Sam Berland

Samuel Berland (1907-1987) was a magic dealer and inventor of popular effects and routines, especially using thimbles and dice.

Born:
1904

Died:
May 27, 1987

During his life he invented more than 100 effects including the popular "Devil's Dollar" and wrote some 13 books on tricks and illusions.

Starting in 1925, he opened the Princess Magic Shop in Chicago, Illinois with partners Joe Berg and Harry Faber, so named because it was in the same building as the Princess Theater, in Chicago's Loop. Berland was also the founder of the Berland Printing Co. in the late 30s in Chicago.

Sam, along with Joe Berg were among the founding members of the The Wizard's Club in Chicago, an organization for magicians, organized at the home of Sam Berman.

Many of his silk magic effects are included in Rice's Encyclopedia of Silk Magic.

He was featured in the Genii 1973 March, Vol 37, #3 issue.

In 1986 he received the Creative Fellowship Award from the Academy of Magical Arts.

The IBM Ring No. 43 The Harlen Tarbell Ring in Chicago Illinois, gives out the Sam Berland trophy for creativity each year.

Innovations
Sucker Cigarette Box (in Novel Cigarette Tricks)

Books
Novel Cigarette Tricks (1934)
Twenty Tricks with Wiztax (1941)
Amazing Tricks with Paper Cups (1942)
Tricks with Watches (1942)
The Book of Routines (1950)
Berland's Thimble Act (1954)
New Applause Winning Tricks (1956)
Berland’s Tricks and Routines (1963)
Tricks for Today and Tomorrow (1970)
The Magic of Sam Berland (1986)

References
http://www.wizardsclubofchicago.com/history
Cover Genii 1946 June
Cover Genii 1973 March
Obit Genii 1987 June