The Bio-Vlog

Bobby Yerkes comes over, slaps me on the back and says, “You will be playing to some of the most celebrated entertainers in show-biz. Go get’em. They’re all rich. Take their money. Take it all!”With pocketed cards, I grab my miniature green felted poker table…

On another auspicious occasion, my stuntman friend, Bobby Yerkes, books me to entertain at a party honoring the 1984 Emmy Award winners for behind-the-scenes categories: writers, producers, production people, and so on. Right away the technical producer approaches me and says sternly, “Your wife Janalee…

After the 1982 wedding, in Genii Magazine Vernon pens:  “A few days after returning to Hollywood, Bill Bowers, who amazes everyone by his generosity and thoughtfulness, drove Chris Michaels and his wife, Evelyn, Judy Dolan, and myself to San Diego to attend Richard Turner’s wedding.…

I pocket my cards and we eventually make it to the ceremony, where vows are successfully exchanged. After the wedding, my sister Lori comes up to me and asks thoroughly disgusted, “What kind of evil woman have you married? Janalee just came up to me…

(Vernon is my best man, and he’s dressed in classic gambling dandy attire, replete with top hat and cane. The outfit has been furnished by MGM Studios and Jim Blowers, not surprisingly, is my best sidekick.) Professor and I have sequestered ourselves in the minister’s…

To further improve the odds of this marriage succeeding, I purchase another home and rent out the others. It is a six bedroom, three bath home that includes a photographic dark room. It is entirely solar-heated, and the bathroom tiles heat up at an appropriate…

I’m minding my own business on the floor of a Vegas casino when I think I’m being kidnapped. I freeze with concern when four burly African-American men approach me. One says, “Richard Turner, you’re coming with us!”   I stiffen, ready to hold my ground thinking…

Ricky Jay and I have sunk all of our balls and are fighting for the 8 ball for the win. The room is dead quiet. I can feel dozens of eyes watching my every move. It’s my shot. I circle the table about five times…

It’s Dai Vernon’s 88th birthday and we are celebrating it at Bill Bower’s beautiful home.  We all start playing pool. I win the first two games, holding the table, and the next to play is Ricky Jay. (Jay has gained significant notoriety, appearing on many…

At my table sharing with me their observations are again pick-pocket King Bob Arno, gaming protection expert Steve Forte and a new guest cardman Simon Lovell. Gentleman please carry on.” “Of course Jon.” Arno says, “I believe Richard’s drive to overcome every challenge, is a…