Bio-Vlog

J. C. Wagner reads aloud to me a review in Genii Magazine titled, “The Vernon Touch.” “Recently at The Magic Castle I had the pleasure of watching Richard Turner do some superlative coin manipulations.  He does the coin roll with five different size coins at one time which is amazing enough, but then he did…

I immediately shift the audience’s attention to five coins that I hold in my right hand. “Here,” I say, “I have five shiny silver half-dollars. Now watch closely.”  I execute a secret move and I am now rolling one coin across my left knuckles, and four coins across my right knuckles. The piece magically ends…

The big night has finally arrived, and I’m standing apprehensively behind the curtain separating me from the audience seated in the Magic Castle’s Close-Up Gallery.  The host pokes his head in and asks, “Richard, are you ready?” “I think so,” I say, as I wipe my moist hands down the legs of my pants, for…

I’m sitting in one of the new theater seats, focused on practicing when Steve Terrell asks, “Rick, can we talk?”  We move to the conference area of our newly renovated Lamb’s Players Theater.  “Rick,” Steve says, “You are now good enough to be a professional performer. With your talents, I think you are ready to…

“At my table we have top casino game protection expert Steve Forte, along with mentalist Max Maven.  Max, there are elements of magic and mentalism that are unseen. How does that relate to Richard?” “First, Jon, I think a very general statement that can be made about magic is that it helps remind us, things…

I realize that technique alone will not make it. I definitely got that message from the Castle judge whom compared me to Robinson Crusoe. So part of the mix must include appropriate dress and showmanship. Since I have wanted to emulate Maverick since I was a kid, I decide I’m going to imitate his slick,…

I’m with Bernelle Hansen sitting in the back row of the Lamb’s Players Theater, depressed about my five failures in a row.  Steve works his way to the back and takes a seat next to us. He heard about my contest and audition failures and says, “Rick, you have the skills and love cards, but…

Next, I follow after Armando on the Gong Show, who has received first place…for the fourth time, mind you. I performed my multiplying eggs from mouth. But, unlike the first place winner Armando, I am only awarded a second place prize, walking away with a new set of forks, knifes and spoons. This is another…

I’m scheduled to do my audition to become a member of the Magic Castle, which should give me more quality time with the Professor. I start my audition with some fancy fans, springing the cards from one hand to the other. Then I perform a one handed shuffle in each hand, simultaneously.  Now I’m ready…

Each time another magician comes to hang out, Marlo asks me to demonstrate my card act. He asks so many times, I’m beginning to believe he really enjoys my presentation. Marlo confides, “I’m very impressed with your two-card push-off second deal! It is exceptionally deceptive, and simulates the real thing.”  Marlo confesses, “I frequently miss.…

Due to my gradually worsening eyesight I am obsessed with chasing after every first-hand exhibition of card-hustling I can experience. The top card man from the east is Ed Marlo. (Marlo was born on October 10, 1913, and was christened Edward Malkowski, a befitting name for a native Chicagoan from the north side…a man that…

I’m continually goaded and chided by Giorgio and Larry Jennings. Their blunt, denunciating words are often hard for me to take but, little do they know that their verbal abuse serves to spur me onward. Compared to receiving a painful punch from Murphy, their verbal chidings are, ironically, like a congratulatory slap on the back.…