After sticking needles in my gums and cheeks while practicing, I soon gave this up but substituted pen nibs. These were supplied at school and while there was no way of threading them I was able to secrete several on the side of my gums and show my mouth empty.

This brought about the first public attention I ever received when it was reported to a teacher that I actually swallowed pen nibs. I was called to the front of the class and severely reprimanded.

To start with – I improvised a table from the music stand (a left-over from my violin period) and with a cut down wooden butter box on which I had fastened a projecting rod – It made a very effective magic table when a large bandana handkerchief was used as a cover. My own prize effect was a growing flower trick that I had learned from one of the cheap English magic books I purchased at a second hand store. It consisted of a large flat cork into which a wired single stem flower was attached. The flower came from an assortment of sewing and millenary odds and ends I found in the cellar.

An old salmon tin – with label removed of course was the only other requirement and with the cork based flower in the can making certain that the top of the flower did not show, quite a magical flower growth was created, when water was poured in the can. The flower would gradually appear thanks to the cork base rising with the increasing water.

Eating pen nibs was a reliable effect as was a card trick I had learned from Modern Magic where four kings were placed in different parts of the pack and all, magically came together on top. This was a forerunner of a trick called The Four Burglars, which I did for many years.

I do recall that the trick with the kings was my first attempt at humour. I felt very proud of the only patter line I used at the finish when I said, “It all took place on King Street.”

I don’t want you to believe that everything that I have stated happened. But it is what I had planned.

From what I had read, I felt my “act” lacked a grand finale so I persuaded a boy to fill his pockets with playing cards and to keep some up his sleeve. The idea being for him to respond when I asked for a volunteer and the act would conclude by my magical production of cards from various parts of his clothing.

Due to the “best laid plans” theory – nothing worked.

The teacher announced my name. There was a trickle of applause and a lot of giggling, as I gingerly carried the table towards a spot near the teacher’s desk – Just what or when it happened I’m not sure. But somehow, the butter box table top acquired a sharp angle – the can fell to the floor – the flower on a cork rolled out – the small pitcher of water managed to spill on to the teacher’s desk – the specially arranged cards were scattered and became soaked.

I was flustered but had enough courage, or stupidity to continue. Announcing “my original pen nib mystery” I managed to apparently eat four pen nibs. It became my opening and closing effect. The water spilling and other manifestations caused me to forget all about the boy with pockets and sleeves full of cards.

How I explained my oversight to him is just another of the many things that, fortunately, I can’t recall.

But my first show is firmly etched in my mind. It flashes through my mind, every time I have had to “carefully” carry a table on stage.