Bruce Cervon was an American magician who was best known for his close-up magic, both through performance and invention.
27 Facts About Bruce Cervon
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Bruce Cervon published a series of books and helped to create a permanent record of the magic of Dai Vernon through The Vernon Chronicles, and Bruce Cervon's Castle Notebooks.
3.
Bruce Cervon was born Andrew Bruce Cernava to Helen Rauzon Cernava and George Cernava in 1941.
4.
Bruce Cervon later found The Akron Novelty Company, which was the only magic store in the area.
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Bruce Cervon had not yet met Vernon, but both he and Jennings were admirers of Vernon's magic.
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Jennings was the first to move to the Castle and wrote to Bruce Cervon praising Vernon and the newly-formed Magic Castle.
7.
Bruce Cervon followed him with his first wife Peggi, sleeping for a while on Jennings's floor.
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Bruce Cervon spent much time discussing magic and developing close friendships with Dai Vernon, Jim Patton, and Mike Perovich.
9.
Bruce Cervon understood the importance of audience management as well as technical skills, and his performances were often praised by his peers.
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Bruce Cervon was nominated seven times for "Best Close-up Performer" and won it twice.
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Bruce Cervon was well known for his admiration for Dai Vernon, saying on one occasion "I've been the number one Vernon fan since I was a young boy", and for his careful recording of everything he learned with Dai Vernon at The Magic Castle.
12.
Bruce Cervon was instrumental in the production of the Ultimate Secrets of Card Magic, and of its reprint in 1995.
13.
Sometimes it was when Bruce Cervon would sit down and take the time to really teach them a routine or a move.
14.
Each person had been lifted to a new height by the way Bruce Cervon had generously shared his time.
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Bruce Cervon was a member of The Academy of Magical Arts at The Magic Castle and served on its board of directors.
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Bruce Cervon was a member of the Screen Actor's Guild, The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and the American Guild of Variety Artists.
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Bruce Cervon was a member of The Magic Circle in Britain and of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels.
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Bruce Cervon was an in-demand entertainer for corporations such as the Creative Artists Agency, Baskin-Robbins, Nesbitt, ELP Communications, Crown Zellerbach, ARCO, Centinela Hospital Medical Center, Press-Telegram, Lockheed, Santa Monica Hospital, Bristol Corporation, UCLA, Gibraltar Savings and Loan, Century 21 Realty, UCSD, Orange County Register, American Legion, Haggar Co.
19.
Bruce Cervon developed a relationship with Continental Airlines, with whom he introduced a long-running plan of featuring high profile magicians on flights back and forth from Los Angeles to Chicago.
20.
Bruce Cervon consulted or performed in many commercials, including for Pontiac, Bank of America, Continental Airlines, Pepsi-Cola, Shell Oil, and Rolf's Wallets.
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Bruce Cervon performed frequently for such notables as Cary Grant, Orson Welles, Jack Benny, Bette Davis, Rosalind Russell, Gregory Peck, Jimmy Stewart and Elvis Presley.
22.
Bruce Cervon became known as the "Beverly Hills Magician" performing for the Glitterati.
23.
Bruce Cervon was Johnny Carson's personal selection for the annual Tonight Show party.
24.
Bruce Cervon met his second wife, Linda Lipps Bruce Cervon, in the Close-up Gallery in The Magic Castle, where, during his performance, he spilled a glass of wine on her.
25.
Bruce Cervon had a daughter from his first marriage, Kellie Marie, born in 1969.
26.
Bruce Cervon was a collector; not just of magic books and memorabilia, but Golden Age comics, rockabilly and doo-wop and records, hard-boiled mystery books, vintage paperbacks, pulp magazines, radio show premiums, vintage cereal boxes, paper toys, and anything Disney from 1928 to 1955.
27.
Bruce Cervon died aged 65 from throat and lung cancer.