Roy Kissell

Roy Kissell
Cover of Linking Ring (Aug 1978)
Born	Roy J. Kissell June 24, 1917 New Florence, Pennsylvania
Died	January 18, 1988 (age 70) Warren, Michigan

Roy Kissell (b.1917-d.1988), who worked for General Electric as one of the first industrial and trade show performers, was a magic dealer, an illustrator and writer, and a teacher.

Biography

Kissell's father worked in the outdoor entertainment field and was the stage manager at a local theater. As a young man, he met Howard Thurston who taught him how to vanish coins. Since his family had very few extra coins, he used coat buttons.

Kissell worked at Detroit-area amusement parks, eventually moving to that city in 1940. He would manage the branch office of Abbott's Magic Company, located at the Tuller Hotel.

He worked for General Electric as one of the first industrial and trade show performers. he also managed and performed for one of the Magic World Of Ford traveling entertainment units.

In 1961, with Karrell Fox, they opened the Fox Fun 'N' Magic Shop. Kissell would buy out Karrell's share and operate this business, at various locations, until his death.

Bibliography

Books

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Further Reading

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References

• Cover, New Tops, Vol. 2, No. 10, October 1962
• Cover, The Linking Ring, Vol. 58, No. 8, August 1978, Hocus Pocus Parade, by Piil Willmarth, Roy Kissell, page 63
• Genii Magazine, Vol. 51, No. 5, November 1987, Obituaries, Roy Kissel, page 336
• The New Tops, Vol. 28, No. 2, February 1988, Obituary, Roy J. Kissel, page 27
• The Linking Ring, Vol. 68, No. 3, March 1988, Broken Wand, Roy J. Kissell, page 101
• M-U-M, Vol. 77, No. 10, March 1988, Broken Wands, Roy Kissell, page 30
• The Linking Ring, Vol. 82, No. 2, February 2002, Pictures from the Past, page 36; Answer to Pictures from the Past - Roy Kissell, page 98