Glenn Falkenstein
Encyclopedia
Glenn Jacob Falkenstein (February 3, 1932 – July 4, 2010) was a world-renowned magician and mentalist, and partner to Frances Willard
from 1978 to 2010.
at the Las Vegas Hilton
and Marty Robbins
in Lake Tahoe
. He was a guest star on Hilly Rose
' talk show in the 1970s, and eventually was given his own talk shows on KMPC and KFI. When Falkenstein performed his mental feats on KGBS Radio Star Theatre, which broadcast from Universal Studios, the switchboard reflected ten thousand incoming calls per day. Mr. Falkenstein appeared on The Tonight Show
, That's Incredible!
, The Merv Griffin Show
, ABC's Wide World of Entertainment
, The Best of Magic - Thames TV
, The Paul Daniels Magic Show
- BBC
, Mandrake's Award - Paris, Magic Olympics - Asahi TV Tokyo
, Magicians' Favorite Magicians - CBS
and was featured on his own special on SBS television in Seoul
, Korea
to a viewing audience of over ten million.
Falkenstein and his partner/wife, Frances Willard, have been consecutive award-winners at the world-famous Magic Castle
in Hollywood, California
where they were Honorary Life Members. The Academy of Magical Arts
voted Falkenstein Stage Magician of The Year two consecutive years. In 1978, Glenn joined forces with Frances Willard, daughter of legendary tent showman Harry "Willard the Wizard". Together,the couple presented Glenn's signature blindfold
act followed by the classic Willard Spirit Cabinet. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Falkenstein & Willard entertained countless film stars, socialites, and national leaders with their classic feats of mentalism. In 1990, Frances Willard & Glenn Falkenstein received the prestigious Jack Stuart "DRAGON Award" presented to couples who integrated drama, romance, artistry, glamour, originality and necromancy into their acts. Glenn and Frances also received "The Dunninger Award" and "Milbourne Christopher Award" for outstanding feats in mentalism. In 1994, Glenn Falkenstein was inducted into The Society of American Magicians' Hall of Fame as a living legend.
Perhaps his greatest feat was balancing two separate careers, and many people were unaware that he successfully wore two professional hats. He earned his Master's degree from Pepperdine University and worked for years at the Los Angeles County Office of Education as a Speech Pathologist. The careers complimented the other, and he used his magic skills to aid young people overcoming speech defects. He was constantly amazed at the positive impact that magic had on special children. Among his most memorable shows were performing for President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan
, at the inaugural dinner for President George W. Bush
, and at Her Majesty's Theatre
in London
's West End
. Falkenstein brought his ESP Act and Spirit Theatre to countless charitable organizations; along with magic colleagues David Copperfield
and Lance Burton
, Glenn helped Children's Village, USA raise enough funds to pay off its mortgage.
Frances Willard (magician)
Frances Louise Willard is an American magician.The daughter of magician Harry Willard , who performed as "Willard the Wizard", she began her career at age six as an assistant to her father. After her divorce from Texas newspaper editor Glenn Tucker, with whom she had three children , she...
from 1978 to 2010.
Career
As a mentalist, Falkenstein was at the top of his profession for more than three decades and featured internationally on stage, TV and radio. He was the opening act for many stars, including Ann-MargretAnn-Margret
Ann-Margret Olsson is a Swedish-American actress, singer and dancer whose professional name is Ann-Margret. She became famous for her starring roles in Bye Bye Birdie, Viva Las Vegas, The Cincinnati Kid, Carnal Knowledge, and Tommy...
at the Las Vegas Hilton
Las Vegas Hilton
The Las Vegas Hilton is a hotel, casino, and convention center in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is a joint venture between Colony Capital, which owns 60 percent, and New York City-based REIT Whitehall Street Real Estate Funds, which owns the remaining 40 percent...
and Marty Robbins
Marty Robbins
Martin David Robinson , known professionally as Marty Robbins, was an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist...
in Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of , it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is , making it the USA's second-deepest...
. He was a guest star on Hilly Rose
Hilly Rose
Hilly Rose is an American radio personality and a pioneer of the talk radio format. He currently specializes in paranormal events, with shows available from Fate and guest host appearances Coast to Coast AM. He also writes a monthly column for FATE Magazine.-Early career:Rose began his career as a...
' talk show in the 1970s, and eventually was given his own talk shows on KMPC and KFI. When Falkenstein performed his mental feats on KGBS Radio Star Theatre, which broadcast from Universal Studios, the switchboard reflected ten thousand incoming calls per day. Mr. Falkenstein appeared on The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
, That's Incredible!
That's Incredible!
That's Incredible! was an American reality television show that aired on the ABC television network from 1980 to 1984.-Synopsis:In the tradition of You Asked For It, Ripley's Believe It or Not! and Real People, the show featured people performing stunts and reenactments of allegedly paranormal events...
, The Merv Griffin Show
The Merv Griffin Show
The Merv Griffin Show is an American television talk show, starring Merv Griffin. The series ran from October 1, 1962 to March 29, 1963 on NBC, September 20, 1965 to September 26, 1969 in first-run syndication, from August 18, 1969 to February 11, 1972 at 11:30 PM ET weeknights on CBS and again in...
, ABC's Wide World of Entertainment
ABC's Wide World of Entertainment
ABC's Wide World of Entertainment is a late night block of programs created by the American Broadcasting Company. It premiered on January 8, 1973 and ended three years later.-Program schedule:...
, The Best of Magic - Thames TV
Thames Television
Thames Television was a licensee of the British ITV television network, covering London and parts of the surrounding counties on weekdays from 30 July 1968 until 31 December 1992....
, The Paul Daniels Magic Show
Paul Daniels
Paul Daniels, born Newton Edward Daniels on 6 April 1938, is a British magician and television performer. He achieved international fame through his television series The Paul Daniels Magic Show, which ran on the BBC from 1979 to 1994.-Early life:...
- BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, Mandrake's Award - Paris, Magic Olympics - Asahi TV Tokyo
TV Asahi
, also known as EX and , is a Japanese television network headquartered in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The company writes its name in lower-case letters, tv asahi, in its logo and public-image materials. The company also owns All-Nippon News Network....
, Magicians' Favorite Magicians - CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
and was featured on his own special on SBS television in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
to a viewing audience of over ten million.
Falkenstein and his partner/wife, Frances Willard, have been consecutive award-winners at the world-famous Magic Castle
The Magic Castle
The Magic Castle, located at 7001 Franklin Avenue in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California, is a nightclub for magicians and magic enthusiasts, as well as the clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts. It bills itself as "the most unusual private club in the world."-Nightclub:The Magic...
in Hollywood, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
where they were Honorary Life Members. The Academy of Magical Arts
Academy of Magical Arts
The Academy of Magical Arts is a California non profit mutual benefit corporation organized and devoted to the promotion and development of the art of magic.Although begun in 1952 as a loose association of magicians by William Larsen, Sr...
voted Falkenstein Stage Magician of The Year two consecutive years. In 1978, Glenn joined forces with Frances Willard, daughter of legendary tent showman Harry "Willard the Wizard". Together,the couple presented Glenn's signature blindfold
Mentalism
Mentalism is a performing art in which its practitioners, known as mentalists, appear to demonstrate highly developed mental or intuitive abilities. Performances may appear to include telepathy, clairvoyance, divination, precognition, psychokinesis, mediumship, mind control, memory feats and rapid...
act followed by the classic Willard Spirit Cabinet. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Falkenstein & Willard entertained countless film stars, socialites, and national leaders with their classic feats of mentalism. In 1990, Frances Willard & Glenn Falkenstein received the prestigious Jack Stuart "DRAGON Award" presented to couples who integrated drama, romance, artistry, glamour, originality and necromancy into their acts. Glenn and Frances also received "The Dunninger Award" and "Milbourne Christopher Award" for outstanding feats in mentalism. In 1994, Glenn Falkenstein was inducted into The Society of American Magicians' Hall of Fame as a living legend.
Perhaps his greatest feat was balancing two separate careers, and many people were unaware that he successfully wore two professional hats. He earned his Master's degree from Pepperdine University and worked for years at the Los Angeles County Office of Education as a Speech Pathologist. The careers complimented the other, and he used his magic skills to aid young people overcoming speech defects. He was constantly amazed at the positive impact that magic had on special children. Among his most memorable shows were performing for President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, at the inaugural dinner for President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, and at Her Majesty's Theatre
Her Majesty's Theatre
Her Majesty's Theatre is a West End theatre, in Haymarket, City of Westminster, London. The present building was designed by Charles J. Phipps and was constructed in 1897 for actor-manager Herbert Beerbohm Tree, who established the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art at the theatre...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's West End
West End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
. Falkenstein brought his ESP Act and Spirit Theatre to countless charitable organizations; along with magic colleagues David Copperfield
David Copperfield (illusionist)
David Copperfield is an Emmy Award-winning American illusionist, and was described by Forbes as the most commercially successful magician in history. Copperfield's network specials have been nominated for 38 Emmy Awards and won a total of 21 Emmys...
and Lance Burton
Lance Burton
Lance Burton is a stage illusionist. He has appeared on numerous television programs, and also performed for Queen Elizabeth and President Ronald Reagan...
, Glenn helped Children's Village, USA raise enough funds to pay off its mortgage.