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- A grand master of the sleight of hand was the illusionist and conjurer Richard Valentine Pitchford. Fascinated by magic from early childhood, Pitchford perfected his card manipulations in the trenches of World War I and while recovering in a Southampton hospital from wounds received in combat. After being mustered out, he unsuccessfully tried his hand at ventriloquism, then made ends meet as a stoker in the engine room of a tramp steamer. Pitchford eventually arrived in Australia as a steward on a passenger liner and it was there that he first acquired his reputation as a first-rate magician, having wisely adopted the catchy stage name 'Cardini'. Typically attired in top hat, cape, monocle and white gloves, Cardini proceeded to tour Australia and then Canada. He arrived in the United States in 1926 and soon delighted audiences with intricate magic routines using cards, billiard balls, thimbles, lighted cigarettes and cigars, often assuming the persona of a tipsy London gent. He played at packed venues -- including Radio City Music Hall and the London Palladium -- to perfectly choreographed music and stage effects. Cardini performed no less than eight times at the White House (F.D.R. used to refer to him as "The Suave Deceiver"). In 1933, he entertained the King of England at a Royal Command Performance. The Welsh-born master conjurer was thrice elected president of the Society of American Magicians. He died in New York in November 1973 at the age of 77.
- Valmore Warren was born on January 27, 1942 in Newburgh, New York. Warren attended West Street Elementary School, North Junior High School, and Newburgh Free Academy. Val was a writer, illustrator, and associate editor for the fanzine Kaleidoscope in the early 1960's. In 1964 Warren won first place in a national horror make-up contest sponsored by the legendary publication Famous Monsters of Filmland; as a direct result of winning said contest Warren appeared in the frothy American International Pictures romp Bikini Beach (1964) in a bit part as the Teenage Werewolf Monster sporting his prize-winning make-up. Val was a member of the rock group The Crashing Crescendoes in the mid-1960's. He later went on to become a singer, songwriter, and guitarist in the folk-rock vein. In 1979 Warren wrote the book "Lost Lands, Mythical Kingdoms, and Unknown Worlds." Moreover, Val not only worked as a graphics designer, but also was an avid fan of and noted authority on Buddy Holly. Warren was married to wife Jill; the couple had a son, Jem. He died from cancer at age 69 on July 25, 2011 in Gardiner, New York.
- Music Department
Steve Lynnworth was born on 16 March 1967 in Massachusetts, USA. Steve is known for SideSitters (2003). Steve was married to Nadine Zdanovich. Steve died on 25 May 2023 in West Gardiner, Maine, USA.- Carleton Mabee was born on 25 December 1914 in French Concession, Shanghai, China. He was a writer, known for Pulitzer Prize Playhouse (1950). He was married to Norma Arline Dierking. He died on 18 December 2014 in Gardiner, New York, USA.