(Hank) Moorehouse 1934 – 2011 - The Society of American Magicians

Lucille Pierce
and the Sorcerer’s
Apprentices
52 M-U-M Magazine
By Tom Ewing
Digital Photo Restoration by Gene Voshell
A
s all fraternal magic organizations know,
a promising future depends on the ability
to attract and retain young people to the
hobby. Currently, the S.A.M.’s Society
of Young Magicians (S.Y.M.) is a shining
example.
Over the years, there have been many efforts aimed at helping
young people develop in the art; several have arisen from magic
shop owners. Take for example the personalized approach of
Baltimore magic shop owner Phil Thomas, who offered personalized
tips, suggestions, thoughts, and guidance in lengthy correspondence
he conducted with budding magicians.
In the Midwest in the early 1930s there was Vernon Lux,
first president and founder of the International Society of Junior
Magicians. Some of the young magicians he helped develop
and who later became famous in the magic world include Harry
Riser, Jimmy Grippo, and Neil Foster. Later clubs included the
American Magical Society, Lads of Legerdemain, Magic Youths
International, Young Magicians of America, and others.
In the 1940s in Philadelphia, the person who shepherd-
ed young magicians was Lucille Saxon. She was a talented
magician, puppeteer, and manager of the Philadelphia branch of
Holden’s Magic Company. The group she formed and supported
was appropriately named, “The Sorcerer’s Apprentices.”
Saxon was born Lucille Pierce in Boston, and graduated from
Briar Cliff College and Columbia University with a major in
chemistry. After graduation, she gave up scientific pursuits and
in 1928 joined up as an assistant for Harry Blackstone Sr. She
was married to another Blackstone cast member, Frank Luckner,
who served as prop master and onstage assistant for the show.
During their time with the show, Lucille and Frank had three
children, Todd, Pamela, and Judy; they divorced in 1935.
Frank continued on with Blackstone until 1939, when he married
another cast member, Bernadotta “Bunny” Smith, who was the
levitated “Princess Karnac,” and left to pursue his own magic
career. Lucille had already struck out on her own. Their children
eventually went to
live with Luckner’s
parents in Corning,
New York. In 1943,
Lucille landed the job
managing Holden’s
Magic Shop in Philadelphia,
a position she
held until just after
World War II.
Perhaps it was
the fresh supply of
youngsters hanging
around the Holden’s
shop at 117 South
Broad Street, or
maybe she missed
her children, but
regardless, she
soon founded the
Sorcerer’s Apprentices.
The club was
created for aspiring
young magicians
fourteen to eighteen,
ages at which they
Holden’s Catalog
were too young to join the local S.A.M. or I.B.M. clubs. Of
course, there were also exclusive adult groups in the city
like The Houdini Club and The Yogi Club, but again, not for
youngsters.
Not surprisingly, members of her club benefited greatly from
her operation of Holden’s and her connections in magic. The
group initially met at the Y.M.C.A. at Broad and Arch Streets in
downtown Philadelphia, and later at the Sylvania Hotel, across
the street from her shop. In its later years it met in an office
building on Arch Street. The club was open to all interested
youngsters, but the first demand she made of her students was
commitment. Members could miss a meeting for personal or
emergency reasons, but miss two in a row and they were out.
While other clubs for young magicians focused on learning
and swapping tricks, Saxon also offered her members wellgrounded
instruction on such things as making a nice appearance,
interacting with and managing your audience, getting
applause, and the art of stage presentation. Magic tricks were
certainly taught and learned, but Saxon believed performing
magic required the development of well-rounded entertainers.
She was also connected with the stars of magic and personal
friends with Dell O’Dell, Jack Gwynne, Tommy Windsor, Al