Original Publication Date: September, 31, 2000
Authors Note: Having just kicked off my 19 city "Slydini Admiration" tour in Boca Raton on June 5, I thought this would be the perfect entry into Slydini The Legacy. Lecturing is one of the great pleasures of this profession; I am humbled and thrilled to bring my magic and Slydini's magic to you on the tour. See you on the road! - Bill
In 1974 and 1975 I was honored to be president of IBM Ring 113 in Fairlawn, NJ. It was a wonderful group of magicians, full of vitality. Since it was the 25th anniversary of the Ring in 1975, I felt it would be fitting to plan some "major" occasions. We had several and they were great but the most enjoyable was a lecture by Slydini in the winter of 1975.
Remember I mentioned a bank last month, where I had performed my "new" act for Slydini? This was the perfect place to have a lecture...plenty of parking...brand new "community room"...easy to get to...plenty of space. Everything was ready. I had set up the complete room that afternoon before going to New York.
I picked up Slydini at his studio on 45th St. in New York and drove him over to our apartment in Montvale, NJ. There my wife and I had dinner ready for him. We lived only a short, five minute walk from the bank so we didn't have to travel very far at all, to get to the lecture location. Slydini planned to stay overnight. The next day he wanted me to drive him to Bloomfield, NJ so he could have his first photo session for the new book, "The Magic of Slydini and More". I was to deliver Slydini to the photographer's house/studio by early afternoon the day after the lecture (a Sunday I think). No problem.
We had plenty of time when we sat down for dinner and got chatting. Time goes by and all of a sudden I look at the clock and see it's time for the lecture to start! We literally rush out and get up to the bank. What a sight! We expected a large turnout but never imagined the 155 people that were there from all over the area! Also, there were visiting magicians, like Mike Skinner from Las Vegas, that had heard about the lecture and were in the area, so they attended as well.
My most profound memory was the literal scowls I received from everyone waiting and freezing. I had expected to be at the bank way before and have everything all ready so they could just come in. It was COLD! I honestly believe that if the people weren't so anxious to get warm and see Slydini they would have tarred and feathered me...no lie (and I can't blame them)!
Slydini gave very few lectures around this time in his life (he was 75 years old) so this was quite a special occasion to say the least. In fact, I believe, this was the last full, planned lecture he ever gave. It was wonderful! He went through everything in his stunning repertoire. The lecture lasted over three hours. I'm sure no one that attended will ever forget it.
Afterwards, Slydini, Mike Skinner, Herb Zarrow, Karl Fulves, Jose De La Torre and a number of others came back to my apartment for light refreshments and relaxation. What a session! Everyone did effects and talked until around 2AM. Then, after everyone left, Slydini was still ready to party and chit-chat (he was a MAJOR night person!) so I think I went to bed at around 4:30AM.
Slydini was sleeping on a sofa/sleeper in my living room. All I remember is this banging on my bedroom door at 8AM! "Let'sa go...Tima to geta up!" I thought I was dreaming! I was totally exhausted and the greatest magician in the world is banging on my door to get up! What a trip!
So I go out and he's all dressed in his suit and tie and everything. We go up to the Ramada Inn next to the bank for a wonderful breakfast. Then I mention we should get going so we can get to the appointment. Slydini asks me if I can just go into the bank and get something he left downstairs. I said sure so we go right next door to the bank. He tells me to look under the cushion of the sofa in the bank's coffee room. When I get down there, I lift the cushion and sure enough, here's a complete change of underwear nicely folded and flat. He had put everything under the cushion because he didn't want anyone to see his underwear in his briefcase (no pun intended) during the lecture. This definitely freaked me out! The world's greatest magician leaves a change of underwear under the cushion of a bank. He hadn't told me what it was because he was embarrassed because my wife was there, and so when I appeared at the car with a paper bag containing his shorts, t-shirt and socks he gives me this "guy-thing" kind of look and we drive my wife back home. Then we head off for the photographer's house.
This whole episode was a surreal, dream-like interlude in a magical, "star-struck" student's life! Those were the days!
One thing before I close. The photo session was a complete success and Karl Fulves, the author, was kind enough to allow me to assist as a spectator in some of the effects. The book turned out to be the classic "The Best of Slydini and More.”
In Addition:
I am thrilled to have kicked off my "Slydini Admiration Tour" in Boca Raton on June 5. Please take a couple of moments to view the trailers to three products I will have available at the lectures for the very first time to the. magic community below. These items will only be available in-person at the tour for a special price, so please try to come out to the lecture if you can! For more information, see my lectures page at https://www.billwisch.com/lecture See you on the road! - Bill
AVAILABLE FOR SALE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON SLYDINI ADMIRATION TOUR 2023
Bill Wisch's Definitive Lesson on Slydini's Knotted Silks
Bill Wisch's Definitive Lesson on Slydini's Helicopter Card Trick
Bill Wisch's Killer Set 2