Monday, December 17, 2007
1993: Death Defies Mandrake the Magician in Surrey Hospital
After his aunt gave him the Mysto Magic Kit, Mandrake practiced in a backyard shed, borrowed books from the library, watched magicians at the local Edison Theatre and attended circus shows at the Pacific National Exhibition. One year he was given the props and costumes of a magician who had left the show. He first performed on stage at the Edison Theatre at age eleven in 1922.
For the next three five years the young illusionist appeared at the PNE as Mandrake the Magician. His mentors included Howard Thurston, Claude Alexander, Doc Verge, Bannister and Ralph Richards “The Wizard” who gave him his first out-of-town work in 1927: a six-month tour that ended in Winnipeg.
Mandrake was twice married to his on-stage assistants; first Narda Mandrake from 1939 to 1946, then Velvet Mandrake or “Miss Velvet.” The latter couple honed a two-hour magic show for nightclubs during the 1940s and 1950s.
Called ‘the best-loved magician who ever sawed a woman in half,’ the tuxedoed illusionist and ventriloquist was the inspiration for an unaffiliated comic strip, Mandrake, that ran for decades. Drawn by cartoonist Phil Davis and written by Lee Falk, this strip was created in 1934, in St. Louis, without Mandrake’s prior consent or knowledge.
According to Mandrake’s son Lon Mandrake, a science teacher in Delta, B.C. who also performs magic tricks, Falk claimed he had invented with name Mandrake the Magician coincidentally. When fact met fiction, Phil Davis drew their character to resemble the real Mandrake. Both parties verbally agreed to cross-promote each other with the result that Mandrake the Magician became recognized throughout North America.
During his long career Mandrake entertained royalty and was compared to Houdini. Other Mandrake spin-offs included a television show, a movie and a novel. The ventriloquist Edgar Bergen made Mandrake three dummies for his stage shows.
Mandrake’s publicity stunts were as notorious as his act. He was known for driving a car while blindfolded, hypnotizing a girl in a department store window, making great escapes from boxes and mind reading on the street. Leon and Velvet Mandrake retired to White Rock, B.C. after they quit performing in 1984, ending a 62-year showbiz career.
Mandrake Incomparable (Hades $27.50) by Sheldon O’Connell is a wandering but appreciative biography that culminates in Leon Mandrake’s death at Surrey Hospital on January 27, 1993. A wake was held at the old Edison Theatre in New Westminster, now the Paramount Theatre, the first place Mandrake worked his magic.
Thanks to Jack Bennest of BC Radio History for this info.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
2007: Mandrake the Magician Memorabilia Disappears
A North Delta robbery has reportedly netted a filing cabinet filled with posters, programs and brochures of Mandrake The Magician, the real performer who inspired the comic. This according to SurreyLeader.com.
A son of vaudevillian performers, Mandrake grew up in New Westminster and first performed on stage at New Westminster's Edison Theatre (Now called the Paramount). He gained international fame as a magician. He and his second wife, Velvet, his stage assistant, retired in White Rock after 62 years in show business.
“It’s of no value to anyone but family,” Lon Mandrake said.
“I’m hoping they’ve just dumped them by the side of the road and someone will find them. Or they’ll return it.”
He’s offering a reward, no questions asked. (He can be contacted at 604-591-5839).
Hopefully, the materials get back in the hands of those who treasure them most as soon as possible.
For a full bio on Mandrake, go here.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
2007: Historic Imperial Theatre Crumples Under Wrecking Ball
Rumor has it that two gay men once rented the theatre to watch movies alone in and one was found dead the next morning, tied, gagged and with a curling iron inserted in his anus.
1925: CBC Radio History
Eventually a coast-to-coast radio network was established. The CNR radio stations were identified by their location including CNRV – Vancouver. As a matter of history, the CNR operated the first coast-to-coast radio network in
The CNR network functioned until 1932, when, during the depression, it was decided by the government to form the Canadian Radio Commission. The call letter system was altered slightly - hence CRCV Vancouver.
In those early years, night-time Canadian radio was completely different from today’s programming. To encourage Canadian talent, the broadcast regulations required that no recordings were to be played after seven-thirty to eleven-thirty at night. So, we listened to all-live talent shows.
There was a wide variety to tune in to - mysteries, commentaries, newscasts, man-in-the-street broadcasts, dramas, musicals, amateur hours, dance-hall remotes, newscasts, variety shows, political discussions, and religious broadcasts. All the radio stations would have on hand a staff pianist. This position was used as a stand-by strategy when, for various reasons, the scheduled program was not available for broadcast.
At the
To learn more about early radio in BC, check out Jack Bennest's great site, BC Radio History.
Monday, October 22, 2007
2007: Is There a Tenor in the House?
Friday, October 12, 2007
1946: Groundbreaking Community Arts Council Formed
Author: Max Wyman, Bryan N.S. Gooch
2007: Lynn Canyon Tree Attacks "Silver Spoons" Star
Former child actor Rick Schroder was taken by ambulance to Lion's Gate Hospital after being injured on the North Vancouver set of a TV movie version of "Journey to the Center of the Earth".
The 37-year-old sustain minor injuries when he struck his head on a tree branch.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
1921: Symphony Director Skips Town With The Take
1914: English Hussy Banned
The mayor of Vancouver banned performances by visiting English music-hall performer Marie Lloyd. At one point in her show she had lifted her floor-length gown up two inches to reveal a watch on her ankle. The shameless hussy!
Lloyd's songs, although perfectly harmless by modern standards, began to gain a reputation for being "racy" and filled with double entendre, ("She'd never had her ticket punched before" for example) largely thanks to the manner in which she sang them, adding winks and gestures, and creating a conspiratorial relationship with her audience. She became the target of Vigilance or "Watch" committees and others opposing music-hall licenses. She liked to claim that any immorality was in the minds of the complainants, and in front of these groups would sing her songs "straight" to show their supposed innocence.
1912: Comedy Legends Take on Vancouver
An English revue company called Karno’s Comedians performed in Vancouver. Included in the cast: Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel.
1910: PNE Carpenter Becomes Horror Legend
1909: Boxer Would Later Hit the Big Screen
World heavyweight boxing champ Jack Johnson fought a six-round exhibition bout in Vancouver with boxer Victor McLaglen, who would later become an Oscar-winning movie actor. This was Jackson's first bout after winning the crown.
McLaglen starred in over 120 movies including the 1935 film The Informer which earned him an Academy award.
Spouse Margaret Pumphrey (1948 - 7 November 1959) (his death) Suzanne M. Brueggeman (1943 - 1948) (divorced) Enid Lamont (1919 - 1942) (her death)
Trivia
Father of film director Andrew V. McLaglen.
Brother of actor Clifford McLaglen.
Brother of actor Cyril McLaglen.
Brother of actor Kenneth McLaglen
Brother of actor and sculptor Arthur McLaglen.
Father-in-law of actress Veda Ann Borg.
Daughter Sheila McLaglen born 1920.
Interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California, USA.
Grandfather of Mary McLaglen.
Brother of actor Leopold McLaglen.
As a carnival boxer, if anyone could stay in the ring with him for one round and not be knocked down, they won a box of cigars.
He was quoted as saying:
Complete bio here...
1908: Jeff, the Boxing Kangaroo Hits Town
ed. note: After a quick Internet search I found evidence that "Jeff" spent his retirement years on the Ruhe Animal Farm in New York State. I don't know for sure that these two "roos" are one and the same, but how many boxing kangaroos named Jeff could there be?
http://home.att.net/~Berliner-Ultrasonics/ruhefarm.html
1902: Audiences Watch Mount Pelee Eruption
- In 1902 movie goers in Vancouver were informed they could see THE ERUPTION OF MOUNT PELEE—BY ELECTRICITY at the Electric Theatre on Cordova Street. (This was a reconstruction, in a studio, of the actual 1902 Mount Pelee disaster. The film makers used a table-top model with flour bursting out of it.)
Thursday, September 27, 2007
1900: Immigration Film Hampered By Snow (Not in the way one might expect)
2007: Smashing Pumpkins Fan Dies in PNE "Mosh Pit"
Vancouver police spokesman Const. Howard Chow said a group of young men dragged the victim out of the mosh pit toward security Monday night.
The victim, who was from Richmond, B.C., was taken to hospital, where he later died, police said Tuesday night.
Heritage Theatre Led a Varied Life
Sadly, the theatre was torn down in October of 2007.
1891: Bernhardt Flops in Vancouver
1891: Opera House Opens
In February, 1891, when the population of Vancouver was only about 13,000, the Vancouver Opera House, built for the Canadian Pacific Railway, opened on Granville with 2,000 seats.
The Vancouver Opera House was located on the west side of Granville Street between Georgia and Robson, built by the C.P.R. adjacent to the first Hotel Vancouver, and owned by them until 1909. It could hold over 1,000 patrons in orchestra, gallery and box seating, and had a drop scene with a Canadian view of mountains (The Three Sisters) and the Bow River. Made in New York, the drop arrived in Vancouver by rail on two flatcars. Notably, electric lights were used as a replacement for gas lighting. Evening dress was required for both men and women, and Hansom cabs took patrons to the door; for those returning by streetcar, the whole system would be held past its usual 11 p.m. closing time until the audience came out. Until 1912, it served as the city's principal theatre for touring companies and important solo performers.
1889: Kipling Becomes Vancouver Landowner
1861: Richmond Island Named After "Sweet" Singer
1969: International Festival Closes
1969: Early Music Society Formed
1969: The Poppy Family Reach No. 2
1969: A Banner Year For Film In BC
Other movies made locally this year included (comments are by Michael Walsh):
Great Coups of History
Written and directed by Ron Darcus, this told the story of a single mom (Delphine Harvey) who reminisces about a life spent trading on her female charms, while her teenaged daughter (Janie Cassie) struggles with her own budding sexuality.
The Mad Room
Directed by Bernard Girard, this was a remake of 1941's Ladies in Retirement, the story of a lady's companion (Stella Stevens) whose teenaged siblings are suspects in the murder of her employer (Shelley Winters).
The Plastic Mile (aka The Finishing Touch and She's a Woman). Directed by Morrie Ruvinsky. The story of an unhinged director (Jace Vander Veen) who raped his leading lady (Pia Shandel) during the making of his magnum opus, this controversial “art movie” added new sex scenes to each successive version.
1969: Pacific Ballet Established
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
1969: First Community Cable Channel
1969: Promoter Lily Laverock Dies In Obscurity
December 2, 1969
Impresario Lily Laverock died in Duncan, about 89. She was born in Edinburgh, c. 1880. She came to Vancouver as a child with her parents. She was the first woman to graduate in moral philosophy from McGill. She was the first woman (1908) employed as a general reporter by a Vancouver newspaper (The World). On October 4, 1909, when the Vancouver branch of the Canadian Women’s Press Club was formed, she was the chief organizer and the first secretary-treasurer. She moved to the News-Advertiser in 1910 and became editor of the women’s page. “Her pen was ever ready in the cause of women's suffrage.” She never married. Quiet, shy, ethereally attractive, she made her greatest contribution to local fame when she became an impresario. An avid arts supporter, she promoted her first Celebrity Concert in 1921. The world-famous performers she brought to the city in the 1920s and 1930s make for an eye-popping list: Kreisler, Heifetz, Melba, Gigli, Casals, Chaliapin, Maurice Ravel at the piano . . . and on and on. She packed the Denman Arena with acts like the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and Belgian Royal Symphonic Band. WWII ended her impresario efforts. Today, despite her immense contribution to the city’s cultural life, she’s almost totally forgotten.
1989: Little Orpheum Ackery Dies on Eve of 90th
From http://www.vancouverhistory.ca/
Read more about Ivan Ackery here...