Channing Pollock (magician)
Encyclopedia
Channing Pollock was an American magician and film
actor
.
He first became interested in magic at the age of 21. He trained at the Chavez School of Magic in Los Angeles
, graduating in 1952. Pollock's early work as a magician was on the nightclub circuit, where his talents were enhanced by his good looks.
He appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1954 and went on to make several appearances at the London Palladium
. By the mid-1950s Pollock was unsurpassed in his field, and he had spawned a great many imitators. But his act was unique, and the excitement in his routine was so tied up with his own personality (he always made a point of never smiling until he was taking his final bow) that copyists were never as good.
He appeared at cabaret venues and in special shows all over the world, performing for President Dwight D. Eisenhower
, Queen Elizabeth II
and at the wedding of Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly
. At the height of his career he was one of America's highest-paid entertainers.
and Pier Angeli
; Rocambole (1962); Sceicco rosso (1962); and Georges Franju
's Judex
(1963), in which he played the romantic lead. He also appeared on several American variety shows such as Bonanza
, Daniel Boone
, and The Beverly Hillbillies
.
, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. He continued, however, to act as a friend and mentor to many aspiring magicians. He gave his own act, including his birds, to his chauffeur, Frank Brooker, who went on performing for several years.
from complications due to cancer. He was 79 years old, and his wife predeceased him.
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Magician
As one of the most sophisticated and charismatic practitioners of his craft; strikingly handsome with an enigmatic stage presence, he was best known for an act in which he would elegantly produce doves out of thin air and he was often billed as "the most beautiful man in the world".He first became interested in magic at the age of 21. He trained at the Chavez School of Magic in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, graduating in 1952. Pollock's early work as a magician was on the nightclub circuit, where his talents were enhanced by his good looks.
He appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1954 and went on to make several appearances at the London Palladium
London Palladium
The London Palladium is a 2,286 seat West End theatre located off Oxford Street in the City of Westminster. From the roster of stars who have played there and many televised performances, it is arguably the most famous theatre in London and the United Kingdom, especially for musical variety...
. By the mid-1950s Pollock was unsurpassed in his field, and he had spawned a great many imitators. But his act was unique, and the excitement in his routine was so tied up with his own personality (he always made a point of never smiling until he was taking his final bow) that copyists were never as good.
He appeared at cabaret venues and in special shows all over the world, performing for President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
, Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
and at the wedding of Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly
Grace Patricia Kelly was an American actress who, in April 1956, married Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, to become Princess consort of Monaco, styled as Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco, and commonly referred to as Princess Grace.After embarking on an acting career in 1950, at the age of...
. At the height of his career he was one of America's highest-paid entertainers.
Actor
In 1959 his act was seen in the film Europe by Night, and the following year he decided to give up his career as a magician to become an actor. He appeared in a number of thrillers and dramas, including Moschettieri del mare (1960), with Aldo RayAldo Ray
Aldo Ray was an American actor.-Life and career:Ray was born in Pen Argyl, PA, to an Italian family of five brothers and one sister. His brother Mario lettered in football at USC in the years 1952-54...
and Pier Angeli
Pier Angeli
Pier Angeli was an Italian-born television and film actress. Her American cinematographic debut was in the starring role of the 1951 film Teresa, in which she won a Golden Globe Award...
; Rocambole (1962); Sceicco rosso (1962); and Georges Franju
Georges Franju
-External links:* at Allmovie...
's Judex
Judex (1963 film)
Judex is a French-language crime film remake of the 1916 French film serial of the same name concerning the adventures of pulp hero Judex...
(1963), in which he played the romantic lead. He also appeared on several American variety shows such as Bonanza
Bonanza
Bonanza is an American western television series that both ran on and was a production of NBC from September 12, 1959 to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 430 episodes, it ranks as the second longest running western series and still continues to air in syndication. It centers on the...
, Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone (TV series)
Daniel Boone is an American action/adventure television series starring Fess Parker as Daniel Boone that aired from September 24, 1964 to September 10, 1970 on NBC for 165 episodes, and was made by 20th Century Fox Television. Ed Ames co-starred as Mingo, Boone's Native American friend, for the...
, and The Beverly Hillbillies
The Beverly Hillbillies
The Beverly Hillbillies is an American situation comedy originally broadcast for nine seasons on CBS from 1962 to 1971, starring Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, and Max Baer, Jr....
.
Farming
In 1969 he abandoned show business entirely, and he and his wife set up an organic farm at Moss Beach, CaliforniaMoss Beach, California
Moss Beach is a coastal census-designated place in San Mateo County, California, with a year 2010 census population of 3,103. Located in Moss Beach are the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, a marine sanctuary; the Half Moon Bay Airport, the historic Moss Beach Distillery and the Seal Cove Inn, a...
, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. He continued, however, to act as a friend and mentor to many aspiring magicians. He gave his own act, including his birds, to his chauffeur, Frank Brooker, who went on performing for several years.
Death
Pollock died in Las VegasLas Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
from complications due to cancer. He was 79 years old, and his wife predeceased him.
Family
He was the son of Robert Burns Pollack and Marjorie Leppert. His first marriage, to Naomi Phelps, produced one son. His second marriage was to Jozy, a woman born in England.External links
- Channing Pollock in Conversation with John Fisher
- Video of Channing Pollock performing
- Interview with Naomi Pollock