Jim's MONTHLY MUSES: ? ? ? ?

I couldn't think of a really snazzy title for this LONG overdue Monthly Muse. The topic concerns magic and my fascination for it. Presto! Alakazam! .. . .and other incantations just didn't seem to fit. So-------we're stuck with ? ? ? ? !

No secrets will be revealed here; only reflections on a lifetime love of the art of legerdemain and prestidigitation. . . undoubtedly nurtured by a special Santa Clause gift. See it below. (That's the exact Mysto Magic Set by A.C. Gilbert. There were five sets in that particular series. Eventually, I owned them all.) And a career was born. Actually just an--on again--off again interest in magic which never completely abandoned me.

******************************

My cousin, Betty, who also gave me my first book about cartooning, Draw Comics! --Here's How-- A Complete Book on Cartooning by George Carlson, married Jack, a very professional amateur magician—forgive the oxymoron. Jack pointed me to the Abbott's Magic Manufacturing Company catalog. From that point on, there was no looking back. He also introduced me to a young magician in a nearby town, with whom I visited; we had fun practicing our tricks, sharing ideas. Here's Ted Blau.

During a two year hitch in the Navy, while stationed in New Orleans we visited the Rex Magic Shop; Bernita bought me Greater Magic. The tome of more than 1005 pages of text pulled back the shroud of mystery from cabalas, hundreds in number; from small pocket tricks to large scale illusions. Dr. HarlanTarbell--himself a polished magician--drew more than1150 illustrations! A dozen or so years later I met Tarbell. He autographed his own first volume of The Tarbell Course in Magic which I'd purchased.

#################################

High school years were the soil where the seeds of both magic and cartooning germinated, masking feelings of inferiority. Folks find that a condition, in me, difficult to entertain.

But, many birthday parties, service club meetings, class reunions and family gatherings were subjected to the perspiring performances of VALDARO, the Magician. I chose the name Valdaro because the letter “V” was prominent on each of 52 cards in a deck someone had given me. Think I'm kidding about being shy? When elected president of my sophomore class I passed out cold.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Ultimately I joined IBM, the International Brotherhood of Magicians. During that time I was elected President of the Ithaca, NY Ring.

I didn't pass out.

It was a treat and a delight to meet a number of childhood magi-heroes; Blackstone, Sr., Gene Gordon (one of the founders of IBM) and Lou Tannen, proprietor of Tannen's Magic Shop in New York City to name a few. Got to chat with David Copperfield back stage . . . and Harry Blackstone Jr.

***************************

Some years before moving to San Diego from hometown Watkins Glen, NY,teacher/author Frank Steber and I posed for a library publicity shot. I think Frank is trying to show me how to do a trick.

What a privilege to be asked to design a logo for two IBM conventions held in San Diego.

Here is the most recent one.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Rabbit Under the Hat, a book for which Ellen Friedman and I are responsible, is a collection of magic inspired cartoons. Most of them were originally published in the IBM Ring 76 newsletter MagiCurrents over the past nine years.

It should be available within a couple of months. It's been fun for us. I know you'll like the finished product.

wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

We're almost to this blog's vanishing point. I'm hoping that Jim Williamson's picture (shown as if he were contemplating a floating grapefruit) will be seen by someone who remembers him. Aka LEN, the Magician, Jim was a friend and member of the Ithaca magic club. Where ARE you, Jim??

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?