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Kodell: Do Something Different

Kodell, Jack

Jeff Pierce

(Based on 1 review)
For a lifetime, Kodell traveled the world with his unique creativity, and a flight of birds. Headlining long running shows around the world in five-star venues from the Moulin Rouge and the Lido in Paris, the London Hippodrome, The Savoy Hotel, and the London Palladium in the United Kingdom, and the Ed Sullivan Show, New York's Copacabana, and The Latin Quarter in the United States. He also accomplished a number of firsts in his career including being the first magician to perform in Las Vegas. Kodell always strived to be different with his magic and his life. From flying and airplane at the age of nine to doubling at the Moulin Rouge and the Lido for one year in his early thirties. To quote the legendary magician Channing Pollock, "Thanks Kodell for paving the way for me and other magicians to follow."

When he retired from show business at the young age of thirty-three he had five years of contracts sitting on his managers desk. So why would someone walk away from show business at such a young age?

Kodell had the best of both worlds, a privileged life, and his wildest dreams coming true. All thanks to Doing Something Different in the world of magic.

Pages: 330 - 6"x9.25" Hardbound with dust jacket, Photo illustrated.

Reviews

Fredrick Turner

Official Reviewer

Nov 23, 2012

Magic biographies are often great reads that are intended to capture the imagination of the reader and carry one into the world of the subject. It's been my experience that the quality and truthfulness varies greatly. A few are close to being fiction.

Kodell: Do Something Different is an enjoyable book that I would recommend to anyone who wants to learn about the life of a successful performer in the 1940’s and 1950’s. Kodell had many "firsts" to his credit: first all bird act, first magician to perform in Las Vegas and first to perform on ice skates to name a few. It's wonderful that these stories are recorded so that Kodell's accomplishments are not forgotten.

There is great wisdom in this book from a successful magician and business person. Additionally there are insights into fellow performers - magical and not - that one isn't likely to find anywhere else. The tales of Channing Pollock are worth the price of admission.

However Kodell: Do Something Different could have been a great book as the stories are presented like vignettes instead of an integrated tale. A skilled collaborator could have taken these stories and weaves them into a fine autobiography. One worthy of a performer like Kodell.
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