Dai Vernon(David Fredrick Wingfield Verner) was born in Carleton, Ontario, Canada, on June 11, 1894. His parents were James William Verner
(1844 – 1918) and Helen Erskine Spiers Verner. His father was a government employee and an amateur magician. When Dai was seven years his dad performed a magic trick for him. Dai was fascinated it and from that point on Dai was hooked. As soon as he could read Dai went to Ottawa's Carnegie Library and studied every book they had on magic.
In 1902 Vernon acquired the book "The Expert at the Card Table" by S. W. Erdnase (Available in Our Bookstore). The book became Dai's bible, he memorized every page and would referred to it for the rest of his life.
In Vernon attended Ashbury College, in Ottawa, where he excelled in sports. While in college he shortened his name to Dai. On summer vacation the Vernon family went to Old Orchard Beach Maine. There on the boardwalk Dai saw a vendor cutting and selling silhouettes. Vernon couldn't wait to try this art form for himself, and he found that he was quite good at it.
In 1913 Vernon traveled to New York to attended an art's academy. While in New York went to Coney Island where he met magic store owner and Comedy magician Larry Grey who was known as "The Dizzy Wizard". Dai talked Grey into letting him sell silhouettes from his store. Vernon spent the rest of the summer selling his art for a good profit.
After the summer Dai returned to Canada where he attended the Royal Military College and studied engineering. In 1914 World War I began and Veron enlisted in the Royal Air Corps.
After the war Dai returned to New York and began hanging out at Al Flosso's magic shop where he demonstrated his card skills to other magicians. Even seasoned slight-of-hand artist were astounded, they were seeing moves they had never seen before. Dai was beginning to establish himself as a legend. Vernon, influenced several generations of magicians which earned him the nickname of "The Professor".
While visiting magician Horace Goldin who was performing at Coney Island, Dai met one of his assistants named Jeanne Hayes. After a whirlwind romance the couple were married on May 5, 1924.
Dai traveled throughout the United States searching for anyone who had invented a new style of sleight-of-hand with cards, sometimes without even knowing the name of the person he was looking for. A rumor that a magician or crooked gambler had a new move would send Vernon traveling.
Vernon wrote many books during his career. the titles include: Dai Vernon's Book of Magic, Inner Secrets of Card Magic, More Inner Secrets of Card Magic, Further Inner Secrets of Card Magic, Ultimate Secrets of Card Magic, Dai Vernon's Tribute to Nate Leipzig, Malini & His Magic, The Essential Dai Vernon, The Symphony of the Rings, Early Vernon and Revelations.
In Dai's later he settled in Los Angeles California and became Magician-in-Residence at Hollywood's famous Magic Castle.
Dai Vernon (David Fredrick Wingfield Verner) ddied in his sleep at the home on August 21, 1992 in Ramona California. He was cremated, and his ashes are interred at the Magic Castle.
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