BERGERON, Bev (1930 – 2020). Bev Bergeron’s “Professional G...

BERGERON, Bev (1930 – 2020). Bev Bergeron’s “Professional Goofer” Golf Act Props. Circa 1963. A deluxe leather golf bag on adjustable wheeled cart, together with over twenty gimmicked and specially constructed golf clubs (vanishing, appearing, folding, shooting (ala a shooting wand), ball-producing, and others), along with several real clubs, and a very large quantity of multiplying golf ball gimmicks (many manufactured by Fakini), a giant wooden tee and matching giant golf ball, and a motorized seat used at the finale of the routine in which the golf bag itself apparently pulled Bergeron off of the stage. Sold together with an illustrated 50-page manuscript written by Bergeron (and SIGNED) that describes the history and performance of the golf act and includes a detailed performance script, a Hi Sign trick incorporating Bergeron’s name, a vintage 8 x 10” photo of Bergeron dressed for the golf act, plus brochures and other ephemera, and a lengthy email message from Bergeron regarding the act to the consignor. A unique set of props for this well-considered and professionally used act developed by one of magic’s earliest television stars.Russ Walsh, a Chicago steel salesman, was also a polished semi-professional magician and was likely the first performer to present a golf-themed magic act aimed at the country club, resort, and hotel market. Jay Marshall presented a version of Wash’s act on occasion, but it was Bergeron who developed the routine more fully and presented it most frequently. His first successes as a magician were as Rebo the Clown on the Magic Land of Alakazzam with Mark Wilson, but thanks to the creation of this golf act and other specialty turns, Bergeron enjoyed a long and successful career as a magician working for many years at Walt Disney World in Florida as part of the Diamond Horseshoe Review.