Syd Brockman

Syd Brockman
Cover of Genii (1965)
Born	Sydney A. Brockman September 23, 1898 Ramsgate, England
Died	March 23, 1984 (age 85)

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

Brockman's father immigrated the family 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 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.

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 Jean Foley's magic business.

He organized the Seattle Shrine Clown 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 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 preformed as a clown and was director of the National Shrine (Nile Temple), Clowns Association.

In the Linking Ring Reports for March 1962, it was report 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 in 1964.

He ran the magic shop in Seattle on the corner of First Street and Seneca Street in Seattle, Washington until the building was demolished in 1974 (in the interests of progress to build high rises.) Brockman moved his stock to his home where he continued to sell equipment. Also that year, he went on a tour that took him to Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti and Fiji. The next year, Brockman visited Europe where he visited magicians in several countries behind the Iron Curtain and was made an honorary member of the Prague Magic Circle.