1. Jack Gwynne was an American illusionist, actor and creator of magic effects.
14 Facts About Jack Gwynne
1. 2.
In 1925, after seeing a performance by Gwynne at Kaufman's Department Store in Pittsburgh, legendary magician Harry Houdini hired Jack to build several props for the Houdini show.
3.
Jack Gwynne built props for the Howard Thurston show and other contemporary performers.
4.
From that point, Jack Gwynne's career took off with performances from coast to coast for the next eight years.
5.
Jack Gwynne's act was known for its speed, precision timing and baffling, original magic.
6.
Jack Gwynne was the first illusionist to adapt to this new medium.
7.
Jack Gwynne could perform his act with the audience entirely surrounding him, which heightened the mystery.
8.
Jack Gwynne was cast in several motion pictures by Universal Studios, including, Dark Streets of Cairo ; Bagdad Daddy ; Model Wife ; Three Hits and a Miss ; and Hello, Sucker.
9.
In several of his film appearances, Jack Gwynne performed some of his original magic routines.
10.
Jack Gwynne was featured in print and broadcast advertising for Zenith television.
11.
Jack Gwynne continued to find work with his magic during an era when many other magicians were struggling to make ends meet.
12.
Jack Gwynne appeared in the inspirational film, Parable, that was featured at the Protestant Pavilion at the 1964 New York World's Fair.
13.
That same year, Jack Gwynne headlined the annual production of It's Magic at the Wilshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles.
14.
Jack Gwynne died of a heart attack at age 74 on Sunday, December 7,1969 at his home in Oak Lawn, Illinois.