"The Magical Life of Marshall Brodien" reviewed by Dr. Joel A. Moskowitz M.D • May 2008 • from MagiCurrents, San Diego
Let's try a word association. If I say T.V. Magic Cards all vintage magicians around the world will immediately say, "Marshall Bodien". How did this decades old set of gaffed cards (Burling Hull invented the first Svengali Deck in1909) become such successful marketing trick of the 70s and beyond? It's all because of what has been called television's original infomercial. (read more...)
Few know that Svengali was conjured up by an English author whose name was French, a satirical illustrator writing his only best seller in 1894. A massive readership was attracted to this villanous hypnotist, the chief character, the mysterious Svengali. Is there something inherently persuasive in that particular name or does something turn magical by simply attaching the name to a product based upon this identity? Marshall Bodien captured the purses of thousands who bought his Svengali decks.
Who was this most successful magician? John Moehring queries whether an omen may account for Marshall Bodien's early interest (even as a youth) in fashioning and selling gaffed cards. Bodien is not least of all, a pitchman. His variegated career, described in detail in this life story, working as a magic effects salesman/demonstrator at a local magic emporium, The Treasure Chest, performing as "Marshall Bodien and his Foolies of the 50s"; hosting an Odditorium (read side show) at a popular amusement park; appearing on the nascent black and white TV selling everything from cups and balls to upholstery and associating with the venerable Senator Crandal.
Marshall is fond of sharing his encounter with the ‘mob'. After he amazed them they insisted he reveal the secret of the vanishing bird cage. Prudence took precedence and he violated the magician's credo so as to be able to perform another day.
While these days ‘big cats' are the expected wild life for magical productions, Marshall worked with alligators! Uncle Sam put his hooks into Marshall's activities but thankfully he was able to discharge his duties on the stage. It was in this kind of venue that he fell under the spell of hypnosis (Svengali again?). One publicized effect involved ‘convincing' a spectator that he would not be able to pick up a $100 bill from the floor (If he could, he would be allowed to keep it). To raise the ante, he offered a $1000 bill and the newspaper report said the act was ‘grand'.
Fairs, dinner theaters, trade shows, television, cruises and the ultimate venue, Las Vegas, Brodien did them all. These experiences and escapades are revealed in this book. Misadventures, interactions with other performers of the era, morphing into a much beloved TV clown that was more famous than Ronald McDonald, he excelled at them all. He even did a stint as a show producer. The reader will delight in anecdote after anecdote complimented by pictures.
What is astounding is the precise almost day to day detail described in "The Magical Life of Marshall Brodien" subtitled "Creator of TV Magic Cards and Wizzo the Wizard". The book, published by McFarland Press, ($35.00 271 pp soft cover) was written and/ or compiled by John Moehring, Editor of MUM (The Society of American Magicians' monthly magazine.) Moehring acknowledges his "forever" gratitude to Marshall's wife, Mary Doyle Brodien who it seems made the impossible possible. She is said to have assembled boxes of news clippings, letters, documents and photos to create a time line and to make rhyme and reason from the collection of numerous facts and artifacts. This reviewer wonders how many of you, whether performers or not, would have saved their history over several decades so as to enable a biographer to compose complete narratives which give precise descriptions, conversations, happenings of even the most casual sort as are presented in this book. As an example, in 1958, while in the military service, Marshall Brodien had an encounter with a superior officer. Moehring is able to describe, literally, the quotes of all the players, and a photo of the event is included!
Beyond being mystified about the precision that led to craning these fine-pointed particulars of a most successful magician's life, readers will learn what it took for one determined and perseverant conjurer to become a household name. Few people growing up in the Chicago area during the period when Wizzo played on TV, are unlikely not to have heard of him. Marshall Brodien aka Wizzo, a pitchman, Brodien, who had with his sideshow spiel experience at the ‘World's Largest Amusement Park' circa 1967, was well equipped to hawk these time-honored pasteboards. He went on to offer TV magic sets which, it is to be suspected, rivaled the A.C. Gilbert Magic sets in being the fodder for nascent young and future magicians. Lance Burton is said to have begun his magical career with a set of Bodien's magic cards which his mother brought for him. How many other members of the magical fraternity began similarly?
Brodien's experience as a "Seller of the Secrets" ... as an entertainer in a variety of venues, actually constitutes what the reader will discover in this book. Regrettably, the person behind the grease paint remains a mystery. Readers wishing a roller coaster ride through the performing phases of the life of this wizard may learn what role diligence, determination and serendipity played in his path to achievement. For them, the story of Marshall Brodien is recommended.
