Burgess hypnotizes audiences for the last time
Ashburnham resident hangs up his performing shoes at 81 years old
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER
"I've played Vegas.

Ashburnham resident, Russ Burgess, 80, performed his last show at Gardner High School on April 11. Burgess is retiring after a long performance career, having performed on many national television shows including the Ed Sullivan Show and lecturing on ESP and Hypnotism for the last 30 years. Pictured here with some students from Gardner High School who volunteered to be hypnotized during the show Mr. Burgess talks to the crowd.

I've played the

Trump Center in

Atlantic City. I've played all the

big places."

- RUSS BURGESS

Russ Burgess has stood on the stage for about 60 years showing his skills as a hypnotist, his expertise in ESP and talent as a bird trainer. Now he is ready to retire.

"I've traveled all 50 states and seven foreign countries," the Ashburnham resident said. "I've played Vegas. I've played the Trump Center in Atlantic City. I've played all the big places."

The World War II veteran became interested in hypnotism after watching a show on a Navy base in Norfolk, Va. Burgess met with the hypnotist - a doctor at the infirmary - the next day and decided that he wanted to go into the business.

But the Navy wouldn't let him switch out of the amphibious unit because they were busy preparing for the invasion of Japan, Burgess said.

After spending two years and two months in the Navy, Burgess was discharged at the end of the war.

"I came home and went right into show business," he said. "I had a hard time starting out. Although when I'm determined to do something I do it."

B u r g e s s knew that he wanted to perform as a m i n d - r e a d e r and hypnotist but that those fields were very hard to get into as a young adult. So he started to do a trained bird show.

"I just waited until I was old enough," he said.

But that trained bird act got him on to the Ed Sullivan Show.

"It was a thrill," he said.

Burgess was in Missouri when his agent called him to say he was booked on the show for that upcoming weekend.

"I cancelled two shows and got down to New York," he said.

The performer was also a guess on the Dike Van Dyke Show and Captain Kangaroo.

"There's a lot of tension (backstage)," he said. "It's nerve wracking as hell. But once you are on you relax and go with it. … There's a lot going on, you have to be quick."

He said he was able to keep getting show because he kept his shows clean and funny.

"I have a reputation of having a very clean show," he said. "Anyone can come to see my show and nobody is offended."

At one performance he was doing a hypnosis act in which he convinces a female from the audience that she wants to kiss him, but as soon as he says okay he "turns into the ugliest man alive." He said usually the women would walk away in disgust but at this particular show the woman walked over and said "you poor man" and give him a kiss regardless.

"Nothing will ever top that," Burgess said.

Burgess has played fairs all over the country but has kept his home in Massachusetts.

"Show business is not steady work. You have to love the business," he said. "There is a lot of heartache."

Burgess is still in good health for a soon-to-be 81-year-old but credits it to his job.

"I work with young people all the time," he said. "I take care of myself."

He spends about 90 minutes or more on the stage during his show.

"The average comedian does 20 minutes and is exhausted," Burgess said.

He said he still gets a thrill from being on stage and tweaks his acts to suit each audience. His goal is to go out while he is still on the top of his game.

"It's the traveling that knocks me out," he said.

He says he thinks he'll be busy in his retirement. He is looking for to spending time out on his lake, with his wife and two daughters and entertaining friends.

"I don't have time now to do what I've got to do," he said.

Russ Bugress' last two shows will be held on Tuesday, May 1, at Leciester High School and on Thursday, May 3, at Wachusett Regional High School. Contact the schools for more information.