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Luxor-Gali-Gali 001

Publicity still circa 1940

Luxor-Gali-Gali 002

American television circa 1950

Mahgoub Mohammed Hanafi (1902-1984) known by his stage name of Luxor Gali-Gali, was an Egyptian magician who migrated to the United States and died in Las Vegas, Nevada. (b. October 23, 1902; Port Said, Egypt - d. October 1, 1984; Las Vegas, Nevada)

Biography[]

He was born in Port Said, Egypt on October 23, 1902. He was married to Gabrielle X (1910-2001)

He migrated to New York City around 1933-1935 and became an American citizen on November 8, 1944.

His magic act consisted of cups and balls with baby chicks instead of balls.[1][2] [3]

He appeared on the The Ed Sullivan Show and Cavalcade of Stars in 1949.

He died on October 1, 1984 in Las Vegas, Nevada at age 82.[4]

Children[]

  • Possibly Abdul H. Hanafi (1929-2011)
  • Possibly Joseph Mahgoub Hanafi (1930-2008) who married Mary Thelma Pendleton on June 5, 1959 in Las Vegas, Nevada. He married Virginia L. Karns on March 26, 1974 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
  • Possibly Frank Hanafi (1931-2003) who died in San Dimas, California.

Tina Macq Boag Grand Children Paul Boag and Kim Boag

External links[]

Images[]

References[]

  1. ^ Quickly, Chicks, The New Yorker, May 4, 1940, http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1940/05/04/1940_05_04_013_TNY_CARDS_000180245, retrieved 2012-06-20, "Long talk story about Gali Gali, the magician at the Rainbow Room. His real name is Mahgoub Mohammed Hanafi. The translation of his stage name is "Quickly Quickly" and this title has been used by members of his family, a prestidigitating tribe for eight generations. Gali Gali's act consists of having live baby chicks drop from the trouser legs of the customers. The chicks are never more than six days old when they start their careers. Every week a new batch is delivered from a hatchery in N.J. Carl Shaw, the drummer in the band at the Grill gets the chicks after their week in the limelight. Tells about Gali Gali's encounter with royalty; The King of Denmark, King Gustav of Sweden, and he has pulled at least 50 chickens out of the Duke of Windsor. ..." 
  2. ^ Deft and Sharp, Billboard, July 12, 1952, http://books.google.com/books?id=eR4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA17&dq=%22Luxor+Gali-Gali%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=-SPiT46TIrH16gGu-dEH&ved=0CFYQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=%22Luxor%20Gali-Gali%22&f=false, retrieved 2012-06-20, "Luxor Gali Gali ("Luxor" recently added to prevent confusing him with other acts using the Gali handle and doing similiar acts) was a deft and sharp as ever with his sleight of hand and chick-disappearing routines. ..." 
  3. ^ David Price (1985), Magic: a pictorial history of conjurers in the theater, http://books.google.com/books?id=7PuBAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Luxor+Gali-Gali%22&dq=%22Luxor+Gali-Gali%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=-SPiT46TIrH16gGu-dEH&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAA, retrieved 2012-06-20, "When the United States entered World War II, Luxor Gali-Gali was one of the first ... In addition to the chicks and the cups and balls, other Luxor Gali-Gali tricks include 'The Ring on the Stick,' in which a borrowed ring is 'magicked' ..." 
  4. ^ Social Security Death Index, https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JP7T-Y3J, retrieved 2012-06-20, "Mahgoub M. Hanafi; birth date: 23 October 1902; Social security number: 075-14-1131; Place of issuance: New York; Last residence: Clark, Nevada; Death date: 1 October 1984; Estimated age at death: 82." 

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