Dick Williams

Lakeland, TN 38002

No. 08123
IBM 1945
Ch Mbr 1946
OM 1970
OME 1995
Hon Life Mbr 1994
 

Dick joined the original Wizards of Wichita in 1941 and performed with the club at many military bases during World War 2. He joined the IBM a year before the Ring was organized and thus was a charter member of the group. Dick was taught juggling by Buster Barnard.

As a graduate of Wichita State University, Dick was a radio announcer at KAKE for several years. Leaving Wichita for better pastures, he moved to Amarillo, Texas in the 50's to become a weatherman for a television station there. It was here that he started a television magic show that was the beginning of his later success.

After moving from Amarillo, Dick joined WMC- TV, Channel 5, the NBC affiliate in Memphis, Tennessee, as a staff

Magicland was a weekly half-hour show that aired 52 weeks a year. For some five years in the late 70's, it changed to a one-hour format. By 1989, nearly 1,200 shows had appeared. And if that doesn't seem like a record, it was continuously sponsored by McDonald's Restaurants since its start in 1966. Much more is to be said for this established record but you'll have to buy the book! 

Dick and his wife, Virginia, wrote of their experiences during the 23 year run of TV series in their book, "Lights! Cameras! Magic!" Published in 1994 by SPS Publications and sold by magic dealers around the world. The book features several photos and a history of the early years of the Wizards of Wichita. A companion video tape, Magic In Focus, was issued in 1995, and Take Two in 1998. The two tapes contain clips from the Magicland show and is the basis of a lecture-demonstration which Dick presents before magic clubs and conventions. Dick also wrote "Presenting the Haunted Key" published by Fun

Dick was born in Hoisington, Kansas in 1927 and married Virginia Maranville in Wichita in 1949. They had one child, Sherry, who died in a boating accident in Texas in 1981. Dick and Virginia have two grandchildren, Jennifer (b.1974) and Michael (b.1976). 

(Update: Virginia Williams passed away January 1, 2007. She was daughter of Ness and Edna Maranville, and was born in Ness City, KS and graduated from Ft. Hays State University. She was a coloratura soprano, music teacher, and magic assistant on "Dick Williams Magicland" on WMC TV-5 from 1966-1989. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Richard "Dick" Williams of Lakeland, TN; and her grandchildren, Jennifer Rezba of Lakeland and Michael Rezba of Tampa, FL. She was preceded in death by her only child, Sherry Williams Rezba.)

Click on the photos below for a closer look!

Dick hosted the WMC-TV Magicland weekly 1/2 hour show in Memphis,  Tennessee, from 1966-1989	Dick and Virginia receiving the Guinness World Records Award for the longest  running TV magic show in the world.	Click on the Guinness Award to see a large version of the picture.

Note: In the Guinness World Records 2005 book: Pages 182 & 183 feature a "Magic & Illusions" section. Dick is listed at bottom of page 182 for the "longest running TV magic show." Details of the award are included.