Nisha Rathode (Editor)

Al Cohen (magician)

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Name
  
Al Cohen


Role
  
Magician

Full Name
  
Alfred Lee Cohen

Born
  
January 11, 1926 (age 98) (
1926-01-11
)
Wilmington, Delaware

Known for
  
Magic Dealer & Performer, Magic Demonstrator

Awards
  
October 2, 1984, declared "Al Cohen Day" by City of Washington DC

One cup coins half by al cohen www mjmmagic com


Al Cohen (born 1926) was the owner, and a well-known demonstrator of magic tricks, at Al's Magic Shop in Washington, D.C.

Contents

Biography

In 1936 at age 10, Al Cohen began working at his father Macye Cohen's gift shop, "The Oriental Bazaar" in Washington, D.C., which would eventually evolve into Al's Magic Shop. He became a very successful demonstrator for the store, and became widely known among magicians for his abilities at demonstrating magic tricks.

Al's Magic Shop, located on the west side of Vermont Avenue between K and L Streets, NW, had an array of famous customers over the years, who included (in addition to virtually every well-known performing magician at the time who passed through D.C.): George H.W. Bush, Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, Henny Youngman, and Muhammad Ali, among any number of other TV and film celebrities, prominent government officials and politicians, and a variety of other well-known personalities.

As a performer, Al has played many venues, including among others: four times at the White House, on early Washington TV, and at birthday parties, magic conventions and corporate events.

Al retired from running the shop in 2002, and it was closed in 2004.

Honors

  • The City of Washington, D.C., declared October 2, 1984, "Al Cohen Day".
  • Quotes

    "Al Cohen is not only one of the most honest and respected dealers in the world, he is above all else a gentleman. I have yet to meet a magician who doesn't hold Al Cohen in the highest regard." — Larry Becker

    Publications

  • "Magical Mish-Mosh (and Other Tricky Trivia)", by Al Cohen, 1985.
  • "John Murray's 'One Cup & Coin': Reprinted from 'Another Close-up Cavalcade' by John Murray" - 14 pages, copyright Jerry Mentzer, John Murray & Al Cohen, 1994
  • "Memoirs of a Magic Dealer", by Al Cohen, GENII, Dec. 2007, p. 16.
  • References

    Al Cohen Wikipedia