Information taken from an article by By Leslie P. Guest in M-U-M, January 1966
Arnold Belais passed away on January 1, 1973 in New York City, his lifetime home.
Through his inventions and unusual routines, mostly dealing with cigars, cigarettes and pipes, Arnold Belais has earned the title of "Smo-King"; but among his many friends in provincial New York City he is affectionately known as "The Rube Goldberg of Magic."
This is because Arnold is eternally experimenting, and coming up with weird concoctions of magic -halfbaked, un-rehearsed, but ingenious; and often snapped up and put to use by professional performers. Our perfectionist member, Dai Vernon once remarked, "I would rather watch one of Arnold Belais' experimental routines than see a three-year magic student essay all the moves in Erdnase."
You can kid Arnold, and many people do; but all admire him for his long and devoted service to magic and to our Society. Just think - S.A.M. Member No. 414, who joined in 1912 - thus has been a Compeer for 53 consecutive years! There are no more than three members living today who can equal his record; yet he has never sought high office, being content to carry out any specific job assigned to him, and doing it well.
Arnold Belais was born November 4, 1890 in New York City, and has always lived here. His first glimpse of magic was at age eight, when a playmate showed him a Ball Vase and other wondrous wood-turnings from a German Magic Set. Later that year he saw Elmer P. Ransom (particularly noted for his Clay Pipes Routine) on the stage of a Sunday School Auditorium. Later, on that same stage he saw Jean Irving, and Roltare Eggleston; then three generations of the Flosso Family - father-in-law Louis (Pop) Krieger, King of the Kups and Balls; then Al Flosso, the Coney Island Faker; then AI's son, Jackie Flosso.
At age twelve he bought his first book on magic - authored by Fred Morphet -at a side-show. From this he learned to blow soap-bubbles magically - the bubbles went up in flames when ignited! This probably started Arnold in pyrotechnics; it is estimated that he has burned holes in more handkerchiefs than any other magician.
Then followed hundreds of shows as an amateur at schools, churches, hospitals, scout meetings and conventions; later the full round of service shows for the American Theatre Wing. In 1910 his picture appeared on the cover of "The American Magician" - we will reproduce that cover for you, if practical. In 1912 he joined the Society of American Magicians, and was initiated in Martinka's Little Back Room Theatre.
About 1938, when Leith Loder started the Parent Assembly Open House Meetings (continuously sparkplugged by Paul Morris), Arnold attended from the inception, and became known as "The Perennial Opener." Since the Open House was dedicated to progress and innovation in magic, this was the right spot for Arnold's experimental routines. One of these developed into his "Multiplying Pipes", featured and sold by Tannen Magic Co. since 1948.
In August of 1961, the "IMPS" was started by Paul Morris and Arnold Belais. The "Independent Magical Performers Society" is an idea for providing training for junior magicians. It was, and is, most successful in its field; and a number of these juniors have since applied for, and attained membership in our Parent Assembly.
Also in 1961 Arnold was appointed Chairman of the Membership Committee of the Parent Assembly, and earned recognition from the National Council for having increased the membership to a greater degree than any other Assembly that year.
Arnold Belais had a long and successful career in Life Insurance, during which he attained the coveted distinction of membership in The Million Dollar Round Table of the National Underwriters. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife, Hortense.
Arnold Belais passed away on January 1, 1973 in New York City, his lifetime home.
Through his inventions and unusual routines, mostly dealing with cigars, cigarettes and pipes, Arnold Belais has earned the title of "Smo-King"; but among his many friends in provincial New York City he is affectionately known as "The Rube Goldberg of Magic."
This is because Arnold is eternally experimenting, and coming up with weird concoctions of magic -halfbaked, un-rehearsed, but ingenious; and often snapped up and put to use by professional performers. Our perfectionist member, Dai Vernon once remarked, "I would rather watch one of Arnold Belais' experimental routines than see a three-year magic student essay all the moves in Erdnase."
You can kid Arnold, and many people do; but all admire him for his long and devoted service to magic and to our Society. Just think - S.A.M. Member No. 414, who joined in 1912 - thus has been a Compeer for 53 consecutive years! There are no more than three members living today who can equal his record; yet he has never sought high office, being content to carry out any specific job assigned to him, and doing it well.
Arnold Belais was born November 4, 1890 in New York City, and has always lived here. His first glimpse of magic was at age eight, when a playmate showed him a Ball Vase and other wondrous wood-turnings from a German Magic Set. Later that year he saw Elmer P. Ransom (particularly noted for his Clay Pipes Routine) on the stage of a Sunday School Auditorium. Later, on that same stage he saw Jean Irving, and Roltare Eggleston; then three generations of the Flosso Family - father-in-law Louis (Pop) Krieger, King of the Kups and Balls; then Al Flosso, the Coney Island Faker; then AI's son, Jackie Flosso.
At age twelve he bought his first book on magic - authored by Fred Morphet -at a side-show. From this he learned to blow soap-bubbles magically - the bubbles went up in flames when ignited! This probably started Arnold in pyrotechnics; it is estimated that he has burned holes in more handkerchiefs than any other magician.
Then followed hundreds of shows as an amateur at schools, churches, hospitals, scout meetings and conventions; later the full round of service shows for the American Theatre Wing. In 1910 his picture appeared on the cover of "The American Magician" - we will reproduce that cover for you, if practical. In 1912 he joined the Society of American Magicians, and was initiated in Martinka's Little Back Room Theatre.
About 1938, when Leith Loder started the Parent Assembly Open House Meetings (continuously sparkplugged by Paul Morris), Arnold attended from the inception, and became known as "The Perennial Opener." Since the Open House was dedicated to progress and innovation in magic, this was the right spot for Arnold's experimental routines. One of these developed into his "Multiplying Pipes", featured and sold by Tannen Magic Co. since 1948.
In August of 1961, the "IMPS" was started by Paul Morris and Arnold Belais. The "Independent Magical Performers Society" is an idea for providing training for junior magicians. It was, and is, most successful in its field; and a number of these juniors have since applied for, and attained membership in our Parent Assembly.
Also in 1961 Arnold was appointed Chairman of the Membership Committee of the Parent Assembly, and earned recognition from the National Council for having increased the membership to a greater degree than any other Assembly that year.
Arnold Belais had a long and successful career in Life Insurance, during which he attained the coveted distinction of membership in The Million Dollar Round Table of the National Underwriters. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife, Hortense.
Information taken from an article by By Leslie P. Guest in M-U-M, January 1966
Arnold Belais passed away on January 1, 1973 in New York City, his lifetime home.
Through his inventions and unusual routines, mostly dealing with cigars, cigarettes and pipes, Arnold Belais has earned the title of "Smo-King"; but among his many friends in provincial New York City he is affectionately known as "The Rube Goldberg of Magic."
This is because Arnold is eternally experimenting, and coming up with weird concoctions of magic -halfbaked, un-rehearsed, but ingenious; and often snapped up and put to use by professional performers. Our perfectionist member, Dai Vernon once remarked, "I would rather watch one of Arnold Belais' experimental routines than see a three-year magic student essay all the moves in Erdnase."
You can kid Arnold, and many people do; but all admire him for his long and devoted service to magic and to our Society. Just think - S.A.M. Member No. 414, who joined in 1912 - thus has been a Compeer for 53 consecutive years! There are no more than three members living today who can equal his record; yet he has never sought high office, being content to carry out any specific job assigned to him, and doing it well.
Arnold Belais was born November 4, 1890 in New York City, and has always lived here. His first glimpse of magic was at age eight, when a playmate showed him a Ball Vase and other wondrous wood-turnings from a German Magic Set. Later that year he saw Elmer P. Ransom (particularly noted for his Clay Pipes Routine) on the stage of a Sunday School Auditorium. Later, on that same stage he saw Jean Irving, and Roltare Eggleston; then three generations of the Flosso Family - father-in-law Louis (Pop) Krieger, King of the Kups and Balls; then Al Flosso, the Coney Island Faker; then AI's son, Jackie Flosso.
At age twelve he bought his first book on magic - authored by Fred Morphet -at a side-show. From this he learned to blow soap-bubbles magically - the bubbles went up in flames when ignited! This probably started Arnold in pyrotechnics; it is estimated that he has burned holes in more handkerchiefs than any other magician.
Then followed hundreds of shows as an amateur at schools, churches, hospitals, scout meetings and conventions; later the full round of service shows for the American Theatre Wing. In 1910 his picture appeared on the cover of "The American Magician" - we will reproduce that cover for you, if practical. In 1912 he joined the Society of American Magicians, and was initiated in Martinka's Little Back Room Theatre.
About 1938, when Leith Loder started the Parent Assembly Open House Meetings (continuously sparkplugged by Paul Morris), Arnold attended from the inception, and became known as "The Perennial Opener." Since the Open House was dedicated to progress and innovation in magic, this was the right spot for Arnold's experimental routines. One of these developed into his "Multiplying Pipes", featured and sold by Tannen Magic Co. since 1948.
In August of 1961, the "IMPS" was started by Paul Morris and Arnold Belais. The "Independent Magical Performers Society" is an idea for providing training for junior magicians. It was, and is, most successful in its field; and a number of these juniors have since applied for, and attained membership in our Parent Assembly.
Also in 1961 Arnold was appointed Chairman of the Membership Committee of the Parent Assembly, and earned recognition from the National Council for having increased the membership to a greater degree than any other Assembly that year.
Arnold Belais had a long and successful career in Life Insurance, during which he attained the coveted distinction of membership in The Million Dollar Round Table of the National Underwriters. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife, Hortense.
Arnold Belais passed away on January 1, 1973 in New York City, his lifetime home.
Through his inventions and unusual routines, mostly dealing with cigars, cigarettes and pipes, Arnold Belais has earned the title of "Smo-King"; but among his many friends in provincial New York City he is affectionately known as "The Rube Goldberg of Magic."
This is because Arnold is eternally experimenting, and coming up with weird concoctions of magic -halfbaked, un-rehearsed, but ingenious; and often snapped up and put to use by professional performers. Our perfectionist member, Dai Vernon once remarked, "I would rather watch one of Arnold Belais' experimental routines than see a three-year magic student essay all the moves in Erdnase."
You can kid Arnold, and many people do; but all admire him for his long and devoted service to magic and to our Society. Just think - S.A.M. Member No. 414, who joined in 1912 - thus has been a Compeer for 53 consecutive years! There are no more than three members living today who can equal his record; yet he has never sought high office, being content to carry out any specific job assigned to him, and doing it well.
Arnold Belais was born November 4, 1890 in New York City, and has always lived here. His first glimpse of magic was at age eight, when a playmate showed him a Ball Vase and other wondrous wood-turnings from a German Magic Set. Later that year he saw Elmer P. Ransom (particularly noted for his Clay Pipes Routine) on the stage of a Sunday School Auditorium. Later, on that same stage he saw Jean Irving, and Roltare Eggleston; then three generations of the Flosso Family - father-in-law Louis (Pop) Krieger, King of the Kups and Balls; then Al Flosso, the Coney Island Faker; then AI's son, Jackie Flosso.
At age twelve he bought his first book on magic - authored by Fred Morphet -at a side-show. From this he learned to blow soap-bubbles magically - the bubbles went up in flames when ignited! This probably started Arnold in pyrotechnics; it is estimated that he has burned holes in more handkerchiefs than any other magician.
Then followed hundreds of shows as an amateur at schools, churches, hospitals, scout meetings and conventions; later the full round of service shows for the American Theatre Wing. In 1910 his picture appeared on the cover of "The American Magician" - we will reproduce that cover for you, if practical. In 1912 he joined the Society of American Magicians, and was initiated in Martinka's Little Back Room Theatre.
About 1938, when Leith Loder started the Parent Assembly Open House Meetings (continuously sparkplugged by Paul Morris), Arnold attended from the inception, and became known as "The Perennial Opener." Since the Open House was dedicated to progress and innovation in magic, this was the right spot for Arnold's experimental routines. One of these developed into his "Multiplying Pipes", featured and sold by Tannen Magic Co. since 1948.
In August of 1961, the "IMPS" was started by Paul Morris and Arnold Belais. The "Independent Magical Performers Society" is an idea for providing training for junior magicians. It was, and is, most successful in its field; and a number of these juniors have since applied for, and attained membership in our Parent Assembly.
Also in 1961 Arnold was appointed Chairman of the Membership Committee of the Parent Assembly, and earned recognition from the National Council for having increased the membership to a greater degree than any other Assembly that year.
Arnold Belais had a long and successful career in Life Insurance, during which he attained the coveted distinction of membership in The Million Dollar Round Table of the National Underwriters. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife, Hortense.
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