The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1950-01-10
GUEST SWIPES CIGARETTE LIGHTER
FROM HOST AT INFORMAL LUNCHEON
BY OLD MAN GREEN


there IS no need whatsoever to
mark the silver. lock the safe. or
Keep q wary eye on the guests.
Up until Saturday noon. when
ihe Chamber entertained a nota-
DIE eoaple--or rather, when a
notable couple entertained the
Chamber over an informal lunch-
con. the official reporter felt the
ssne way about the Chambers
guests. But now
"Oh, yeah?" he glares. when
she subject is mentioned. II
wouldn't trust anybody after
what happened 10 me at that
luncheon,"
why? What happened?"
What didn't happenl Didn't
That guy swipe my favorite Gig
arctic lighter out of my shirt
packet. right under my eyes,
without me knowing it? Did he,
ur didn't he?"
How should / know"
Well he did. / know he did
because he told me he did when
he gave Il back TO me later"
Vol II he gave il back to you,
what are you gripping about?"
law. shuddup."
Tbs cause Of the reporters
Eripc Was a whimsical trick play
I'd on BIN during the luncheon
~ none other than the world
famous Master Magician Mani
81" otherwise Ralph w. Beck of
Chicago. nephew and protege of
the Immortal Howard Thurston.
iie Is IN Key West, possibly to
stag. with his lovely wife Norma
jean who IS slowly recovering
from the effects Of a serious auto
mobile accident
Both b. and his wife have fall
len IN love with the Island City
since they arrived for a vacation
q few days ago.
Said Norma. Il feel so comfort
alAr here It's lovelyi"
Beck followed with the com
ment Small towns are usually
country towns. I don't care much
ioI country towns This place is
different Key West is small. but
a has a big town, cosmopolitan
atmosphere like Il
in temporary quarters they've
q trunk fun Of albums containing
neatly arranged news clippings,
photographs and official records
20 hcrk's IS years Of theatrical
bruklnes in both nfe-waf and
puai-War u S. and the European
Theatre oi war
frum such incredible records,
h a difficult 60 choose any that
are more outstanding than others.
CONSIDERING that Beck Is yet only
RI ali of has Individual records
aEe outstarding
AZ fhe precocious age of eight
Co. instance hc was billed with
Thu Great Thurston, as the
Youngest Professional Magician
in thr World
on rcachinR has 18th birthday,
H was found be received a per
ulnai greeting card from the fab
uiuur Houdini who complimented
him on his progress and predict
60 ihat world fame would follow
ll Be- pcucNcrcd
Later when Uncle Sam entered
thf scene uf the Big Fracas, Beck
drunpcd hIs magic and turned his
ruerEtrs o. war Maglcally, he
survived
To pat t mildly. Ralph Beck's
uar record is astonishing. Con
nhatausly small among his bud
airs what he lacked IN stature
d. nludc up ior with CUTS.
ffam Fedala, Africa, 10 Salz-
hufe n Germany. as a recon
uais sance trooper with the US.
sra Division. hc won al but the
fnn awards bestowed on a soldier
he the III s. and her Allies. A
photograph at him as an Ameri-
Gan laaion Post Commander
shows among his rows of ribbons,
t0 battle stars Twice he was
awarded ihe Purple Heart for
wounds
fn North Africa. be was happily
reunited with his old New York
team mate Charlie Wallet, to
uhmn Beck bad passed on many
af flmidlnis tricks of escaping
from anything from shackleS to
rufNns
With 80 much paraphernaiia
needed however. that form OF
entertainment was Out Of the
question far impromptu shows
Hat Wallets long professional
srmuence as q Master OF Cere-
usnnies ani al lib gagster served
Is eril il not better Once again
fhr, got together. writing and
prsiu.ina shows Of tricks ana
u.ftirsms Grateful troops en-
traeed tHow.
National publications and the
u.f time Yank tell that the
trsm af Wallet and Beck spent
most af then time between bat
t.. and hospitals entertaining
everyone from q / IS 10 Generals
and native civilians often when
undrr nfr u IS recorded that at
ans umr ga the Anzio beach
thrir shoN Was almost spoiled by
an unapprcciatve enemy sniper
utn cam. close o. shooting the