Werner Dornfield

Werner Dornfield
Born	Werner Ferdinand Dornfield October 07, 1892 Chicago, Illinois
Died	September 05, 1982 (age 89) Chicago, Illinois

Werner F. Dornfeld (October 7, 1892 - September 5, 1982), billed as "Dorny", a National President and then Dean of the Society of American Magicians, performed on vaudeville stages and attended many magic conventions.

As a soldier in World War I, he became a member of the variety show. Dorny became involved with the I.B.M. and was given Number 4, though he claimed to be the first official member since the others were all officers.

He was a close friend of Houdini and Thurston. Howard Thurston had asked him to head his No.2 show, but he chose to be a magical MC for a lot less money and a lot fewer headaches.

The Chicago SAM Assembly #3, which he was a founder member, was named in his honor. He was also a member of the Magic Circle, the Dean of the Mazda Mystic Ring and the Wizards' Club in Chicago.

Dorny regularly penned a column for Abbott's Tops magazine.

Honors and Awards

• Dean of the Society of American Magicians (1973)
• Master Fellowship from the Academy of Magical Arts (1978)
• Guest of Honor at 1982 IBM convention in New Orleans.
• Elected to the Society of American Magicians Hall of Fame

Books

• Trix and Chatter (l921)
• Dorny on Trix (1954)
• Dorny's Comedy Blackouts (1962)

References

• M-U-M, Vol. 41, No. 7, December 1951, DORNY magician-of-the-month by LESLIE P. GUEST, page 187
• Cover Genii 1978 April
• M-U-M, Vol. 71, No. 6, November 1981, Dorny – DEAN OF AMERICAN MAGICIANS by Chuck Stanfield, page 16
• The Linking Ring, Vol. 62, No. 9, September 1982, OUR COVER, DORNY, page 38
• Obit Genii, Vol. 46, No. 10, October 1982, Obituaries, Werner F. "Dorny" Dornfeld, page 691
• M-U-M, Vol. 72, No. 5, October 1982, Broken Wands, Werner F. "Dorny" Dornfeld, page 34
• Cover Magicol No. 134 (February 2000)
• Bio-bibliographisches Lexikon der Zauberkünstler Edition Volker Huber, April 2002, page 84