Help us get to over 8,755 articles in 2024.
If you know of a magician not listed in MagicPedia, start a New Biography for them. Contact us at magicpediahelp@gmail.com
William Alstrand
| William Alstrand | |
| Born | Evald William Alstrand March 26, 1902 Chicago, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Died | May 6, 1983 (age 81) Martinez, Calfornia |
| Resting place | Berkeley, California |
| Flourished | 1930s-60s |
William Dixon "Poogie Poogie" Alstrand (1902-1983), of Swedish decent, was a San Franscisco area professional, club and stage show magician.
Biography
He adopted the name "Poogie Poogie" from the magic words used by his friend William J. Armstrong. Alstand also used those words over and over as a trademark magic word. [1]
His classic effect was the Passe Passe bottles, which was written up in Hugard's Magic Monthly.[2]
Alstrand was a member of the S.A.M., I.B.M. and Oakland Magic Circle.[3]
He served in the Canadian Army from 1916-1918 (at the age of 14 - 16 years old), a short stint in the U.S. Marines from 1919-1921 - and a rather long bit in the California National Guard, from approximately 1923-1938 and then in the USO (frequently under fire) in the Pacific and finally Europe during WWII.
Alstrand did school shows in 1960s and in 1979 he was the surprise performer at the annual IBM Ring No. 38 (San Fransisco) Installation Banquet.[4]
References
- ↑ Fine Art of Hocus Pocus by John Booth (1996)
- ↑ The Reel Works by Pete Biro, Genii 1981 September
- ↑ Who's Who in Magic, Sphinx, May, 1932
- ↑ Linking Ring, April, 1979