Karrell Fox

Karrell Fox
Born January 30, 1928
Rainelle, West Virginia, U.S.
Died March 12, 1998 (1998-03-13) (aged 70)
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Resting place Lakeside Cemetery, Colon, Michigan
Nationality American
Occupation Illusionist, magician
Known for comedy, card magic, stage magic
Spouse(s) Lynn Fox
Children 2

Karrell Fox (January 30, 1928 – March 12, 1998) was a 20th-century American magician. When he was a child, his parents operated a small restaurant in Rainelle, West Virginia. A customer bolted without paying his bill, but left behind a few small tricks. With these, Karrell began his magic career.[1] Fox appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1946, aged 18. Karrell Fox and Roy Kissell were very dear friends, but contrary to popular belief, Karrell did not have any part of Roy Kissell’s Fox Fun ‘N Magic Shop that was located in Detroit, Michigan.[9]

He was one of the first Trade Show magicians and billed himself as "King of Korn". He created the "Magic World of Ford" for the Ford Motor Company and toured with it for many years. He later had his own TV show, performing as "Milky the Clown". He was a regular performer[2] at Abbott's Get Together, surpassed only by Gordon Miller, an Abbott's employee/performer.

Fox traditionally MC'ed and performed on the closing (Saturday evening) show of the Get-Together and the "act" was a lampoon of the other acts of that year's Get-Together and other happenings of note from the Get-Together. Duke Stern and Abb Dickson were Karrell's "Partner in Fun" for more than 25 years, performing with him at magic conventions all over the world. The scripts were written by Fox, Stern, Abb Dickson and other member of the troupe who had an idea. For several years Fox wrote the "FOX-TALES" Column in "TOPS" magazine.[3] Fox served as the 48th President of the International Brotherhood of Magicians (1986–1987).

To quote another magic legend, Harry Blackstone, Jr.

...The strongest possible effects achieved with the simplest possible methods has always been the Fox formula.[4]

Fox appeared on the Australian Magic Convention public show line-up June 8–11, 1984.[5] In 1993 Fox gave a tour of Colon's Cemetery, filled with legendary magicians that have passed, during the Abbott Magic Get-Together. This tradition has been carried on by Al The Only of Hawaii.[6]

Personal life

Fox was married to his "child bride" (as he often referred to her), Lynn, and had two sons, Karlin (a combination of Karrell's and Lynn's names) and Darin.

Death

He died in 1998 while attending the Las Vegas Desert Magic Seminar, aged 70, from undisclosed causes. Fox was interred at Lakeside Cemetery in Colon, Michigan.[7]

Honors and awards

In 1996, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars was dedicated to him.[8]

He also received:

Contributions

Published works

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Biographies Page F–G – Karrell Fox".
  2. ↑ "regular performer".
  3. ↑ "Karrell Fox MagicPedia entry".
  4. ↑ "The Fox Files". Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Australian Magic Convention".
  6. ↑ "Lakeside Cemetery tour with Karrell Fox". Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  7. ↑ Karrell Fox at Find a Grave
  8. ↑ Palm Springs Walk of Stars: Listed by date dedicated

9. Al The Only, The Magic Graveyard [1] 2015, p. 141


  1. ↑ The Magic Graveyard,
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