According to the Chicago Tribune, his interest in magic started when he was six. As a youngster, he saw performances by Thurston and Houdini. In later years, he admitted to dozing off in the midst of Houdini's show. After only a year at college, he went on to be a professional entertainer instead, initially working out of Boston. He later moved to New York City where he met Naomi Baker, daughter of Al Baker, then Dean of American Magicians. Naomi married Marshall and they had two sons, James and Alexander ("Sandy").
During World War II, Marshall was "island hopping" in the Pacific to entertain military personnel in USO shows. He became tired of taking his elaborate ventriloquist's dummy called Henry with him, so he decided to use a white glove and some bunny ears to turn his left hand into his dummy, "Lefty". Marshall often described the transition from his use of a traditional vent dummy to the development of his glove puppet rabbit commenting that the "dummy wouldn't carry the suitcase." Originally made from a khaki army glove, when Marshall was discharged from the army, he replaced it with a white dress glove. While performing in Las Vegas, at the suggestion of one of Marshall's friends, the puppet was further transformed into a rabbit by affixing two fingers from a separate glove to it, thus forming a pair of perky ears.[1]
Marshall was born in Abington, Massachusetts. He spent a year at Bluefield College in Virginia. In the 1950s, Marshall moved to Chicago and married fellow magician and magic dealer Frances Ireland. Together they operated the Ireland Magic Company at 109 North Dearborn St. in the Chicago Loop. In 1963, the firm was relocated to the North side of Chicago at 5082 North Lincoln Ave., and renamed it Magic Inc. Marshall's reputation as an all-knowing historian of stage magic, vaudeville and entertainment grew through the years, as did his legendary collection of books, posters and assorted ephemera on a wide range of subjects. He died at the Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago after a series of heart attacks. He was 85 and is survived by his son Alexander; another son, James; a sister, Marjorie Bamman; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.[3]
James Randi remembers Jay Marshall during the JREF Amazing Adventure 4, March 8–15, 2009. Randi describes how Marshall was an expert at taking advantage of an opportunity and gives the example of when Lefty ate a fly. Randi's anecdote begins with "a fly came into the spotlight..."[4]
References
^"Ventriloquist-magician Jay Marshall dies". UPI. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
^"Broken Wand". illusiongenius.com. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
^"Jay Marshall, 85, the Dean of Magic, Is Dead". NY Times. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
^"Randi discusses Jay Marshall and "Lefty"". YouTube. 2009-03-16. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2010-03-14.
External links
Beating a Dead Horse: The Life and Times of Jay Marshall written by his son, Alexander "Sandy" Marshall
Jay Marshall, 85, the Dean of Magic, Is Dead (The New York Times, May 13, 2005)
"Jay Marshall". Entertainer. Find a Grave. May 24, 2005. Retrieved Aug 17, 2011.
August 23, 2023
marshall, magician, marshall, james, ward, marshall, august, 1919, 2005, american, magician, ventriloquist, appearing, british, television, series, secret, cabaret, contents, early, life, career, personal, references, external, linksearly, life, career, editac. Jay Marshall James Ward Marshall August 29 1919 May 10 2005 was an American magician and ventriloquist Appearing on British television series The Secret Cabaret Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Personal 3 References 4 External linksEarly life and career EditAccording to the Chicago Tribune his interest in magic started when he was six As a youngster he saw performances by Thurston and Houdini In later years he admitted to dozing off in the midst of Houdini s show After only a year at college he went on to be a professional entertainer instead initially working out of Boston He later moved to New York City where he met Naomi Baker daughter of Al Baker then Dean of American Magicians Naomi married Marshall and they had two sons James and Alexander Sandy During World War II Marshall was island hopping in the Pacific to entertain military personnel in USO shows He became tired of taking his elaborate ventriloquist s dummy called Henry with him so he decided to use a white glove and some bunny ears to turn his left hand into his dummy Lefty Marshall often described the transition from his use of a traditional vent dummy to the development of his glove puppet rabbit commenting that the dummy wouldn t carry the suitcase Originally made from a khaki army glove when Marshall was discharged from the army he replaced it with a white dress glove While performing in Las Vegas at the suggestion of one of Marshall s friends the puppet was further transformed into a rabbit by affixing two fingers from a separate glove to it thus forming a pair of perky ears 1 Over his 60 year career he appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show 14 times together with his glove puppet rabbit dummy Lefty He also played the New York Palace and London s Palladium Marshall was the opening act for performers like Frank Sinatra Milton Berle and Liberace He was the first act to open for Sinatra in Las Vegas In Marshall s later years he was honored with the title of Dean of American Magicians by the Society of American Magicians 2 Personal EditMarshall was born in Abington Massachusetts He spent a year at Bluefield College in Virginia In the 1950s Marshall moved to Chicago and married fellow magician and magic dealer Frances Ireland Together they operated the Ireland Magic Company at 109 North Dearborn St in the Chicago Loop In 1963 the firm was relocated to the North side of Chicago at 5082 North Lincoln Ave and renamed it Magic Inc Marshall s reputation as an all knowing historian of stage magic vaudeville and entertainment grew through the years as did his legendary collection of books posters and assorted ephemera on a wide range of subjects He died at the Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago after a series of heart attacks He was 85 and is survived by his son Alexander another son James a sister Marjorie Bamman five grandchildren and five great grandchildren 3 James Randi remembers Jay Marshall during the JREF Amazing Adventure 4 March 8 15 2009 Randi describes how Marshall was an expert at taking advantage of an opportunity and gives the example of when Lefty ate a fly Randi s anecdote begins with a fly came into the spotlight 4 References Edit Ventriloquist magician Jay Marshall dies UPI Retrieved 11 August 2013 Broken Wand illusiongenius com Retrieved 11 August 2013 Jay Marshall 85 the Dean of Magic Is Dead NY Times Retrieved 11 August 2013 Randi discusses Jay Marshall and Lefty YouTube 2009 03 16 Archived from the original on 2021 12 21 Retrieved 2010 03 14 External links EditBeating a Dead Horse The Life and Times of Jay Marshall written by his son Alexander Sandy Marshall Jay Marshall 85 the Dean of Magic Is Dead The New York Times May 13 2005 Jay Marshall Entertainer Find a Grave May 24 2005 Retrieved Aug 17 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jay Marshall magician amp oldid 1118879805, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
