Mar 11
This gallery contains 37 photos.
I will be back at Monday Night Tease on May 7th, emceeing Diamond Lil’s “Gold Rush Follies” at the 3 Clubs in Hollywood. There will be magic, science, comedy, music, dancing and beautiful, near-naked ladies! Let us bring the 1890’s debauchery of the Alaskan Gold Rush to you, right here in the 21st Century! The Monday Night Tease […]
Joe Franklin
Photo by Jim Herrington
Last week, I met the legendary Joe Franklin–once the undisputed king of Late Night television in New York City, and possibly the inventor of the television talk show. I was very impressed.
I was introduced to him in his office near Times Square by Alex Shlaferman.
What a charming and interesting gentleman Joe is! He welcomed us in to an ongoing discussion with two or three friends of his who are morning regulars in the office coffee gathering.
Franklin’s office is neatly stacked floor to ceiling with papers and tapes and vhs videos and other memorabilia.
He is extraordinarily friendly and interested, and knows everything there is to know about silent films, Tin Pan Alley and early show business.
Out of the stacks of tapes he found with ease a segment of his show featuring Bill Cosby and Kamarr the magician and popped it in a VHS player.
Kamarr was his good friend, he said, and had been on his show numerous times. In this sequence, he makes a stage size dove cage with three doves vanish close up at Cosby’s seat while Joe looks on bemused. Franklin said that he was the one who got Kamarr on Letterman years later.
I found this video on YouTube with Kamarr in Joe’s office:
From Wikipedia:
Joe Franklin (born Jose…ph Fortgang on March 9, 1926) is an American radio and television personality. From New York City, Franklin is sometimes credited with hosting the first television talk show. The show began in 1951 on WJZ-TV (later WABC-TV) and moved to WOR-TV (later WWOR-TV) from 1962 to 1993. After retiring from the television show, Franklin concentrated on an overnight radio show, playing old records on WOR-AM on Saturday evenings. He currently interviews celebrities on the Bloomberg Radio Network.
An author, Franklin has written 23 books, including Classics of the Silent Screen.
His 1995 autobiography Up Late with Joe Franklin chronicles his long career and includes claims that he had dalliances with Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, and that Veronica Lake “threw herself at me, but I always refrained.”
He has appeared as himself in countless films, notably Ghostbusters and Broadway Danny Rose.
Frankin’s show was often parodied by Billy Crystal during the 1984–1985 season of Saturday Night Live. Franklin was also a pioneer in promoting products such as Hoffman Beverages on the air.
There is more information here:
Bob Sheets at School for Scoundrels
Despite the recent Halloween fire, the Magic Castle is planning to be open by this weekend, and our School for Scoundrels class will begin on Sunday night, November 6th, as planned.
There is still room for you to join this exciting class, but you must register by Friday.
It is open to both members and non-members of the Magic Castle, and no prior experience, skills or knowledge is required.
This course teaches the basic sleight of hand, psychology, history and importance to magic of the three basic street swindles: Three-Card Monte, the Shell Game, and the various games of Fast and Loose.
We believe that the street hustler makes a better role-model for the modern close-up magician than the card cheat which has been the model since the turn of the century.
We believe that street hustlers have much to teach that is of huge benefit to magicians, especially those who work corporate walk around, trade-shows, or private parties where they need to gather a crowd, hold their attention, control their thinking, and get them to do what they want them to do.
School for Scoundrels at the Magic Castle in Hollywood will begin on Sunday, November 6, and continue on Nov 13, 20, 27, and also on Mondays, November 7, 14, 21, 28. School for Scoundrels is a course taught at the Magic Castle every November since 1996.
Pop Haydn and Chef Anton (two-time national trick-shot champion at pool), teach the class together, with guests such as Bob Sheets and Doc Eason.
The course attracts lawyers and law-enforcement personnel, as well as magicians, students of gambling and history, and many who just find the subject fascinating–you don’t need to be a member of the Magic Castle to sign up for this course, and no previous knowledge or skills are required.
The course is $160 for the eight hours–two hours a night, once a week, for four weeks.
You can switch nights from Monday to Sunday or vice-versa–each week the same lesson is taught on both Sun and Mon at 7:00 pm.
Contact Magic University, and talk to Mark or Nani Wilson at (800) 367-8749 to sign up for the course.
$160 for all four nights.
Harry Houdini (born Erik Weisz, later Ehrich Weiss; March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926)
Halloween is National Magic Day
Harry Houdini (born Erik Weisz, later Ehrich Weiss; March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926)
Halloween is National Magic Day
George Renniger of the Wunderle Candy Co. is credited with creating Candy Corn in the 1880’s, it was introduced into the mass market in 1898 by the Goelitz Confectionary Company which later created the Jelly Belly jelly beans. Nine billion kernels are sold every year.
Harry Houdini (born Erik Weisz, later Ehrich Weiss; March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926)
Halloween is National Magic Day
Harry Houdini (born Erik Weisz, later Ehrich Weiss; March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926)
Halloween is National Magic Day
Pop Haydn
School for Scoundrels at the Magic Castle in Hollywood will begin on Sunday, November 6, and continue on Nov 13, 20, 27, and also on Mondays, November 7, 14, 21, 28. School for Scoundrels is a course taught at the Magic Castle every November since 1996.
Pop Haydn and Chef Anton (two-time national trick-shot champion at pool), teach the class together.
The course attracts lawyers and law-enforcement personnel, as well as magicians, students of gambling and history, and many who just find the subject fascinating–you don’t need to be a member of the Magic Castle to sign up for this course, and no previous knowledge or skills are required.
The course is $160 for the eight hours–two hours a night, once a week, for four weeks.
You can switch nights from Monday to Sunday or vice-versa–each week the same lesson is taught on both Sun and Mon at 7:00 pm.
This course teaches the basic sleight of hand, psychology, history and importance to magic of the three basic street swindles: Three-Card Monte, the Shell Game, and the various games of Fast and Loose.
We believe that the street hustler makes a better role-model for the modern close-up magician than the card cheat which has been the model since the turn of the century.
We believe that street hustlers have much to teach that is of huge benefit to magicians, especially those who work corporate walk around, trade-shows, or private parties where they need to gather a crowd, hold their attention, control their thinking, and get them to do what they want them to do.
Contact Magic University, and talk to Mark or Nani Wilson at (800) 367-8749 to sign up for the course. $160 for all four nights.
Click for Pop's Website
Sorry for your loss. They leave such a huge hole when they pass...
Thank you for this beautiful thought! I lost my Diamond Girl, black collie shepherd Lab, and feel he
Next week.
when are you performing at the Castle?
No, it was sold some years ago.
Reblogged this on Pop's Soapbox.
Happy Birthday Neil - We are planning on coming back April 17 to celebrate our Anniversary. My wife
Nancy Magill
Pop Haydn
Pop's Soapbox 