Glenn Falkenstein | Famed mentalist, 78

Glenn Falkenstein, 78, a renowned mentalist who came to fame in the early 1970s when he was a staple at the Magic Castle in Hollywood and hosted his own Los Angeles call-in radio show, died July 4 in San Antonio, Texas.

Mr. Falkenstein, a former longtime Los Angeles resident who had struggled with Alzheimer's disease, died several days after entering a memory-care unit at an assisted-living facility, said his wife and performing partner, Frances Willard.

"He was the consummate showman, a showman of the old school," said magician David Charvet, who hosted a memorial for Falkenstein at the Magic Castle last Sunday. "The things he did were baffling, certainly, even to many magicians."

A fast-paced, dynamic performer with crisp diction, Mr. Falkenstein was known for his signature blindfold mind-reading act, which he performed around the world, including Las Vegas, and on The Tonight Show and other TV shows.

With half dollars secured over each eye with adhesive tape and wearing a curved steel mask, Mr. Falkenstein would pick up a card that had an audience member's name and a question written on it, crumple it, and hold it over his head.

He'd then answer the question on the card and proceed to recite the audience member's Social Security number or address, give the maiden name of the person's mother, and answer personal questions the person was thinking such as naming a favorite food or movie.

"Although Falkenstein employed magicians' techniques, the performance gave every appearance to the audience of being genuine mind-reading," Charvet said.

In 1994, Mr. Falkenstein was inducted into the Society of American Magicians Hall of Fame as a living legend.

He grew up in Chicago, where his father owned the Hi Hat Club. Along with the singers, musicians, and comedians who performed at the club were some of the nation's top magicians.

"Glenn would go down with a nanny to see the first dinner show every night, and he got hooked on magic," his wife said.

Mr. Falkenstein, whose career included performing for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, actually had two separate careers.

He earned a master's degree in speech pathology at Pepperdine University and for many years was a speech pathologist for the Los Angeles County Office of Education, during which he used his magic skills to help young people overcome their speech defects. - Los Angeles Times