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Difference between revisions of "Al's Magic Shop"
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The store was originally located on Pennsylvania Ave. near 12th Street in D.C. Above the glass display cases of magic apparatus and conjuring materials and publications, the ceiling was papered with hundreds of King, Queen and Knave playing cards flung up there by numerous visiting magicians showing off their "Card on the Ceiling" skills.<ref name=washingtonian1/> | The store was originally located on Pennsylvania Ave. near 12th Street in D.C. Above the glass display cases of magic apparatus and conjuring materials and publications, the ceiling was papered with hundreds of King, Queen and Knave playing cards flung up there by numerous visiting magicians showing off their "Card on the Ceiling" skills.<ref name=washingtonian1/> | ||
| − | Al kept a fish bowl filled with just plain water in the front window. The sign on it said: "The Famous Invisible South African Fighting Fish". | + | There was always fun to be had at the shop. Al kept a fish bowl filled with just plain water in the front window. The sign on it said: "The Famous Invisible South African Fighting Fish". If a customer expressed skepticism, Al would tell them to just stick their finger in the bowl and see what happens. They never did.<ref name=GENII1>Al Cohen, "Memoirs of a Magic Dealer", ''GENII'', Dec. 2007, p. 16.</ref> |
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| + | They also had an empty tray on the counter with a sign saying: "Used Flashpaper -- $5"; and would have some their small novelty items labeled: "25 cents each, or 3 for $1". There were wooden nickels around, "Floor Nickels" nailed into the floor, and various coins randomly super-glued to counter tops.<ref name=GENII1/> | ||
[[Jay Marshall]] would tell a story about how [[Eddie Fields]] once dropped by the shop, pretending to be a beginner, just so he could see Al demonstrate a [[Svengali Deck]].<ref name=MUM1/> | [[Jay Marshall]] would tell a story about how [[Eddie Fields]] once dropped by the shop, pretending to be a beginner, just so he could see Al demonstrate a [[Svengali Deck]].<ref name=MUM1/> | ||
Revision as of 09:05, 18 July 2015
Al's Magic Shop was a widely-known magic shop run by Al Cohen in Washington D.C., that carried a large inventory of magic items for 58 years, starting in 1946, until it was closed in 2004.
Contents
The "Oriental Bazaar"
In 1936, as a young man, Al began working at his father Macye Cohen's gift shop, "The Oriental Bazaar" (later "National Gift Shop") in Washington D.C., which sold souvenirs, gift items, novelties and greeting cards -- and during tax season, even prepared Income Tax returns.[1] He continued to work in the shop while attending college, and in 1946 they started adding some magic tricks from the S.S. Adams Company. Al began learning, demonstrating and selling the tricks. He visited New York and talked with Lou Tannen about how best to sell magic, and in 1949 attended his first magic convention (MAES).[1] From those early origins, the store would eventually evolve into Al's Magic Shop.[2]
Al's Magic Shop
The store was originally located on Pennsylvania Ave. near 12th Street in D.C. Above the glass display cases of magic apparatus and conjuring materials and publications, the ceiling was papered with hundreds of King, Queen and Knave playing cards flung up there by numerous visiting magicians showing off their "Card on the Ceiling" skills.[2]
There was always fun to be had at the shop. Al kept a fish bowl filled with just plain water in the front window. The sign on it said: "The Famous Invisible South African Fighting Fish". If a customer expressed skepticism, Al would tell them to just stick their finger in the bowl and see what happens. They never did.[3]
They also had an empty tray on the counter with a sign saying: "Used Flashpaper -- $5"; and would have some their small novelty items labeled: "25 cents each, or 3 for $1". There were wooden nickels around, "Floor Nickels" nailed into the floor, and various coins randomly super-glued to counter tops.[3]
Jay Marshall would tell a story about how Eddie Fields once dropped by the shop, pretending to be a beginner, just so he could see Al demonstrate a Svengali Deck.[1]
Threatened by demolition during the Pennsylvania Avenue Re-Development project in the 1970s, Al and his son, Stan, who also now worked in the shop, decided to relocate, and in 1980 moved to their new location at 1012 Vermont Ave. in Washington, between 15th and K Streets.[1]
Numerous Magicians, and Other "Interesting" Clientele
Besides innumerable performers and amateur magicians who would frequent Al's Magic Shop, Al and Stan also saw an array of real characters pass through their doors and past the rubber chickens. One lady who visited frequently tried to get them to burn all their decks of Tarot cards, and to attend an exorcism with her, because they were surely cursed from having the cards in the shop. Stan said they politely declined her invitation, and told her, "Hey, lady, you're cracked."[2]
The shop would also get interesting phone calls from time to time. Al remembers one caller asking: "Is this the magic shop?" "Yeah", Al answered. "Do you sell dried bat's blood or newt's eyes?" inquired the caller. "I'd tell them", said Al, "No, but I've got stink bombs. Will that do?"[2]
Al's Retirement
Al retired from running the shop in 2002, and Al's Magic Shop officially closed its doors on April 12, 2004.[1]
