Tarbell and the Juvenile Wonder Workers

It’s been some time since I posted last but I hope this item makes up for lost time. The subject line leads with Harlan Tarbell but the real story is about Korman and “Merlin,” both juvenile wonder workers. The promotional item discussed here does not have a conventional playing card back but rather features photos of two young magicians.

So, who exactly were Korman and the mysterious Merlin? Korman is much easier to identify as being Louis H. Korman, born around 1906, a resident of Chicago and longtime member of S.A.M. Assembly #3. Korman doesn’t really start appearing in conjuring literature until the early 1920s.

 At that time the assembly was holding its meetings in a club room with a small stage. Korman’s first appearance on stage came as a surprise to a fellow magician and to the delight of the audience. According to Dorny (Werner Dornfield), during a club show a magician was doing the Rising Card effect with Korman off stage pulling the thread. When the performer took his bow, the curtains parted at the side of the stage and Korman stepped through and took a bow as well. “The laughter was dynamic. The magician was robbed of his glory, but inasmuch as the show was for magicians only I do not think that Korman’s conduct was too improper,” Dorny wrote. Korman was remorseful afterward and admitted he shouldn’t have done it.

The Juvenile Wonder Workers first started performing locally very early in the year 1922. A notice in the February 4, 1921 Billboard reported, “Korman and Merlin `The Juvenile Wonder Workers’ recently introduced their act at neighborhood theaters in Chicago, their home city, and registered so good that it is safe to predict a good name for them in magic.”

By September of that year, Korman was working at Arthur P. Felsman’s magic shop at the Windsor-Clifton Hotel. And then in the October 1922 issue of The Sphinx, we learn that “Merlin” is none other than Johnny Platt.

Platt was born in Chicago October 15, 1903 and started his interest in magic with a Gilbert Mysto Magic set. By 18 he was working with Korman but eventually left that gig to work in the publicity department of Middle West Utilities Co. in Chicago. He jumped back into show business at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair appearing as Hadji Baba, Indian Magician in the Oriental Theater in the Oriental Village. Platt was an early I.B.M. member holding number 109.

That wasn’t the end of the juvenile wonder workers though as another young Chicago magician George Boston stepped in to fill the role of Merlin.

Boston was born January 6, 1905 and first became interested in magic after seeing Thurston at age 10. He then started buying magic from Roterberg's magic shop and then over his career was an assistant to the Duval brothers, McDonald Birch, Howard Thurston, Harry Thurston, Carter, Mel-Roy, Virgil, Will Rock and Nicola. 

And so, when Boston left the act, was that the end of the juvenile wonder workers? No! The next Merlin was none other than Victor Torsberg, another Chicago stalwart and all-around talented magician.

 

He was born in 1906 and served as president of Assembly #3 three times, was president of The Wizard’s Club and president of I.B.M. Ring 43. He was best remembered as a demonstrator at Jim Sherman’s National Magic Shop. He was very close friends with George Boston.

 

On February 9, 1923, the juvenile wonder workers appeared on the first annual Assembly #3 magic show at Kimball Hall. With them that night on the show were Herman Homar performing “Spirit Paintings.” Prince Rajbar “Master Mystic;” Jim Sherman “Magicprestoignoracy;” Elmer Gylleck assisted by Chester Gump;” The Marvelous Jossefy presenting Balsamo, his amazing talking skull;” Arthur and Helena Buckley presenting telepathy; with Korman and Platt closing the show.

 

In December 1923, Korman accompanied a group of magicians who traveled to Michigan City to catch the Blackstone Sr. show. Accompanying Korman were Mr. and Mrs. Felsman, and Homar Woulffe. Earlier that month the wonder workers had a stage mishap. One of their big effects was the Pagoda Trick combined with the Tabouret production of four large ducks from a tub on the tabouret. When it came time to produce the ducks one had died. It was not for improper packing as the ducks apparently had lots of room in their hidden state.

 

All of the various Merlin’s went on to full lives of magic but it appears that Korman eventually dropped out of performing. A report on the 1940 Abbott’s Get Together act of Boston was reported with a note that all of his boyhood friends were still performing except for Korman. The May 1966 issue of The Linking Ring announced Korman’s death at 59 and referenced his early partnership with Boston and Platt. Boston died March 14, 1975. Platt passed away in 1990.

 

And so we return to Harlan Tarbell and finally disclose his relationship to the Juvenile Wonder Workers. Well, at the very bottom of their promotional card on each side you find “Harlan Tarbell” and according to experts, it was the very magic card designed by Tarbell. I hope you’ve enjoyed this look back at the vibrant Chicago magic scene and the intricate threads that wove these conjurors together especially Tarbell who played such a creatively and artistically important role in the history of magic. .

 

Tom Ewing