Mark Wilson (magician)
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James "Mark" Wilson (b. 1929) is an American magician and author.
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[edit] Early Years
Mark Wilson aspired to be a magician after seeing Tommy Bearden perform. His family moved to Dallas, Texas where as a teenager he improved his magic knowledge by working for Douglas Magic Land as a clerk. As a student at SMU, Mark performed shows with Morton’s Potato Chip Company as his sponsor.
[edit] Television
When television began to grow he arranged a local show in Dallas in 1955, which grew to other shows in Houston and San Antonio. When videotape was developed he created the first show to be videotaped and nationally syndicated. That show was the original black and white "Magic Land of Allakazam" and was sponsored by Scotch Brand Tape. His wife, Nani Darnell, assisted him and also Bev Bergeron who helped write the shows and played his character, Rebo the Clown. Kellogg’s Cereals bought the series and moved it to Hollywood’s CBS-TV in 1960. The show moved from CBS-TV to ABC-TV in 1962 without missing one week on air. In 1965, the series left ABC and was internationally syndicated. The series was one of the top shows in the Nielson ratings for Saturday morning.
The trio toured all the major state fairs during the summer and made appearances on other network shows. The writing team grew at CBS to include Bev Bergeron, Bobby "Torche" Towner, Bobby Fenton, Leo Behnke, Lin Searles with Johnny Daniels and Carl Owens building the illusions the first year of 39 shows. For the second year the exisiting creative team remained, but Frances Martineau was added along with a young John Gaughan. This group was the nucleus that brought a new look to the magic illusions that are still being used today.
Wilson created "The Funny Face Magic Show" and "Pillsbury’s Magic Circus" in 1971. He also provided the Hall of Magic at the 1964/5 World’s Fair in New York. He and his crew assisted in the technical production of the magic in many network shows, which included: The Magician, Circus of the Stars, Hollywood Palace, Roy Roger’s Show, The Six Million Dollar Man and more.
In 1971, he published his "Mark Wilson Complete Course In Magic," which is still in production in various forms around the world.
[edit] Awards
The Academy of Magical Arts (The Magic Castle, where he served as president for several years) has honored Mark with several awards.
