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Difference between revisions of "Will Rock"

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[[Will Rock]] ( April 25, 1907 - May 4, 1995), born William George Rakauskas in Lithuania, performed as "Will Rock, The Modern Monarch Of Magic Presents Thurston's Mysteries Of India" from from 1938 through 1942.
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| birth_name                = William George Rakauskas
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| birth_day                =    April 25, 
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| birth_year                =  1907
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| birth_place              = No. Auburn, Massachusetts
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| death_day                =  May 4,
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| death_year                =  1995
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[[Will Rock]] (1907 - 1995), an electrical engineer, performed as "The Modern Monarch Of Magic Presents Thurston's Mysteries Of India" from from 1938 through 1942.
  
 
His family immigrated to the U.S. when he was five years old, settling in
 
His family immigrated to the U.S. when he was five years old, settling in
Detroit. Rock decided to become a magician after seeing [[Eugene Laurant]] perform in 1920. He practiced magic for years until 1929 when he started touring, just as the Great Depression was starting.
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Detroit. Rock decided to become a magician after seeing [[Eugene Laurant]] perform in 1920. He practiced magic for years until 1928 when he started touring, just as the Great Depression was starting.
  
 
In 1931 he met the [[Great Raymond]], whom asked him to be an assistant for his show.
 
In 1931 he met the [[Great Raymond]], whom asked him to be an assistant for his show.
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After the war, he retire from performing, opening a dry-cleaning business.
 
After the war, he retire from performing, opening a dry-cleaning business.
 
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
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* Who's Who in Magic, [[Sphinx]], May 1931
 
* Will Rock Presents... by [[Leo Behnke]] (2007)
 
* Will Rock Presents... by [[Leo Behnke]] (2007)
 
* Obituary [[Genii 1995 July]], Page 698
 
* Obituary [[Genii 1995 July]], Page 698

Revision as of 20:25, 22 August 2010

Will Rock
BornWilliam George Rakauskas
April 25, 1907
No. Auburn, Massachusetts
DiedMay 4, 1995 (age 88)
Will Rock (1907 - 1995), an electrical engineer, performed as "The Modern Monarch Of Magic Presents Thurston's Mysteries Of India" from from 1938 through 1942.

His family immigrated to the U.S. when he was five years old, settling in Detroit. Rock decided to become a magician after seeing Eugene Laurant perform in 1920. He practiced magic for years until 1928 when he started touring, just as the Great Depression was starting.

In 1931 he met the Great Raymond, whom asked him to be an assistant for his show.

After Howard Thurston died in 1936, Rock purchased some of his illusions from his daughter, Jane Thurston. Then he found out that Harry Thurston (Howard Thurston's brother) had props available for sale as well.

In 1938, he started to perform as "Will Rock, The Modern Monarch Of Magic Presents Thurston's Mysteries Of India". His full evening show toured the United States and Canada, playing 300 cities in a four^year period.

Will Rock's show ended when the war started and he joined the army. He became entertainment director at Camp Leonard Wood, Missouri, where it is said he presented his full-evening show on the average of one night a week.

After the war, he retire from performing, opening a dry-cleaning business.

References