When I was 8 years old, I got a magic kit. I immediately started whisking around handkerchiefs, tearing paper, dropping coins and fiddling with ropes. After a few weeks of practice, I considered myself a master in the art of prestidigitation so I sent around word to neighborhood kids that I would have a magic show in my back yard. Admission? Five cents. My mom made lemonade and popcorn for the crowd. It was a wonderful success. As I recall I made about 70 cents. Big money for an 8 year old in 1955. . . .

Fast forward . . . . our daughter Lauren was turning 7 or 8. For the kid’s party, Donna said she was going to hire a magician. Cost? $25.00. I scoffed. “I can do a magic show for nothing!” Donna’s eyes narrowed. “Pleeeease let me do it” I implored. She said “okay” and I headed off to Magic, Inc. – a shop on Lincoln Avenue – where I spent at least a hundred bucks on new magic tricks. Lauren’s party was a big success – such that when the local grade school was having a silent auction to raise money, Donna signed me up to do a magic show. Some lucky person bid $50.00 and got the show of a lifetime. For the performance, I donned my tuxedo, gathered up my tricks – and headed off for the gig. To say it was a big success would be an understatement. . . . .

In the weeks that followed, I began getting calls to do magic shows for kids. “How much?” they’d ask. I said “$75.00” then after a few shows I upped the number to “$100.00.” And the calls kept coming. I also volunteered numerous shows for various friends and charitable causes. Over the course of my “career” as a magician, I probably did two dozen kid shows. But I started thinking – I’ve got a day job. So I put my magic wand back in the drawer and discontinued the kid shows. But even today – every once in a while – I will perform a miracle or two.

Not many folks know that I have actually performed magic for four Presidents of the United States. That’s true – Donna and I were out at Mt. Rushmore a few years ago and . . . . .