Aubrey

Aubrey
Cover of Genii (1951)
Born	James Aubrey Crabe August 19, 1931 Los Angeles, California
Died	May 2, 1989 (age 57)

Aubrey (1931-1989) was a Chavez School graduate magician and award winning cinematographer.

He became interested in magic after seeing the Will Rock and Blackstone as a child. He was performing by the age of twelve and joined the newly organized "Modern Mountebanks," a junior club sponsored by Claude Leaf and P.C.A.M. He designed and built all of his own equipment, aided by his father, a studio animator.

He added to his experience by playing U.S.O. Shows during World War II and in 1946 he competed at the 1946 P.C.A.M. Convention winning the Jim Sherman Trophy the for best performance by one under 21.

At 17, Aubrey became the youngest member of Southern California SAM Assembly No. 22, and appeared in their "Night of Magic" shows.

He appeared on the Opening Show of NBC Network TV from Hollywood. In 1949 he did a series of Magic TV Commercials for a gasoline company. That same year he closed the evening shows at Abbott's Get-together, assisted by George Boston,

In the 1950s, he made over twelve appearances on the "You Asked For It" television show. His Asrah presentation won him the 1952 Skippy Award on that show.

In Paul Osborne's book "Illusion Systems the First Collection", there is a twenty page section on Aubrey's illusion, which Paul bought from Aubrey's father.

As an illusionist he is credited with improvements of many illusion such as keeping the legs in full view throughout the Disembodied Princess.

His list of credits as a cinematographer include "Rocky," "The Karate Kid," "The China Syndrome," "Night Shift," "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman," "Baby M," and an Oscar nomination for "The Formula."