Billy Russell, Magical Inventor and his Vanishing Manuscript

Elsewhere, I mentioned that many of my most prized pieces came from the collection of George Hawley, a long time resident of Batavia, New York.  It is unsurprising, then, that one of those pieces was this fine card promoting Billy Russell, perhaps the most famous magical figure to hail from Batavia.  During the time I operated throwingcard.com (meaning, before the advent of AskAlexander), information about Mr. Russell was quite hard to come by. Indeed, the sum total of the information uncovered at that time consisted of the following from George Hawley:

"William 'Billy' Russell, based in Batavia, New York, was a popular society magician at the turn of the century. The Thurston-Dante letter set reproduced by Phil Temple contains an interesting letter from Russell in which he protests what he perceived to be an exposure of magic secrets by Thurston in a mass market book."

But now we have access to so much more.   As it turns out, Mr. Russell was a formidable figure in the world of magic according to many sources, including a fine piece authored by Gene Gordon for the Linking Ring in May 1947.  Gordon credits Russell with construction of several iconic magic effects, including Houdini's Milk Can Escape and his Paper Bag Escape.  Apparently, Howard Thurston challenged Russell to design and build a table for production of a fish bowl, with a caveat (which Thurston believed rendered the challenge impossible) that the bowl had to be larger than the table top.  Not only did Russell succeed, but the resulting prop became a standard in the field.



Russell launched his own road show, which later became a vaudeville act and school show, and featured several signature effects, including a floating ball, spirit slates and a crystal clock.  One of his ongoing challenges by the diminutive Russell was an offer to pay $125 (one dollar per pound of his weight) to anyone who could lift him off the ground; he never had to pay the sum to anyone.   As reflected on his card, he became a member of the IBM and helped found the Western New York Association of Magicians (MAWNY).   George Hawley served as an apprentice for Russell, which further explains his possession of this wonderful card.

Tantalizingly, in his 1947 profile, Gordon noted that  a book that Russell had authored, “Tricks of the Magic Trade, on which he has been working for years, will be published soon, and all professionals who have looked over the manuscript pronounce it the 20th century bible of stage magic.”  But no such book followed.  In 1964, Dr. Grossman, writing for M*U*M , conducted an extensive search for Tricks of the Magic Trade and proclaimed that the book never saw print.  What could have happened to this fine work described by Gordon?

Well, here's the good news:  As part of my research, I learned that all of the material described by Gordon saw publication, just not as a book.  In two issues of The Linking Ring -- April and October 1958 -- the magazine offered readers a "Parade" of magic by Mr. Russell.  As the editor properly crowed, taken together, the two issues  "will give you a whole book of the best you will find in the whole realm of magic!"  Even a quick perusal reveals this to be the case -- the material, clearly the same magic described by Gordon in his profile of the planned book -- is excellent.   Any stage performer interested in developing something so old that it would be new again would be well served to get access to these issues.

Russell continued as an active magician and inventor until his death in 1967 at age 86.

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George McAthy – “Mandroop the Magician”

How many times have you heard the phrase, “It’s a small world”? Well, it really is true. Recently my wife was walking with her friend Kay, and Kay was talking about a lunch with some longtime friends of hers. She related that she had just found out for the first time that the husband’s father had been a magician and ventriloquist. There are so many magicians, that the chances of my having ever heard of him were very slim. However, the fact he was also a ventriloquist told me he was much more than just a dabbler in the hobby as a ventriloquial figure is an expensive investment. I asked my wife to find out his name. When I read the email and saw the name “McAthy”, I thought to myself, “Mandroop”!

George "Mandroop" McAthy's Throw-Out Card

From the time I got involved in magic at the age of twelve, I had seen the name George McAthy mentioned in the magic magazines and in magic shop catalogs. I told Kay that he was very well known during his years in magic. How well known? Well, when I typed in the name McAthy on the Ask Alexander search engine, I got 1,119 matches in 521 documents! That’s well known.

George “Mandroop” McAthy was born on May 24, 1910 in Oswego, New York. His interest in magic started after witnessing a magic show of Howard Thurston, America’s most famous magician. Edgar Bergen was the inspiration for his interest in ventriloquism. McAthy lived in several towns growing up in New York, and had several mentors such as Gene Gordon, and Elmer Eckam who helped him and encouraged his interest in the art.

His first big break was working as an assistant on the show of Cliff Lesta. Lesta let McAthy have a spot in the show doing a ventriloquist act. George relocated to Pennsylvania and while attending an I.B.M. convention in Beaver Falls, he met a girl whose parents had an interest in magic, Harry and Zola Pavey. Her name was Mary Lou, and a short time later, Mary Lou became Mrs. George McAthy. After a few years, the McAthy’s moved to California. George and Mary Lou had two sons, Gary and Greg.

While George McAthy worked outside of magic for a time, he went on to become very active as a magician and ventriloquist in many different aspects of those arts; he wrote numerous books on magic and ventriloquism, as well as developing many magic effects. George also constructed, refurbished, and repaired ventriloquial figures. His main figure that he used was named “Corny”. Corny went on to some measure of fame as a movie star according to this article from The Linking Ring for September 1957.

George also worked for several magic shops in California including Thayer’s Studio, Abbott’s in Hollywood, and Merv Taylor’s store. This ad ran in The Linking Ring for December of 1945.

McAthy formed a partnership with Tommy Windsor in the 1940’s. Tommy marketed the tricks, tips, and ideas that George came up with. George had great ideas for doing comedy magic. (Did I also mention he performed as Hokey the Clown?) The great TV comedy and gag-writer Robert Orben said “It was McAthy’s early books on magic patter that persuaded him to take up a writing career”. George McAthy was the founder of “The Deceptive Order of Prestidigitatorial Entertainers Society", or "The D.O.P.E.S.". George and Tommy published a magazine called the Dope Sheet.

McAthy as "Hokey the Clown" and an issue of the Dope Sheet.

George McAthy was considered by his peers as one of the nicest people in magic. While everyone who met him expected to meet a man full of jokes and wise-cracks, on the contrary, George was a quiet and retiring individual. The late Eric Lewis, in writing about McAthy said, “My original mental image had been of a man who might be difficult to make friends with; the truth was a man who it was impossible NOT to be friendly with”. The Linking Ring for September 1947 had great things to say about George.

When I sent Kay some images and information that I had on George McAthy, she sent them on to her friend, George’s son Gary. He was really interested and amazed that anyone would remember his father. George McAthy had passed away on September 7, 1971. It had been a long time. Gary and Kay made arrangements for him and his wife Sally to come to my home to see my collection and to talk more about his father.

Ventriloquists including George McAthy and his son Gary from The Linking Ring for October, 1949.

We spent several enjoyable hours going over the items I had on his dad, and he talked about his memories of his father.  We talked about his dad’s connection with Tommy Windsor, and I showed him my magic collection devoted to Tommy, as I had seen him perform when I was a kid.

From the left: Sally and Gary McAthy, Jay Hunter, and Kay Chave.

One final thing I would like to mention. Kay had said Gary looked a lot like his father after she had seen pictures of George that I had shown her.  Boy, was that an understatement!

George McAthy in the left photo, and his son Gary McAthy standing next to the guy in the Hawaiian shirt.

My wife Susan and I would like to thank Gary and Sally McAthy for coming to our home and making it such a memorable day. Also, a REALLY big thank you to our friend and neighbor Kay Chave for making that day possible.

Ernest Schieldge

Ernest K. Schieldge (aka Don Rogers) was born February 20, 1900 in Hartford, Connecticut. At an early age of twelve, young Ernest saw the performance of William J. Hilliar who was under contact with the Barnum & Bailey Circus in Hartford. Young Ernest watched Hilliar as he performed amazing card and coin effects. Hilliar had noticed there was one familiar face in each of his performances throughout the day. After either the fifth or sixth show, Hilliar approached his young fan, introduced himself. Hilliar took young Ernest under his wing and taught him the building blocks of the art of magic. Once the master performer explained a few basic tricks of magic to the lad; Ernest was hooked.

Ernest took the name stage name Don Rogers. He continued his newfound interest in magic and performed at churches, lodges, and service clubs in the surrounding areas of Hartford. Living in Hartford had a number of prime advantages and the best one was the Parson's Theatre on Prospect Street. Don was able to enjoy performances of numerous magicians who happen to visit. Houdini, Blackstone, The Great Leon, and even Adelaide Herrmann came to to Hartford to entertain and Ernest made sure he was in the audience. Using his knowledge of what he had learn from the books and tricks he purchased from his well-worn Roterberg catalog, Don continued to perform as many shows as he could.

In 1922, three young performers got together and took their idea of a “correspondence society” to be able to exchange ideas on magic and created what is known today as International Brotherhood of Magicians. The name was the idea of Len Vintus of Winnipeg, Canada. Included in this triangle of tricksters was Gordon Eugene Avery who went by the name Gene Gordon. Gordon created the name of the club’s first mimeographed issue of The Linking Ring. The last member of the team was Don. He was the co-editor, secretary, and also designed the official emblem of the I.B.M. that is still being used today. Don remained affiliated with the magazine for two years while he continued to book his magic and ventriloquism shows.

The back of this card is a red Bee design.

In 1930, he met a concert singer from Cleveland by the name of Bertha L. Spery. Only months after their first meeting, the couple was married in Hartford and moved to Philadelphia. Don continued his schedule of working the local clubs, as well as the Antrim Lyceum Circuit. During the Second World War, Don traveled from Rhode Island and throughout the upper eastern states and performed for the troops in the U.S.O. shows. His show included illusions like Shooting through a Woman, the Guillotine, and a number of smaller effects. Bertha would assist Don and create wonderful images with her rag picture demonstration.

 In 1948, Don and Bertha moved to Southern California. He continued to perform both his magic and ventriloquism acts for the Elks, the Chamber of Commerce, and his own Masonic club. He was a past I.B.M. International Vice President and always kept his love for the art alive throughout his life. Don was booked for an appearance at the social hall of the First Christian Church in North Hollywood on June 4^th, 1971. The performance never took place. Don’s health was failing and on July 5, 1971 he passed away.

Gene Gordon

Gordon Eugene Avery was born October 15, 1903 in Albany New York. He used the name “Gene Gordon” from the age of seven. The family moved to Lyons, New York, where Gene started his first magic club, the Wayne Wizards' Association. In the 1920’s, he worked the school circuit, assemblies, theaters, and special events. 

One the numerous performances Gene had in 1927.

Also, in the 1920’s Gene got together with Len Vintus and recruited Ernest Schieldge to create the International Brotherhood of Magicians and The Linking Ring. In the 1930’s, you would have found Gene on the cruise ship circuit.

The back design of this card is the Bicycle's Cupid #21.