The Amazing Randi

[ Home ] [ Eric DeCamps ] [ Meir Yedid ] [ Scott Morris ] [ Tony Blanco ] [ Jeff McBride ] [ The Amazing Randi ] [ Ron Wilson ] [ Red Skelton ]

The Amazing Randi

The Amazing Randi was a hero of mine when I was a kid. I had seen him perform multiple times on Sonny Fox's original "Wonderama," and at the NY World's Fair. I remember his levitation and straitjacket escape vividly.

So there I was, hanging out in Tannens one afternoon when in walked Randi. I was dumb-struck. I ran up to him and started yammering away. He was very polite and cordial and eager to share tips and show me new stuff he was developing. I had a ball. I could not believe my good fortune.

When he asked about the type of magic I was interested in, I showed him a new card effect I was marketing at an upcoming Larry Weeks' convention. I told him I needed to find blue-backed Aviator decks, as many as possible, because that was the back design of the gaffed cards I had designed. He wished me well and I trotted off to Flosso's.

Al could not help me with the Aviator decks. Suddenly, in walks Randi again. We started talking, and he decided to spend the afternoon helping me find the cards I needed. He took me everywhere including the very secretive Ace Sporting Goods. I never did find the decks I needed, but Randi did invite me to participate in a videotaping of a TV special he was hosting for an upcoming Magic Week for NBC News.

I showed up at Flosso's the next week, and I was actually taped doing some manipulation. I never made it to the tube, but it was exciting for a 15 year-old kid to be hanging out with his magical hero. I bumped into Randi many times over the years, and he always remembered me and would take the time to share something new with me.

I have not seen Randi in over 20 years, and I know he has moved in some different directions, but he still made an impact on me, and I think, in some ways, he demonstrated what a good mentor should be like. He rose to the occasion, and that's more than I can say about most magical heros.