Looking Back At My Mentors
We all need to be inspired, encouraged, and influenced, which helps mold us into the performers we become. So, let me tell you a little bit about the people who influenced me in magic, four specific individuals.
But First A Little History...
My interest in magic started in about 1969; I remember watching television, and there it was, "TV Magic Cards." I was hooked. Then came the "TV Magic Set." Fortunately for me, these were available at a local store. My dad, a kind and thoughtful guy, recognized how much I was taken with magic and bought me these for Christmas. Shortly after that, I found an advertisement in the back of Boys Life magazine with a page on all sorts of fun things, one of which was a catalog from a magic store in Evanston, Illinois (the "Top Hat Magic Company"). For any of you who have been around magic for a while may remember this company. I fondly look back on ordering the Chinese rings, multiplying billiard balls, and a dove pan.
Flash forward a couple of years to the television show starring Bill Bixby, "The Magician." Now I was truly hooked and my destiny to become a magician was clear to me. This television show was only on the air for about two seasons (only 22 episodes). But I remember it very well, and it made quite an impression on me. Around that same time, I also saw magic performed on The Merv Griffin Show, Today Show, and Not for Women Only with Barbara Walters. On Walters' television show, I first saw the famous close-up magician Derek Dingle, and he was fantastic! Derek was originally from England, and I really enjoyed his mannerisms and sense of humor, too. The card magic performed was exquisite, and that's when card magic became a focus, and eventually, my true love. Derek is my first hero in magic, and there is quite a story that cemented him as one of my all-time heroes…
Derek Dingle
In 1975, just before I graduated from high school, my father passed away—definitely a time of upheaval in my life. My mom, a friend, and I made a road trip back east to Michigan to visit family. During our trip, we drove through Texas and stopped in the city of Dallas. I had read about a little nightclub in Dallas called "It's Magic." So while in Dallas, I just had to stop by and check this place out. We got into town early evening, and as we drove by the place, there on the front door was a sign that read, "Live from London: Magician Derek Dingle." I can still hear the tires of our car screeching to a halt.
To my surprise, the next day, I was luckily invited to spend the afternoon with him—such a treat to spend a couple hours enjoying wonderfully done card magic at his apartment nearby. Taking the time to spend with us was extraordinary, and I will always be grateful for such kindness. Also, there just happened to be a friend of his visiting at the time, someone I didn't recognize then. Derek introduced me to his friend and magician, John Cornelius. John showed us some magic too, and of course, it was exceptional! I couldn't have been more in love with card magic after that unique experience.
I've had the good fortune of bumping into Derek Dingle on a few occasions at magic conventions throughout the years. He was always a gentleman, and I will forever appreciate his kindness and good nature. The quality of his magic stood out, plus the twinkle in his eye and sharp humor. He was always well dressed and polished in tone—of course, the English accent helped. These qualities resonated with who I wanted to be, the way he carried himself and how he performed impressed me greatly. He became one of my first great heroes.
Vic Kirk
During the mid-1970s, I spent quite a bit of time at a nightclub in San Francisco called the Magic Cellar. Many great magicians performed at the magic cellar in those days, and one of the very best was Vic Kirk. Now I must say Vic was and is my biggest inspiration. I had the good fortune of knowing him for about 20 years, and he was ultimately a very close friend. So much so, he was "Uncle Vic" to my two daughters. The discussions we had about magic were meaningful and wonderful.
As I said, I first saw him performing at the Magic Cellar nightclub. He performed at the close-up table, as well as on stage, many times. He had a powerful, commanding presence as well as a deep voice that demanded attention. The kind of voice that you would hear narrating a television series or documentary.
Vic is also the only person in magic that I can genuinely say had the equivalent of a Ph.D. in all things magic. His erudition was that of legend. I now own most of his library of magic books, and these books are well-worn from his study. He knew these books inside and out like a clergyman knows the scriptures. He was familiar with all performing aspects of magic, and actually learned every magical effect in the entire Tarbell course of magic. And why did Vic know magic so well? The performance art of magic was his life's work. Whenever I am asked, "what does it take to become a great magician" my first response is "passion." Having a passion for what you do is key to enjoying and being successful at any great endeavor. I really admired Vic's passion. His knowledge of magic was encyclopedic; that is because he loved it so much... not just the tricks alone, but the "true secrets" of performance magic, from how you conduct yourself on stage to performing up close to the smallest details of what makes magical entertainment great.
I must admit, talking to Vic about magic must have been what it was like talking to Einstein if you were a fellow physicist. I'm not kidding or stretching the truth here. The depth of the conversations I had with Vic is something I greatly missed since his passing, and still do. He was one of a kind and probably had the greatest influence on me, more than any other person I have or will ever know.
Terry LaGerould
Another person does come to mind that I want to highlight, so let's go back in time once again. It is approximately 1977, and I am on a short trip from the San Francisco Bay Area to Reno, Nevada. While I am there, I am introduced to a magician by the name of Terry LaGerould. If you asked me who I think is the finest close-up magician in the world, it would be him. Without a doubt, Terry is not only the best close-up magicians in the world (and as you can imagine, I've seen many). Not only was he that good, but he was also the most creative mind in magic that I have ever known. He is like an Artesian well, magical creativity pouring forth without stopping. I have seen him perform magic at such a skill level that he is likely unmatched. Terry has spent most of his life entertaining in hotels and casinos throughout Nevada.
He told me a story once about when he wanted to get into magic as a performer; he came out to Las Vegas to witness for himself the famous magicians of that time, this was during the early 1970s. He found that they were great, and that was equally very good, so he had the confidence to forge ahead with a career as a performer of magic. His talent came naturally, and the passion for it pushed his abilities to a whole other level. I remember he performed at Harrah's in Reno around in the mid-1970s and later at Caesar's restaurants in Lake Tahoe's south shore. Throughout the many years that I have known Terry, he has entertained hundreds of thousands of dinner guests, if not more (it has got to be an incredible number). His skill as a magician and performer is a testament to this time he had dedicated to the craft. I've spent many hours talking magic with Terry, and he has certainly influenced my performance style in great ways. Terry is a master of presentation and at weaving the entertainment storytelling perfectly with his original magic.
On a side note, his book "Pasteboard Presentations" is one of the all-time best books on card magic, complete with his presentations. If you can find a copy of any of the magic he has produced, don't hesitate to get it. Without question, Terry LaGerould is one of the most "fun" performers I have ever seen.
Greg Wilkie
The last magician I want to share about is a dear friend of mine for many years. To best introduce him, let me tell you a story about my friend Greg Wilkie written 26 years ago as a forward to a booklet he had written about magic for a class he was teaching.
"I was 19 years old and had owned my magic shop for about one month at the time. Business was, of course, new to me, but my interest in magic had been going on since I was about 13 years old. I thought I really knew a lot about magic, especially close-up magic, when one day into my store walks Greg Wilkie. I asked him if he was into magic and his reply, with a smile on his face, was, "Oh, just a little." Within the next hour or so, he showed me more great magic than I had even read about in the five years I had been working on the subject. Since then, I figure I have just about tapped him out on what he knows about magic, but that was 18 years ago, and I'm 37 years old now, and almost every other day when we're talking about magic, he says to me, "Hey did I ever show you this one?" He always proves me wrong, that is, about tapping him out, which is one of the many things I like about Greg. He has always been one of the best influences on my magical career and an unending source of enthusiasm, knowledge, and skill when it comes to the subject we love to talk about most, magic!"
Another story I remember about Greg was we were at a Christmas party for the Society of American Magicians local group (it is probably about 1978). We all had enjoyed dinner, but there wasn't any itinerary planned when it came to what's next. Fortunately, Greg was there at that dinner, and when all were finished, he sat down at one of the tables with his close-up mat and performed solid close-up magic for an hour and a half. Confident, smart, talented, and a lot of fun to be around. That was Greg. He made the evening memorable for everyone.
Throughout the years, Greg and I spent many hours talking about magic. He knew most of the performers at the Magic Cellar that I was familiar with, so we had a common history to share and discuss. Greg went on to perform magic internationally for a number of years before returning to the United States and making his home in Martinez, California.
What I remember most about Greg was his enthusiasm and passion for magic; that's what I think of when I remember him and the time we spent together. He was very well-read in magic literature, but his love (especially for close-up magic) was the strongest of anyone I knew. I'm very lucky to call him a good friend, and he is greatly missed.
Three of my magical inspirations, Derek Dingle, Vic Kirk, and Greg Wilkie, have all passed on. Terry LaGerould is still out in the world of magic, doing his thing as only he can, without peer!
These four gentlemen have had a profound impact on my approach to magic, and I am grateful for having known them. I believe it is very important to have people you look up to in every field of endeavor, and you only discover these people by putting yourself out there. These people are my heroes and most likely heroes to many others. Having that kind of inspiration in your life will encourage you to be the best magician you can be. Everyone has something unique to give, and you'll discover that in yourself if you haven't yet. Learning from others, being challenged by others, and gaining strength from others is all part of the journey.
Stay inspired, keep practicing, and have fun!