Magician, pickpocket, comedian Revello-Dunn dies at 69

Tuesday, Feb. 2, 1999 | 10:36 a.m.

When he was 5, his father taught him card tricks. By the time he was 14, he was eating fire.

Through the years he came to hold titles such as "The Torture King," "America's No. 1 pickpocket" magician, comedian, juggler and clown.

On Jan. 23, after a lifetime of magic, Rickie Revello-Dunn, entertainer, magician and professional pickpocket, died. He was 69.

Born April 2, 1929, in Newark, N.J., Dunn learned the tricks of the trade at an early age.

When he was 14, he landed his first paid gig as a fire-eater in a sideshow at an amusement park where he made $25 a week. Shortly after, he ran away from home and joined a traveling carnival in California.

It wasn't until a few years later, when he decided to include pickpocketing into his act, that his career really took off, friends say.

From hotels to supper clubs and cruise ships to theaters, Dunn stole watches, wallets, cash and jewelry in his act, dazzling his audiences with his sleight of hand and crafty one-liners.

"There's a lot of magicians, but there aren't many pickpockets," longtime friend and fellow magician Norm Nielsen said. "Rickie was considered one of the funniest with one-liners all the way through his act. He was such a funny guy."

Dunn traveled the world, making stops in South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia. Locally, he performed at the Stardust, the Flamingo Hilton and the Aladdin hotel-casinos.

Six years ago, he decided to make Las Vegas his home, not only for work opportunities, but to retire in the company of other magicians.

"There's more magicians here than anywhere else," Nielsen said. "He wanted to be with friends."

That same group of friends who shared his life, laughs and bag of tricks are seeing that Dunn's final resting place is also in the company of magicians.

They are purchasing a plot for him in a cemetery in Colon, Mich. The cemetery is known as a popular resting place for magicians, Nielsen said. "Harry Blackstone Sr. and Jr. are buried there," Nielsen said.

A "Broken Wand" ceremony will take place at the cemetery in August -- the time of an annual magician's convention in Colon -- where his ashes will be buried.

"He has tremendous friends from all over," Nielsen said.

Magic was his life and he made a very good living at it, Nielsen said.

Within the past year, however, medical problems developed, and Revello-Dunn was unable to join friends on a planned tour to New Zealand. He gradually began turning down job offers.

Still his death came as a shock, Nielsen said.

"He worked all the time. He was a perfectionist. He was very hot-tempered, but also a very kind friend who would do anything for anyone," Nielsen said. "He really will be missed."

Aside from his many friends in the magic circuit, Dunn is survived by his brother, Richard Revello of Robeland, N.J.

A memorial service will be held 3-5 p.m. today at the Monte Carlo hotel-casino. Arrangements were handled by American Burial & Cremation Services, 310 Foremaster Lane.