Al Baker
(Poughkeepsie, New York: 4th September 1874 - 24th October 1951)
Learned at age 12 when father taught a simple trick, then from a Hoffmann book. Pro comedy magus since 1895, soon adding vent. A Chautauqua star c1911-c1928. Partner with Martin Sunshine of Broadway Magic Shop in New York City in early 1930s (since 1931). Mentor of Bill Arenholz, Leslie P. Guest, etc. One of the 5 original members of the New York "Inner Circle" by 1932. Voted one of the 10 Card Stars in 1938. Named 3rd Dean of American Magicians in 1938. SAM Hall of Fame. Father-in-law of Jay Marshall 1940-53.
Invented the Think Stop Trick (by 1919), Untying Silk (by 1919), probably the Purse Frame (late 1920s), the Baker Slate (in 1929), the Albaka card trick (1933), the Baker-Scope (by 1936), Number Please (by 1936, with Walsh), the Chewing Gum Trick (by 1937), Biting a Plate (by 1940), Al Producto (by 1940), The Vanishing Pencil (by 1941), Vocalepathy (by 1941), The Travelling Pencils (by 1941), & the Umbrella Move (by 1949).
Wrote 5 books: Al Baker's Book (1933, 32pp), Al Baker's Second Book (1935, 32pp), Magical Ways and Means (1941, 135pp), How to Perform Mental Magic (1949, 116pp), and Pet Secrets (1951, 111pp), all classics. Also the booklets Al Baker's Complete Manuscript (1923) and Cardially Yours (1933).
Coauthors: Roy Benson, Al Flosso, Robert Harbin, Leo (Mohammed Bey) Horowitz, "Think-a-Drink" Hoffman, Eugene Laurant, Magini, Miaco, Russell Swann
