Skip to main content
Be prepared with helpful travel tips!
  • See & Do
    • See & Do
    • See all
      • See all
      • Seasons
        • See all
        • Spring
        • Summer
        • Fall
        • Winter
      • Accessibility
      • Arts
      • Attractions
      • Downtown
      • Health & Wellness
      • History
      • Live Music
      • Parks
      • Shopping
      • Stories
      • Weddings
  • Outdoors
    • Outdoors
    • See all
      • See all
      • Hiking
        • See all
        • Nature Walks
      • ADK Guides & Tours
      • Birding
      • Boating
      • Camping
      • Cross-Country Skiing
      • Cycling
      • Downhill Skiing
      • Fishing
      • Golfing
      • Ice Fishing
      • Mountain Biking
      • Paddling
      • Snowmobiling
      • Snowshoeing
  • Eat & Drink
    • Eat & Drink
    • See all
    • Cafés & Coffee Shops
    • Craft Beer & Cocktails
    • Restaurants
  • Events
    • Events
    • See all
    • Adirondack Snowshoe Fest
    • ArtWorks ArtMarkets
    • Can-Am Rugby Tournament
    • Celebrate Paddling ADK
    • First Night Saranac Lake
    • Plein Air Festival
    • Winter Carnival
    • 3rd Thursday Art Walks
  • Stay
    • Stay
    • See all
    • Cabins & Cottages
    • Camping
    • Inns, Lodges, Bed & Breakfasts
    • Resorts, Hotels, Motels
    • Vacation Rentals
  • First Time Visitors
    • First Time Visitors
    • See all
      • See all
      • Accessibility
      • Downtown
      • Getting Here
      • Greater Region
      • Stories
      • Seasons
        • See all
        • Spring
        • Summer
        • Fall
        • Winter
  • Local
    • Local title-header
      • Live Here
        • See all
        • Meet the Locals
        • Real Estate
        • Town of Harrietstown
        • Town of North Elba
        • Town of St. Armand
        • Village of Saranac Lake
      • Do Business Here
        • See all
        • Chamber Job Board
        • Essex County IDA
        • Franklin County Economic Development Co.
        • Professional Services
        • Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
      • Community Initiatives
        • See all
        • Arts & Culture Master Plan
        • Downtown Revitalization Initiative
        • Saranac Lake Brand
        • Village Community Development Department
What can we help you find?
  • See & Do
      1. See & Do
      2. See all
        1. See all
        2. Seasons
          • See all
          • Spring
          • Summer
          • Fall
          • Winter
        3. Accessibility
        4. Arts
        5. Attractions
        6. Downtown
        7. Health & Wellness
        8. History
        9. Live Music
        10. Parks
        11. Shopping
        12. Stories
        13. Weddings
  • Outdoors
      1. Outdoors
      2. See all
        1. See all
        2. Hiking
          • See all
          • Nature Walks
        3. ADK Guides & Tours
        4. Birding
        5. Boating
        6. Camping
        7. Cross-Country Skiing
        8. Cycling
        9. Downhill Skiing
        10. Fishing
        11. Golfing
        12. Ice Fishing
        13. Mountain Biking
        14. Paddling
        15. Snowmobiling
        16. Snowshoeing
  • Eat & Drink
      1. Eat & Drink
      2. See all
      3. Cafés & Coffee Shops
      4. Craft Beer & Cocktails
      5. Restaurants
  • Events
      1. Events
      2. See all
      3. Adirondack Snowshoe Fest
      4. ArtWorks ArtMarkets
      5. Can-Am Rugby Tournament
      6. Celebrate Paddling ADK
      7. First Night Saranac Lake
      8. Plein Air Festival
      9. Winter Carnival
      10. 3rd Thursday Art Walks
  • Stay
      1. Stay
      2. See all
      3. Cabins & Cottages
      4. Camping
      5. Inns, Lodges, Bed & Breakfasts
      6. Resorts, Hotels, Motels
      7. Vacation Rentals
  • First Time Visitors
      1. First Time Visitors
      2. See all
        1. See all
        2. Accessibility
        3. Downtown
        4. Getting Here
        5. Greater Region
        6. Stories
        7. Seasons
          • See all
          • Spring
          • Summer
          • Fall
          • Winter
  • Local
      1. Local
        1. Live Here
          • See all
          • Meet the Locals
          • Real Estate
          • Town of Harrietstown
          • Town of North Elba
          • Town of St. Armand
          • Village of Saranac Lake
        2. Do Business Here
          • See all
          • Chamber Job Board
          • Essex County IDA
          • Franklin County Economic Development Co.
          • Professional Services
          • Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
        3. Community Initiatives
          • See all
          • Arts & Culture Master Plan
          • Downtown Revitalization Initiative
          • Saranac Lake Brand
          • Village Community Development Department

Carl Ballantine, comedy magic

Watch Video
Be prepared with helpful travel tips!
Pamela Merritt
February 17, 2016

The complex of buildings at the edge of Saranac Lake is known as "Will Rogers," since that was the name for much of its history. But it started in 1929 as the National Vaudeville Artists' Home; a tuberculosis curing facility for people in show business.

It was a future destination for a tall young magician. He bounded onto the stage in New York City. Before he could begin his act, he felt a wave of nausea, and collapsed. Instead of dazzling the expectant crowd, he wound up in the "actors sanitarium" in Saranac Lake, with his doctors saying they would know more about his condition in six months. He felt that was an ominous pronouncement.

He may have been a funny guy, but what he was facing now was deadly serious. 

shifting a dream

Carl Ballantine is credited with perfecting the comedy magic concept. Like so many inspirations, it was born of necessity.

He had loved magic since he was nine and the local barber distracted kids with simple tricks. Born Meyer Kessler in Chicago in 1917, he ran through several names including Count Marakoff, Carlton Sharpe, and Carl Sharp while working as a straight magician during the Great Depression. But it was a source of frustration to him that he was not as polished in his magic abilities as many of his competitors.

he began as a serious magician, in the waning days of vaudeville
he began as a serious magician, in the waning days of vaudeville

According to his daughter, he made a joke when a trick failed, loved the audience laughter, and began turning his lack of ability into a true comic act. From then on, he was careful not to call it a magic act, or himself a magician. He was now a comic.

He renamed himself Carl Ballantine, after a bottle of whiskey he saw, and would often add, "I was almost Jack Daniels!" His new act would be "Ballantine, the World's Greatest Magician."

He was eager to pick up his career where he'd left it... as soon as he got better. Curing his tuberculosis would take three years.

it began as the National Vaudeville Artists' Home in 1929
it began as the National Vaudeville Artists' Home in 1929

But he did not give up his comic ways. When his six months went by, he greeted the doctors with, "Looks like I'll be sticking around a while more. And so I've been meaning to tell you, the food here is terrible!"

Carl Ballantine was a comic natural. Mel Brooks was to call him “the funniest man on earth.”  While he had developed his act partly out of frustration at not being as good at magic as he wanted to be, magicians like David Copperfield, and comedians like Steve Martin, revered him and cited him as inspiration.

Much of his career momentum had been lost by the time he was able to leave the sanitarium. Three years is a long time in show business.

getting back on stage

There were a few fortunate things Carl had going for him, besides the very fact of his survival. One was that his care had been provided free of charge.

As of 1935, the National Vaudeville Artists' Home became part of the Will Rogers Memorial Commission. The popular entertainer's death in a plane crash had led to the creation of a charitable foundation, partly funded by taking up collections before the movies played in theaters. This widened elibigility to all entertainers, vaudeville or not. A year later, the complex became the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital.

When Carl was declared able to take on the rigors of the road again, he'd had a captive audience for all this time.

donation appeals were once part of the pre-movie show in Depression-era theaters
donation appeals were once part of the pre-movie show in Depression-era theaters

Carl wasted no time in getting back to rebuilding his career. He'd put together his first act by the time he was thirteen, and now he started again, doing well enough by 1940 to become the first magician to headline in Las Vegas, appearing on a bill with such well-known stars as Harry James, Betty Grable, and Sammy Davis Jr.

Now he was on a roll again. Always impeccably dressed, he would appear on stage in a top hat and tails.

whether the emphasis was on comedy or magic, he always kept the traditional formal dress
whether the emphasis was on comedy or magic, he always kept the traditional formal dress

"If the act dies, I'm dressed for it," he'd say. One popular staple would be him tearing a newspaper into strips, claiming he would restore the paper. "But just in case," he would add, "let's check the want ads."

He began to become a common sight on television. Variety shows were hugely popular then. "I was on Sullivan a lot," he remembered. "But Sullivan would never get the jokes."

a genuine star

Those variety show spots began to pay off. He became nationally famous with his character, Torpedoman's Mate Lester Gruber, on the "McHale's Navy" television show that aired from 1962 through 1966.

he became famous with his character, Lester, on McHale's Navy
he became famous with his character, Lester, on McHale's Navy

In this highly popular show, Carl played a con artist from Brooklyn, who used his magic skills and street smarts to get the other members of the crew in, and then out, of trouble. He would reprise the role in the first "McHale's Navy" movie, along with castmates Ernest Borgnine and Tim Conway. 

This led to more comedic acting roles in the movies, such as "The Shakiest Gun in the West" (1968), "The World's Greatest Lover" (1977), and Billy Crystal’s directorial debut, "Mr. Saturday Night" (1992). His last feature film role was in "Aimee Semple McPherson," a 2006 biopic about the female evangelist.

He was a staple on television during this era, from magician “Al Henderson,” working the 53rd precinct Christmas Party for brother-in-law Officer Toody in episode 15 of the 1st season of "Car 54, Where Are You?" in 1961 to a 1973 TV movie, "The Girl Most Likely to..." with Stockard Channing. 

In his later years, he got work as a voice artist, first in "Freakazoid!" (1995) as Huska, then in "Garfield and Friends" (1988) as the devious Al G. Swindler.

While working on "Speedway" (1968), Elvis Presley wanted to give him a Cadillac. But his wife, actress and cabaret singer Ceil Cabot, wouldn't let him accept it. He was also a devoted family man, even if he did name their two daughters after racetracks: Saratoga, the actress, after the racetrack in New York, and Molly Caliente, after a track in Tijuana. 

his constant comic patter was part of his personality, on stage, and off
his constant comic patter was part of his personality, on stage, and off

In 2007, he received the 2006 "Lifetime Achievement Fellowship from the Academy of Magical Arts." Carl Ballantine would live to the age of 92, wisecracking and playing the ponies, almost to the end. His last performance had been the year before, the "It's Magic" show at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

Will Rogers lives on. It's now Saranac Village at Will Rogers, an extraordinary place for independent retirement living, with interesting talks, monthly outings, and other cultural events. Show business, after all, is in its bones.

Carl Ballantine's legacy lives on in the performers he inspired. And what a delight it is.

Start that trip to Saranac Lake with the right lodging. Indulge in some delightful dining. Explore our incredible history.

Photo acknowledgements: Will Rogers ad courtesy of Historic Saranac Lake wiki website. Early magician photo from Skirball Cultural Center. Formal and autographed photos from katzizkidz. Picture quote from AZ Quotes.


In related Fame In The ADKs news:

Dewey’ing it with decimals.

The Adirondack hermit.

A star-studded past with more stars on the horizon.

Lighting the way for the rich and famous.

Meadowmount: Multiple strings attached.

Wheeler goes to Washington.

Synonymous with opera, art, and the silver screen.

he began as a serious magician, in the waning days of vaudeville
he began as a serious magician, in the waning days of vaudeville
it began as the National Vaudeville Artists' Home in 1929
it began as the National Vaudeville Artists' Home in 1929
donation appeals were once part of the pre-movie show in Depression-era theaters
donation appeals were once part of the pre-movie show in Depression-era theaters
whether the emphasis was on comedy or magic, he always kept the traditional formal dress
whether the emphasis was on comedy or magic, he always kept the traditional formal dress
he became famous with his character, Lester, on McHale's Navy
he became famous with his character, Lester, on McHale's Navy
his constant comic patter was part of his personality, on stage, and off
his constant comic patter was part of his personality, on stage, and off

Related Stories

Summer Programs for Kids
Winter Wellness Ideas in Saranac Lake
Explore Your Inner-Artist at ADK ArtRise
Black History in Saranac Lake
The Time Traveler's Guide to Saranac Lake
In Her Studio
A Day of Yoga and Paddling
Don't Miss the Amazing Lawn Serpent!
My, How You’ve Grown: 40 Years of Pendragon Theatre
Walking the Walk: ArtWalks in Saranac Lake
A Day of Winter Indulgence
An Artist's Haven
The creation of an Adirondack gem
Extreme Art: Painting Inside the Blue Line
The VIC: It's Luxury Hiking!
Walking the Walk: 20 years of ArtWalks in Saranac Lake
The art of Pink House
Calling All Rock Hounds
Crafting an art evening
Feeling Grateful
The sound of healing
When the twenties roared
Fall Seasons Cold Water Paddling
The hidden fun in Lake Clear
Not just a walk in the park
Six Nations, First People
Our lodging? It's different.
Healthy Eats, Tasty Eats
Get out and art!
We can dash through the snow
If self-care is naughty, I don't want to be nice
In plein site
Dia de Muertos at Pine Ridge
Choose to stay... in the past!
Fall Events: a blaze of glory!
Puppy's first mountain climb
Coolest Adirondack Chopped Challenge!
Planting seeds
Don't miss the summer's coolest events
History Is Cool: The Lab Museum
Hotel Saranac: Then and Now
Tucker Farms - three seasons of goodness
Some assembly required
Anti-vaxxers lead to Saranac Lake reopening tuberculosis facilities
Five Fun (and obscure) Facts about Saranac Lake!
Saranac Lake Classic: the Cure Chair
Saranac Lake Arts Beacon
Carl Ballantine, comedy magic
Love among the cure cottages
Special Dining Options - Gluten Free & Vegan
2015 Most Popular Blogs
Shopping without the stress
Adirondacks' Masterpiece
John Brown's Other Bodies
Brighton: Dusk 'til Dawn
Martha Reben: Staring down the Great White Plague
How to have fun at the Art Opening
Stevenson Cottage - small outside, a world inside
Riding the Rails, Adirondack style!
July is when things heat up!
A Wonderful Wellness Weekend
Saranac Inn, golf with a taste of Scotland
Adirondack Cure for Cabin Fever
DIY Adirondack style
Adirondack Traditions, then and now
Wellness Resolutions: Easy does it!
An Evening Sleigh Ride in the Adirondacks
An Adirondack You for 2015
A night on the town in Saranac Lake
Where to find hot beverages
Healthy Holidays, Adirondack Style
Saranac Lake Remembers the Great War
A Guide to the Great Indoors
New fun at Titus Mountain Ski Area
The Blind Owl Band: A true Adirondack band
Norman Bethune, the hero, the artist
An Apt Pair: Ampersand Mountain & Follensby Clear Pond
The biggest Cure Tour of them all
History Comes Alive in Saranac Lake
The Horse Knows The Way
Boat Trip Massages: Two Roads to Wellness
Forks, Fests, and Flatwater: 3 Featured Fall events
See artists at work in the mountains
The Art Walk is a path to art, music, and fun!
A cure cottage tour, a step back in time
Mid-summer events in Saranac Lake
Frankenstein Lives! In the old laboratory in the village
Roughing it in style: a tour of White Pine Great Camp
Night Time's the Right Time in Saranac Lake
Waterhole Wednesdays Feature Free Music
BluSeed Studios planning for busy spring
Winter Foodie Scene
Spoken Word: Poetry on Stage
Thursday Night Music Jam
Breakfast & History
Building the Ice Palace
The Art of Gifts
Intimate Studio Tour With Sandra Hildreth
Art & Dining
Less than two weeks to Sparkle Village Craft Fair!
Camera Obscura: The Renaissance Camera
Saranac Lake Art Attraction Nov 22 - Dec 28, 2013
Discover the Art of Saranac Lake
Saranac Lake: A Mecca for the Arts
5 Cool Ways to Experience Art in Saranac Lake
Sammati Yoga: No Experience or Flexibility Required
Saving Einstein
Hunkering down with Adirondack arts in late fall
Hunkering down with Adirondack arts in late fall
Holistic Guiding: Immersing Yourself in ADK History & Culture
Painted Landscapes, Clay Demonstrations, and Chickens...all a part of the Artist at Work Studio Tour
Artist at Work Studio Tour this week
Fun family events for fall foliage season
Fifth Annual Hobofest: Music, Food and Fun on the Tracks
Hobofest tops the calendar this weekend
FlavorFest at The Wild Center
Farm 2 Fork: Slow Food, Long Life
Hobofest Returns to Saranac Lake
Pianist Eugene Sirotkine performs August 6th concert to benefit Bartok Cabin
Entertaining events will keep you hopping this weekend
Top 5 Family Friendly Activities in the Saranac Lake Area
Paper Making with a Purpose at BluSeed Studios
From carousels to magic lamps - events to tickle your Spring fancy
Historic Saranac Lake "History Matters" series continues with "Clara's Rib"
A Taste of Provence at Saranac Lake's Left Bank Cafe
What can we help you find?
Sign up to receive more information.
Enter Email
Do•Stay•Eat•Shop•Events
Work Here•Contact Us•DEI•Media Kit•Privacy Policy
39 Main Street, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
Powered by the Regional Office of
Sustainable Tourism
THERE’S MORE TO EXPLORE
We’ve got the best ideas for things to do on your next Adirondack adventure, and we will deliver them right to your inbox! THANKS FOR SUBSCRIBING! Your next adventure awaits you in your inbox! Tell us more about what interests you, and we can help you plan your next trip.
MANAGE YOUR PREFERENCES