Bio-Vlog

Due to my fighting in Tijuana; cliff diving; and my motorcycle riding days – along with other extreme endeavors – I have been told, more than once, that I over-react in everything I do. As a consequence, many of my friends assume that I’m an unrepentant action junky hooked on the adrenalin rushes derived from…

I just finished a show that included, Monty Hall, Jimmy Stewart and James Caan. Yerkes places his hand on my shoulder and says, “Rick, follow me. There are some other celebrities who would like to see your magic.” As we approach the group, Yerkes says, “Let me introduce you to these three men. In the…

“I’m seated aboard a beautiful yacht with film star and magician John Calvert and SWAT Team Leader Chuck Curtis. Gents, what personal qualities did you detect when you first met Richard?” “Jon,” Calvert says, “I would say tenacity. Tammy and I often reminisce about the visitors we have had on board our boat The Magic…

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 and supporting stand. I enter the room and find…

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 is designated as a tag-along. Tell her to remain inconspicuous.…

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. There were nearly 150 guests at the church wedding. Afterwards…

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 and snarled, ‘you now might be my sister-in-law, but that…

(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 library. We can’t help but break out the cards, and…

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 time to welcome bathers into the Jacuzzi. Additional physical trappings…

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 firmly, “I don’t think so!”  Then Siegfried and Roy’s manager…

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 trying to get a picture in my mind of the…

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 talk shows for throwing playing cards to record-setting distances.)  There…