Orville Meyer – A Magicians’ Magician

“What does: an ESP expert listed in Who’s Who in Colorado, an author “Dr. Vergo,” “Nebraska’s Boy Wonder” a noted parapsychologist, the “Wizard of Ah’s,” a Shriner, past president of the Denver Society of Magicians, a 32 degree Mason, an inventor of magic effects, and the “Incredible Dr. M.,” have in common? They are all the same man, Orville Meyer.”

So reads the beginning of a feature in the August 1984 Linking Ring, which devoted its cover to this Denver phenom. Orville Wayne Meyer was born in Harvard, Nebraska August 25, 1911. At 15 years of age he became interested in magic after a traveling magician came to his town to perform for the community. Right on the spot, Meyer decided he wanted to become a magician. This was around 1926 and there wasn’t a lot of magic books and tricks to be found in that area. Soon he was inventing his own tricks and a scant five years later was well known as, “The Nebraska Boy Wonder.”

Here is the scaling card in my collection. It features Meyer’s name and identifies him as a “card expert.” He holds a fan of cards, a magic wand and is surround by stars, all inside of a large spade. 

 

At the age of 22 he started touring in Vaudeville under the billing “The Wizard of Ah’s.” He worked night clubs, theaters, and other venues and along the way started making friends in magic. During World War II he performed for the USO and appeared at military bases across the country. It was during these tours that he met Marjorie Keys who he later married. She recalled that his proposal came when he produced a top hat, pulled a satin pillow from the hat to kneel upon, then produced a ring and popped the question. They were married in April, 1944. 

Meyer wrote "Magic in the Modern Manner" in 1946 with 75 illustrations drawn by Marjorie. Together they performed demonstrations of “The Photographic Mind.” The couple moved around a lot as Meyer’s civilian jobs changed, but he was prolific in his magic writing, creating, and performing. Among the tricks he invented himself or with others are: “Think Ink,” “Think Coke,” “Incredo Book Test,” “Vanishing Knot,” and many more. He submitted dozens and dozens of tricks and articles to The Linking Ring, Jinx, M-U-M, The Phoenix, Magick, Genii and many others. 

The Meyer home was a mecca for local area magicians and many top professionals were the recipients of his vast knowledge of magic and presentation. He was a particular fan of Dariel Fitzkee and Ted Annemann. In fact, Annemann’s most famous effect, The Bullet Catch, would not have been possible without Meyer’s creation of the method. In fact, he created or documented many methods of accomplish this thrilling and deadly stunt. Rather than sell these methods he published them openly in magic magazines. Some of his favorite effects to perform were: “Lit Cigarette Catching,” “Silk to Egg,” “Clay Pipes,” “Linking Rings,” “Spirit Bell,” Story of Cokey Joe,” and “Dollar Bill in Cigarette.” 

In August 1984 Meyer was featured on the cover of The Linking Ring

In 1992, Meyer began to have heart troubles and eventually underwent bypass surgery. On June 22, Meyer passed away at the age of 81. He was a member of the Order of Merlin (60 continuous years in the I.B.M.) and was very active in Ring 131. With his death magic lost a master craftsman, expert, and all around good guy.

Tom Ewing