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Difference between revisions of "Bob Blau"

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== Books ==
 
== Books ==
* Bob Blau's World of Magic (1989)  
+
* Bob Blau's World of Magic (1980)  
 
* Spirits on the Stage and More Guarded Secrets Revealed (1994).
 
* Spirits on the Stage and More Guarded Secrets Revealed (1994).
 +
 
== External References ==
 
== External References ==
 
* http://www.juggling.org/jw/87/2/bobblau.html
 
* http://www.juggling.org/jw/87/2/bobblau.html

Revision as of 08:41, 11 March 2012

Bob Blau
BornOctober 3, 1902
Houston, Texas,
DiedAugust 11, 2001 (age 98)

Bob Blau, recognized as the "Dean of Texas Magicians", was a part-time magician and juggler in Houston, Texas.

His father, an amateur magician, taught him his first tricks. By age 12, he was performing as part of a seven-member family musical show, adding variety with his juggling and magic.[1]

At the age of 16, Blau left school and went to work for a dental supply company, a career he maintained for the next 64 years until retiring in 1982 at the age of 80.

In 1920, Blau founded and served as president of the Houston Magic Circle. Two decades later, he would help form IBM Ring 39, which today honors him with the name of the "Bob Blau Ring." He made numerous contributions to The Sphinx and The Linking Ring.

He produced and directed musicals with his brother until 1924. They performed as the Aldo Brothers. They were joined by all four siblings and by 1925 they had an ensemble act, the Seven Blaus. It consisted of three brothers, a sister, two wives and a sister-in-law. The act included juggling, mentalism, magic, fire eating, music and comedy. By the forties, the act had pared down and added Bob's son, Dean.

Blau played every conceivable forum including the Christy Brothers Circus, taught college classes in juggling and magic, played in a TV magic series, performed in operas and the musical "Carnival" with Anna Maria Alberghetti, and most recently played Houston's famous "Orange Show."

He was a charter member of the Texas Association of Magicians. Blau attended and performed at its annual conventions for over 50 years. The title of "Dean" was bestowed upon him in 1997.[2]

He was also an active member in the International Juggler's Association (IJA) as a correspondent since its inception. [3]

He was three-time Gold Medalist in the Senior Olympics and performed magic and juggling up until his death.[4]

Books

  • Bob Blau's World of Magic (1980)
  • Spirits on the Stage and More Guarded Secrets Revealed (1994).

External References

References

  1. Who's Who in Magic, Sphinx, March, 1932
  2. Obit, Magic, October 2001
  3. Bob Blau, Magician and Juggler, MUM, December 2000
  4. Bob Blau, Dean of Texas Magicians by Steve Burton, Linking Ring, February, 1999