More Dave Bourne

This time with Pop Hayden's Medicine Show

Two Legends and Magic

Dean Martin and Orson Wells

RIP Dave Bourne

I was introduced to the music of Prof. Dave Bourne through my friend Pop Haydn. I love the old saloon piano music and  Prof. Bourne was keeping it alive wonderfully. It is with sadness that I relate the news that Dave Bourne has shuffled off this mortal coil. Soapy Smith Night at The Magic Castle will never be the same. Rest in Peace, Professor. You've earned it.

The Medicine Show

Since the show in The Parlor is based on the medicine show we might as well start there. The medicine show, as we know it, started in the late 19th Century. Before that, wandering entertainers, especially magicians were known to use their entertainment as a hook to listen to a sales pitch for patent medicines, hair powder, tooth powder, pomade or some kind of amulet or charm.

Over time the show became something of a variety show and the main product became the patent medicines (more about those in another post). They would come to a locale for a few days providing entertainment and "health care" before leaving...either as planned or being chased out.

 Here is a clip from a 1932 movie, ffeaturing two legendary performers, Jimmy Durante and George M Cohan (this is the only known film of Cohan performing. If you have seen the Cohan bio-picm "Yankee Doodle Dandy" you will see that James Cagney did study Cohan's style and immitated it well)

 

PS: The above clip is from The Phantom President (1932)

Not Just a Blog

Welcome to The Parlor. This is my new blog based on my stage name, Professor Jay Carrol. This blog is about magic and illusion. It is alos going to serve as the announcement page for an exciting new venture coming this spring, the opening of The Professor's Parlor.

The Parlor is a small intimate theater located in the den of my house. Great entertainment venue for small parties or meetings or a family outing. More details will be following as we get closer to opening.

It is my desire that this site is as entertaining as the Parlor its self. All magic and fun. No politics, sociology or anything else to remind us of the cares of the day. God knows there's enough of that.