Syd Brockman

Syd Brockman
Cover of Genii (1965)
Born	Sydney A. Brockman September 23, 1898 Ramsgate, England
Died	March 23, 1984 (age 85) Seattle, Washington
Nationality	Canadian/English

Syd Brockman (1898-1984) was a magic dealer in the pacific northwest, supplying effects for amateur and professional magicians for over 25 years.

Biography

Brockman's father immigrated the family from England to Toronto, Canada where Syd at the age of 15 lied about is age to participate in World War I. He served as a machine-gunner for the duration of the War.

Upon returning to Canada he joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police where he became the head officer for the new Finger-Print Department.

He then immigrated to the United States, settling in Seattle, Washington establishing his own business, the Brockman Leather Co.

Brockman became enchanted with magic shortly after, working at Swanson's Sorcery Magic Shop, which was located in the back room of Dick Swanson's Key Shop on First Avenue, around the corner from Brockman's leather shop.

He eventually changed the name of his Brockman Leather Co. to Brockman's Magician's Supply when he had an opportunity to buy Swanson's Sorcery around 1958 and the remaining stock from Jean Foley's magic business.

He organized the Seattle Shrine Clowns around 1960 and did charity engagements in various hospitals. The U.S.O. awarded him their Four-Star pin for putting in over 10,000 hours entertaining at Armed services hospitals during World War II.

He was very active in the magic community were he served as president of several organizations: The Seattle Magic Ring in 1954, PCAM in 1965, and the Seattle I.B.M. Ring #52 in the 1970s. His picture along with 3 other magic organization presidents can be seen in the August 1964 issue of Genii. He was also a member of the Magic Dealers Association.

Brockman also performed as a clown and was director of the National Shrine (Nile Temple), Clowns Association. Besides clowning and magic he was a noted harmonica player.

In the Linking Ring Reports for March 1962, it was reported that Brockman took Seattle Magic Ring first prize for a cups and balls routine with live chicks and finishing with a big rabbit production.

He authored the column "Seattle-Northwest" for the Linking Ring during the 1960's.

He ran the magic shop at 110 Seneca Street in Seattle, Washington from the late 1950's until the building was demolished in 1974 (in the interests of progress to make way for a planned high rise building. Ironically, the high rise was never built and the site is now a park.) Brockman moved his stock to his home where he continued to sell equipment until his death. Also in 1974, he went on a tour that took him to Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti and Fiji. The next year, Brockman visited Europe where he attended the F.I.S.M convention and visited magicians in several countries behind the Iron Curtain and was made an honorary member of the Prague Magic Circle.