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Al Altman

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Al Altman
BornI. I. Altman
circa 1896
DiedSeptember 3, 1965 (age 68)
New Rochelle, New York

I. I. (Al) Altman was an amateur magician and a major figure in the motion picture industry as talent scout in New York City for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.[1]

He discovered unknown actors who became movie stars such as Joan Crawford, Ava Gardner, Jimmy Stewart, Celeste Holm, and Bob Hope.[2]

His brother Arthur Altman was also a well known semiprofessional magician in Massachusetts. Arthur's son, and thus Al's nephew, Jeff Altman continued the magic tradition.[3]

Al served as chairman of the ethics and standards committee of the [[Society of American Magicians]] for many years and just prior to his death, at the age 68, the SAM Parent Assembly in New York City was planning a special tribute to him.

References

  1. Obit, Linking Ring, October 1965
  2. http://www.dianaaltman.com/about.htm
  3. Magic Manuscript, August/September 1983