Author: owenmagic

A Stand-Up Guy

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OK kids, step right up and join me in The Wayback Machine for a moment…!

Easter weekend I received an out-of-the-blue message from Bill Davern. We first met doing stand-up comedy on amateur nights at Yuk Yuk’s way back when. Eventually we both progressed enough that they started paying us to do it with Bill travelling much further along that road than me.

He said he’d recently received video from a night of stand-up comedy recorded by Cable 14, the local community access channel. This was at the original Hamilton Yuk Yuk’s located downstairs in the Royal Connaught Hotel. Video is 35 years old but, then as now, Cable 14 staff and volunteers know their business so it’s a decent record of the night. Bill was letting me know he posted it on his his YouTube channel.

So here, in all its nerdy glory, is my 2nd time ever doing stand-up. November 4th, 1987. Huzzah!

Watching this time capsule reminded me that when I started doing stand-up I also decided to work clean. No foul language. Then as now I do magic shows for children and family audiences. Didn’t want to ever worry about these two worlds accidentally colliding. I’ve never regretted that choice.

So, while you may cringe at my jokes, you won’t cringe at my language. Mister Peabody (and Sherman) would no doubt approve. Enjoy… if you dare!

Variety Arts Greeting Cards

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I have a dear juggler friend with whom I’ve exchanged holiday and birthday cards for years. She seems to have a knack for finding cards with delightful performance imagery regularly. Me? Not so much.
Except this year… I finally get to turn the tables!

Four greeting cards featuring illustrations of talented female jugglers.

These Art Nouveau style cards are the brainchild of California performer Bri Crabtree and illustrator Holly Pierson. Each card portrays a remarkable female performer from the world of circus and variety arts. They are blank inside and, by the bye, that’s Bri gracing the one at bottom right.

I don’t know Ms. Crabtree personally but she’s a terrific performer, both live and online. I posted her video for younger children on this blog about a year ago. Wonderful stuff for your wee munchkins.

So, happy customer Owen here, sharing link to the cards on her website. For international purchases you’ll need to contact her as the check-out function doesn’t have that shipping option. That’s what I did. She replied promptly to my inquiry and this lovely 4 pack of cards was quickly on its way.

Cards arrived well packaged. Then, almost as soon as they arrived in Canada, one was back in the mail to the USA to arrive (fingers crossed!) just in time to finally impress my juggler pal on her upcoming birthday.

Magical Blast From The Past

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Flipped through an old magic book the other night, The Phoenix, V. 1, a bound collection of newsletters produced by Walter B. Gibson and Bruce Elliott, and found this clipping stuck between pages. Magic legend Harry Blackstone, Sr., and Walter B. Gibson, visiting with the Hamilton Magic Club.

Newspaper clipping about Hamilton magicians club meeting with Harry Blackstone in 1947.
Meet-up was Oct. 1/47, Spectator page date noted as Oct. 8/47 on other side.

Harry Blackstone Sr., roughly speaking the David Copperfield of his time, was in Hamilton for a performance. Blackstone was likely performing at The Capitol Theatre (formerly known as Loews) or possibly The Palace Theatre (formerly known as Pantages) or, less probably, The Century Theatre (previously The Lyric) or maybe The Savoy Theatre (which was built on the site of the long gone Star Theatre way back when).
OK, OK, just showing off a bit, don’t get me started on the smaller rooms!

Gibson was a prolific author, magician and most famously creator of The Shadow, a wildly popular radio crime drama from 1937-1954. Elliott was no slouch himself with several magic books to his credit; all with a place on my magic bookshelf.

I remember getting “The Bird” (as it was affectionately called in the biz) at a magic auction for not too many clams way-back-when. Guessing I’m its third owner over these many years.

Never met Elliott, Gibson or Blackstone but many many years ago I did meet Inez Blackstone, Harry’s first wife. Had a sweet chat with her at a magic convention. She would have been in her early 90s at the time.

And speaking of being in their 90s… The young man at left in the above photo, Gordon Precious, is as keen about magic today in his late 90s as he was at the time of this photo 75 years ago. Proof? Here’s a video I shot of him performing at his 90th birthday party hosted by the Toronto Magic Club. His exuberance obvious in every frame!

Proud to have him as magical friend and mentor since I was a kid magician myself.

Fond Memories

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The other night I received this lovely message through my website contact form:

“This is just a hello. I was tidying and came across your business card from 1995 (of course no website or email address) when you entertained our 6 year old daughter and her friends. We have a picture of her as a rabbit coming out of a hat and a slightly younger you holding the image.
Fond memories, thank you”

J.V.

These random hellos are always a treat. I’ve had them at the mall or in restaurants but this one, from about 27 years ago, takes the time-travel gold medal! Performers often like to say their show will create memories that will last a lifetime. I don’t go in for such clichés but I’m always delighted to have helped a tiny bit.

Sent a quick reply back and next day J.V., the birthday kid’s dad, sent a photo. Still have that tie tucked away somewhere but the coat is looooong gone!

Owen performing at birthday party in 1990s.
Still offer this fun photo opportunity at parties!

Happy Mom!

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I managed to present a live birthday show, with proper social distancing, days before the latest lockdown began. Felt good to be in front of a live bunch of kids, challenges notwithstanding. Got this lovely email from mom shortly afterwards. A real ego boost and then, kindly, she added it to my Google reviews too. Sweet!

“Thank you for being so reliable and professional, the kids had so much fun and they will have amazing memories. Also thank you for bearing the cold so bravely, I wish we did not have all the guidelines according to the indoor/outdoor gathering, it would have been less challenging. I’ll highly recommend you!“


All the best,

Evelyna