Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
    • Television
      • TV by Decade
        • TV – 1950s
        • TV – 1960s
        • TV – 1970s
        • TV – 1980s
        • TV – 1990s
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Kids TV
      • Variety
      • News & Sport
      • Advertisements
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • Music – 1950s
        • Music – 1960s
        • Music – 1970s
        • Music – 1980s
        • Music – 1990s
      • Artists – A to K
        • Artists – A
        • Artists – B
        • Artists – C
        • Artists – D
        • Artists – E
        • Artists – F
        • Artists – G
        • Artists – H
        • Artists – I
        • Artists – J
        • Artists – K
      • Artists – L to Z
        • Artists – L
        • Artists – M
        • Artists – N
        • Artists – O
        • Artists – P
        • Artists – Q
        • Artists – R
        • Artists – S
        • Artists – T
        • Artists – U
        • Artists – V
        • Artists – W
        • Artists – X
        • Artists – Y
        • Artists – Z
      • Artists – 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Playlists
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • Movies – 1950s
        • Movies – 1960s
        • Movies – 1970s
        • Movies – 1980s
        • Movies – 1990s
      • Movies – 0 to 9
      • Movies – A to K
        • Movies – A
        • Movies – B
        • Movies – C
        • Movies – D
        • Movies – E
        • Movies – F
        • Movies – G
        • Movies – H
        • Movies – I
        • Movies – J
        • Movies – K
      • Movies – L to Z
        • Movies – L
        • Movies – M
        • Movies – N
        • Movies – O
        • Movies – P
        • Movies – Q
        • Movies – R
        • Movies – S
        • Movies – T
        • Movies – U
        • Movies – V
        • Movies – W
        • Movies – X
        • Movies – Y
        • Movies – Z
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Television»TV by Decade»TV Shows - 1970s
    TV Shows - 1970s Variety 2 Mins Read

    David Nixon’s Magic Box

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    1 9 7 0 – 1 9 7 1 (UK)
    39 x 45 minute episodes

    Thames Television presented magician David Nixon in David Nixon’s Magic Box, with Anita Harris (pictured below right) as his regular guest and the legendary Ali Bongo as his magic advisor and assistant, Alistair.

    Guest stars during the series included Les Dawson, Rolf Harris, Arthur Askey, Twiggy, Larry Grayson, Mary Hopkin, Jimmy Young, Clive Dunn, Aimi MacDonald, Roger Whittaker, Jack Douglas, Joe Lynch, Clodagh Rodgers and the singing group New World.

    David Nixon was born in Muswell Hill, London, in 1919. By World War II he was already a member of the Magic Circle as well as playing double bass in a dance band.

    nixonsmagicbox

    During WWII, Nixon – like so many of his generation of British entertainers – served with ENSA (the Entertainments National Service Association), putting on shows for British troops.

    He had tried to join up himself but the RAF rejected him due to health problems with his lungs and heart.

    After the war, Nixon became a full-time entertainer and by the early 1950s was appearing on TV. The BBC programme that really sealed his fate was the gentle panel game What’s My Line? in which a group of celebrities had to guess the jobs of members of the public by asking them closed yes-or-no questions.

    Nixon joined in 1954 and his charm and friendliness, coupled with his rich speaking voice, quickly proved to be perfect for the programme – even though there was no opportunity to showcase his magical skills.

    He became so popular with the viewing public that the BBC offered him his own programme, called Home and Dry.

    He was also one of the presenters of the programme It’s Magic! (which also featured Tommy Cooper) but his career stalled in 1956 when his second wife, Paula, was tragically killed in a car accident.

    During the 1960s his career recovered and Nixon grew to be one of the best-known faces on British television.

    He became a presenter on Candid Camera and hosted the BBC children’s TV series Now For Nixon in 1967.

    Nixon switched to ITV in the 1970s for David Nixon’s Magic Box and its successor, The David Nixon Show.

    Nixon was a splendid magician and the living embodiment of good manners and courtesy.

    A heavy smoker, he was diagnosed with cancer in 1973 but continued to work throughout his treatment. He died on 1 December 1978.

    Video

    Related Posts

    • This Is Your Life (UK)
      This Is Your Life (UK)
      1 9 5 5 - 1 9 6 4 (UK) 1…
    • It's Cliff Richard
      It's Cliff Richard
      1 9 7 0 - 1 9 7 4 (UK)…
    • Maggie's Place
      Maggie's Place
      1 9 7 0 (UK) 6 x 45 minute episodes Australian…
    • My Wildest Dream
      My Wildest Dream
      1 9 5 6 - 1 9 5 7 (UK) This…
    • Here's David Nixon
      Here's David Nixon
      1 9 6 3 (UK) 13 x 5 minute episodes In…
    • O'Hara, U.S. Treasury
      O'Hara, U.S. Treasury
      1 9 7 1 - 1 9 7 2 (USA) 23…
    • Jokers Wild
      Jokers Wild
      1 9 6 9 - 1 9 7 4 (UK) Another…
    • Look - Mike Yarwood!
      Look - Mike Yarwood!
      1 9 7 1 - 1 9 7 6 (UK) 50…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleBury Your Hatchet
    Next Article Dean Martin Show, The

    Comments are closed.

    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    You May Also Like
    • Sweet Kill (The Arousers) (1972)
      Former 50’s teen idol Tab Hunter plays Eddie Collins, a […]
    • Wild On The Beach (1965)
      This run-of-the-mill Beach Movie introduces California college […]
    • People Under the Stairs, The (1991)
      A pre-Pulp Fiction Ving Rhames and a resourceful 13-year-old kid […]
    • Carrie (1976)
      Adapted from Stephen King’s first novel, Carrie made […]
    • Hello Larry
      1 9 7 9 – 1 9 8 0 (USA) The NBC sitcom starred McLean […]
    • Debbie Does Dallas (1978)
      Debbie Benton (Bambi Woods) is the captain of her high school […]
    Twitter Feed
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Popular Tags
    1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games Britpop Canada Crime Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen Labels Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Power Pop Pub rock Punk Radio Scotland Ska Soul music Surf music
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Copyright © 1998, 2022 Nostalgia Central
    • About
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.