Photo: Adam Wallcavage
place
"All magic is about psychology," says Edward "Doc" Turner, former
psychiatrist and current owner of the Magic Fun Shop in Frankford.
Turner puts a nickel into my hand, instructs me to make a fist
and then open my fingers. As you might suspect the coin has disappeared.
"What happened to the nickel?" he asks, as it mysteriously drops
out of his hand. "It's all psychology." Turner keeps his storefront dusty and cluttered because, he says,
it inspires more shoppers to come in to check out his unusual
collection of tricks, practical jokes and toys. "Take a look at this thing," he says, pointing out a small cardboard
container imprinted with "Train De Luxe" on it. "This box hasn't
been opened since the 1920s." He lifts the cover flap to reveal
a collection of miniature toy trains. "You'll find these at toy
shows for $150, but I sell them to dealers for $35." Most of Turner's business is wholesale and by mail order, but
if you stop by his store, you're bound to find a few unusual treasures
among the whoopie cushions, marked decks and crystal balls. I
couldn't keep myself from buying a pair of 1969 sunglasses that
have switchable colored lenses. Magic Fun Shop's basement is also
filled with big antique tricks like the Floating Lady. "I have just about every magic trick you could imagine," boasts
the 82-year-old. The collection began with Turner's late father,
Al, who was a vaudeville magician for many years before opening
a magic store at Fifth and Market Streets. When the city decided
to build Independence Mall in the early '70s, the family was given
just a few weeks notice to move several floors of storage. As
a result, Turner still has loads of storage space filled with
boxes he's never opened. "Every once in a while I take one down,
open it and find gold." That must be why the Magic Fun Shop seems
like a goldmine for those who love tricks and toys. Magic Fun Shop, 4455 Frankford Ave., 288-5700.
Magic Fun Shop