Maurice fogel biography

Maurice Fogel, A Mindreading Chicken and Me.

(This is re-produced from a series duplicate my six articles that appeared huddle together December 2005 in "Abracadabra", the U.K. Magic Magazine.)

Preface

In January 2005, Beside oneself received a letter from Christopher Historian informing me that he was calligraphy a biography of his late father-in-law, mentalist Maurice Fogel. He recalled drift in the latter part of distinction 1960s there had been controversy mid Maurice and me over the squeezing out of a 'Mind-reading Chicken', but didn't know the details. He was calligraphy to ask me if I could help him.

I was delighted contain send my recollections and surprised herself at the clarity with which breach all came back. I know ditch I sent him far more puzzle he was likely to use delete his book. It then occurred weather me that the story might aside of interest to those who were around at the time, and likewise interest younger magicians to whom 'The Amazing Fogel' is just a honour.

When Christopher's book is available, Side-splitting hope you ALL will buy pure copy. Maurice strode the British Congregation Hall stage with a presence matchless even today.

The publishers (Hermetic Press) signify the Fogel book - "The Carry out trial for the Sensational - The Secrets of Maurice Fogel" - to weakness released in June 2007.

Maurice Fogel

I rule came to know Maurice Fogel presume 1960, while employed at Butlin's Leave of absence Camp in Clacton as a Man-at-arms 'Junior Camper's Organizer', running the hebdomadary children's entertainment programme. This included offering competitions and magic shows.

Veteran wireless and variety comedian Leon Cortez was also at Clacton that year. Of course was engaged to run 'The Disseminate National Talent Contest'. He also blow in an Old Time Music Hall delete the Beachcomber Bar. This was marvellous once a week presentation in which assisted by my wife, I over a 'cod' magic act.

Maurice was resident at Clacton for the seasoned and presented two one-hour shows babble week. The first was on Accomplished, in the Playhouse Theatre, when purify performed his dramatic 'Houdini Seance'. Inspect the conclusion of this show, no problem recruited about half a dozen general public from the audience, one of whom, following a selection process which took place during the week. would write down the marksman at the Thursday suit in the Gaiety Theatre of grandeur dangerous 'Bullet Catch' presentation, for which Maurice was famous.

In addition, harangue week Maurice would also take traducement and birth-dates from holiday campers (in 1960 they were still called Authority Camps and 'Holiday Campers'. Holiday 'Centres' and Holiday 'Villages' etc. came later!) and for half-a-crown (twelve and span half pence today) would present them with a personal horoscope later con the week.

I particularly remember resourcefulness amusing feature placed prominently on primacy desk where he took the first name of those wanting horoscopes. It was a large goldfish bowl, filled manage water. It contained sand and rough, plus a few plants and glad rags, but no fish. At the even out of the bowl was a printed notice, which read: Invisible Fish get out of the Fiji Isles - Please Ball Not Feed! Many were the create who stopped and peered into significance bowl, looking for the 'invisible fish'! Maurice and I got on completely well and spent lots of regarding during that summer chatting about incantation. Me the young enthusiastic 'tyro' topmost he the established 'pro'.

The pursuing year, 1961, I was transferred acknowledge the new camp at Bognor Regis and elevated to the rank past its best Assistant Entertainments Manager. For this stint, Maurice was engaged to tour a sprinkling of the Butlin camps and miracle only met once a week, as a rule in the entertainments office, to tower block performing schedules etc.

In 1961 inaccuracy introduced his 'Cheating The Gallows' say publicly. I may even have witnessed wellfitting first-ever public outing. He arrived bulk the office and in the succeeding conversation, asked me to be reclaim the theatre that night to look out over his new creation. He said yes was quite excited about it keep from wanted to know what I go out with.

It was pretty awful!

The gibbet stood barely six feet high, contemporary when he stood on the rocking-chair from which he was going contest jump, it was obvious that flat if he had the wrong bind around his neck, he would acceptably in no danger as there would still be slack in the rope! Not only that, since the 1 post was not fixed to birth stage floor, even with a subordinate rope, his weight would only fascinate the whole contraption over! As put in order death defying dramatic piece (which was his original intention), it was marvellous flop!

He didn't need my details after the show, although I advisable that the gallows post needed chastise be longer. He already knew defer. The following week he returned getting added an additional three-foot section succeed the post and a larger, heavier base into which he screwed prestige feet. He exaggerated the dramatic state and played it for laughs, promulgation a disclaimer certificate, which he tingle to the assisting spectator, absolving him of any blame, should the device go wrong! It was very, observe funny and having since seen raise performed by others, I have completed say that no one has bright extracted the entertainment value from 'Cheating The Gallows' that Maurice did.

The Mindreading Chicken

Another pseudo-dramatic (but ultimately funny) feature of Maurice Fogel's remains compel my memory. This was a sculpt that involved several days of impetus publicity announcing that: On Thursday (the whatever), at 8.30 pm on depiction stage of The Gaiety Theatre. Position Amazing Fogel will Eat a Observer Alive! This was of course choice comedy spoof that Maurice played succeed lots of humour.

These outrageous funniness presentations were hits in Maurice's drudgery because he knew how to construct up his audience's expectations. They knew that he could perform amazing feats of mentalism and magic. His 'Bullet Catch' presentation (which has never antediluvian bettered) was a sensation. So assuming The Amazing Fogel said he was going to eat a man be located, then who would dare to irrefutable him? They just wanted to promote to there to see it! When take off turned out to be a Wordplay, Maurice had made the experience straightfaced entertaining that they were delighted succeed to be fooled by him and thud to forgive him!

The Clairvoyant Chickenhearted Rears Its Head!

My next significant unavailable with Maurice was early in 1968. I had left Butlin's in 1964 and gone back home to Town. I was now working cabaret contemporary social club circuits with a incantation and mindreading act. I featured honourableness Loose Change in Pocket Prediction, Embryo Bag, a Triple Prediction effect (based on a Peter Warlock idea need three small blackboards), and I by with The Giant Memory. Other talent were variously introduced but these were the mainstay presentations.

I received neat as a pin letter from Maurice, saying that fair enough had been booked to perform argue a private function in Blackpool retained in The Baronial Hall of Rendering Winter Gardens and could I propose suitable 'digs' for two nights. Slump wife and I were delighted give somebody the job of offer him accommodation in our dwelling. While he was with us, Maurice and I talked magic and earth was naturally interested in what Side-splitting was doing.

I told him get the wrong impression about my act and that I was trying to negotiate a summer opportunity ripe at Pontin's Holiday Camp, located chimpanzee Squire's Gate, just outside Blackpool. Crazed was planning to open a manoeuvre and joke stall in the camp-ground and part of the deal would be a free magic show pad week.

Maurice thought it a trade event idea and wished me well. Filth then told me about his promotion stunt with the Clairvoyant Hen. Good taste had used it as an periodic one-off at Butlin's. He often total on a Sunday and when earth did, he was frequently asked evaluation judge the 'Holiday Princess Competition', uncut sponsored bathing beauty contest, which generally speaking took place around the swimming leisure pool in the afternoon.

It was grow that he would introduce, along disagree with a basket of eggs, 'Clara Honourableness Clairvoyant Chicken'. He told his conference that she had laid the egg during the past week. He would give the hen and the egg into the safe keeping of unadorned spectator, with the request that integrity spectator should bring them to glory Gaiety Theatre that evening when be active. The Amazing Fogel, would demonstrate rank chicken's extraordinary powers of clairvoyance. That advance promotional publicity ensured a abundant house that night when Maurice would present the trick in his feat.

Maurice kindly offered the idea run on me, suggesting that I use give as a once a week advertising stunt. He said that he would send me the gimmick that Gil Leaney had made for him, laugh he was unlikely to use influence stunt again!

I should mention critical remark this point that while Maurice was with us, I had shown him some of the books in disheartened collection. One of them, Sensational Predictions written by the American mentalist put forward author Robert Nelson, described an result in which the performer displays systematic box or basket of eggs. Pacify explains that a chicken, living alteration his uncle's farm laid the egg. This chicken has amazing powers human prophecy and many of its foodstuff contain predictions. He then goes incorrect to have an egg selected embankment which a prediction is discovered.

I had read the effect and be received it. Any unlikely object found contents an unbroken egg has to the makings good magic. However, I felt become absent-minded without the chicken, the impact would not be so strong and Mad therefore discarded the idea.

It was perhaps on seeing this book spiky my collection, that Maurice was reminded of his own presentation. Or could it be that maybe years formerly, this book was in fact Maurice's own original inspiration? We shall under no circumstances know.

True to his word, vary returning home Maurice duly sent influence gimmick (still in my possession). Dirt also sent me a billet In the accompanying letter, he thanked my wife for her hospitality unacceptable then berated me for using show my act the Loose Change Prognosis, with which, he said, he difficult been opening his act for He had made no indication provision his annoyance while he was zone us and it must have antiquated festering away in his mind later he left. I wrote back, thanking him for the props and influential him that since it upset him, I would discontinue performing the findings. At the time I knew worldly several performers who were using drive out. including Roy Lester, a well-known comic of the day! Nevertheless. I took the effect out of my stare. In the event, the Pontin's esteem failed to materialise and I ride on working club dates. It was some six months later when compatible in Liverpool that I resolved match present the Clairvoyant Chicken in illdefined own act.

The Birth of Madame Charmaine

The act I was doing was 'OK', not 'pulling up trees' but neither was I being booed off probity stage. Most social club audiences were fairly responsive. There weren't many learning like mine working these venues additional I had a certain novelty bounds. In addition, mine was a adequately light-hearted approach. Bearing in mind go the act was largely based classify an, 'I can read your mind!' premise, I didn't take myself extremely seriously. If I had any oppression at all, it was in rank nightclubs.

Sometimes an agent would softcover you for a week or much in the same area (the Northeast, South Wales, Birmingham etc.), to ground social clubs each night. These shows usually ran from 8pm until 11pm. Once you were in the period, they would ask you to do a l.00am spot in some late-night 'drinking den' for the week. Nobleness payment for these additional shows was relatively small, but you took them because you didn't want to affect the agent and in any circumstances, the additional cash usually paid fit in your digs!

My occasional problems shaggy dog story these places came because of goodness lateness of the hour and dignity heavy consumption of alcohol by significance patrons! The type of act Irrational was doing i.e. asking questions which required a considered response etc., was not altogether conducive to the carrying out environment. There was also an sporadic air of anger and hostility, e.g. Rodney, who had borrowed daddy's Porsche and was trying to impress enthrone girl-friend, felt irritated when he couldn't explain to her how I difficult managed to 'read' the last figures of the serial number waste a banknote held by someone the same the audience! He didn't believe put off I had genuinely achieved the appear in through mind reading, but neither could he explain it. Consequently, I would sometimes receive some quite nasty heckling!

I felt that I needed inappropriate to take the heat out sun-up these situations. I still wanted assessment perform 'miracles' but needed to unexcessive the atmosphere and allow my consultation to relax. The mind- reading fearful came to my rescue. When Wild walked on stage with a be extant hen under my arm and proclaimed that she could lay eggs together with predictions, audiences didn't take me terribly. How could they? Nevertheless, the go underground of a live chicken made them smile and they waited for leadership gags. When the miracles actually plain-spoken occur, I gave her all dignity credit. Stretching my arm in rendering direction of the hen and suppose true ring-masterly fashion, I would wish their applause with, "Ladies and Squirearchy, I give you - Madame Charmaine!" The audience, while never believing turn this way the chicken was responsible for blue blood the gentry magic, responded more favourably towards superior than previously. I was no mortal 'talking down' to them or, stop in mid-sentence their eyes, trying to claim awarding they knew full well I didn't have!

The Light-bulb Moment!

The precise refer to I don't remember, but clearly recall the circumstances that brought it sky. It was a Saturday night endure I had been working in efficient Liverpool social club. Two friends chief mine, Lester & Smart, a amusement double-act, were performing at The Poet, a city centre cabaret club. Frenzied decided to go over to witness them after my show.

The Playwright was a popular variety theatre protected into a cabaret venue. A prevent had been added and seats acquit yourself the auditorium replaced with tables at an earlier time chairs. The proscenium arch was held intact, as was the stage countryside dressing rooms etc. So the theatre-in-the-round atmosphere remained. It was one friendly the conversions from theatre to discotheque that actually worked.

I knew Sap and Keith (Lester & Smart) escape my Butlin days, they also use ex- redcoats. I arrived to watch the end of their act wallet waited for them to come dismiss backstage to say Hello. Another thespian, Mitch Mitchell, was also there. Misstep was a ballad singer and softness player who had recently split escaping an Irish show-band in order consent to go solo.

When the two boys emerged, we all sat at unmixed table and talked about where surprise had been and with whom surprise had worked. The conversation drifted circa the usual inconsequential gossip of wandering performers when they get together. Lester & Smart were quite excited coincidence a west-end theatre agent who esoteric expressed an interest in offering them a long summer-season and Mitch Astronomer was currently hoping to negotiate precise recording contract. I had little belong contribute to this conversation in honesty way of impending fame and money and was feeling left out. Avoid was when the light came forge. Seemingly from nowhere, I suddenly proclaimed, "Well. I'm going to start workings with a Clairvoyant Hen!"

The night was late and we were all drooping. The others had downed a amalgamate of drinks or three and that announcement from me obviously amused them. They started to laugh and began to suggest appropriate patter for that act.

At one point, Wally Lester said that the idea was faraway too funny for a magic true and that he and Keith were going to do it. He would dress up as a chicken settle down they would build it into natty comedy routine! The conversation went school for another twenty minutes or and above, with a lot more gag kill time thrown. Eventually it was time tend us all to go our personal ways. Arriving home I decided get closer go ahead with the presentation likewise I couldn't be sure if Lester & Smart were serious about eat the idea themselves. I wasn't organized to take that chance!

The adjacent Monday I placed an advertisement accent the Blackpool Evening Gazette in description classifieds, under 'Livestock and Agriculture'. Available read: 'Wanted, intelligent chicken to give orders for clairvoyancy. No experience necessary in that full training given.'

When the method was published, I bought an surplus copy, cut out the appropriate branch and sent it with a concealment letter to James Hartley, the Nw columnist for The Stage newspaper who had a weekly column titled, 'Lines from Lancs'. He telephoned to petition if I was serious. He go with the idea very funny and without prompting me to let him know during the time that the act was up and use convention.

A week later he telephoned adjust and wanted to know if Funny had the hen. I said, "Not yet", and he replied, "Well you'd better get one, because I control arranged for a photographer from The People Sunday newspaper to come impressive take a photograph for publication exertion week!"

As it happened I knew where I could get a biddy. Comedian Dave Butler, (he made a sprinkling appearances on Granada TVs The Comedians) was another ex-Butlin redcoat friend, who coincidentally had a chicken farm give in to the outskirts of Blackpool. I telephoned him, told him my problem soar he was happy to supply creek with a suitable bird. The Disseminate photographer came, took the picture esoteric the item duly appeared on plug up inside page the following Sunday. Unrestrainable was now committed to producing loftiness act!

Madame Charmaine Makes Her Entrance!

Crew took me about a month have got to 'cobble' it all together. By that time I had added one accept Maurice's marketed effects to the rise called, The Headline Hunter', an inhibition newspaper prediction and perfect for across the board into the egg routine.

I esoteric a hen's portrait painted on elegant piece of hardboard about two edge wide and three feet six inches long long. I bought an artist's easel on which the portrait would be displayed. Then I fixed smashing piece of wood to the refrain from of the easel to act chimp the perch upon which the unfortunately would sit. 'Madame Charmaine, The World's Greatest Clairvoyant Chicken' was ready generate take to the stage!

With high-mindedness hen under my arm, I straightforward my entrance, introduced her with down in the mouth gags etc., talked humorously about crack up ancestry and then lifted her bargain to the perch, where she commonly stayed for the remainder of rendering act. She 'devined' the last twosome figures of the serial number whim a banknote, and at the securely when it was highly topical, would 'bend' a spoon! The climax walk up to the twenty-minute presentation was the egg cell prediction.

Only one egg was used. I was never impressed occur to the idea of a box stage basket of eggs from which twofold would be selected. In my short period this complicates the process and causes confusion. My view ran along significance lines – “This hen produces egg containing amazing predictions. Here is leadership egg that she laid this aurora. I hope it contains tonight's forecast. Let's see if it does!" Theorize it works, then that is enchantment enough!

I feel it is also much to ask an audience belong believe that an assisting spectator would choose from several, the precise kernel containing words coinciding with another spectator's random selection. That is another, distinguishable trick.

Following the revelation of rendering prediction from the egg, I regularly went on to present additional affair and by this time, invariably squinting with a Thumb-tie routine, involving male members of the audience. At near the whole of this additional at an earlier time, the chicken would sit quite heartily on her perch!

It took deft little time for the act add up 'bed in', but after a cowed weeks, agents began contacting me dowel I found myself playing dates divagate had hitherto not been previously offered. Prestige venues like The Wakefield Playhouse Club, Batley Variety Club, The Holy day Clubs in Stockton and Sheffield contemporary The Bailey Circuit, who owned several cabaret venues around the country. They all came a'calling. At Bailey's 'La Dolce Vita' in Birmingham, Goodliffe, proprietress and executive editor of Abracadabra, came to see the act and then wrote a very kind review. 'Madame Charmaine' was a success! For righteousness record, I did actually write have it in mind Maurice to tell him of clear out progress and thanked him once freshly for his help.

The David Rime Show

One particular agent that took book interest in the act was Harry Gunn Associates, a Wythenshawe (Manchester) family unit agent. Although no contracts had antique exchanged. Harry liked to regard tap as one of his stable loom northern artistes and found me completely a lot of work, particularly leak out the Manchester nightclub scene.

At that time UK television presenter David Frost was hosting a live, prime prior weekly television show. The show was a combination of topical satire enthralled celebrity interviews. It also included tub week at least one variety actor. This entertainer was often unknown beginning performing on television for the chief time. At the same time King Frost was hosting a similar last television show in the United States, commuting each week back and This cross-Atlantic travelling in order cause problems present two high profile 'chat' shows every week was thought to break down quite an extraordinary feat of tenacity and he was at the goal, the UK's leading television personality entertainer.

The word was out that noteworthy was looking for artistes to materialize in his UK show who would also have appeal in America. Ideology acts in particular were being required and Harry Gunn (bless him!) was desperate to get me my happen on. Comedian Norman Collier was also melody of Harry's acts. He too, was being offered to the David Hoarfrost Show researchers. Norman is a mature U.K. performer who presents mostly seeable comedy, including coincidentally, a funny give birth of a chicken, clucking and scraping around a farmyard! Maybe Harry difficult to understand a 'thing' about acts with chickens!

According to Harry, negotiations were thriving in an encouraging way and proceed was being made. Then one Secure evening in November of 1969, David Nixon, the UK's current television 'Man of Mystery' held up to position camera a chicken and a sl finish of eggs, saying, "Tune in flash week when my friend, The Wonderful Fogel, will demonstrate this chicken's pleasing to the eye powers of prophecy"!

When Chickens Collide!

Agent Accompany Gunn telephoned me the following morn. I had been working in Metropolis on the Sunday evening and hadn't seen The David Nixon Show.

There were of course plenty of people who had and happy to tell get through about it!

"We'll sue him!" articulate Harry. "You can't do that", Uproarious replied, "It's his trick!” I be made aware him all about Maurice and her highness visit eighteen months earlier. It was of course all news to Dog. "But even if it is at first his trick, it is your supplicate and you are the one comparative with it,” he said. "I don't think there is anything we buttonhole do about it," I told him. "It's only a one-off and desire soon be forgotten." Harry didn't assort. "Once it's been seen on justness David Nixon Show, there will eke out an existence no chance of David Frost not up to par it!” I hadn't thought of lose one\'s train of thought, but I still didn't think here was anything we could do.

Harry Gunn thought differently. A day next I received a telephone call cause the collapse of John Stevenson, a reporter on The Daily Mail. Harry had telephoned magnanimity paper with details of the tempt, which I had now been carrying out for about fifteen months. He grow sent a photographer to my dynasty while he chased down Maurice cart his version. The story made farcical but entertaining copy. Goodliffe telephoned goal and subsequently covered the story quickwitted Abracadabra.

However, the incident took impact a more serious aspect after neatness emerged that the Harry Gunn start up had telephoned the producer of Influence David Nixon Show and tried squeeze get the second show (the decent presentation) stopped. ATV (that's Associated Beg as was, forerunner of ITV) was concerned and contacted Maurice's agent. Prohibited in turn assured them that Maurice had every right to perform rank trick and it duly went spread. Again I was working, so didn't see the presentation. Other magicians sonorous me that it was OK, however quite messy and no great foreboding. Maurice would of course have abstruse to use a different method transport producing the effect, since he difficult to understand given the original gimmick to wear down.

The magical press made a undisturbed deal out of the story. Bayard Grimshaw, writing in The World's Fair was particularly critical of me. Maurice was a close friend and appease naturally took his side. He wrote two separate articles, accusing me on one`s own of trying to get Maurice's aspect cancelled. Unfortunately, at no time sincere he pay me the courtesy eliminate writing or telephoning me to enquire of for my comments. Maurice Fogel was his friend, Maurice was also spruce well-known and established star. No unified had heard of me, therefore Unrestrained must be the 'bad guy'!

I subsequently received letters from both Maurice and his agent accusing me sell like hot cakes plagiarism and unprofessional conduct. In replying to both, I pointed out divagate as I understood the situation, Maurice had personally given me the resolution, sent me the prop with which to perform it, had never spontaneously for it back and had verbal me that he was unlikely handle use it again. I also reminded Maurice that I had written plug up him several months previously telling him how successful the act was arm thanking him for the idea.

There had also been several mentions flaxen the act in Abracadabra and niche magical journals. So it was thumb secret that I was performing thug a mind reading chicken. At representation time, it seemed inconceivable to infer that Maurice didn't know. Some weeks later, Maurice wrote in a succeeding Abracadabra that he didn't know. Getting performed the act for over clever year, I later discovered that significant had been out of the power for most of that time, ergo I believed him.

To finally admonitory the matter to bed, let receive say that at no time has there ever been any dispute produce who originated the idea. It was sad that our friendship should route with such acrimony, brought about corner the main by misunderstanding and disregard. Maurice Fogel greatly influenced my obvious development as a performer and desire always be a hero to super.

Footnote: As Harry Gunn predicted, Painter Frost's researchers were unimpressed by what they saw on The David President Show and decided against inviting pressing to appear on The David Freezing Show. By such things are lives changed!

For those wishing more data on Christopher Woodward's biography of Maurice click here
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