I spent a lot of time in Al Flosso’s magic shop in NYC back in the early 1970’s. He truly was a character. After buying some tricks, before he let you leave the store, you had to show him that you had a subway token to get home. What fond memories I have of him.
Was he one of those guys from Vaudeville who languished for a while after the advent of talkies, but found new audiences when TV cropped up? I know Milton Berle and Jack Benny are among the large numbers of performers who did so. This bit is a master class in tramp/charlatan magician patter. He even had the notoriously stone-faced Sullivan smiling. Did he keep up the patter with his shop customers, or did he play it straight, except when demonstrating a gag? Man, I'll bet he had a jillion stories. I'm old -- 68 -- so I remember loads of the acts on _TESS,_ as well as _Hollywood Palace_ and other variety shows. I've always been fascinated with the distinct feel of Vaude. I wish I could have talked with some of those folks, but they're long gone now.
I seen this footage on The Best of The Ed Sullivan Show Christmas Show hosted by Bob Newhart in 1992 magician Al Flosse(October 10,1895-May 13,1976) this is Al on Toast of The Town from 1950 this is here is hilarious and he talks like W.C. Fields😀👍🏿😆😆😆
Flosso's act did influence many performers. Fred "Manipalo" Harris had worked on the same sideshows with Flosso and his act followed Flosso's format. Many said in his time Fred was very good...Jay Marshall said better than good, but of course Al Flosso was the best! Some of my fondest memories are going to his magic store in NYC and hearing his stories.
people think tv made careers out of nothing but nothing could be further from the truth...it destroyed FAR more careers than it made....because in 20 minutes the whole country knew your act that people around the country before tv would come out and pay to see..but with tv exposure you were forced to develop new material constantly which destroyed many performers including many top stars who just could not keep up the pace////read a book of the beginning of tv to understands this more it is very fascinating and something i bet you never thought about
Actually TV created the desire to see performers in person. Many variety, circus, magic acts, etc. made lifetime careers on the strength of an appearance on Sullivan. Reading old copies of THE BILLBOARD or VARIETY, every new technology...phonograph, radio, talking pictures, TV, the internet, etc., was feared to discourage the need to see live performers but the opposite was always true. People wanted to experience, "As seen on TV" for themselves. True, changes did take over live venues like vaudeville, and make other genres like circuses, nite clubs less workable, but those who knew how to make the new media work for them and not treat it as the enemy succeeded.
That guy was hilarious! He had his routine down!!😂😂🤣💜
I spent a lot of time in Al Flosso’s magic shop in NYC back in the early 1970’s. He truly was a character. After buying some tricks, before he let you leave the store, you had to show him that you had a subway token to get home. What fond memories I have of him.
Was he one of those guys from Vaudeville who languished for a while after the advent of talkies, but found new audiences when TV cropped up? I know Milton Berle and Jack Benny are among the large numbers of performers who did so. This bit is a master class in tramp/charlatan magician patter. He even had the notoriously stone-faced Sullivan smiling. Did he keep up the patter with his shop customers, or did he play it straight, except when demonstrating a gag? Man, I'll bet he had a jillion stories. I'm old -- 68 -- so I remember loads of the acts on _TESS,_ as well as _Hollywood Palace_ and other variety shows. I've always been fascinated with the distinct feel of Vaude. I wish I could have talked with some of those folks, but they're long gone now.
👏👏Very entertaining.
That was very grewt and funny. Real Magic. 😂😂😂
I seen this footage on The Best of The Ed Sullivan Show Christmas Show hosted by Bob Newhart in 1992 magician Al Flosse(October 10,1895-May 13,1976) this is Al on Toast of The Town from 1950 this is here is hilarious and he talks like W.C. Fields😀👍🏿😆😆😆
What a great routine.
Thanks for this slice of Vaudeville history although the member of the audience could have been more relaxed….😂!
Have a great day!
😂😂😂😂GREAT THANK S
👍🏼👍🏼
An absolute genius, often poorly imitatedNEVER surpassed.
Flosso's act did influence many performers. Fred "Manipalo" Harris had worked on the same sideshows with Flosso and his act followed Flosso's format. Many said in his time Fred was very good...Jay Marshall said better than good, but of course Al Flosso was the best!
Some of my fondest memories are going to his magic store in NYC and hearing his stories.
@@diego-search Do you remember any good stories? I'll bet he met a jillion great performers.
😂😂😂😂😂❤❤❤😂😂 😂really cute skit
Sullivan smoked.
people think tv made careers out of nothing but nothing could be further from the truth...it destroyed FAR more careers than it made....because in 20 minutes the whole country knew your act that people around the country before tv would come out and pay to see..but with tv exposure you were forced to develop new material constantly which destroyed many performers including many top stars who just could not keep up the pace////read a book of the beginning of tv to understands this more it is very fascinating and something i bet you never thought about
Actually TV created the desire to see performers in person. Many variety, circus, magic acts, etc. made lifetime careers on the strength of an appearance on Sullivan.
Reading old copies of THE BILLBOARD or VARIETY, every new technology...phonograph, radio, talking pictures, TV, the internet, etc., was feared to discourage the need to see live performers but the opposite was always true. People wanted to experience, "As seen on TV" for themselves.
True, changes did take over live venues like vaudeville, and make other genres like circuses, nite clubs less workable, but those who knew how to make the new media work for them and not treat it as the enemy succeeded.