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Philip Morris

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Philip Morris
BornPhilip Morris Smith
January 8, 1935
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Philip Morris (b. 1936) entertained with ventriloquism, chapeaugraphy, hypnotism, a pickpocket act, spook shows and as a circus ringmaster during his career.

Biography

At age eight, he shortened his name and took to the stage with a magic act. By age twelve he had an ABC-radio show called Junior Junction and, in 1952 he became publicist and advance man for the traveling Lash LaRue Western Show.

He was mentored by the Blackstone and began touring with his own troupe, staging midnight ghost shows with titles like "Dr. Evil and His Terrors of the Unknown." He also toured with the Royal Hanneford Circus and even had a television show, "Dr. Evil’s Horror Theater."[1] [2]He was one of the last to present shows in the golden era up to the 1960's featured lots of publicity stunts and creepy ads on local radio stations.

Morrisappeared on television over 2,000 times. He is a continuous member of I.B.M. Ring 144 since 1962, a member of the Order of Merlin.

His "Morris Costumes" factory in Charlotte North Carolina supplies the motion picture, TV, amusement park industries and costume stores.[3]


References

  1. http://www.centerforinquiry.net/blogs/entry/man_who_sold_bigsuit/
  2. Ghostmasters by Mark Walker (1994)
  3. Cover, Linking Ring, October 2006