Born Francis Xavier Finneran on Sept. 17, 1912, in Boston, Mass., he performed as Francis Carlyle and was an expert in close-up magic with coins and cards. After spending most of his professional career in New York City, he moved to Los Angeles, where he was a regular and popular performer at the Magic Castle in Hollywood.
Finneran was highly regarded among his peers, and he contributed tricks to several books on magic. As a performer, it was said that his style and material were among the most baffling and entertaining of any magician.
Finneran suffered from alcoholism and, as the disease progressed, it became more difficult for him to perform as a magician, and he was eventually banned from performing at the Magic Castle. He was found unconscious in Hollywood in December 1975 and was taken first to a hospital, then to a convalescence home, where he died on Dec. 27, 1975, at the age of 63.
Born Francis Xavier Finneran on Sept. 17, 1912, in Boston, Mass., he performed as Francis Carlyle and was an expert in close-up magic with coins and cards. After spending most of his professional career in New York City, he moved to Los Angeles, where he was a regular and popular performer at the Magic Castle in Hollywood.
Finneran was highly regarded among his peers, and he contributed tricks to several books on magic. As a performer, it was said that his style and material were among the most baffling and entertaining of any magician.
Finneran suffered from alcoholism and, as the disease progressed, it became more difficult for him to perform as a magician, and he was eventually banned from performing at the Magic Castle. He was found unconscious in Hollywood in December 1975 and was taken first to a hospital, then to a convalescence home, where he died on Dec. 27, 1975, at the age of 63.
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