Today, January 15, 2024 marks the 33rd anniversary of the passing of my friend, teacher and mentor Tony Slydini. I have made it a tradition each year to write a small tribute to him on this day. It always seemed like a very small “thank you” that I could give to him. This year, I thought I would use a video instead and also relay some little known Slydini history.
Very few people know that on November 9, 1998, a dinner meeting was convened between some of Slydini’s students. Attendees of this dinner included: Bill Wisch (Slydini’s only officially sponsored and authorized protege), Artie Miller (Slydini’s Final Student), Gene Matsuura, Palmer Tilden (deceased), Mark Mitton, Meir Yedid, Bill Brunelle, Steve Forster (deceased), Sol Stone (deceased), Paul Rappaport, John Wooley, Bob Yorburg, and Carlo Marucci (Slydini’s Nephew).
During the dinner each student in attendance was asked to speak a bit about what Tony meant to them individually. I brought along my handheld VHS camcorder and taped everyone as they went around the table. The entire tape runs 1hour and 25 minutes long. After the dinner, I sent out a copy of this video to everyone that was in attendance (VHS format) and it has since never been released. I am not sure if I will ever release the entire video, but there are quite a few wonderful stories told by his students during the dinner.
I’ve included video here of a pan of the table showing the attendees and Palmer Tilden asking everyone to speak clearly as the event was being recorded for posterity as they were "compiling some history." Next, I have included my tribute at the dinner. Take note also of what my good friend Artie Miller interjected. “I just want to let everyone know that Bill is the only one that Slydini recommended to lecture his work,” Artie elaborated. Thank you, Artie for mentioning that during my tribute.
As each year goes by, I am reminded that Slydini left us over 3 decades ago. The fact that Slydini’s principles, techniques and spirit are so lauded today in our magic community speaks volumes about how incredibly special he truly was.
Long live Slydini and long live his magic. RIP, my friend.
Transcript of Bill Wisch Tribute, Slydini Dinner, 11/9/1998
Palmer Tilden:
Can I suggest that, besides just your name, maybe you tell your association with Slydini, friend, student, whatever. And if you took lessons, what time period. Now many of the things that are being said tonight are being tape recorded. Because of posterity and we’re going to compile some history. So it might be good to put it on there. Knowing when you were with him would be good.
Bill Wisch:
“I’m Bill Wisch. I started studying with Tony in 1973 and so many things you say I listened to your stories about the lessons being four hours and each one of us I’m sure could spend four hours telling stories because the more you think about each lesson the more stories you have to tell. One of the stories I like to tell is when Artie (Miller) was in the hospital the nursing home. I’ll never forget this, we were in that little room where all the people kind of hang out around the tables and like a rec room with a TV and all that stuff. I guess it was a few months before he died I remember he was doing some stuff and he wanted me to do a few things for some of the people and I did
that. And then we got up to go back to the room. There was some lady I don’t know who it was she had to be moved in her wheelchair from one table to the other. He knew all of these people; they were there for a couple years. One thing struck me so impressive. This was Slydini all the way. He moved this woman over to the table, set her up at the table, kind of looked up like this you know, up into the air, and just put his hand on her shoulder and went like this (patted her lovingly on the shoulder). And then walked away.
That just touched me. I don’t know what it was. There was something about seeing that when he didn’t just. He walked her over and just put his hand on her shoulder and went like that (patted her lovingly on the shoulder). And you know, he did that to every one of us. He did that same thing to every one of us. If he liked you or if he respected you, boy there was nothing he wouldn’t do for you.
One time my wife and I went up to Connecticut with him, because we all have our stories about traveling, on the way home from this long show he was there, you know, the whole nine yards, he says, “We gotta stop at a bakery.” I said “Ok, we’ll stop at a bakery, all right.” So we stop at a bakery. We’re looking around it’s a Sunday afternoon there’s not many bakeries around. We finally found one place. He says, “Go in and buy some cookies.” So I’m saying (to myself), “Hey whatever he wants I’ll get it.” We go in. He gets the box of cookies. We get back to his house and he gives it to my wife. You know. Little things like that. You think you’re doing it for him, but he’s really doing it for you.
There’s so many stories. But I agree with what Palmer (Tilden) says, we could go on for years and years and years and just have a blast, you know, just talking. He was probably the nicest most calm man I’ve ever met. And yet, he was gifted. Jackie Gleason once said that you can work for 40 years for a gold watch. And you can get this from your boss and you go around showing everybody how great “oh look what I’ve got, I’ve got my gold watch here. This is what I did for 40 years and look what I’ve got. I’m proud of it. Well, the good Lord gives us each a gift, instead of a gold watch. And there’s nothing to be ashamed of to go out and do that kind of magic. That’s what I liked about Tony. He would go out and he was humble but he also knew it was the best. He knew he was THE BEST. There was nothing better.
Jackie Gleason also said that, “Vanity is an actor’s courage.” And I think that’s true also. With Tony, when he knew it was good, it was GOOD. Yet, he was the most humble man. So there’s so many stories. I started in 1973 with him and I went with him for a while, a few years. It was just the best 3-4 years of my life.
Artie Miller:
“I just want to let you know Bill (Wisch) is the only one (student) that Slydini recommended to lecture on his work.”
Bill Wisch:
Well, it was a real honor. He wrote a letter for me one time. He says, one time at one lesson he says, “You wanna lec-tcher?” You know he would say “lec-tcher”. He said “You wanna lec-tcher?” I said, “Yeah, some day I’d like to lecture in the near future. He says, “No, I mean now!” He had just come out with the new (Fulves) books in 1976 and I said, “What are you kidding?” So he writes me a letter and he sends it to each one of the presidents of all of the clubs. That’s how I started my lecture. 38 cities the first time. I lectured everything out of his books that I could do. Most of it I could do. And I would take requests. I even did the thing with the wine, you know, the port wine with the little glass. Great trick. It really is a terrific trick. I think he called it the “Bartender’s Rag.” Then we did another tour in 1978. Sold a lot of books. It’s amazing. He was a very, very kind man.”