Carl Ballantine

Carl Ballantine (September 27, 1917 – November 3, 2009) was an American magician, comedian, and actor. Born Meyer Kessler in Chicago, Illinois, he adopted the stage name Carl Ballantine and became known for his vaudeville-style comedy routine. His performances involved transparent or incompetent stage magic tricks that often went hilariously wrong, accompanied by his wisecracking commentary. Ballantine's unique combination of comedy and magic earned him the titles of 'The Great Ballantine', 'The Amazing Ballantine', and 'Ballantine: The World's Greatest Magician'. He is credited with creating comedy magic and has had a significant influence on comedians and magicians. Ballantine's career spanned several decades, and he appeared in various movies and TV shows.