Dornfeld Siblings:
From Left: Werner, Herb, Richard, Arnold, Irene, Luella, Florence
(Soemo family collection)
[click to start/stop video] My mother, Margrit Diehl, narrates this "what's what," and "who's who" of the Dornfeld family, flipping through family photos kept by Gloria Soemo, the cousin of my father, John Diehl. (video by Carl Diehl)
The conjuror Carl Herbert astonished young Werner Dornfeld with a trick known as “aerial fishing," during a performance at Glenwood Park, a popular getaway for picnicking families, such as the Dornfelds. (animation by Bill Boyer)
Young Werner borrowed books on magic at the public library, practicing the tricks for hours, at home. Modern Magic by Professor Hoffmann was a favorite.
(photo by Carl Diehl)
Dorny's grand-nephew Mike flips through photos of the house that August Dornfeld built at 4511 W. Parker Avenue. Dorny grew up here and later kept his magic studio in the garage. (video by Carl Diehl)
Cow that Dorny's mother Louisa bought. Dorny and his siblings helped their mother sell fresh milk to the neighbors to supplement the family income.
(Photo from Soemo family collection)
[click to play] When Dorny's niece Gloria lived at 4511 W. Parker, she dabbled in her own feats of digital dexterity and misdirection. In this vignette, Gloria narrates her experience
(video edited by Carl Diehl with excerpts from Long Distance, produced for AT+T by Audio Productions, 1941, Prelinger Archives)