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Al Altman

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Al Altman
BornI. I. Altman
circa 1896
DiedSeptember 3, 1965 (age 68)
New Rochelle, New York

I. I. (Al) Altman (1896-1965) was an amateur magician and a major figure in the motion picture industry as talent scout in New York City for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.[1]

Biography

He discovered unknown actors who became movie stars such as Joan Crawford, Ava Gardner, Jimmy Stewart, Celeste Holm, and Bob Hope.[2]

His brother Arthur Altman was also a well known semiprofessional magician in Massachusetts. Arthur's son, and thus Al's nephew, Jeff Altman continued the magic tradition.[3]

Al served as chairman of the ethics and standards committee of the Society of American Magicians for many years and just prior to his death, at the age 68, the SAM Parent Assembly in New York City was planning a special tribute to him.

References

  1. Obit, Linking Ring, October 1965
  2. http://www.dianaaltman.com/about.htm
  3. Magic Manuscript, August/September 1983