In addition to creating noteworthy illusions and publishing many books on magic, Schindler has performed at venues around the world and is currently "lifetime dean" of the Society of American Magicians, having previous tenure in the "S.A.M.
[3] ("Future American Magical Entertainers"), an organization of young magicians whose alumni at the same time had also included Howie Schwarzman, Dick Brooks, Carl Ballantine and Shari Lewis, among others.
In the Summer of 1953, George Schindler traveled to Hollywood to explore the demand for magicians on the West Coast and consulted with The Magic Castle's Milt Larsen as well as various figures in the film and television industry, including cartoonist and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer producer Sol Fielding (who had gotten Harry Belafonte his first break into movies the same year) and also George Boton, a talent casting agent for Art Baker's You Asked For It on ABC.
[4] It was during this time that Schindler was inspired to incorporate comedy and acting with magic, and by the early 1960s, he had developed a nationally syndicated program of radio gags called "Days, Dates and Data" which he produced, recorded and distributed out of his residence in Brighton Beach.
[5] While performing shows at Manhattan's celebrity-frequented Magic Towne House in the early 1970s, Schindler met up with Frank Garcia who he would collaborate with at the venue and as a co-founder of The School for Magicians, which was active from 1973 to 1978.
Woody Allen previously considered Wallace Shawn for the role but wanted a real magician to both play the part and perform the act, and personally cast Schindler.