The Billet Article - The Magic of Memories

This article is taken from The Billet Issue - 427 - Oct 2007, Authored by Melvyn Shalks

The Magic of Memories

The David Nixon lecture was superb nostalgia. To oldies like me the years went galloping back. To see the master with his so gentle presentation was just brilliant. Even the props which were so basic relative to todays miracles were appealing.

This set me to thinking about the various influences I have had over nearly sixty years.

David Brett of Sheffiled came to mind. I had been sent to 'relieve` a practice in Liverpool. I had to call next door to find where the electric mains were. It was here I met David. Our common interest drew us together and after work we would go over to New Brighton.

I last met up with him at Hamilton Kayes funeral.

Convalescing in Rhyll at fifteen years of age, I was looking for 'Lobby Lud' of the News Chronicle. In a crowd I asked a fellow spectator if "that was he?". It wasn't but the FS was one Keith Lawler. He was a magician from Stalybridge. We exchanged visits and he took me to the Top Hat Magic Club in Manchester. I lost touch with Keith but would love to meet up with him again.

I took a job on stage electrics at the Leeds Empire. I was a student at the time and here I met David Berglas and Al Koran. The former was a gentleman and gave me lessons in cig manips.

The stage manager came down on me because this was against the rules but David got me out of trouble.

Al Koran however told me that he only did magic for the money

At Butlins I met Maurice Fogal who again was so friendly. I also met Uncle Boko, the resident childrens enertainer who gave me much encouragement. I was eleven at the time. Uncle Boko was Francis Keep who went around in a fez.

Freddy (parrotface) Davies was a redcoat who was very friendly. He wanted to buy my flowering bouquet finale routine from me. I met Freddie again when he was manager at the Blackpool Metropole. I was doing a double act with my stage partner Irving Roy. We absolutly died there and Murray came backstage to give us some very useful tips.

Magic is a true equalizer and is an international language. In Austria I met up with an Italian magician when we were in a group dinner party. We communicated for while on the internet.

My biggest thrill was a day with Eric Lewis in Glendale California. We had lunch together and he took Damian and myself around John Gaughn`s workshop where most of the TV special illusions were made. He even let me play with the Copperfield Shower Illusion prop.

Even today I am grateful for my true friends in magic. Dough Haigh, Eric Slicer, Ray Roberts and Stevie B spring to mind but there are too many to note.

Bob Eaton and Keith Pickles have given so much of themselves to our own society. We should try to emulate them in our attitude to this wonderful hobby / profession.

May we have some more nostalgia to remind us of our roots?

These presentations will surely be:

THE MAGIC OF MEMORIES

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