The I.B.M. Blog & Articles

The International Brotherhood of Magicians

10 Mar

The Amazing Kreskin Turned 80 on January 12th

Category: Blog   Posted by: C. DENNIS SCHICK

 Did you know that George Joseph Kresge, who took the stage name of “The Amazing Kreskin,” had his given name legally changed to “The Amazing?” Well he did, according to his entry online on the Wikipedia website. He was born in Montclair, New Jersey, and became a household name in the 1970's with a television series, The Amazing World of Kreskin. It was broadcast throughout Canada and was distributed in syndication in the United States.

If you saw him over the years, it might have been on the Tonight Show, on which he appeared sixty-one times between 1970 and 1980. Then in the 1980s and 1990s he appeared often on Late Night with David Letterman, and later, on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Of course he has appeared on many other television shows, too.

 

He regularly appears in a wide variety of venues throughout the world. His most famous “trick” is trying to find his paycheck while blindfolded, which some member of the audience has “hidden” within the performing room. He has a standing offer to pay anyone a million dollars if they can prove he uses either an accomplice or any electronic device. He has failed to find his paycheck only nine times out of hundreds of appearances.

 

Do a search on the Internet for Kreskin, and be led to numerous sites, including YouTube demonstrations, and Kreskin’s own Website, www.amazingkreskin.com.

 

In the photo below, Kreskin is shown on his birthday in New York City, looking at a special award from his staff, whose meaning will be disclosed later this year. The other people in the photo, who are members of his personal staff are, from left to right, Karen Telli, Carol Fastiggi, Mario Mongelli, and Randy Strauss.

 

Incidentally, sign up for Meir Yedid’s newsletter at his Website, www.magictimes.com, where I first saw the reference to Kreskin’s birthday.

 

 


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