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[[File: Dr.Jaks1.png|right|thumb|200px|[[ Dr. Jaks]]]]
[[File: JoanieSpina1.png|right|thumb|200px|[[ Joanie Spina]]]]


'''Dr. Stanley Jaks''' (b.1903-d.1960) performed close-up magic as "Jack Stanley" for international figures such as the King of Yugoslavia and then as  "Dr. Jaks" when he came to America.
'''Joanie Spina''' (b.1953-d.2014) was an American magician, dancer, choreographer and director who achieved prominence through her work with illusionist [[David Copperfield]].


== Biography ==
== Biography ==


Born in Germany but grew up in Switzerland, Jaks saw [[Okito]] at the age of 15 which sparked his fascination with magic. He went to school to become an illustrator, before deciding to try his luck performing magic for a living. In his early 1930s, he performed with a partner, Jolowitz, in a comedy magic act billed as Jax and Jax.  
Spina grew up in the town of Woburn, Massachusetts, near Boston. She first began dancing seriously as a child but gave up when she was aged 11. Later, at the age of 26, while working in a bar job, she returned to dance as a means to lose weight. Taking ballet and jazz classes helped her decide that her vocation lay in performing arts. She then began acting and voice classes as well. Although told she was too old to be attempting to begin a career as a performer she persevered on the basis that she could at least teach. In the following two years she danced with a few local companies in the Boston area and then moved to New York.


In 1934, still living in Switzerland , he was performing his close-up magic as "Jack Stanley" for international figures such as the King of Yugoslavia.
In January 1985, while looking for the next step in her career, Spina answered an advert for a dancer in a show with "an international stage and television star". The star turned out to be magician David Copperfield and he hired her. She worked for Copperfield for the next 11 years, spending eight and a half of them as his lead assistant. She also became his choreographer and co-director.


For many years Jaks corresponded with [[Ted Annemann]], sending him material for his magazine The [[Jinx]].  Ted added the "Doctor" to his name and printed the effects under the name "Dr. Jaks."  When Jaks came to America, his agent suggested he be booked under that name.
[[Joanie Spina |Read more about Joanie Spina …]]
 
[[Dr. Jaks|Read more about Dr. Jaks…]]

Revision as of 16:20, 2 June 2024

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Joanie Spina (b.1953-d.2014) was an American magician, dancer, choreographer and director who achieved prominence through her work with illusionist David Copperfield.

Biography

Spina grew up in the town of Woburn, Massachusetts, near Boston. She first began dancing seriously as a child but gave up when she was aged 11. Later, at the age of 26, while working in a bar job, she returned to dance as a means to lose weight. Taking ballet and jazz classes helped her decide that her vocation lay in performing arts. She then began acting and voice classes as well. Although told she was too old to be attempting to begin a career as a performer she persevered on the basis that she could at least teach. In the following two years she danced with a few local companies in the Boston area and then moved to New York.

In January 1985, while looking for the next step in her career, Spina answered an advert for a dancer in a show with "an international stage and television star". The star turned out to be magician David Copperfield and he hired her. She worked for Copperfield for the next 11 years, spending eight and a half of them as his lead assistant. She also became his choreographer and co-director.

Read more about Joanie Spina …