It seems like a million years ago that Todd and I were both members of a teenage magic club in Cincinnati called "The Counts of Conjuring". Although we were never close friends, our paths seemed to cross occasionally through the years. Todd was in town last week to celebrate a friends birthday and I was flattered that they made it up to the City Walk to catch my show and visit. What a trip to revisit our formative years in magic. I remember those meetings vividly and hold them close to my heart. There was a hotbed of talent in Cincinnati in the mid to late 70's and not surprisingly many of us pursued our art and hobby and turned it into a lasting profession. Funny to think of the East side vs West side element to the scene. The meetings were held at Bill Brewe's Magic Shop on the West side. Brewe had a stable of talented young men that he was training in the classic tradition of stage magic. These guys were young, but boy were they good. Bill Cummins, Ed Kuder, Todd Simpson, Paul Adams, Greg McMahan, to name a few. Come to think of it, a few years later; that is where I would meet a very young Homer Liwag.
While the Western Hills magicians (Brewe's Boys) were learning the finer points of feather flower magic, silk magic, staging, choreography, lighting and various prop magic, the (Haines Gang) on the East side were being taught close up magic by the likes if Larry Pringle and Paul Swinford (both students of the late great Stewart Judah)
Fond memories of a special time in my life and in my development as a magician. Thank you Todd! It was great seeing you and great bringing to the surface all these wonderful memories!
