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Bob Kline
| Bob Kline | |
| Born | Warren Robert Kline March 17, 1912 Indiana, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Died | June 26, 2004 (age 92) Tulsa, Oklahoma |
Bob Kline (March 17, 1912 - June 26, 2004) marketed his creations as Kline Kraft Magic & Products. He was the architect, builder and designer of the Fairyland Forest theme park at Conneaut Lake Park in Pennsylvania. He also did his own magic shows in the park's outdoor theater.
Biography
Born Robert Kline in Indiana, Pennsylvania, to a former mayor of that town, Warren P. Kline, he received a master's degree from Columbia University and became a High School arts and crafts teacher. Kline was popular with his students and known for his colorful bow ties. Throughout his teaching career, Kline and his wife Billie (also a teacher), performed magical acts, most of which he had invented and built himself. Bob retired in 1974 after 40 years of teaching
For several years, he assisted Gene Gordon with the annual "PIFF PAFF POOF" convention held at the lake Conneaut Hotel.
In the early 80's, they moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to be near their grandchildren.
He was active member of the Magic Empire Magicians Ring and the Order of Merlin Excalibur. Nationally, he became a respected member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.
Kline developed The Vanishing Radio (which won him the I.B.M. Fleming award in the 1950s), Copenetro (1947) and mastered the colorful art of sand painting. Other Kline Krafts products were Swirl-It (1958), "ZOO LOO", "AT THE CIRCUS", "COIN LADDER", "FOO FOO THE COO COO BIRD" and "DICE TO DOVES".
He was on the cover of the February 1990 Linking Ring.
IBM Ring No 65 in Tulsa Oklahoma is now known as The Bob Kline Ring.
Books
- Routines and Tips on the Price Winning Copenetro (1975)
- The Artistic and Magical Life of Bob Kline by William King (1999)
References
- Linking Ring, Vol. 70, No. 2, February 1990, Our Cover, Bob Kline, by Sandy Rhoades, page 66
- Linking Ring, Vol. 84, No. 9, September 2004, Broken Wand, W. Robert “Bob” Kline, by Jack Greenberg, page 138
- M-U-M, Vol. 94, No. 5, October 2004, Broken Wands, W. Robert Kline, by Jack Greenberg, page 59