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Lee Grabel
| Lee Grabel | |
 | |
| Born | Lee Merill Grabel March 12, 1919 Portland, Oregon |
|---|---|
| Died | July 27, 2015 (age 96) Alamo, California |
| Nationality | American |
Lee Grabel (b.1919-b.2015), born in Portland Oregon, became recognized as America's No. 1 magician after Blackstone Sr.'s retirement in the 1950s and was chosen by Dante as his successor.[1]
Biography
In 1931, Grabel presented his first one-hour program sponsored by The Boy Scouts of America.
In 1942, he was inducted into the US Army during World War II.
In the 1950's, after Blackstone Sr.'s retirement, he became recognized as America's No. 1 Magician. In 1954, Grabel was chosen by the Great Dante as his successor, who later passed the mantle on to Lance Burton in 1994. In 1959, he announced his retirement from professional magic for a quiet life on his ranch in California.
His major illusions were a piano that floated as it was played by a seat-belted pianist and shooting a girl from a cannon into a nest of boxes hanging in mid-air.[2] [3] [4]
Awards
In 1936 he won the award for sleight-of-hand presented by the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians.
The 2002 Harvey Award was presented Grabel on October 16, 2002, by the Invisible Lodge, in recognition for many years of service and support.
Books
References
- The Linking Ring, Vol. 27, No. 12, February 1948, Lee Grable, Magician, by Wilbur Kattner, page 25
- Cover, The Linking Ring, Vol. 68, No. 2, December 1988, Our Cover, Lee Grabel, by Howard Bamman, page 54
- Cover, The New Tops, Vol. 29, No. 3, March 1989, Cover Story: Lee Grabel - Magician & Illusionist, page 40
- The New Tops, Vol. 32, No. 5, May 1992, Personality Parade by Geoffrey Hansen - Lee Grabel, page 35
- The Linking Ring, Vol. 89, No. 3, March 2009, Master Magician Lee Grabel Turns 90, by James Flanigan, page 27
- The Linking Ring, Vol. 93, No. 3, March 2013, Pictures from the Past, page 18, Answer to Pictures from the Past – from page 18, by Gary R. Frank, page 83
- Genii Magazine, Vol. 78, No. 10, October 2015, In Memoriam, Lee Grabel March 12, 1919 – July 27, 2015, by Dustin Stinett, page 15