Select Secrets: Rare & Important Magicana

Flosso, Al (Albert Levinson). Al Flosso’s Punch and Judy Puppets. A colorful set of nine early- to mid-twentieth century carved wooden Punch and Judy puppets, made by FEB Figures (Foy E. Brown), George “Pinxy” Larson, and unknown makers, and comprised of ten puppets: Mr. Punch, Judy, the clown (marked by Pinxy), devil, alligator (with rabbit fur collar), baby, constable, and three other male characters. Sizes vary, generally 16” to 19”. Several figures, especially those of older manufacture, with significant wear to finish and tears or holes in clothing and chips to wooden elements; several with evidence of heavy repainting and the clown with a tube (for spitting effect) replaced; but overall a handsome set owned and used by one of America’s foremost comedy magicians and Punch workers. Flosso, who billed himself as both the “Jewish Cowboy from New York,” and more famously, “The Coney Island Fakir,” (pronounced “faker”) was a unique personality and a hilariously funny entertainer who, despite a ramshackle appearance, became a favorite of New York’s elite. Entertaining at high society functions for decades, Flosso combined the best of what he’d learned on circus sideshows and bally platforms at Coney Island to create a hectic, hilarious, and amazing routine of fast-paced magic tricks. And while Flosso is best remembered as a comedy magician and magic shop owner with a comedic version of the venerable Miser’s Dream at the centerpiece of his act (“Stand up straight, boy, stand up straight!”), he was also an adept and masterful Punch & Judy worker, presenting the funny and violent puppet show nearly as often as his magic act – if not more. He’d learned much of the routine from his father-in-law, Louis “Pop” Krieger, who also made a career entertaining wealthy New Yorkers nearly as often as he worked the streets of the Bowery.