Carl Ballantine, 1917-2009
Posted: 11:57 AM ET
I love magicians. I still have the Playbill from seeing Ricky Jay’s “On the Stem” several years ago; on a recent trip to Vegas, I made a point of checking out Mac King’s comedy-magic show. I like my magic with a minimum of fuss and special effects and a maximum of skill and humor.

So I couldn’t help but pause this morning when I saw that Carl Ballantine -– the “Great Ballantine” -– had passed away. He was 92.

Nobody would call Ballantine a brilliant magician -– certainly not on the level of the magnificent Jay -– but he was skilled in another way: he had a terrific sense of timing and knew how to make the most of his clumsy tricks with a well-timed joke. He inspired many with his apparent buffoonery, which masked a clever illusionist.

"Carl Ballantine influenced not only myself but a generation of magicians and comedians," Steve Martin said Wednesday in a statement to The Los Angeles Times. "His was also the most copied act by a host of amateurs and professionals."

Ballantine was also a frequent TV guest, whether it was as a performer or an actor. Most people probably know him best as Lester Gruber on "McHale's Navy."

You were Great and Amazing, Carl Ballantine. You'll be missed.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

old...

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That's no way to talk about Jimmy...

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Does your cat make too much noise? Try KITTEN MITTENS!


Charlie: Oh shit. Look at that door dude. See that door right there? That door marked 'Pirate'? You think a pirate lives in there?
Dennis: I see a door marked 'Private.'

Both...

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Hey Krazy,
Here's to hoping you never turn old!

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Jimmy how old of a man are you?

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Does your cat make too much noise? Try KITTEN MITTENS!


Charlie: Oh shit. Look at that door dude. See that door right there? That door marked 'Pirate'? You think a pirate lives in there?
Dennis: I see a door marked 'Private.'

Turn 52 in about 3 weeks.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Thanks, JimPa. Although the back pain I'm experiencing today has me feeling anything but young...

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