Kirk Kirkham

Kirk Kirkham
Born	Charles Wesley Kirkham July 6, 1926 Battle Creek, Michigan
Died	December 4, 2001 (age 75)
Categories	Books by Kirk Kirkham

Kirk Kirkham (b.1926-d.2001), nickname of "Chuck", but the magic profession and others gave him the name of "Kirk", served in World War II as a paratrooper. After the War, he returned to Michigan and joined the Blackstone, Sr. show. He also worked for Virgil, John Calvert and Orson Welles.

Biogrpahy

After the military, Kirkham joined the Blackstone show as an assistant for one season. It was during this time he met his future wife, Phyllis Lines, also a Blackstone assistant. They married in 1947.

He directed and assisted in the production of many live shows including the Ice Capades and Sea World of Ohio. He also was an adviser for many television shows to include "You Asked For It" and "The Colgate Comedy Hour".

In 1954, Kirkham bought all of Will Rock's illusions when Will stopped preforming the "Thurston presents Will Rock in Mysteries of India" show

In 1973, Kirkham was president of IBM RING #21 in Hollywood, California.

After Phyllis passed away in 1994, Kirkham began showing the first stages of Alzheimer's. Kirkham had one of the largest private collection of stage illusions in the world. After Alzheimer started to over take Chuck, his family began selling off his illusions. Some of the old Thurston show, which he bought from Will Rock was shipped to a museum in France. Other pieces found their way into private collections like David Copperfield's.

Books

• TV Dove Classics (1959)

References

• Cover Genii 1952 April
• Cover Genii 1954 September