MacDonald Birch

MacDonald Birch was a successful American stage magician born in Morgan County, Ohio he was born in 1902 and died 1993. [ [http://sdrcdata.lib.uiowa.edu/libsdrc/details.jsp?id=/birchm/2 Traveling Culture ] ]

Birch started as a magician on the Lyceum circuit, where his manager, Henry Hudson Davis, also managed, Herman Homar, S.S. Henry, Wallace Marquis, and Mel-Roy. His greatest years where during the 30's and 40's, while most other magicians where struggling. In 1924 Howard Thurston made plans to make Birch the successor to the Keller-Thurston "magic mantel". Thurston however never got around to retiring, and Birch made a successful career of his own.

The auditorium of the Opera House Theater in Morgan County, was dedicated "Birch Hall" as tribute to Birch. Locally he was just called called "Mac" by his friends. He and his wife, Mabel Sperry Birch, traveled the globe entertaining millions of people during their careers. Mabel assisted Mac in his illusions, and provided musical entertainment on the marimba and xylophone. [ [http://www.operahouseinc.com/newmagic.htm MacDonald Birch and Mabel Sperry ] ]

MacDonald Birch was a contemporary of other master illusionists like Blackstone, Thurston and the great Harry Houdini. Birch's most lavish and famous illusion was the "disappearing pony."

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