Schreiber was born in 1885 and there is no record of how he became interested in magic but the lively Minneapolis magic scene with its various magic shops and slew of local magicians must have swept him up. He was one of those magic enthustiasts who, when you search for him on Ask Alexander, comes up with pages and pages of "hits" for his appearances at local magic club meetings and shows. In "real life" he owned the Schreiber Company, a printing and loose leaf manufacuring firm.
I originally thought he had a scaling card but it turns out one was business card and the other a promotional giveaway. The business card shows Schriber doing a card trick in tuxedo and top hat and advertises his contact info and the informative note, "Alive in Minneapolis, Ask Any Policeman."
The revserve offers his services for all types of dates and asks, "Your Next Entertainment Why Not a Magician?
Of a bit more interest was his Diminishing Card Giveaway which appears as a large ace of hearts with his booking info on it and with the pass of a hand, turns into a much smaller version of the card. It came with instructions on the back for performing this miracle.
Instructions for the Diminishing Card.
For over 25 years he was a feature act with the Shrine Merrymakers as well as performing at local clubs and lodges. He was a member of various Masonic bodies, the Society of American Magicians, The Academy of Magical Arts and Sciences and the Houdini Club of Wisconsin. Although not a member of the I.B.M. he was a big supporter and frequent performer on the local club shows. He was also an early and avid attendee at Abbott's Magic Get-Togethers.
According to magazine reports, Schreiber had a very large collection of magic and theater in his home. During a June 1950 visit to Minneapolis by Jay and Francis Marshall, Francis wrote, "If there is anything in magic that Bill doesn't have in that basement theater of his, we couldn't name it." This included lovely bound volumes of magic magazines which he bound himself at his company.
According to one report, Schreiber must have levitated the famous actress and TV star Arlene Dahl, although it must have been when she was a youngster as her pay was only $5.00. The article noted she likely wouldn't admit to the levitation if asked at the time.
Throughout the early 1940s he appeared both as himself as as "Chin Low, Chinese Magician," a portrayal of Asian magicians that many consider inappropriate today, but which was in great fashion years ago. In February 1946 he sent a the TOPS Magazine, a photo of a 24-sheet billboard announcing his appearance in Winnepeg. It was likely a billboard for the Shrine show and not his personal billboard. In 1942 he registered for the draft as World War got underway. At the age of 57 it is unlikely he served.
Schreiber died January 22, 1957 at the age of 71. Obituaries appeared in The Linking Ring and TOPS Magazine and remarks about him were glowing. In TOPS they wrote, "Magicdom lost an enthusiastic devotee in the passing of William G. Schreiber. Known to many Magicians all over the country for his bubbling personality will be missed at the various magic conclaves he was wont to attend. Particularly will this be true of the Abbott Get-Togethers where he was one of the "regulars."
In The Linking Ring, a friend, noted, "many magicians will remember him for his shirt and cap made of playing cards and mouth organ, string of dollar bills with uncutting scizzors, three-foot long stocking pocketbook and his work at conventions when called upon." A one-column feature on his passing appeared in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
Survivors included his wife Selma, three daughters and four brothers. After his death, his entire magic collection was purchased and put up for sale by Bert Forsythe who operated The Magic Center magic shop at 1411 West Lake Street. He placed an ad to this effect in The Linking Ring.
No comments:
Post a Comment