BOB "the dean" TILFORD

 

For nearly 70 years, Bob "The Dean" Tilford

donned a tuxedo and top hat performing magic for

the city of Baltimore.

 

Robert Lowery Tilford was born in Gary, Indiana

and moved to Sparrows Point where his father was employed by

the Bethlehem Steel Corp. 

Mr. Tilford, who had earlier lived in Parkville, was known for his

tricks with everyday objects and his ability to capture his audience

with mathematical puzzles.  In 1921, he saw magician Howard

Thurston appear from thin air on the stage of Hippodrome Theater

on Eutaw Street and levitate Princess Karnac, a silver sphere; Tilford was hooked. This led him to become a charter member of Baltimore's Pyramid Magic Club in the1930s; run by a City College teacher by the name of Ernest B. "Fes" Marx.

After attending Lebanon Valley College, he then moved to New York in 1937 and began his professional magic career, appearing in 

Manhattan nightclubs as ‘LaSalle the Mad Kap of Mystery,’  

‘Magic Bob’ and ‘Trebor.’  Mr. Tilford also performed at USO shows in Baltimore during World War II and ‘Breakfasts with Santa’ at 

Hutzler's department stores. For many years, Mr. Tilford worked Saturdays alongside Phil Thomas at the 310 & 217 N. Charles 

Street locations of Yogi Magic Mart in downtown Baltimore.  

His nickname, "The Dean" was given to him within the ranks of the 

Yogi Magic Club.

Mr. Tilford was married to his loving wife Laurette for 52 years 

and worked as an engineer for Maryland Refrigeration and the 

Bendix Corp. in Towson.

 

QUOTES ABOUT BOB TILFORD

"Magic is a secretive field, but Bob was a very giving man who 

liked nothing better than to help the younger members. There was 

no magician he wouldn't welcome." 

 – Ken Horsman

"He provided people with a lot of joy. He especially liked working 

with young magic students, especially if they stuttered or had a handicap, and helped them improve their self-image," 

- Anne Claire Garrett (daughter of Phil Thomas)

"He had an engineer's mind and liked tricks involving 

mathematical principles and numbers. He used a lot of everyday 

objects -- salt shakers, knives, forks, spoons -- in his tricks." 

 – McCarl Roberts

 “Bob Tilford was called "The Dean" of the Yogi Magic Club. I had 

the pleasure of working with Bob at Yogi & Main Street Magic. I 

was blessed to be the one that Bob gave all of his "notes" to, about 

tricks that he either improved or invented!! An Extremely nice man!!" 

- Kevin Kirtley

“The first time I went to Yogi Magic Mart at 310 N. Charles, Mr. 

Tilford warmly approached my family and set about performing some of the most jaw-dropping close-up magic that I, to this day, have ever 

seen. His skills were on a level few magicians achieve. I distinctly remember his beautiful stripped suit and him smelling of cologne. 

Bob Tilford looked like a true wizard and his energy was contagious.” 

– David Kidd