January 20th, 2000

This magician's tricks are a treat to see.

 

HE IS

Owner and operator of Kendrake the Magician's Magic Shop in Lomita, where budding magicians take lessons, buy supplies and stand in awe.

 

LASTING IMPRESSIONS

The tall dark-browed man behind the counter might look like your average proprietor, but before you know it, less than two feet from your face, he will pull a half-dollar from your sleeve and make it dissappear so fast you wonder if he has openings in his fingers.

Or Kendrake, as he prefers to be called, will deftly change a $1 bill into a $100 bill or make a matchstick levitate. His nimble fingers flip cards back and forth, making "double fans" and stacks that slide back and forth, almost with a mere breath.

"There are now thousands of magic tricks, when [not long ago] there used to be hundreds," he said. "My hands are never idle."

 

DO'S AND DON'TS

A 1974 transplant from upstate New York, the magician said he once used live animals in his acts about 20 years ago, but dropped them because of too many "accidents."

"I stopped using animals when the bunny bit the baby's finger," Kendrake said. "So I switched to doves, then a bird had diarrhea while flying around the room."

 

Kendrake, who juggles for exercise - and show - enjoys appearing at career days at various South Bay schools but won't sell a product to a customer if he is convinced the person can't master the trick.

"I can demonstrate 90% of my effects and teach the customer how to do them," said Kendrake, who promises a magic trick for anyone who comes into his shop. "I keep limber automatically because I'm always performing, teaching, demonstrating magic or working on a new trick."

 

TRICKS OF THE TRADE

He has performed in all three rooms at The Magic Castle in Hollywood, which is an indication of his skill.

Kendrake has developed an original trick wherein he changes four blue cards into four red cards and then changes the face on each one.

 

The magician also offers private magic lessons or eight-week classes in easy to advanced sleight-of-hand tricks, juggling, and mini-illusions. His shop is full of floating wands, cards and miniature illusion tricks.

A master at close-up sleight-of-hand, card, money and rope tricks.

Kendrake - who has practiced magic since he was a child and given more than 3000 performances in 23 years - said he is living out a dream by owning a magic shop and performing professionally.

"If I won the lottery, I would still be doing magic," he said as he rolled quarters between the fingers of both hands. "Not only magic, I'd still be doing shows, my magic shop and lessons. -

 

Story by Deborah Paul