talkmagic.co.uk

How did YOU Get in to Magic?

In a question most likely inspired by having read Mandrake's signature that adorns every single on of his many posts I thought it might be interesting to share any interesting stories relating to how members of this forum got in to magic.

I would get the ball rolling, but mine's not really an interesting story...I've really grown up with magic, on and off, and can't really remember how I became interested in it, so that's why I'm not going to tell you that one.

Oh, how ironic. I just have! (See, the humour made it more interesting...right? )

People have briefly mentioned how they got in to magic before on the forum, but there are so many members with surely so many stories to tell - anyone?

I have to blame my grandpa.... he fooled me for years....

My school caretaker. 1978.

always intrested me, never knew what sparked in me though... cousin started to learn over the summer so i decided that i am going to learn alot of magic. hmm...

Like Rune i think it was my grandfather that got me into magic.... although not a "magician" he had quite a repetior he had picked up from years in the theater with performers from all walks of life.

Rob

I remember a card trick that someone showed me aaaaages ago - basically a card was forced upon me (I was unaware of this method at the time ) and then it's the classic - deal the cards face up into a pile and deal a few cards past the selected card. Then the old "I bet you the next card I turn over will be yours" routine. Well I fell for it hook, line and sinker and lost a hefty 50p bet (bear in mind this was approx 25 years ago and was alot of money to me at the time )

Anyway, I persuaded him to show me how it was done and I haven't looked back since

Long ago (early 1960s) there was an evil man on CBS Saturday morning television named Mark Wilson... it's all his fault that I got addicted to this horrid thing we call magic. What made matters worse was the magic kit my mother got me that year (1963) for Xmas... now days she looks at the warehouse photos and wonders when I'm going to grow up and get rid of all that junk (my ex thinks the same way... I don't understand )

I started doing shows in my backyard at around 8 I believe it was and got cast in a travelling illusion show that promoted a kids clothing line at 9... did that for five years and got tossed out on the streets and told I had to make it all happen on my own... 14, in the midwestern U.S. and trying to make a name for yourself as a performer... oi!

I gave up after 3 years, went into the Navy... ended up out of the Navy less than 2 years later due to health issues but ended up working with Carnival show promoter Ward Hall in both WONDERCADE and CIRCUS UNIQUE. Finally, at 21 I came to Hollwood where I joined the Magic Castle and started me real education about this business and all of its silliness. I served as an assistant of sorts to the Librarian of the day, a warehouseman for Abb Dickson & Harry Blackstone as well as the man that would become my mentor, Kirk Kirkham. I also assisted those that came to perform at the Castle in setting up their equipment, loading their trucks, etc. For lack of a better term, I was a magic "handiman"

After a brief tour with my own show I sold everthing in 1990 an swore I'd not do any more shows... before the end of the year I was back into it with the biggest Macabre show I'd ever done... it was short lived in that I became a key player in the creation of Ken Whitaker's Creative Illusions company in Vegas -- the design and creation part became an obsession for me and lead me to stick thing out with Kenny in those early days... sadly, his partner wasn't quite as honest or honorable as Kenny so I had to move on.

I had started doing smaller show -- Mystery shows and after a car accident in 96, when I broke my neck, I started working more and more as a Psychic & Bizarre Enterainer. Selling off the last of my Illusions in 2001 and move onward from there. It amazes the living daylights out of me, that I can now do a two hour show with little more than two small shoulder bags vs. two huge semi-trucks and a massive support crew

For the past few years I've been out of circulation, again, due to on-going health problem. In Nov. 03 I was diagnosed with MS (which explained the 20 years of chronic health issues no one was figuring out) and about nine months ago I was told I could go back to work on a part time basis. So far it's been a most interesting ride but I got here becasue of some very special and most excellent friends who kicked me in the butt when I wanted to give up... now that's magic!

You have an interesting story there Craig, you seem to have been doing magic all of your life.

My Grandpa had MS, and I did a lengthy talk on it in school

I had one of these cheapo magic kits when I was six or seven or so, and it got me into card tricks (these were the 21-card-trick variety). Then while surfing I saw an ad for magictricks.co.uk...and that got me hooked!

Kati

well... my story gets shot down by craig's....

Zero000 wrote:well... my story gets shot down by craig's....

Sorry

it started in the early fifties, the local fair had a side show,featuring a sword swallower, fire eater, a guy who walked on glass, a human blockhead, magician etc, along with the (human oddities) i thought i could figuerwe out how to do the "working acts and did, by the time i was 14 i was traveling with the side show, learned from the old timers there, later after the side show days i branched out, now perform mostly in wizard costume, and mostly in a mental or reader vein

All interesting tales - I just find it interesting, because the tales contained within this thread are the very thing that brought us to magic, to this forum. It's quite interesting, or it is to me anyway.

Well in 1942 (oh dear) my mother qwas on War Work in a factory , near Dudley, Worcs. The foreman's daughter was getting married, to a member of the armed forces, and he invited all the 'girls' & their kids on his section to the reception. feasts were rare at that time. Another worker, Ernie Hadley( stage name Harry Dearne) a semi pro and member of the BMS performed his magic act as the entertainment. I can still see his Stung & Stung Again and the Coffee Vase now. That did it. I was totally gripped, breathless & hooked. As he worked with Mum we use to meet him socially and I was shown a number of simple tricks. Dad then bought me a half crown ( that's approx 12 1/2. pence) Witchcraft Box of Conjuring from paul Clive's Magic Shop on Central Drive, Blackpool. The Chinese Fingercuffs (sort of raffia made) and the Ball In 'Vase' were foisted on the poor victims in the boarding house again and again during the week.Several years later the proprietor used to request when we came on holiday to bring some tricks & the Vent. Doll for Friday night 'Concerts' In 1943 I presented my first 'Stage Act' at my Boy's Junior/Primary School. It consisted of 3 card tricks, the vanishing writing with special magic words given to me by Dad from his time in India. Kush nay ookum Touri Peachy.heaven knows what it meant. And my big trick Davenport's Coloured Crayon Mystery; which I still have. The head, a Mr. Teague told me I'd never make a magician! I was also refused a reference for College/University entrance; as 'You will never make a teacher. You belong in the Theatre!' by my grammar school head, Mr.Lloyd. Forward to 1989 when I 'retired' as Head Of Drama I recreated that first magic Act for our first year assembley. At the end (the theme was never Take No For An Answer) I said to the kids, who knew this story, "So to Mr. Teague & Mr. Lloyd , be they in heaven or the other place...2 finger gesture & a rasberry. The Staff fell off theior chairs. The kids gave me a standing ovation. After all some of them had sen my Full evening magic Shows in the School Theatre & in other assemblies and Drama was THE favourite subject in School. Back to the early 40's.One of favourite aunts found me a box of flashpaper and a couple of books which contained magic. Davenports in new Oxford Street & Will Goldston were discovered. In 1946 Ernie Hadley took me twice to the BMS shows then in Dec. 46, to see The Nottingham Guild of Magicians who were bringing a magic Show 'The Hand of Trumps' devised and directed by Peter Warlock to the Staffs Magic Society. Fog prevented thyem getting through. Oh horror!! BUT the SMS put on their own show. I was introduced to some of them Arthur Culpin, Elizabeth, Arthur Ulbrich, John Knox, Roy Billings & Gabrielle Varley, Gilbert Wells.Burtini, Fabian (first ass.editor of Abra) and asked to audition. Early in Jan. 1947, with my parents,who waited 3 hours, in the car, in full snow..I did. And what a wonderful, marvellous lot of folk they were. I was so well looked after; Many were like 2nd.parents to me. Leslie Melville & Don Bevan & Christopher Woodward, also joined,in their early teens. I stayed with the SMS till the end of College in July 1957 then up to Nottm. Volume 2 may come later.
Allen Tipton

As a child I wanted to get free money by snapping my fingers and saying "abracadabra".

Unfortunately, I then found out that real magic like that doesn't really exist. Except in my head ...