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Virgil
Virgil (July 17, 1900 - October 12, 1989)) was born Virgil Harris Mulkey in Eugene, Oregon.
| Virgil | |
| Born | Virgil Harris Mulkey July 17, 1900 Eugene, Oregon |
|---|---|
| Died | October 12, 1989 (age 89) Olympia, Washington |
Leaving the University of Oregon just months before graduating in 1925, Virgil, with 850 pounds of equipment, began his career in vaudeville.
In 1927, Virgil became friends with MacDonald Birch playing the same territories year after year.
In 1931, he became part-owner of a motion picture theater in Port Townsend, Washington. Virgil accidentally injured an young girl named Julie Capnotti who came up to help him on stage. Virgil felt so badly about the accident that he started visiting her and through this incident they fell in love and shortly married.
Virgil toured the United States from coast-to-coast many times during the 1930's and 40's, appearing in hundreds of theaters, colleges, civic and school auditoriums. Features of the show were his original Canary In Lightbulb effect, his original version of P.T. Selbit's "Sawing" illusion (which later inspired Alan Wakeling's version) and he and Julie's performance of The Spirit Cabinet.
In 1952, he carried his 33-ton show consisting of 20 illusions, 120 costumes, and 19 full sets of scenery to New Zealand as the start a world tour which lasted five years, touring Australia, Tasmania, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Pakistan, India, England and Ireland.
Virgil and Julie continued touring the U.S. and Canada touring through 1978. The couple retired to the home they had built in 1965 overlooking Boston Harbor in Olympia, Washington.
Awards and honors
- In April of 1967, Ring 70 of the IBM paid tribute by adopting the name "The Great Virgil and Julie Ring."
- 1971 awarded "Master Fellowship" from the Academy of Magical Arts
References
- Photos The Dynamic Virgils Genii 1945 April
- Cover Genii 1948 August
- Cover Genii 1956 August
- The Virgil World Tour (as related by Virgil to Irving Desfor), Genii 1964 March, vol. 28, no. 7 to Genii 1964 November, vol. 29, no. 3.
- Obit Genii 1989 July
Books
- The Great Virgil by David Charvet with Julie (1991)