Del Ray (Delbert Raymond Petrosky). Butch the Bear.

Del Ray (Delbert Raymond Petrosky). Butch the Bear. Circa 1965. One of several incarnations of this faux automaton bear used by Del Ray in his famous stage act. Throughout the magician's performance, he regularly produced glasses of wine from thin air, and after raising the glasses toward the bear, who rested on stage alongside him, the bear- seemingly operating independently and only in reaction to the magician- raised a bottle held in one paw to a cup held in the other, pouring real wine into the cup, then raising it to his lips and drinking a toast along with his owner. Each time Del produced a glass and proposed a toast, Butch responded in kind. The mechanical bear, originally manufactured by the famous automaton makers in Paris, Roullet-Decamps, sits on a tall table hand made for him and outfitted with a flash bulb, running lights around its rim, and a number of electronic controls at the rear and in the base. During Del Ray's act, the table moved about the stage and the flash bulb would be fired off to accent his act, as well. Battery-operated. Table 37 " high. With a custom ATA carrying case to hold the table, detailed operating instructions, circuitry diagram, analysis of components and construction, and a fitted case to hold the bear. Mechanics refurbished by John Gaughan. Not tested. A pioneer in the use of electronics in magic shows, Del Ray (born in Pennsylvania and orphaned at an early age) was also a master entertainer, and arguably one of the most charming a Read more…