Alexander Loring Campbell
was born on March 19, 1905 in Sapulpa, Oklahoma where in just a few short years,
the senior A.L. Campbell and his wife Byrd closed the drug store, packed up
their belongings, and had their son comfortably set up in the back seat of the
family car for the long trip to Southern California. Loring’s first exposure to
magic was watching a group of Japanese performers known as the Ten’ichi Troupe
of magicians. It wasn’t long after that Loring tapped by the “Goddess of Magic”
and she didn’t let go.
Whether it was entertaining classmates, or working a summer
performance in full make-up in a polka dotted suit being billed as “Cambello
the Clown”; Loring was fulfilling his destiny to become a full-fledged,
professional magician.
After his schooling, Loring
captured the attention of the managers of the Redpath-Horner Chautauqua
circuit. He was contracted to work a twenty-five week tour. The only condition
he had to agree to was being billed as magician Jack Gwynne. Gwynne wasn’t able
to complete his contract and it was too late for the management company to
alter the advertisements that were in the hands of every place Loring was to
perform. So, taking everything in the old adage “the show must go on”, Loring Campbell was “Jack Gwynne”.
A little known fact in
magic history was when in 1929, Howard Thurston was searching for “one more traveling
company” to take another one of his sponsored shows out along with his own
show, and the Dante and Tampa show; Loring was also in the running. He readily
declined, just as McDonald Birch, Werner "Dorny" F. Dornfeld, George Marquis and Jack Gwynne. This time, Thurston has decided the name for the magician under the Thurston banner would be "Faust the Magician". All declined for the similar reasons; they wanted to
keep their name and they their own performance style. When the International
Brotherhood of Magicians was founded, Loring joined and was member number
twenty-two. He did all that he could to find more members to join this newly
established society of magicians wherever he traveled. Loring wasn’t alone in
this life adventure, his wife Kathryn was at his side working in the show, on
the show, and keeping the show going for many years. Kathryn kept the
bookkeeping details kept the rabbits fed, and made sure Loring was on top of
his game wherever they performed.
They toured throughout the United States
dozens of times. Audiences and managers alike praised their magic shows. Loring
included numerous effects from sleight of hand, to a presentation of the
guillotine, and he would also include escapes. Their two-hour show would change
every year and Loring would keep in touch with magic dealers and include
whatever the latest effects were popular. He would also update his brochures
and posters making sure he would keep the attention on the idea of fun for the
entire family.
How could you pass up
seeing this show?
Whether Loring was performing his noted
ventriloquist act with his sidekick, Johnny Applewood, or he stepped up to the artist’s
easel and created wonderful rag pictures for all to enjoy; Loring had found his
life’s dream and it did come true. He was a member of Los Magicos of Hollywood,
Society of American Magicians, and he was a member of the Hollywood Comedy Club.
Loring wrote a column for the Tops Magazine titled “The Campbell Caravan” that
was enjoyed by all its subscribers. He was elected into the Society of American
Magicians Hall of Fame. Loring wrote two books This is Magic in 1945 and Magic
That Is Magic in 1946. He retired from the stage in 1955. Kathryn passed
away in 1958. Loring continued his interest in magic always there helping other
performers and keeping in touch with magic friends he had met for the many
years he was on the road. Loring passed away on January 11, 1979.
No comments:
Post a Comment