Tops Article
When Dale Salwak, the young professional from California, won the Jack Gwynne Trophy at Abbott's 1975 Magic Get-Together he tucked it under his arm, went back to the west coast, and during America's Bi­centennial Year really scored! Many TOPS readers remember this young manipulative artist when he first started his career in magic and have watched him grow with interest. The photos on the opposite page tell the '76 story.
On May 1st of last year he entertained at a $100-a-plate fund raising dinner for the Variety Club on which Monty Hall emceed. Stars included Ethel Merman, Carol Lawrence, Joanne Worley, Richard Deacon, Mister D. and many others. In July he was in Hawaii, for two weeks with the Citrus Singers, a group of 55 men and women who do a show of songs and dances. Dale did his unique magic act. (Dale is in every day life, a Professor of English Literature at the Citrus College in Azusa, California). The Citrus Singers and Dale will tour Hawaii again in 1977 and also Tokyo.
In the top row of photos (reading from left to right) is Dale with Charo and also with Olivia Newton-John at the ABC-TV Affiliates Convention held at the Century Plaza Hotel. Second row: Dale with George Burns and Ray Bolger at the Friars Club 30th Anniversary Dinner hon­oring George Burns, which took place at the Beverly Hilton. Next photo is Dale with the famed Ethel Merman. Third row: Dale with Gloria Loring, Bob Newhart and Don Rickles, all taken at the B'nai B'rith Susi Award Dinner, Eddie Cantor Lodge,
honoring Don Rickles, at the Beverly Wil-shire. Bottom row: Dale with Richard Deacon and Joanne Worley at the Variety Club of Southern California's Telethon Benefit Show. Last photo is Dale with Frank Sinatra at the City of Hope's 10th Annual Testimonial Dinner and Show hon­oring Ed McMahon at the Century Plaza.
Dale has completed the filming of a seg­ment in the feature film "Affair of the Heart" (The McMillan Show) with Rock Hud­son, Martha Raye, and Stephanie Powers. He appears in a poker game scene in which he runs through a series of fancy shuffles and one handed-cuts. A Univer­sal Studios release, directed by Jackie Cooper. The film will air on NBC-TV sometime in the spring of this year.
On December 10th and 11th Dale appeared with Connie Stevens and Jackie Gayle at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles to a sell-out audience of 5,000 each night. He opened at the Mayfair Music Hall, Santa Monica, for a two-week run with the quick change artist Michael McGiveney, beginning December 29th. Dale will ap­pear in the new theatre at the Hollywood Magic Castle starting January 25th and running through February 6th.
Dale recently visited Steve Kelley in South Bend and spent Thanksgiving with your editor and wife in Colon. It was a pleasure to learn of his accom­plishments and we wish him great success for the future. The Magic World can be very proud of this young professional who sets a sterling example for others to follow.
Magician to the Stars