In the autumn of 1963, magician David Nixon appeared in a series of short late-night segments, produced by ABC in front of a studio audience, which showcased his skills as a close-up illusionist.
There were many card tricks, and illusions carried out with handkerchiefs, cutlery and other everyday objects, accompanied by a sprinkling of groan-worthy gags (for which he became famous).
Nixon had come to prominence as a regular panellist on What’s My Line? and his affable and friendly onscreen personality saw him go on to become one of Britain’s top magicians during the 1960s and 1970s with shows such as Now For Nixon (1967), David Nixon’s Magic Box (1970 – 1971) and The David Nixon Show (1972 – 1977).
At his peak, Nixon achieved an audience figure of over 11 million and was also the man responsible for making a celebrity of the aristocratic fox puppet who went on to solo fame with The Basil Brush Show.
A heavy smoker, David was diagnosed with cancer in 1973 but continued to work throughout his treatment. He died on 1 December 1978.
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