REVEEN ~ Biography
Peter Reveen was to Canada what Johnny Carson was to the United States...a household name! Originally from Australia, Reveen landed on our North American shores in January 1961, with his first stop being Honolulu, Hawaii. After a few trials and tribulations, Reveen saw himself on a not so pleasant boat trip to San Fransisco. Once there he purchased a ticket for a long Greyhound bus ride bound to Vancouver, British Columbia. Being Australian, which was part of the British Commonwealth, as was Canada, Reveen was granted a six-month visitor's visa on March 16, 1961. It was on the outskirts of Chilliwack, British Columbia where Reveen began his auspicious rise to fame with, quite literally, a nickel in his pocket. This was to be the start of a long and very successful career for the Australian hypnotist, a career that spanned over 35 years.
Once in British Columbia, and with the assistance of an acquaintance he had met a few years before (a Canadian reporter), Reveen started to book himself into local community halls and legions with his very unique style of show. To promote the show, Reveen would hand out complimentary tickets to all businesses that would display a poster in their storefront window. In many towns, Reveen would also work out a deal with the local radio and/or television station whereby he would give them a percentage of ticket sales in exchange for them promoting his concert. It was a long and gruelling road, but his hard work and efforts eventually paid off. He was given the opportunity to perform in one of the worst movie houses, in the worst market, at the worst time of year - the Paramount theatre in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, the week before Christmas. Needless to say, Reveen did more than just okay - he was a huge hit! And the rest, as they say, is history.
For over 35 years, commencing in 1962, Reveen toured the theatre circuit throughout Canada, eventually playing for, as estimates have it, well in excess of 6,000,000 people. Because of the popularity of his concert, Reveen set many attendance records, some of which still stand to this day. Where I live, our theatre, the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, a 1,041 seater, would sell out for two to two and a half weeks straight with every return visit. In fact, because of his popularity, it would take Reveen two years to tour the country, a pattern he repeated year after year; in a country that would make his name and visage iconic.
Once in British Columbia, and with the assistance of an acquaintance he had met a few years before (a Canadian reporter), Reveen started to book himself into local community halls and legions with his very unique style of show. To promote the show, Reveen would hand out complimentary tickets to all businesses that would display a poster in their storefront window. In many towns, Reveen would also work out a deal with the local radio and/or television station whereby he would give them a percentage of ticket sales in exchange for them promoting his concert. It was a long and gruelling road, but his hard work and efforts eventually paid off. He was given the opportunity to perform in one of the worst movie houses, in the worst market, at the worst time of year - the Paramount theatre in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, the week before Christmas. Needless to say, Reveen did more than just okay - he was a huge hit! And the rest, as they say, is history.
For over 35 years, commencing in 1962, Reveen toured the theatre circuit throughout Canada, eventually playing for, as estimates have it, well in excess of 6,000,000 people. Because of the popularity of his concert, Reveen set many attendance records, some of which still stand to this day. Where I live, our theatre, the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, a 1,041 seater, would sell out for two to two and a half weeks straight with every return visit. In fact, because of his popularity, it would take Reveen two years to tour the country, a pattern he repeated year after year; in a country that would make his name and visage iconic.