Thurs, April 22 @ 6 P.M: “An Evening of Whimsy, Wizardry and Wine" at The Drama Book Shop

Emmy Award-winning writer and author Sandy Marshall presents a very funny talk about his father, Jay Marshall and the making of the acclaimed new book, Beating a Dead Horse: The Life and Times of Jay Marshall. Rare footage of Jay’s performances will be shown. Magic will be performed. Wine reception and book signing will follow the talk. The Drama Book Shop is the first New York bookstore to carry the book and this will be the author’s first New York appearance promoting the book.

ALEXANDER SANDY MARSHALL, a two-time Emmy winner (7 nominations), has more than forty years’ experience as a writer, director, producer, and actor. He has also won the Clio Award, Golden Eagle, Gold medals at the New York Film & TV Festival, and a dozen international awards. The award of which he is most proud is the New York Mayor’s Award for Heroism he received for stopping the violent crime of a rape in progress. His Emmy Award-winning film, The Revenge of the Sons of the Desert was released on The Laurel & Hardy Collection Volume 1 by Twentieth Century Fox in 2006. His play And in the End: The Death and Life of John Lennon received critical acclaim for productions in Great Britain and Australia. No stranger to magic, Sandy is related to two Deans of the Society of American Magicians: his grandfather, Al Baker, and his father, Jay Marshall. Sandy divides his time between New York City and Chicago writing, producing, and creating magic. His column, “Sandy’s Rants” appears in The Newest Tops (www.topsmag.com). He is guest professor at Syracuse University, an avid Cubs fan, and insists anybody can have a bad century.

Beating a Dead Horse: The Life and Times of Jay Marshall is an engaging, no holds-barred look at the life (and many loves) of television pioneer Jay Marshall, an icon of the American magic community, who served as the dean of the Society of American Magicians from 1992-2005. This book captures the essence of Jay’s comedic genius – both on and off stage – and a life of continual unabashed reinvention: performed 14 times on The Ed Sullivan Show; opened for Frank Sinatra in Sinatra’s 1951 Las Vegas debut; appeared in three Broadway shows; played Radio City Music Hall, the London Palladium, and was the last next-to-closing-act (the star spot) at the Palace Theatre. Jay Marshall was a living library of the odd nooks of popular show business. His savvy showmanship and conjuring knowledge garnered the respect and admiration of his peers, and he mentored such stars as Penn & Teller, David Copperfield, Doug Henning, and Jim Henson. At his funeral in 2005, Jay Marshall was described as “the most famous celebrity no one ever heard of.” Gut-bustingly funny!

“This is one of those rare, thoroughly satisfying books… it is a must.” --Dick Cavett, The Dick Cavett Show, co-author of Cavett, Eye on Cavett

“Awesome! Genuinely touching and diabolically funny.” --David Ben, author of Dai Vernon: A Biography, Zarrow: A Lifetime of Magic

“A hilarious ribald, rip-roaring story that holds nothing back... immensely enjoyable.” --Richard Kaufman, editor of Genii: The Conjurors’ Magazine

“Great fun. Literally jaw-dropping" --Max Maven, author of Prism: The Color Series of Mentalism, Max Maven’s Book of Fortunetelling

“If you have an interest in magic, or performing, or celebrities of the mid to late 20th century, or the life of a show-business family or just plain great reading, don’t miss Beating a Dead Horse.” --Matthew Feld, review excerpt, The Magic Circular

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Beating a Dead Horse: The Life and Times of Jay Marshall
by Alexander Marshall
Junto Publishing, 2010
Hard Cover, 540 pages, $69.95