:30 pm

Looking for more information on the following St. Louis Magicians who were also presidents of the IBM Ring One.
1937- Louis Visard, 1938 Dr. Ray chute, 1939 W.D. James, & also 1939 Ben Bradley, 1940 P.T. Little, 1941 Forest Hendricks.
thanks for your help.
don Rataj, Ring One Historian.
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: Andrew Buel

Postby Joe Pecore » November 1st, 2010, 7:49 pm

Did you notice the page on Hendricks on MagicPedia: http://geniimagazine.com/magicpedia/Forrest_Hendricks
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: Andrew Buel

Postby Joe Pecore » November 1st, 2010, 8:36 pm

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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: Andrew Buel

Postby Joe Pecore » November 1st, 2010, 9:06 pm

Looks like the president in 1937 was http://geniimagazine.com/magicpedia/Louis_Vizard
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: Andrew Buel

Postby Joe Pecore » November 1st, 2010, 9:18 pm

I see in Linking Ring Reports in 1939 that a "W. U. James" was elected President of Ring No. 1.

There is also a "Brief history of Ring No. 1" article in the June 1939 Linking Ring, page 337 By Andrew H. Buel, Sr.
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: Andrew Buel

Postby Joe Pecore » November 1st, 2010, 9:22 pm

Another "History of Ring No.1" article by Buel is in Linking Ring, March 1942, page 48.

It states that Merlin Eifert was elected president for 1942.
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: Andrew Buel

Postby Joe Pecore » November 1st, 2010, 9:29 pm

P. T. Little held IBM No. 5675 and died Dec 16, 1947
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: Andrew Buel

Postby Philippe Billot » November 2nd, 2010, 6:40 am

Andrew Buel is on the cover of LR June 1939.
In LR August 1927, page 523, Local I.B.M. Organizations, you have the members who have organized Ring No. 1.

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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: Andrew Buel

Postby DonRataj » November 16th, 2010, 4:45 pm

WOW, thanks to everyone.

I have a few more St. Louis Presidents that I need information on.
1940's Magicians
Richard Wehmeyer
Adolph Bolt
Jack Lippencott
Halt Burgess
Sidney Weaver
Milton Ross
1950's
Joe Shertz
Rev. Paul Lloyd
Sparkie Kramer
Charles Zesch
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: Andrew Buel

Postby DonRataj » November 16th, 2010, 4:47 pm

Can you send me a copy of the History on Ring One from that LR?
Thanks
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: Andrew Buel

Postby Joe Pecore » November 18th, 2010, 10:40 am

Here's a little info on MagicPedia (some of which you misspelled above)

http://geniimagazine.com/magicpedia/Adolph_Boldt

http://geniimagazine.com/magicpedia/Jack_Lippincott
(You might also want to get in touch with a possible relative of Jack's who posted: http://www.geniimagazine.com/forums/ubb ... ber=231209)

http://geniimagazine.com/magicpedia/Richard_Wehmeyer
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: Andrew Buel

Postby Joe Pecore » November 18th, 2010, 12:38 pm

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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: Andrew Buel

Postby DonRataj » November 18th, 2010, 6:00 pm

WOW you guy's are great.
Here is another batch of St. Louis magicians from the 1960's & 70's

Roger Sylester
Lester Greenberg
Tom Daniels
Dennis Galegher
Bob Paper
Dave Menton
Robert Feleps
Bob Cernicek
Jim Corona
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: Andrew Buel

Postby Joe Pecore » November 18th, 2010, 7:46 pm

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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: Andrew Buel

Postby Joe Pecore » November 19th, 2010, 10:55 am

I came across Kramer's obit in the Linking Ring. His nickname was "Spike" not Sparkie http://geniimagazine.com/magicpedia/James_Kramer
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: Andrew Buel

Postby Joe Pecore » November 24th, 2010, 10:20 am

Roger Sylester seems to be Reverend Roger Sylwester, who was reported in the August 1983 Linking Ring for being named to the IBM's "Order of Merlin" for 25 consecutive years of membership (while he was living in Hood River, Oregon).

http://geniimagazine.com/magicpedia/Roger_Sylwester
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: Andrew Buel

Postby DonRataj » November 24th, 2010, 1:55 pm

Wow, thanks for the St. Louis history lesson.
Happy Turkey day.
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: Andrew Buel

Postby DonRataj » November 24th, 2010, 1:56 pm

I have a bunch of St. Louis Magician photos and will start to put them on MeagicPedia soon.
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: Andrew Buel

Postby DonRataj » December 1st, 2010, 3:15 pm

Looking for more information on St. Louis magicians that were also Ring One presidents.
Barry Silverman
Conrad Dunn
Steve Causey
Also any information on preforming magicians that lived or were born in St. Louis.
Thanks
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: Andrew Buel

Postby DonRataj » January 1st, 2011, 4:13 pm

Happy New Year everyone.
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: Andrew Buel

Postby DonRataj » February 28th, 2011, 7:44 pm

Good news: I have almost completed the History of IBM ring One presidents of St. Louis and a few other famouns magicians. 85 years of magic from 1927 to 2012. The book will be published and available in Sept of this year.
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: Andrew Buel

Postby Joe Pecore » February 28th, 2011, 7:48 pm

Sounds good. I hope MagicPedia and the Genii Forum were helpful. :)
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: Andrew Buel

Postby DonRataj » April 13th, 2011, 12:19 pm

The magic history book of IBM Ring One the 85 years of magic in St. Louis is coming together. Plans to publish and distribute in Sept 2011. Don Rataj
I have included many of St. Louis best magicians and some more Colorful ones. Let me know if you are interested in buying a copy?
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians:

Postby DonRataj » July 10th, 2011, 7:43 pm

Looking for some information on St. Louis IBM ring one presidents from 1970 to 1980.
can someone check the past Linking rings and determine from the ring reports the followings presidents.
1970 Rev. paul Zipfel
1971 & 72 Dennis Galegner
1973 Bob Piper
1974 Dave Menton
1975 Robert Feleps
thanks for your help
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians:

Postby Joe Pecore » July 10th, 2011, 8:11 pm

Are you looking to verify they were president during those years?

1970 Rev. Paul Zipfel = YES
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians:

Postby DonRataj » July 11th, 2011, 10:43 am

Yes, I have a conflict with 1974 that should be John Freels (per a ring report) and 1975 which is noted as Robert Feleps, but could be Dave Menton.
I do not have access to the older LR, so if you could verify it would be very helpful.
thanks
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians:

Postby Philippe Billot » July 11th, 2011, 11:05 am

1971 - Dennis GALLAGHER
1972 - Bob PIPER
1973 - John FREELS
1974 - Dave MENTON
1975 - Dave MENTON (but no reports from april to december)

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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians:

Postby DonRataj » July 11th, 2011, 12:31 pm

Thanks for your help.
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians:

Postby DonRataj » September 5th, 2011, 11:05 pm

The book the history of magic in St. Louis by Don Rataj is currently being published and will be issued to Ring One magicians on Sept. 16th 2001
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians:

Postby hugmagic » September 6th, 2011, 10:28 pm

Robert (Bob) Phillips is a long time member of Ring Two in Youngstown. It could be a type setting mistake.

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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: & more...

Postby DonRataj » October 18th, 2011, 3:31 pm

The book was a great success, have started on the next book.
200 Magicians you should know!
Started to gather funny stories about several magicians during the 1940's & 50's.
Still looking for vintage signed magician photos if you have any to sell?
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: & more...

Postby DonRataj » July 17th, 2012, 11:34 pm

Still looking for information on some little known St. Louis magicians, will list later. If you have any information on St. Louis magician, always looking for stuff to add to the Ring One scrap book.
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: & more...

Postby Donhdunn » July 18th, 2012, 6:45 pm

Hi, Don...Around 1946-47-48, I and a couple of other teenagers (we were 16-17, maybe younger) hung out at Will Lindhorst's magic shop every Saturday afternoon. One of the gang was Harley Day, who's now in Pensacola and a member of the IBM Ring 287 there. I think I might have been the youngest member (junior member) of Ring One at the time, and there I met Merlin Eifert who was, I believe, an attorney. I have always remembered he showed me Out of This World and taught it to me with all the variations on the great effect -- charging me $1 because he believed that anything you got for free wasn't worth anything! And if I'd been charged a dollar, I wouldn't give it free to anyone else -- a great lesson I've followed whenever someone says "how'd you do that?" I know there's an IBM Ring named for him, 96 in Long Beach, Cal. Will's shop was eventually taken over by Gene DeVoe. I remember watching the elderly Lindhorst do a public show once and, as the brash young kid I was, muttering to myself about how poorly he was performing-- a thought I have learned to tamper as I've aged and seen what arthritis can do to one's digits and fading memory can do to one's ability to utter the long familiar patter lines. Shmoozed later with Don Lawton at Towne House Magic (first saw Out to Lunch there--1950-51? and ran into him when he was handling chores at The Magic Castle.

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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: & more...

Postby DonRataj » July 19th, 2012, 11:09 pm

I remember going into DeVoe's magic den when I got started as a kid. The days of the old magic shops and people doing tricks is a lost trade and many young magicians don't understand.
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Re: History of St. Louis Magicians: & more...

Postby TAR » July 20th, 2012, 11:42 am

Devoe's magic den was a great magic shop but I have to admit when I first started going there as a kid I did not feel welcomed. I was new, had a lot of questions and very little money, not a good combo. When Gene saw I was serious about magic things changed, not only did I feel welcomed but he took the time to help me with sleights and of course the tricks I bought from him.

John Snyder was just the opposite, I felt welcomed the first day I set foot in his Magic Boutique store in Jennings. I had a show coming up and had to replace a milk pitcher. I only had enough money for the milk pitcher but John sold me the "needle thru balloon" and let me borrow the milk pitcher. Naturally I bought the pitcher later that week instead of returning it.

Lets not forget the original Rings N Things magic co and B.C. Magic in Jennings either. When I bought my Arm Amputator from John, I had to walk to B.C. magic (2 blocks) to pick it up, the one in John's shop was his display. Ah the good ole days.


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