May 14th Passages

Just returned from the road - post proms across Iowa, Missouri and central Illinois with great results. Wonderful people, great shows and bad directions from a certain unnamed online map service! Oh well, can't have everything.

I'd also like to take a few moments to offer some words on the passing of a great magician, ventriloquist and friend, Jay Marshall, the Dean of toe Society of American Magicians. Jay was 85 and had seen them all - from Houdini to Copperfield, Henning to Blackstone and beyond. Over 40 years ago, I dragged my Dad clear across Chicago, from our home in Oak Park, to Magic, Inc. for my first visit to a real magic shop. Jay was the one who met me. I had seen him just the Sunday before on the Ed Sullivan Show, doing his famous Lefty routine. He had appeared on Sullivan's show 14 times during his career, opened for Sinatra in Las Vegas and played the Palace and the Palladium - the tops in their day.

A funnier, nicer, more informed man, you couldn't hope to meet. And now, he's "up there" wowing the crowds again. He always called himself "one of the better, cheaper, acts." To me, he was one of the best. Period.

Now, it's off to do another show, magic this time, in Barrington. The show must go on!