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ODD JOBS: He's a magic man
Stage performances run in Glenn Bishop's family
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| Ryan Prewitt PHoto Glenn Bishop, better known as "Bish the Magish," gets a laugh out of Allyson Solimando, 5, while performing at Pizza Street in O'Fallon. Bishop entertains Pizza Street customers with his magic every Tuesday. |
Just ask him. His family history will amaze you as much as his magic tricks.
Glenn, 51, of St. Charles is a second-generation magician; his dad's performing credits include "The Ed Sullivan Show," "The Mike Douglas Show," "Bozo's Circus," Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe nightclub in New York City, and his own TV show in Milwaukee with puppet rabbit Witi.His dad, Billy, met Glenn's mother, Ann, in the back of a vaudeville show in Portland, Ore. She dropped singing and dancing to become his assistant, and from there, "Bish the Magish" became "Billy Bishop an' Ann."
Along came six children, including Glenn, who took turns traveling to see Billy's acts.
"I was bitten by the bug when I was real young," Glenn said. "It's the only thing I ever wanted to do."
But if Glenn wanted to do magic, his dad told him, he'd have to learn the old-fashioned way: read some books and practice, practice, practice.
Glenn started at age 8. Birthday parties were his business. His first show was built out of cardboard tubes and coffee cans. Five years later, he got his first trick out of Billy's collection: a magic dye box.
"I thought at that particular time that I had arrived," Glenn said. "I finally made it. He was finally taking me seriously."
Shows expanded from there. After a short hiatus from the business during his teen years, Glenn started doing close-up magic at parties when he was 17.
What sets Glenn apart is his ability to perform all types of magic: big stage illusions; stage cabaret, which you might find at nightclubs; and close-up magic, such as card and coin tricks at a small table.
Glenn's career includes all three types, as well as work as a puppeteer and hypnotist. He has performed at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, as well as dozens of restaurants, schools, businesses and festivals across the country.
He took on the name "Bish the Magish" about five years ago in honor of the late Billy Bishop, who died in 1999. Carrying on his father's legacy, as well as earning his own recognition in the magic world, is a huge honor, Glenn said.
Professions aren't the only parallels in Glenn and Billy's lives. Glenn met his wife, Joyce, at a nightclub in Chicago, and she, too, took on the role of assistant. The move was mostly out of duty, she said, although it had its perks: "It was very exciting! Especially when you're being penetrated by 37 magic wands."
Glenn also picked up some pointers on presentation from his father. He can project his voice and talk to the audience with the best of 'em, he said.
But in the end, Glenn didn't need his dad to pave the way. Everything he did pointed him back in one direction like a magic wand.
"I was even a bartender for a short time, and I did magic in the bar," he said. "I was the worst bartender on the planet, but I started doing magic. It was so popular, the owner came over to me and said, 'Look, Glenn. You're the worst bartender I've ever seen in my life. You're totally hopeless. You're absolutely awful. But we'll pay you a bartender's wage - just do magic.'"
WATCH THE VIDEO
Go to stcharlesjournal.stltoday.com to view a video of "Bish the Magish" in action.
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Tom Holbrook wrote on Mar 26, 2008 9:38 AM:
" Glenn is helping to keep the magic alive in the Chicago area. His father's Magic shop was big fun and Billy was a class act! Best to you Glenn.
Tom Holbrook
(Tommy Brooks-Magician) "
Tom Holbrook
(Tommy Brooks-Magician) "