My interest in magic started via the ruse of a very 'evil' man named Mark Wilson and that corrupting TV show of the early 60s "The Magic Land of Alakazam"... I was all of four and by the time I was six I was getting a quarter a head from kids in the area, who came to see me make my pet beagle vanish...

Richardi, in the mid-70s, is who first sparked my interested/hunger for the bizarre & macabre.  Several years later it would be Glenn Falkenstein and Leo Kotska (sp) that would plant some enduring seeds in my mind re: mentalism.  It was however "fate"that ripped me away from my beloved illusions... before we go there we need to cover one other element...

From the summer of 1982 and thru 1988 I worked and studied with the late Charles W. "Kirk" Kirkham who (unofficially) one Sunday morning, along with his wife, told me I could claim title as being his successor... Unfortunately the "needs of the one outweighed the needs for my ego" and thus, I forfeited the collection, allowing the boys to sell it off so as to cover medical bills surrounding Chuck and Phyllis in their last days.

In the early 90s I ended up in Vegas and worked with Ken Whitaker during the early months of Creative Illusions.  As such I helped in the development (and general effect/ops) of Shadow Vision, the See Thru Step Loader, and several other key pieces.  

The day before Harry Blackstone passed I was in a car accident and broke my neck... this was the beginning of my more serious turn away from major illusions and into the mentalism.  Though the macabre side has always been there and I've frequently fallen back on doing Readings as a Day Job, this really was the turning point.  Compounding this, was the discovery of a degenerative condition in my spine and hips which more or less demanded that I start doing shows that involved props which weighed less than 25 lbs."

Writing

• Regular Contributor to On-Line Visions (Series deals with the art of being a Reader)
• The Seance Manual (1991) published by Wm. Wizard
• The Pendulum Tarot Pitchbook -- one of the most controversial tomes in the biz and listed as "Required Reading" reference by several noted veterans of the industry (no longer available)
• The Psychic Technologies Series -- marketing reference manuscripts for Psi & Bizarre performers.  Sold exclusively through A Squared Productions.
  • Mini Psychic Fairs
  • Money Making Mystery Mansions
  • The Psuedo-Psychic Gambit
  • (more titles to come... * books put out annually)

Technical & Supportive

• Co-moderator of Mentalism Section at KJMagic.com
• Co-Designer of "Shadow Vision" -- Creative Illusions
• Co-Designer of "See Thru Step Loading System" -- Creative Illusions
• Conceptionalist for "The Vanity" (a.k.a. The Gypsy Hand) -- Creative Illusions
• Designer of "A Joker's Wild" (originally designed for Dean Hankey using the Wakeling "Queen of Hearts" prop and later redesigned by Ken Whitaker for Creative Illusions
• Conceptionalist for "The Witch's Ladder" spirit cabinet routine -- based on "The Assistant's Revenge" and offers demo of out of body travel ala "Spirit Cabinet"
• Conceptionalist for "The Frames of Life" -- up-dated handling on a "forgotten" Dante illusion idea (Artist Dream/"Day At The Beach") that delivers a clean and impossible Spirit Cabinet program
• Developer of "Astral Sounds" -- unique sound based illusion for Seance work
• Developer of "Aura" -- a Metaphysically oriented vanishing lady for Psi themed shows
• Developer of "The Great Duck Escape" -- comedy duck vanish routine
• Developer of "Squack I & II" -- comedy Duck & Card routines
• Developer of "Run Around Sue" -- comedy sucker illusion based on "Run-Rabbit-Run" but using an inflatable Sex Doll w/real girl climax
• Conceptionalist for "The Slate" -- Spirit Communication routine with slate shingle and no mechanical gaff
• Conceptionalist for "Betsy" -- augmented applications for Asrah styled gimmick use in Seance/Haunted settings
• Creator of "Collision Course" -- promotional effect for Lincoln-Mercury in which car is driven thru a solid block wall w/o harm to car or wall

Performance Highlights

• Lead Assistant in Wondercade starring Roy Houston -- OH. State Fair 1980
• House Mage Playboy -- Cinci, OH.
• Magician/Psychic in Circus Unique -- Hall & Christ World Attractions
• Chief Aid/Assistant to Charles W. "Kirk" Kirkham 1982-89
• A Mid-Summer Night's Scream -- macabre illusion show 1990-91
• "Mental Mischief" -- 1995 to present.

"I'm reputed to be one of the most controversial jerks in the business (it's a gift)."

Blessed Be!
"The Rev!"