Dick Brooks, considered a magician of renown, has been a professional performer since leaving school, was born in New York City. As a teenager he joined a Department of Parks magic club headed up by the official magician of New York City, Abe Hurwitz, who was also the father of the soon to be famous Shari Lewis. When Hurwitz left the Peter Pan Magic Club, the members wanted a more mature name after famous magician Carl Ballantine joked to the members, "I love your peanut butter!" Brooks, came up with the name F.A.M.E., which stood for Future American Magical Entertainers, and the club lasted for many years thereafter. Then six magicians from the Society of American Magicians, who at first did not allow youngsters to join, formed the Society of Young Magicians for youngsters in 1984. 

New York