IN APPRECIATION FOR THEIR LIFE IN MAGIC
by Dennis Schick • Editor, The I.B.M. Broken Wand

Broken Wand – November 2008


DONALD L. BURDA

     Donald L. Burda, 72, of Sunnyvale, California, died September 11, 2008. He held I.B.M. number 35959, had been an I.B.M. member since 1980, and was a member of the Order of Merlin (over twenty-five years of continuous membership). His performing name was "Homer the Clown."
 A native of Friend, Nebraska, he farmed there with his father for a number of years before moving with his wife, Deloris, and daughter, Denise, to the San Francisco Bay area in 1960. He went to work for United Airlines while attending college, majoring in drama. During the next seventeen years he performed with six theatrical companies, was cast in thirty-eight stage productions, and was credited with over one thousand theatrical stage performances.
 In 1970, Mr. Burda was asked to perform as a clown, and thus "Homer the Clown," a happy hobo, was born. Together with his wife, Homer and Dee performed in theaters, trade shows, corporate events, and private parties throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. They lectured and instructed thirty-six different subjects in the art of clowning, character development, and theatrical acting at conventions, universities, corporate seminars, and educational clowning events.
 Since 1982, Homer had been credited with over three hundred appearances at grand openings and trade shows for Orchard Supply Hardware, appeared in ten national and regional television commercials, and recorded several voice-over arcade game programs.
 Throughout the years Homer won forty national, international, and special recognition awards, and was inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame in 1995. He wrote Homer's Rubber Bubbles, and co-authored Homer's Fun Time in the Park, a coloring book. In 1999, "Homer and the Race Car," a caring clown story, was published in Chicken Soup for the Soul.
 Don's "Homer" character was immortalized in several series of paintings, and in a porcelain doll collection.
 Don retired from United Airlines after thirty-two years, allowing him to devote more time to his passion of clowning. He was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, North American Association of Ventriloquists, International Clown Hall of Fame, World Clown Association, and Clowns of America International, in addition to the I.B.M.
 Mr. Burda is survived by his wife of fifty-one years, Deloris; daughters Denise (Jack) Seehusen, and Debbie (Tod) Young; and four grandchildren, Scott, Michelle, Mark, and Sean.

JAMES FRANCIS DRAKE

 James Francis Drake, 82, of Venice, Florida -- formerly of Chicago, Illinois -- died August 18, 2008. He held I.B.M. number 19075, and had been a continuous member of the I.B.M. since 1991.

MICHAEL ELLIS

 Michael Ellis, 91, of Pittsboro, North Carolina, died October 2, 2008, two days shy of his ninety-second birthday. He held I.B.M. number 33009, had been a continuous member of the I.B.M. since 1978, and was a member of the Order of Merlin (over twenty-five years of continuous membership).
    He graduated from Dartmouth College, and served over three years in the U.S. Army, during a long career in the world of theater, as actor, stage manager, and producer. Unlike many magicians, he came into magic later in life. It was his successful production of the Florida State Convention that brought him to the attention of the I.B.M., and he was invited to join the I.B.M. Board of Trustees in 1984. Mr. Ellis served the I.B.M. in several capacities, rising to the office of International President in 1990. He was the subject for the cover story of The Linking Ring in the July 1990 issue.
     Enthusiastic and capable in everything he did, he became proficient in both close-up and parlor magic, aided by his theatrical experience, personal charisma, and charm.
    Mr. Ellis is survived by his wife, Betty Lou (Rose), and members of their combined families. Phil Willmarth
 
LEONARD I. GLARUM

    Leonard I. Glarum, 91, of Alliance, Nebraska, died December 29, 2007. He held I.B.M. number 10423, had been an I.B.M. member since 1948, and was a member of the Order of Merlin Excelsior (over sixty years of continuous membership).

CHRISTER GUSTAVSSON (El Duco)

 Christer Gustavsson, 66, of Malmo, Sweden, died September 30, 2008. He held I.B.M. number 25453, had been a continuous member of the I.B.M. since 1972, and was a member of the Order of Merlin Shield (over thirty-five years of continuous membership).
    His stage name was El Duco. His interest in magic began when he received a magic set in 1955. He began performing for family and friends, and developed an act, which he performed at parties and in parks. In 1979 he started inventing magic tricks and became a magic dealer ("El Duco's Magic"). He invented and marketed over two hundred magic effects, including “Fireproof” and "Ring in Salt," which sold over 4,500 copies.

El Duco traveled to most of the major magic conventions, displaying his products. He was in contact with many famous magicians, and founded the very popular Magic Weekend in Sweden.

He wrote a number of magic books, including Out of My Hands, El Duco Impromptu, and Simple Ideas in Magic, No. 1 and No. 2, and The El Duco Story. He was very proud of his most recent contribution to The Linking Ring, a Parade which ran in the August 2008 issue.

El Duco has been a source of inspiration for many people and will be missed by magicians in Sweden and around the world. He is survived by his wife, Ing Britt, two daughters, and their families. Conny Ray



JAMES C. HOLMAN, JR.

James C. Holman, Jr., 79, of Birmingham, Alabama, died September 8, 2008. He held I.B.M. number 7888, was a continuous member of the I.B.M. since 1944, a member of the Judge Arnold Drennen Ring 35, and a member of the Order of Merlin Excelsior (over sixty years of continuous membership).

Known as Cousin Cliff to television viewers in the Birmingham area for over forty years, Mr. Holman was the host of Tip Top Clubhouse, The Popeye Show, The Cousin Cliff Show, and Cousin Cliff’s Clubhouse. His programs were sponsored by Jack’s Hamburgers and later by McDonald’s.

Cousin Cliff’s dry wit and longevity on television (starting in 1950 and continuing to 1992) endeared him to thousands of fans. In recent years, Mr. Holman suffered from the effects of Alzheimer's disease.

A biography of Cliff Holman, Cousin Cliff: 40 Magical Years in Television, was published by Campbell's Publishing in Birmingham, Alabama.


JOHANNES ADAMUS SMIT

 Johannes Adamus Smit, 78, of The Netherlands, died July 28, 2008. He held I.B.M. number 25240, was a continuous member of the I.B.M. since 1971, was a member of the Fred Kaps Ring 78, and was a member of the Order of Merlin Shield (over thirty-five years of continuous membership).