Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Classic Magicians

Last night I ran tech at the theater for the Tucson Society of American Magicians Parlor Magician of the Year competition. I dabbled in magic a bit in my younger days and had a good time chatting with the competitors and watching the show.

One thing I told them about was going to a magic convention in St. Joseph, Missouri. I think I was 14 or 15. My father pretty much told me I HAD to go to the midnight lectures and shows (even though I technically wasn't old enough) because some of the giants of magic were performing and speaking: Dai Vernon and Slydini. There were both very elderly but still agile enough to pull off a good variety of close up magic and tell tales from their long careers in magic.

What really got all the magicians jealous is when I told them I had gotten autographs from both of them on playing cards.

I look back now and think, REALLY? I had them autograph a two of diamonds and a four of spades? What was I thinking! (Actually, if I remember correctly, they preferred low value cards as they had more room to sign them so maybe I wasn't so stupid after all!)
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6 comments:

  1. kkditherSeptember 9, 2014 at 3:56 PM

    Isn't it something how things from the past increase in value and in memory? My daughter treasured personal letters from Mr. Rodgers, John Travolta, and I think Ronald Reagan.

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  2. BeejaySeptember 9, 2014 at 4:30 PM

    How very cool.

    My younger brother was quite the amateur magician. Drove us crazy. Lol. It all began with. Christmas gift my folks gave him. What a wonderful thing it became! There used to be a magic shop in downtown Milwaukee. That is where his allowance would be spent.

    Thanks, Hale, for evoking a happy childhood memory. Made me smile.

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  3. OrbsCorbsSeptember 9, 2014 at 8:02 PM

    The only autograph I have is Caleb Robinson's, when the Communicator did a cover story on him. I don't know where it is.

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  4. OKIESeptember 9, 2014 at 8:26 PM

    I don't think I have anyone's autograph.

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  5. BeejaySeptember 10, 2014 at 6:13 AM

    I think I have kk's.

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  6. kkditherSeptember 10, 2014 at 12:08 PM

    I only sign autographs infrequently. Keeps the value higher, lmbo.

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