Vernon's Silhouettes

Discuss the historical aspects of magic, including memories, or favorite stories.
Bill Mullins
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Vernon's Silhouettes

Postby Bill Mullins » October 11th, 2018, 12:39 pm

From the May 30, 1931 Atlanta Constitution

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Vernon's Silhouettes

Postby Richard Kaufman » October 11th, 2018, 12:42 pm

"DR. W. VERNON"!!??
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Bill Mullins
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Re: Vernon's Silhouettes

Postby Bill Mullins » October 11th, 2018, 12:43 pm

From the July 21 Asheville NC Citizen-Times

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Jim Martin
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Re: Vernon's Silhouettes

Postby Jim Martin » October 11th, 2018, 2:14 pm

Richard Kaufman wrote:"DR. W. VERNON"!!??
The article lists D.W. Vernon., then Dr. W Vernon.
Maybe David Wingfield Vernon? A new version of the Telephone Game .... with "magic scissors".
Jim Martin
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performer
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Re: Vernon's Silhouettes

Postby performer » October 11th, 2018, 2:53 pm

There are very few silhouette artists around nowadays. There used to be one I worked with on Central Pier, Blackpool years ago. His name was Lester. He used to do cigarette tricks I remember.

Anyway, I was told that Vernon was just as well known among silhouette artists as he was among magicians. I was sceptical about this so I decided to test it. A few years ago I was wandering around some exhibition or other and lo and behold I saw a silhouete artist. I asked if she had ever heard of Dai Vernon. She surprised me by saying, "Oh yes of course! Did you know he was a magician too?"

It was the word "too" that made me realise that to her this was a very secondary activity. I was amused by this at the time.

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Brad Jeffers
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Re: Vernon's Silhouettes

Postby Brad Jeffers » October 12th, 2018, 4:44 am

Vernon once told me that he had cut silhouettes on Broughton Street here in Savannah.
David Ben gives the date as Dec. 4, 1929.
I would be interested if anyone could tell me the exact address of the Broughton Street storefront from which Vernon worked.
(When I say anyone, I really mean Bill Mullins :) )

Bill Mullins
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Re: Vernon's Silhouettes

Postby Bill Mullins » October 13th, 2018, 6:42 pm

Sorry, Brad -- I don't know of any Savannah newspapers online that would answer your question.

Diego
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Re: Vernon's Silhouettes

Postby Diego » October 13th, 2018, 7:02 pm

I have seen a silhouette artist as The Magic Castle on different nights, cutting silhouettes for members and guests.

Cassidy Alexander, is a very busy silhouette artist in the greater Chicago, Il. area.

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Re: Vernon's Silhouettes

Postby Richard Hatch » October 13th, 2018, 10:21 pm

Jim Martin wrote:
Richard Kaufman wrote:"DR. W. VERNON"!!??
The article lists D.W. Vernon., then Dr. W Vernon.
Maybe David Wingfield Vernon? A new version of the Telephone Game .... with "magic scissors".


Appears to be a simple typo rather than an honorific, since the article later refers to him as "Mr. Vernon"

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Re: Vernon's Silhouettes

Postby Jack Shalom » October 14th, 2018, 8:44 am

Is the distinctive Vernon signature in the OP, with the elongated 9 and the loop at the end of 'Vernon" way above the line (or is that a "D"?), the usual way Vernon signed his silhouettes (or other things for that matter)?

Bill Mullins
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Re: Vernon's Silhouettes

Postby Bill Mullins » October 14th, 2018, 2:28 pm

Compare the signatures to the ones in these auctioned silhouettes.

Jack Shalom
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Re: Vernon's Silhouettes

Postby Jack Shalom » October 14th, 2018, 7:26 pm

Thanks, Bill.

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Re: Vernon's Silhouettes

Postby Spector » October 19th, 2018, 5:06 pm

John Carney has a great story about a silhouette that I believe he posted somewhere here on Genii. Maybe he will post it again.

Bill Mullins
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Re: Vernon's Silhouettes

Postby Bill Mullins » January 29th, 2019, 10:01 pm

From a 1938 interview in the Houston Chronicle with Irving Lunt, a contemporary Texas silhouette artist: "Vernon of New York is the tops in silhouette cutting in the United States. We silhouette artists all dream of some day attaining the skill and speed of Vernon."

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Re: Vernon's Silhouettes

Postby Bill Mullins » August 16th, 2020, 4:13 pm

Somebody got a good deal.

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Vernon's Silhouettes

Postby Richard Kaufman » August 16th, 2020, 6:34 pm

No kidding!
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Jack Shalom
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Re: Vernon's Silhouettes

Postby Jack Shalom » August 17th, 2020, 3:04 pm

How do people determine the authenticity of such silhouettes?

I have one I bought years ago, touted as Vernon's, but I have no idea if it's authentic or not.


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