Biography

Joe Stuthard was born on September 16, 1911 in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada. He was an actor, known for New to You (1947), Face the Music (1953) and Revue '61 (1961). He died on April 27, 1992 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

By the time he settled in Australia around 1960 he had made more than 30 television appearances as a magician in the United Kingdom alone and was the first magician to do a gambling expose with cards on BBC-TV.

Known as the 'Canadian Funatic' or 'Mr Svengali', but long resident in Australia in his later years, he went to Great Britain and toured the music halls, and together with his wife Kay presented a large magic act, later touring the world with his theatrical and nightclub magic act.

Was a great pitchman of magic, a renowned expert in close-up and card magic, a master exponent of the Svengali deck, and a prolific inventor of magic tricks (including the Trilby deck, a combination Svengali and Stripper pack, and the Bi-Co Trilby Deck); with fellow magician Harry Baron he co-founded The Kaymar Magic Company, a firm selling magic.

He appeared at least twice on the Australian television variety show Revue '61 compered by Digby Wolfe.

Co-wrote (with Terry Standford) the British telecartoon Don't Be A ... (1953), being a warning to visitors of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.