While still in high school, he formed his illusion show and toured Warner Brother's Theaters in New Jersey as "Blackstar The Magician". Bob was influenced by New Jersey magician Al DeLage, illusionist John Calvert and Bill Neff, the spook show operator. It was no surprise that Bob was back with Warner Brother's Theaters again for two years with his Spook and Mystery Show titled "Blackwood's House Of Mystery". It was with this show in which he carried two on stage assistants and his parents working backstage, a large company for someone so young.

During World War II his services were in demand at army camps and military hospitals entertaining the training weary-troops and wounded G.I.'s.

During the Korean war he was in the military assigned to Special Services doing magic, fire eating and mentalism for the troops. Following his discharge from the military he started working in the club field entertaining in lodges, banquets, restaurants and road houses. One of his features in the road houses was a strait-jacket escape while standing on a bar, among the spectators, right in their midst!

It was at this time that he took a wife (Mary Elizabeth Ackerman) who became his life long partner. Mary was highly knowledgeable in magic so it was a perfect match. After their marriage, they worked illusions in side shows, as the team "The Amazing Lynn's". It was at this time that they featured the "Sword Box Illusion" in their shows, appearing in the "Nick Falzone's Vest Pocket Circus" with famous ring master Austin Miles. During this time they were specializing in Escape magic which took them into the late 1960's. All the props used in their club and stage shows were either built by Bob himself or on special order from Arturo (Glenn Babbs) of Abbott's Magic in Colon, Mich.

In the late 60's Bob also did a turn with a silent magic act, fashioned after Al DeLage's style, at the "Follies Burlesque" in New York City.

It was around 1960 that Bob became friends with Chet Miller, another New Jerseyite, who started mentoring Bob in the art of "Ball of Brass" Mentalism! Chet was known internationally as "DeMille" the mentalist. Chet coached Bob and guided him in creating the proper image to become a professional mentalist. It was Chet that suggested that Bob use the name Raven as his performing name. Raven was the title given to the Cherokee War Chief in the old days and in present time, was bestowed upon any Cherokee tribal member who had served in the military. So, when Bob turned professional as a mentalist in 1970, mentalist Anthony Raven appeared on the scene and Bob Lynn became a separate person so as not to confuse the public.

Continued on the next page............

Next Page