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| {{short description|United States magician and entertainer|bot=PearBOT 5}} | |||
| {{Infobox person | {{Infobox person | ||
| | name = Dick Brooks | | name = Dick Brooks | ||
| | image = | | image = | ||
| | size = | |||
| | birth_name = | | birth_name = | ||
| | birth_date = | | birth_date = | ||
| | birth_place = ] | | birth_place = ], New York, U.S. | ||
| | death_date = | | death_date = | ||
| | death_place = | | death_place = | ||
| | occupation = |
| occupation = magician, entertainer, writer | ||
| | salary = | |||
| | networth = | |||
| | spouse = | | spouse = | ||
| | website = http://www.MysteryEntertainer.com | | website = http://www.MysteryEntertainer.com | ||
| | other_names = Ray Carter<br>Dick Brookz<br>John Bravo<br>Bravo The Great<br>Bravo The Grate! | | other_names = Ray Carter<br />Dick Brookz<br />John Bravo<br />Bravo The Great<br />Bravo The Grate! | ||
| | awards = Society of American Magicians Presidential Citation, <br>United States Postal Service award for work on Houdini Stamp, 2002 | | awards = Society of American Magicians Presidential Citation, <br />United States Postal Service award for work on Houdini Stamp, 2002 | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| Dick Brooks |
'''Dick Brooks''' is a ] magician and entertainer. He began his career in show business at the age of 10, and since that time has worked in TV commercials, stand-up comedy, writing, children's entertainment, and army shows, and performed in night clubs, casinos, and magic venues. ''Focus Magazine'' described Brooks as a "] of renown".<ref name="Focus Magazine">{{Cite journal | ||
| | last = Pivovarnick | | last = Pivovarnick | ||
| | first = John | | first = John | ||
| Line 26: | Line 24: | ||
| | pages = 20 to 30 | | pages = 20 to 30 | ||
| | date = January 2003 | | date = January 2003 | ||
| ⚫ | }}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | | |
||
| ⚫ | | |
||
| | id = }}</ref> | |||
| ==Early years== | ==Early years== | ||
| As a teenager Brooks joined a magic club headed by the official magician of New York City, ] (Peter Pan the Magic Man). When Hurwitz left the Peter Pan Magic Club, the club changed its name to ] (F.A.M.E.) on Brooks's suggestion. This laid the foundation for the ], who at first did not allow youngsters to join, but formed the ] (S.Y.M.) for youngsters in 1984. | |||
| As a teenager he joined a Department of Parks magic club headed up by the official magician of New York City, ] (Peter Pan the Magic Man), who was also the father of the soon to be famous ] with her puppet "]". When Hurwitz left the Peter Pan Magic Club, the members wanted a more mature name after famous magician ] joked to the members, "I love your peanut butter!" Brooks came up with the name F.A.M.E., which stood for ], and the club lasted for many years thereafter. This laid the foundation for the ], who at first did not allow youngsters to join, formed the ] (S.Y.M.) for youngsters in 1984. In 1952 ] took over sponsorship of The ] Teen Club at ] in Philadelphia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zh8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA8-IA6&lpg=PA8-IA6&dq=%22teen+club%22+%22paul+whiteman%22+%22tootsie%22&source=bl&ots=RZ18vpOocG&sig=3XZLPlAo7yY_RNpEFFcTlCYHob4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj01piIieHOAhWCdSYKHcIBA9QQ6AEIZDAQ#v=onepage&q=%22teen+club%22+%22paul+whiteman%22+%22tootsie%22&f=false|title=Billboard|first=Nielsen Business Media|last=Inc|date=15 November 1952|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|via=Google Books}}</ref> As a teenager he was booked by ], who would later manage ], who after a New York audition instead of booking him as a contestant booked him as a regular performer doing commercials for Tootsie Rolls on the ] TV show Teen Club in faraway Philadelphia. ] got his start on the same show as a young drummer, as well as a 12-year-old ]. Without help from his parents, he traveled there weekends, after getting the script by mail. He was replaced by young up and coming 23-year-old announcer, ]. Clark would later do the Teen Bandstand, probably out of the same studios. In 1972 he appeared on The ] Show about young comedians looking to get a break in Show <ref>http://www.historicfilms.com/tapes/16045 04/02/72 COMEDIANS BERNIE TRAVIS, DICK BROOKS, RUSTY BLITZ,</ref> Business. When drafted into the Army he was placed in Special Service, the entertainment branch of the military. | |||
| As a teenager, Brooks was booked by ], who booked him as a regular performer doing commercials for ] on the ] TV show ''Teen Club'' in Philadelphia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zh8EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22teen+club%22+%22paul+whiteman%22+%22tootsie%22&pg=PA8-IA6|title=Billboard|first=Nielsen Business Media|last=Inc|date=15 November 1952|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|via=Google Books}}</ref> He traveled there alone at weekends, after getting the script by mail. He was eventually replaced by 23-year-old announcer ]. In 1972 Brooks appeared on The ] Show about young comedians looking for a break in show business.<ref>{{cite web|title=04/02/72 COMEDIANS BERNIE TRAVIS, DICK BROOKS, RUSTY BLITZ|website=historicfilms.com |accessdate=1 October 2022| url=http://www.historicfilms.com/tapes/16045}}</ref> When drafted into the army he was placed in Special Service, the entertainment branch of the military. After leaving the military he became a songwriter, writing dozens of songs including the track "Power House".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.totorecords.com/a_touch_of_stef1.htm|title=Touch of Girl |publisher=Toto Records |access-date=June 27, 2019}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | == |
||
| ⚫ | ==The Magic Towne House== | ||
| Brooks was founder along with ], of the ] <ref>http://magictownehouse.com</ref> on the ] that presented magic in New York City for over 15 years. | |||
| Brooks was the co-founder, with ], of the ] on the ],<ref>{{cite web| url=http://magictownehouse.com |website=Magic Towne House |title= Magic Towne House |accessdate=1 October 2022}}</ref> which presented magic in New York City for over 15 years. Brooks and Dietrich resurrected ]'s career in the 1970s, booking him to do several seasons of midnight shows at The Magic Towne House, which led to a long series of TV and movie appearances. While at the Magic Towne House, Brooks established a 64-page magazine for magicians, ''Hocus Pocus Magazine'', which ran for three years.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/hocus-pocus-magicians-magazine-volume/author/brooks-dick/|title=hocus pocus |publisher=Abe Books |access-date=June 25, 2019}}</ref> | |||
| ==Houdini-related projects== | |||
| According to William Dorflinger's book on magic history, ''The Magic Catalogue'',<ref name="Ray Carter.. well known">{{cite book | |||
| ⚫ | Wanting a larger facility and a place to house his collection of Houdini memorabilia, Brooks and Dietrich opened The ] in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://houdini.org|title=Houdini MuseumTop Attraction Scranton Best Show RESERVE Magician Dick Brookz Pocono Things to do site birthday party tourism Magic Highly Air Conditioned|website=houdini.org}}</ref><ref name="Hollywood Walk of Fame">{{cite book | ||
| | last = Dorflinger | |||
| | first = William | |||
| | title = The Magic Catalogue | |||
| | publisher = E. P. Dutton | |||
| ⚫ | | year = |
||
| | location = New York | |||
| | pages = 242 | |||
| | isbn =978-0-87690-272-1}}</ref> "The Towne House is a discovery for magic lovers"... and Ray Carter (aka Dick Brooks (entertainer)) performs a wide range of magic effects also, and is well known for his demonstrations of ESP and mind reading." | |||
| ⚫ | Wanting a larger facility and a place to house his collection of Houdini memorabilia |
||
| Imam would, after several years, break away and form his own competing club downtown in Greenwich Village. Dick Brooks along with partner ] resurrected ]'s career in the 1970s. Dick Brooks searched out ] who he had seen perform in Greenwich Village years before, whose career had waned, to do several seasons of midnight shows at The ], and helped to bring him back to prominence that led to Theodore appearing on The Tom Snyder Tomorrow Show and a long series of TV and movie appearances. A picture of the Magic Towne House ad that appeared in local ]] such as the Village Voice and The New York post can be found at Shock Cinema Magazine at http://www.shockcinemamagazine.com/brother.html | |||
| Upon the closing of the ], performers who developed there, ] and ] along with others would later develop "]" which still runs successfully in New York City. | |||
| == Author and publisher Hocus Pocus Magazine == | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| == The Houdini Museum == | |||
| He conceived and founded the ] in Scranton, Pennsylvania which was featured in the recent book ] as a fun and mysterious institution. <!-- and cited Dick Brooks as a world class magician. --><ref name="Hollywood Walk of Fame">{{cite book | |||
| | author = Samantha Hart | | author = Samantha Hart | ||
| | title = The Hollywood Walk of Fame | | title = The Hollywood Walk of Fame | ||
| Line 66: | Line 43: | ||
| | isbn=0-9665787-0-8 | | isbn=0-9665787-0-8 | ||
| | pages = 598, 599 | | pages = 598, 599 | ||
| ⚫ | }}</ref> | ||
| }}</ref> It is said to be the only building in the world devoted to Houdini. | |||
| ⚫ | For many years Brooks and Dietrich maintained ]'s abandoned grave. On September 27, 2011, along with escape artist Steve Moore, they restored the missing statuary bust at Houdini's grave site that was destroyed by vandals in 1975. The event was reported in '']'', who nicknamed them the Houdini Commandos.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/24/houdini-returns-of-course/|title=Houdini Returns (Of Course!|work=The New York Times|date=2011-10-24|access-date=2011-11-24}}</ref> On September 13, 2014, David W. Bowers, president of the worldwide Society of American Magicians, issued Dick Brooks a Certificate of Appreciation for his work taking care of Houdini's grave.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pocono.org/poconomagicianawards.html/|title=Photo of Society of American Certificate of Appreciation |publisher=Pocono.org |access-date=June 25, 2019}}</ref> | ||
| == The Houdini Grave Site Restoration == | |||
| ⚫ | For many years |
||
| ⚫ | Brooks has worked as a Houdini consultant for various media outlets including The Travel Channel,<ref name="Travel Channel">{{cite web| work = insidemagic.com| title = Dick Brooks TRAVEL CHANNEL| date = 6 September 2006| url = http://www.insidemagic.com/magicnews/2006/09/06/houdini-museum-featured-on-canadian-travel-channel-friday/}}</ref> The New York Times,<ref name="New York Times">{{cite news |title=Trial to Begin in Fire That Burned Houdini Papers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/23/us/23houdini.html |work=The New York Times |first=Bob |last=Driehaus |date=2007-05-23 |access-date=2013-11-04}}</ref> The London Times,<ref name="Houdini consultants">{{cite news |title=Houdini consultants |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/article690366.ece?token=null&offset=12 |work=The Times |date=2006-07-30 |access-date=2010-05-01}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} </ref> Inside Magic,<ref name="consults">{{cite news| work = insidemagic.com| title = Times of London| date = September 2006| url = http://www.insidemagic.com/magicnews/2006/09/01/times-of-london-consults-dorothy-dietrich-and-dick-brooks/ }}</ref> and The New York Daily News.<ref name="consulting">{{cite news| work = nydailynews.com| title = New York Daily News| url = http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2008/03/04/2008-03-04_houdini_exhumation_to_test_for_poison-1.html | first=Annmarie | last=Costella | date=2008-03-04}}</ref> He appeared on the Travel Channel show ''Magic Road Trip'', which also aired on CBC.<ref name="CBC Travel Channel">{{cite news| work = insidemagic.com| title = travel channel| date = 6 September 2006| url = http://www.insidemagic.com/magicnews/2006/09/06/houdini-museum-featured-on-canadian-travel-channel-friday/ }}</ref> | ||
| == Houdini consultant == | |||
| ⚫ | In 2014 Brooks and Dietrich created a board game based on the Houdini Museum, named HoudiniOpoly, which took two years to develop. The project was funded by a ] campaign from early 2017, which raised over $14,000, with investors including ] of WildaboutHoudini.com, ] of HarryHoudiniCircumstantialEvidence.com, and ] of TheMagicDetective.com, as well as the game being sanctioned and supported by ].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dietrich |first1=& Brookz |title=KickStarter |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1726279887/houdini-opoly-fun-exciting-legend-and-magic-hero-b |website=kickstarter.com |publisher=Houdini Museum |access-date=May 14, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Dietrich |first1=& Brookz |title=HoudiniOpoly |url=http://www.HoudiniOpoly.com |website=HoudiniOpoly.com |publisher=Houdini Museum |access-date=May 14, 2019}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | |||
| | first=Annmarie | last=Costella | date=2008-03-04}}</ref> He appeared on the Travel Channel show Magic Road Trip, which played in the USA and on the CBC as well.<ref name="CBC Travel Channel">{{cite web| work = insidemagic.com| title = travel channel| url = http://www.insidemagic.com/magicnews/2006/09/06/houdini-museum-featured-on-canadian-travel-channel-friday/ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| == |
== Appearances == | ||
| ⚫ | As well as a number of corporate and celebrity parties,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pocono.org/bravo.html/|title=Photos with Brooke Shields performing magic at the world famous Copacabana in New York. Also Muhammad Ali |publisher=Pocono.org |access-date=June 25, 2019}}</ref> Brooks has appeared on television on such shows as '']'', ]'s ''Magic Road Trip'', ]'s ''Dead Famous-Houdini'', '']'', '']'', '']'', Canada's ''Deals From The Dark Side'', and twice as a special guest on ]'s ''Mysteries At The Museum''. | ||
| He has acted as magic consultant for The New York Shakespeare Festival, Woody Allen's "The Magic Light Bulb" at New York's City Center, and Radio City Music Hall. Because of his reputation he also manages to get exclusive interviews with hard to reach celebrities such as ]. He is a writer of several books and magical effects.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/hocus-pocus-magicians-magazine-volume/author/brooks-dick/|title="hocus pocus" |publisher=Abe Books |accessdate=June 25, 2019}} </ref> | |||
| He is currently{{when|date=July 2019}} starring in ]'s production "HAUNTED! Mind Mysteries & THE Beyond!".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://PsychicTheater.com|title=Psychic Theater Haunted Attraction PA best things to do area scranton tourist top main major sightseeing points of interest Poconos Scranton Seance Paranormal Spirits Ghosts Supernormalist detective investigator|website=psychictheater.com}}</ref> The Fall 2008 issue of the Pennsylvania Tourism Office's magazine, ''Pennsylvania Pursuits'', named Brooks' Psychic Theater as the 9th most haunted place in Pennsylvania.<ref name="Pennsylvania Pursuits">{{cite book | |||
| ==HoudiniOpoly== | |||
| | author = Christen Gruebel | |||
| ⚫ | In 2014 |
||
| | title = Pursuits Magazine, Top 10 most Haunted Places | |||
| ⚫ | | year = 2008 | ||
| ⚫ | | volume = 5 | ||
| | publisher = Pennsylvania Tourism Office, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | |||
| ⚫ | | issue = 3 | ||
| | pages = 56, 57, 58, 59, 60 | |||
| }}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | Brooks has also worked as a magic consultant for the New York Shakespeare Festival, Woody Allen's "The Magic Light Bulb" at New York's City Center, and Radio City Music Hall. He has also interviewed celebrities such as ], has written several books, and invented a number of magical effects.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/hocus-pocus-magicians-magazine-volume/author/brooks-dick/|title=hocus pocus |publisher=Abe Books |access-date=June 25, 2019}}</ref> | ||
| == Appearances == | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | As well as a number of corporate and celebrity parties,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pocono.org/bravo.html/|title= |
||
| == References == | == References == | ||
| {{reflist|1}} | {{reflist|1}} | ||
| {{authority control}} | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Brooks, Dick}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Brooks, Dick}} | ||
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| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
Latest revision as of 21:56, 26 September 2024
United States magician and entertainer| Dick Brooks | |
|---|---|
| Born | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Other names | Ray Carter Dick Brookz John Bravo Bravo The Great Bravo The Grate! |
| Occupation(s) | magician, entertainer, writer |
| Awards | Society of American Magicians Presidential Citation, United States Postal Service award for work on Houdini Stamp, 2002 |
| Website | http://www.MysteryEntertainer.com |
Dick Brooks is a United States magician and entertainer. He began his career in show business at the age of 10, and since that time has worked in TV commercials, stand-up comedy, writing, children's entertainment, and army shows, and performed in night clubs, casinos, and magic venues. Focus Magazine described Brooks as a "magician of renown".
Early years
As a teenager Brooks joined a magic club headed by the official magician of New York City, Abe Hurwitz (Peter Pan the Magic Man). When Hurwitz left the Peter Pan Magic Club, the club changed its name to Future American Magical Entertainers (F.A.M.E.) on Brooks's suggestion. This laid the foundation for the Society of American Magicians, who at first did not allow youngsters to join, but formed the Society of Young Magicians (S.Y.M.) for youngsters in 1984.
As a teenager, Brooks was booked by Skipper Dawes, who booked him as a regular performer doing commercials for Tootsie Rolls on the Paul Whiteman TV show Teen Club in Philadelphia. He traveled there alone at weekends, after getting the script by mail. He was eventually replaced by 23-year-old announcer Dick Clark. In 1972 Brooks appeared on The David Susskind Show about young comedians looking for a break in show business. When drafted into the army he was placed in Special Service, the entertainment branch of the military. After leaving the military he became a songwriter, writing dozens of songs including the track "Power House".
The Magic Towne House
Brooks was the co-founder, with Dorothy Dietrich, of the Magic Towne House on the Upper East Side, which presented magic in New York City for over 15 years. Brooks and Dietrich resurrected Brother Theodore's career in the 1970s, booking him to do several seasons of midnight shows at The Magic Towne House, which led to a long series of TV and movie appearances. While at the Magic Towne House, Brooks established a 64-page magazine for magicians, Hocus Pocus Magazine, which ran for three years.
Houdini-related projects
Wanting a larger facility and a place to house his collection of Houdini memorabilia, Brooks and Dietrich opened The Houdini Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
For many years Brooks and Dietrich maintained Harry Houdini's abandoned grave. On September 27, 2011, along with escape artist Steve Moore, they restored the missing statuary bust at Houdini's grave site that was destroyed by vandals in 1975. The event was reported in The New York Times, who nicknamed them the Houdini Commandos. On September 13, 2014, David W. Bowers, president of the worldwide Society of American Magicians, issued Dick Brooks a Certificate of Appreciation for his work taking care of Houdini's grave.
Brooks has worked as a Houdini consultant for various media outlets including The Travel Channel, The New York Times, The London Times, Inside Magic, and The New York Daily News. He appeared on the Travel Channel show Magic Road Trip, which also aired on CBC.
In 2014 Brooks and Dietrich created a board game based on the Houdini Museum, named HoudiniOpoly, which took two years to develop. The project was funded by a Kickstarter campaign from early 2017, which raised over $14,000, with investors including John Cox of WildaboutHoudini.com, Joe Notaro of HarryHoudiniCircumstantialEvidence.com, and Dean Carnegie of TheMagicDetective.com, as well as the game being sanctioned and supported by The Society of American Magicians.
Appearances
As well as a number of corporate and celebrity parties, Brooks has appeared on television on such shows as Atlantic City Alive, Travel Channel's Magic Road Trip, Biography Channel's Dead Famous-Houdini, Evening Magazine, Good Morning America, Home Box Office, Canada's Deals From The Dark Side, and twice as a special guest on Travel Channel's Mysteries At The Museum.
He is currently starring in Psychic Theater's production "HAUNTED! Mind Mysteries & THE Beyond!". The Fall 2008 issue of the Pennsylvania Tourism Office's magazine, Pennsylvania Pursuits, named Brooks' Psychic Theater as the 9th most haunted place in Pennsylvania.
Brooks has also worked as a magic consultant for the New York Shakespeare Festival, Woody Allen's "The Magic Light Bulb" at New York's City Center, and Radio City Music Hall. He has also interviewed celebrities such as Uri Geller, has written several books, and invented a number of magical effects.
References
- Pivovarnick, John (January 2003). "Ehrich Weiss AKA Houdini". Focus Magazine. Pennsylvania: 20 to 30.
- Inc, Nielsen Business Media (15 November 1952). "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. – via Google Books.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - "04/02/72 COMEDIANS BERNIE TRAVIS, DICK BROOKS, RUSTY BLITZ". historicfilms.com. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- "Touch of Girl". Toto Records. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- "Magic Towne House". Magic Towne House. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- "hocus pocus". Abe Books. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
- "Houdini MuseumTop Attraction Scranton Best Show RESERVE Magician Dick Brookz Pocono Things to do site birthday party tourism Magic Highly Air Conditioned". houdini.org.
- Samantha Hart (2000). The Hollywood Walk of Fame. Crybaby Books and Entertainment. pp. 598, 599. ISBN 0-9665787-0-8.
- "Houdini Returns (Of Course!". The New York Times. 2011-10-24. Retrieved 2011-11-24.
- "Photo of Society of American Certificate of Appreciation". Pocono.org. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
- "Dick Brooks TRAVEL CHANNEL". insidemagic.com. 6 September 2006.
- Driehaus, Bob (2007-05-23). "Trial to Begin in Fire That Burned Houdini Papers". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-11-04.
- "Houdini consultants". The Times. 2006-07-30. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
- "Times of London". insidemagic.com. September 2006.
- Costella, Annmarie (2008-03-04). "New York Daily News". nydailynews.com.
- "travel channel". insidemagic.com. 6 September 2006.
- Dietrich, & Brookz. "KickStarter". kickstarter.com. Houdini Museum. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
- Dietrich, & Brookz. "HoudiniOpoly". HoudiniOpoly.com. Houdini Museum. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
- "Photos with Brooke Shields performing magic at the world famous Copacabana in New York. Also Muhammad Ali". Pocono.org. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
- "Psychic Theater Haunted Attraction PA best things to do area scranton tourist top main major sightseeing points of interest Poconos Scranton Seance Paranormal Spirits Ghosts Supernormalist detective investigator". psychictheater.com.
- Christen Gruebel (2008). Pursuits Magazine, Top 10 most Haunted Places. Vol. 5. Pennsylvania Tourism Office, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. pp. 56, 57, 58, 59, 60.
- "hocus pocus". Abe Books. Retrieved June 25, 2019.