Al Baker (magic)

Infobox_Person
Name = Al Baker
Background = close up magician
Birth_name = Al Baker
nationality = American
known_for = sleight of Hand, mentalism, and stage magic
Alias =Al Baker
Born = birth date and age|1874|04|04|df=y
Poughkeepsie, New York
DateOfDeath = Dda|1951|10|24|1951|9|11
Occupation = Magician
birth_place = Poughkeepsie, New York, USA flagicon|New York Born April 04, 1874
death_cause = natural causes
occupation = magic Shop owner, performer, inventor
death_date = October 24, 1951

History

Al Baker (April 4, 1874 - October 24, 1951) was a professional magician born in Poughkeepsie, New York. Al Baker was known by most of his magical contemporaries as an outstanding M.C., author, and inventor. [cite web |url=http://www.compumagic.com/sam35/al_baker.html |title=Biography of Al Baker] By the time he was 21 was working in vaudeville as magician and ventriloquist. Though he was a performer at Coney Island as the Chautauqua & Lyceum headliner, he also had a photo studio there. [cite web |url=http://www.nysun.com/new-york/coney-island-love-and-magic/37515/ |title=Coney Island Love and Magic]

Al Baker was an inventor of many tricks that he marketed including his Dictionary Test, Al Baker Slates and his version of the Rice bowls. Many of his silk magic effects were included in Rice's Encyclopedia of Silk Magic. Al Baker opened a magic shop with Martin Sunshine in Times Square. Al Baker also regularly contributed to The Sphinx and other magic magazines.

He was Dean of the Society of American Magicians from 1941-1951.

In 1951 Al Baker wrote a book called Pet Secrets, where he had the famous American mystery writer, Clayton Rawson draw all his illustrations.

Al Baker's dry humor and tongue in cheek approach to his advice to other magicians is timeless. [cite web |url=http://www.compumagic.com/sam35/al_baker.html |title=Biography of Al Baker] Al Baker was once quoted saying, "No matter how bad the show, or how little the kids, or how hard it is to get their attention, take a live rabbit and coil of paper out of your hat and you're safe." [cite web |url=http://www.denisbehr.de/quotes.html |title= On Universal Effects ~ Al Baker]

Published Works

* Al Bakers' Book One (1933)
* Al Baker's Book Two (1935)
* Magical Ways and Means (1941)
* Mental Magic (1949)
* Pet Secrets (1951)

Manuscripts

* The Twenty-Five Dollar Manuscript (Ca. 1929)
* Al Baker's Pack (1932)
* Cardially Yours (1934)
* Effects 1, 2, 3 (Ca. 1939)
* Card Trio (1948)

Compilations

* The Secret Ways of Al Baker by Miracle Factory Books (2003)

ee also

* List of magicians
* Magicians
* Coin Magic
* Sleight of hand
* Mentalists

External links

*
* [http://geniimagazine.com/wiki/index.php/Al_Baker Al Baker MagicPedia entry]
* [http://www.magictricks.com/bios/b/baker_al.htm Al Baker Biography]
* [http://www.compumagic.com/sam35/al_baker.html Story about Al Baker]

References

*M-U-M magazine, September 1982.
* [http://www.geniimagazine.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Forum=17&topic=000018&Number=0&site_id=1#import Genii Forum Book of the Month]