Bay Area Comedy Magician Honored for Entertaining Army Post in Virginia

Entertainer Robert Strong receives two military coins of distinction for magical Christmas gift to 6,000 soldiers after airline loses his luggage.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) December 26, 2005 -- What do lost airline luggage, an all night Wal-Mart, three borrowed bowling balls, and four levitating United States soldiers have in common? Answer: They were all part of one of the most memorable performance experiences in San Francisco-based Robert Strong’s 21-year professional career, which resulted in two rarely given military coins for exceptional excellence in service.

On December 12, Strong flew to Virginia on his own dime to entertain troops, family members and civilian employees at Fort Eustis and Fort Story including soldiers recently returned from Iraq. Unluckily, US Airways lost his luggage, including all of his costumes and props. Left with only a 4th of July red, white and blue tie from his performance wardrobe and an unconquerable resolve that the show must go on, Strong marched into a 24-hour Wal-Mart and undertook a scavenger hunt for props, which yielded $50 worth of toilet paper, children’s toys, playing cards, and assorted arts and crafts items. From 3am until 6am, Strong paced his hotel room preparing an entirely new act for the six 25-minute shows that were to follow later that day.

“These performances were my Christmas gift to the soldiers and my way of saying ‘thank you’ to them for all they are doing for this country,” Strong said. “One of the most moving moments of my whole professional life came when the soldiers gave me a standing ovation after I told them to “come home safely – my country needs you; come home safely, my family needs you; come home safely, I need you.’”

Highlights of Strong’s performances included accidentally picking a general out of the audience for a lie detector routine. The general acted staid and formal throughout, but to the delight of all the rank-and-file soldiers Strong was able to expose him every time he lied based on subtle changes in body language. Strong elicited an equally uproarious response when he successfully pick-pocketed a number of soldiers, who had come on stage with him. Having told the audience that he would not stoop to naming the airline that had lost his luggage, Strong cleverly opened a sketch pad to reveal “US Airways SUCKS" written on it and then magically turned it into a bowling ball. Strong also scored major points with the audience by making fun of their arch rivals in the Navy.

Strong’s generosity of time, money, spirit and improvisational talent were rewarded unexpectedly with two military coins of distinction, rarely given to non-enlisted personnel. A Command Sergeant Major bestowed these honors on Strong in recognition of his “Excellence, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, Personal Courage, and Loyalty.” According to the Commanding Sergeant Major, “Nothing happens until something moves, and today you moved us. Just like a soldier who has to hit the ground running and make do with what he or she has, so too you have risen to this occasion and served us all better than we ever could have asked for.”

About Robert Strong:

Since 1985, Robert Strong has captivated audiences with his unique blend of magic, juggling, and outrageous comedy. Strong customizes his materials for his diverse audiences, including motivational speaking for corporate retreats and creating original illusions to make a product and/or a CEO appear magically. Robert has performed in over 30 countries, he has appeared on national television, and on two occasions he brought his inimitable show to the White House. Strong has been the opening act for luminaries such as the Beach Boys, Harry Belafonte, Ray Charles, Faith Hill, and Gary Sandling. He has performed at a range of notable venues, including The Kennedy Center, the MGM Grand, The Smithsonian, and Harrah’s Entertainment. For more information on Robert, visit www.StrongEntertainment.com.

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