Help us get to over 8,753 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
Merv Taylor: Difference between revisions
mNo edit summary |
mNo edit summary |
||
| (6 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Infobox person | {{Infobox person | ||
| | | image_crop = | ||
{{Css Image Crop | |||
|Image = GeniiCoverV9N10.jpg | |||
|Location = center | |||
|bSize = 170px | |||
|cWidth = 170 | |||
|cHeight = 170 | |||
|oTop = 10 | |||
|oLeft = 50 | |||
}} | |||
| image_size = | | image_size = | ||
| alt = | | alt = | ||
| caption = | | caption = Cover of Genii (1945) | ||
| birth_name = Merville Andrew Taylor | | birth_name = Merville Andrew Taylor | ||
| birth_day = July 29, | | birth_day = July 29, | ||
| Line 22: | Line 30: | ||
| misc = | | misc = | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Merv Taylor''' (b.1904-d.1974) was a magic inventor and manufacturer. | |||
== Biography == | |||
Born in Dennison, Illinois, but lived most his life in California, Taylor started out teaching art, metalcraft, electrical shop and mechanical drawing. He also did some work for the government, but in 1940 a magician performing at the school took one of his broken props to Merv to fix, which sparked an interest in magic. | Born in Dennison, Illinois, but lived most his life in California, Taylor started out teaching art, metalcraft, electrical shop and mechanical drawing. He also did some work for the government, but in 1940 a magician performing at the school took one of his broken props to Merv to fix, which sparked an interest in magic. | ||
By 1945, Taylor, who found the magic business more fun than teaching, moved to the San Fernando Valley and went into fixing and creating magic props exclusively. With three of his brothers and a few friends, he built a shop with a retail store in 1948. He employed [[Alan Wakeling]] for a time and many people wanted his pieces including [[Richard Himber]] and [[Orson Welles]]. | By 1945, Taylor, who found the magic business more fun than teaching, moved to the San Fernando Valley and went into fixing and creating magic props exclusively. With three of his brothers and a few friends, he built a shop with a retail store in 1948 called [Merv Taylor Magic]]. He employed [[Alan Wakeling]] for a time and many people wanted his pieces including [[Richard Himber]] and [[Orson Welles]]. [[File:GeniiCoverV17N1.jpg|thumb|left]] | ||
With [[Bill Larsen]], he help start the Southern California Magic Dealer Association and was its first president, and two years later, was president of the national [[Magic Dealers Association]]. | With [[Bill Larsen]], he help start the Southern California Magic Dealer Association and was its first president, and two years later, was president of the national [[Magic Dealers Association]]. | ||
He was married to Della Sherwood, who was a magician in her own right. | |||
== Awards == | |||
* IBM national convention award for original trick | |||
* Fleming Perpetual award (it is currently in the IBM offices in St. Charles and in need of repair) | |||
== Manufactured items == | == Manufactured items == | ||
| Line 45: | Line 58: | ||
* [[Magicol]] No. 74 (February 1985) | * [[Magicol]] No. 74 (February 1985) | ||
* [[Genii 1986 December|Genii, Vol. 50, No. 6, December 1986]], Merv Taylor by John U. Zweers, page 448 | * [[Genii 1986 December|Genii, Vol. 50, No. 6, December 1986]], Merv Taylor by John U. Zweers, page 448 | ||
[[Category:Magic Dealers]] | [[Category:Magic Dealers]] | ||
[[Category:Biographies]] | [[Category:Biographies]] | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Taylor}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Taylor,Merv}} | ||
[[de:Merv Taylor]] | |||
Latest revision as of 23:56, 26 May 2024
| Merv Taylor | |
| Cover of Genii (1945) | |
| Born | Merville Andrew Taylor July 29, 1904 Dennison, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Died | January 5, 1974 (age 69) Garden Grove, California |
| Awards | won 3 national contest in 1948 inlcuding orginality. |
Merv Taylor (b.1904-d.1974) was a magic inventor and manufacturer.
Biography
Born in Dennison, Illinois, but lived most his life in California, Taylor started out teaching art, metalcraft, electrical shop and mechanical drawing. He also did some work for the government, but in 1940 a magician performing at the school took one of his broken props to Merv to fix, which sparked an interest in magic.
By 1945, Taylor, who found the magic business more fun than teaching, moved to the San Fernando Valley and went into fixing and creating magic props exclusively. With three of his brothers and a few friends, he built a shop with a retail store in 1948 called [Merv Taylor Magic]]. He employed Alan Wakeling for a time and many people wanted his pieces including Richard Himber and Orson Welles.
With Bill Larsen, he help start the Southern California Magic Dealer Association and was its first president, and two years later, was president of the national Magic Dealers Association.
He was married to Della Sherwood, who was a magician in her own right.
Awards
- IBM national convention award for original trick
- Fleming Perpetual award (it is currently in the IBM offices in St. Charles and in need of repair)
Manufactured items
- Split Deck, created by Bob Haskell.
References
- Genii, Vol. 9, No. 10, June 1945, Cover Page, MERV TAYLOR, page 369
- Genii 1952 June (Cover)
- M-U-M, Vol. 42, No. 4 September 1952, MERVILLE A. TAYLOR magician-of-the-month by Leslie P. Guest, page 95
- Genii 1952 September (Cover)
- M-U-M, Vol. 63, No. 10, March 1974, Broken Wands, page 8
- M-U-M, Vol. 65, No. 5, October 1975, MERVILLE A. TAYLOR by Frederic L. Rickard, page 9
- Genii 1973 October (Obit.)
- Magicol No. 74 (February 1985)
- Genii, Vol. 50, No. 6, December 1986, Merv Taylor by John U. Zweers, page 448