Harry Collins (magician)

Harry Collins
Born	(1920-04-27)April 27, 1920 Glasgow, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	May 3, 1985(1985-05-03) (aged 65)
Resting place	Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Occupation	Magician
Employer	Frito-Lay
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	U.S. Marine Corps
Battles / wars	World War II

Harry Collins (April 27, 1920 – May 3, 1985) was the official corporate magician for the Frito-Lay company from 1970 until his death.^{[citation needed]} He was also a Marine during World War II. He promoted Frito-Lay products while doing magic tricks, and was known both as 'Mr. Magic' and as 'The Frito-Lay Magician'.^[1][2]

Biography

Collins was born in Glasgow, Kentucky, to Paul Collins and Sadie Emerson. He had one older step-brother, three younger sisters, and one younger brother. At the age of fifteen, he became the head of the family after his father died. Working on their farm, planting tobacco and corn without the aid of mules or wagons, he provided for the family as he finished high school. He became interested in magic as a teenager after watching a local attorney, Edward Smith, perform magic tricks.^[3]

He died on May 3, 1985, at the age of 65;^{[citation needed]} a life-size bronze statue of him stands on his grave in Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky.^[2]

References

1. Glen, Evans (June 1974). "The Magic Explosion". Boys' Life. Archived from the original on April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
2. Holland, Jeffery (2008). Weird Kentucky: Your Travel Guide to Kentucky's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets. Sterling Publishing Company. p. 218. ISBN 9781402754388. Archived from the original on April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
3. ^Blitz, Matt (June 2017). "The Story of the Magician of Frito-Lay". Food and Wine. Retrieved February 15th, 2018.