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Leadership by Leat

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:39:38 -0500

Typical of my “loner” style, I had not contacted anyone in London prior to my visit but did locate an uncle with whom I had stayed for a day when my father migrated to Canada in 1913.

Even though I turned up unexpectedly I was made welcome and invited to stay with them for the rest of the week.

My uncle lived in Peckham, and I soon learned that lower Tooting was not too far away. I had sent a letter to Harry Leat before I left and he said, “Call around whenever you arrive.”

I took the bus to lower Tooting and soon found myself knocking on the door of 26 Burmester Road and was ushered in by a young lady who turned out to be the girl friend of Harry Jr.

Owen Clark

Wed, 3 Mar 2010 15:17:52 -0500

He was sitting on a box eating an apple – his lunch, I presume. It was obvious he was not playing in the top theatre. His costume was rather gaudy – the oriental shoes he wore were carpet slippers with painted cardboard tops.

He was surprised that I had recognized him – no one else had, during the Blackpool engagement. However, I explained I wouldn’t have recognized him but Owen Clark magic was well known to me, having read about it for several years in Stanyon’s Magic, the Magic Wand and the Magician Monthly.

When I described several of the effects I had read about he wanted to know how long I would be in Blackpool. I explained that I was heading for London and had planned to leave the next morning.

He seemed a little upset and said, “Many of the effects you mentioned are here with me. If you were staying longer I would be happy to add them to my program.”

Well it didn’t take me long to decide that an opportunity like this wouldn’t happen every day so I decided to remain in Blackpool for the next three days.

At each day’s performance, Owen Clark included one or two of the effects I had mentioned – just for my benefit. I was truly honoured and he seemed quite pleased to treat me in this friendly fashion.

I saw “The Hunter’s Dilemma” (only in this instance, it was a golliwog doll (life size) that was assembled in three parts in the shelves of the bookcase, when those shelves were removed a living figure stepped forth. He
did the chest of silverware that changed to the three decanters of liquor and several other effects that have since slipped from my memory.

I have always had a great respect for the many inventive Clark ideas he introduced as well as several very interesting articles and viewpoints on magic that appeared in the magazines.

When I enthused about the meeting, later, to British magicians, there was a tendency to downplay his ability and reputation based on some moral or immoral history of which I was unaware.

Leaping off the pages

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:48:16 -0500

I had already acquired a map of England and knew that Blackpool was not too far way and left the next day, booking a return railway ticket, after checking my trunk in the luggage room of the Lime Street Station.

It was my plan to visit Leo Hanson’s mother – Leo was the Secretary of the Lyonne Concert Artists Association and a theatrical agent for whom I had played a number of engagements - and deliver a gift from him and stay overnight in Blackpool then return to Liverpool the next day.

I had no trouble finding Mrs. Hanson’s house. I still remember the name of the street – Talbot Street.

I was made very welcome, invited to stay overnight at her house and have memories of being fussed over and neighbours who seemed to be constantly popping in to “meet the conjurer from Canada.” One each occasion I was expected to demonstrate my skill. Being a card trick nut at the period, I welcomed these performing opportunities, although I doubt the quality of some of the effects I attempted on these, somewhat forced occasions.

The following day, I decided to wander around the famous seaside resort and
was told be sure to visit the South Shore Promenade that had just opened.

The visit proved a very important one when I discovered one of the
attractions was an East Indian Magic Show staged by a group of dark-skinned
characters in colourful costume. Posters announced the feature wizard as one
named “Hadji”.

I attended A hand drawn bookplate by Sid Lorraine  in his collated copy of Stanyon’s Magic.
the show and was greatly impressed with many of the effects. They were unusual and very well presented but they rang a bell in my magic-minded head. They were mostly original ideas of Owen Clark. I recalled having read about them, many times in Stanyon’s Magic magazine (the only magazine of
which I had a complete file.)

When I asked the outside spieler how an Indian magician was able to possess so many Owen Clark tricks and illusions, he wanted to know who I was and how did I know they were Owen Clark’s.

After telling him of my interest and participation in magic and discussing Stanyon’s Magic – he confidentially informed me that the famous East Indian
conjurer was none other than Owen Clark.

Thus, my first full day in England resulted in witnessing magic by one of the truly great minds of creative magic.

Needless to say, I went backstage, immediately and met Owen Clark.

All tied up...

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:09:53 -0500

The next morning I went to the Cunard dock and boarded the ship for my first ocean voyage in fourteen years.

It was a pretty rough voyage. There was a great deal of sea-sickness. I was lucky. My practice of early morning rising and marching around the deck a few times each day, sort of a continuation of my hiking habit, helped to keep me a regular at the dining room tables for most meals. I can’t recall anything unusual about the trip. I made friends with a young Scottish and a German passenger. Both had migrated after the war and were returning home to visit families.

Above: (from left to right) Burling Hull, Tom Bowyer and Sid Lorraine.

Below: Sid Lorraine tying up Burling Hull on June 9, 1928When the call came for volunteers for the ship’s concert, I entered my name and while I can’t remember exactly what I did, I believe it was a series of card flourishes, the Ten and Ten card trick and cut and restored rope. The mention of rope brings to mind a surprise telegram that was delivered to me the day I boarded the ship. It was from Burling Hull.

It was a lengthy message wishing me bon voyage and asking me to demonstrate the Burling Hull Hindu Rope Mystery at all British magic clubs, promising a 50% profit on all orders obtained. I should mention that I had been one of the first persons to receive the Hull Cut & Restored Rope Trick using the rubber cement method as opposed to the general version of sewn-on snap fasteners, introduced by Harlan Tarbell.

I didn’t take the Hull promise of wealth too seriously as I had experienced dealings with Burling in the past and they often sounded much rosier than they eventually developed. He was a super self-salesman. I shall mention the Hull rope trick a little later. At the moment I received it, my mind was on the proposed visit to England.

The voyage was a fairly rough one, I believe the sea-sickness that affected many managed to evade me. I believe I missed only one meal, due to stomach queeziness. I do recall that there were several occasions when I was the lone occupant of my assigned table at mealtime.

My ability to survive the boat tossing was due, no doubt, to my hiking experience that prompted a considerable amount of deck walking daily, rather than reeling in a deck chair, as so many of the passengers did.

The crossing took about six days and arriving in Liverpool, I decided to stay in a hotel for one night while I made enquiries about travelling to Blackpool.