Help us get to over 8,755 articles in 2024.
If you know of a magician not listed in MagicPedia, start a New Biography for them. Contact us at magicpediahelp@gmail.com
Verdini: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
WarMagician (talk | contribs) m (Added details of WW2 military service.) |
||
| (2 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
| caption = | | caption = | ||
| birth_name = | | birth_name = | ||
| birth_day = | | birth_day = 11 August | ||
| birth_year = 1909 | | birth_year = 1909 | ||
| birth_place = | | birth_place = | ||
| death_day = | | death_day = | ||
| death_year = | | death_year = 1994 | ||
| death_place = | | death_place = | ||
| resting_place = | | resting_place = | ||
| Line 30: | Line 30: | ||
At the onset of World War Two he was touring his native land, appearing in a cabaret show called Magic Lope. He escaped from Czechoslovakia on a French ship bound for Algiers. However, the ship went to France instead and on reaching French territorial waters, Frank was conscripted. When France fell, he was serving in the French air force. He escaped the Germans and made his way to the UK. | At the onset of World War Two he was touring his native land, appearing in a cabaret show called Magic Lope. He escaped from Czechoslovakia on a French ship bound for Algiers. However, the ship went to France instead and on reaching French territorial waters, Frank was conscripted. When France fell, he was serving in the French air force. He escaped the Germans and made his way to the UK. | ||
After arriving in the UK, he was eventually directed into [[ENSA]] where he entertained troops for the duration of the war, including out in Burma with own show called Rendezvous with Magic. | After arriving in the UK, he served with the Free Czechoslovak Air Force, which was part of the Royal Air Force. It is believed he served as ground crew carrying out maintenance on fighter aircraft. He was eventually directed into [[ENSA]] where he entertained troops for the duration of the war, including out in Burma with own show called Rendezvous with Magic. | ||
After the war, he played the music halls in the UK from 1948 onwards. When the music halls closed, he moved on to the club scene and then onto children's work and London functions until his retirement in 1986, aged 77. | After the war, he played the music halls in the UK from 1948 onwards. When the music halls closed, he moved on to the club scene and then onto children's work and London functions until his retirement in 1986, aged 77. | ||
| Line 36: | Line 36: | ||
In his later life he purchased Edward Victor's hand shadowgraphs act, which he played on the dinner-function scene and also adapted for his children's shows. | In his later life he purchased Edward Victor's hand shadowgraphs act, which he played on the dinner-function scene and also adapted for his children's shows. | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT: | {{DEFAULTSORT:Verdini}} | ||
Latest revision as of 17:04, 2 April 2021
| Verdini | |
| Born | 11 August 1909 |
|---|---|
| Died | 1994 |
| Nationality | Czech Republic |
Frank Verdini was a Czech magician who settled in the UK during World War Two. He performed professionally for sixty years.
Biography
Frank Verdini was a Czech magician. Born in 1909 he had his first professional engagement at the age of 18 at the Grand Theatre in Prague.
At the onset of World War Two he was touring his native land, appearing in a cabaret show called Magic Lope. He escaped from Czechoslovakia on a French ship bound for Algiers. However, the ship went to France instead and on reaching French territorial waters, Frank was conscripted. When France fell, he was serving in the French air force. He escaped the Germans and made his way to the UK.
After arriving in the UK, he served with the Free Czechoslovak Air Force, which was part of the Royal Air Force. It is believed he served as ground crew carrying out maintenance on fighter aircraft. He was eventually directed into ENSA where he entertained troops for the duration of the war, including out in Burma with own show called Rendezvous with Magic.
After the war, he played the music halls in the UK from 1948 onwards. When the music halls closed, he moved on to the club scene and then onto children's work and London functions until his retirement in 1986, aged 77.
In his later life he purchased Edward Victor's hand shadowgraphs act, which he played on the dinner-function scene and also adapted for his children's shows.