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Rainboguy Inner circle 1915 Posts |
While at Magic, Inc. last week, Sandy Marshall, Jay's son, reminded us that it has been 10 years since Jay passed away. In my opinion, Jay was one of the MAJOR PLAYERS IN Magical entertainment of the 20th century....he was truly one of a kind, was a real character, and had "show business" running through his veins.....
I miss Jay! |
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foolsnobody Special user Buffalo, NY 843 Posts |
Jay Marshall did an Oil and Water card trick for my girlfriend and me in Magic Inc. around 1970 or 1971. Totally fooled me. I loved his presentation of the Linking Rings; in fact he had a droll presentation for everything that I liked very much. I had Sandy's book too but it got lost when I moved Jay's timing was unbelievable.
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
In the years when I was a regular "inhabitant" of the Charlie Miller Suite, at Magic Inc., Jay and I became very close friends.
I may have a story or two that would illustrate his "humanness", and, his talent. I'll try to find some time, soon, to write up a few of them.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Rainboguy Inner circle 1915 Posts |
Growing up in St. Louis, I used to see Jay Marshall fairly regularly when he came into town for the Midwest Magic Jubilees, but really didn't know who he was at the time. I met Jay at Magic, Inc. on a trip to Chicago in 1966, but, he was working the counter, and we never really talked, per se. He never really paid any attention to me because he was busy.
In June of 1983, I attended the greatest magic convention, to this day, that I ever went to in my life....The Faucett Ross Magic Fest in St. Joseph, Missouri. While there, I approached one of my all-time heros in Magic, Dai Vernon, who was sitting at a table with a few of his friends, including Jay Marshall.... The professor was busy "multi-yapping" as he was known to do with his friends in Magic, and I asked him if he could tell me the story about Kennedy, the one-armed man in Kansas City. The Professor immediately stopped his muti-yapping and asked me..."Who are you and how did you know about that?" So I told him who I was and that I was a student of the art of Magic, and we hit it off right then and there and stayed up two nights in a row all night long talking Magic. This got Jay Marshall's attention, and he and I begin to talk and get to know each other... Ever since then, Jay and I had a friendly relationship, once he got to know me. Every time I went into Magic, Inc. since that time, the minute he saw me walk in the door, he always smiled, went in the back, and brought something out "just for me". We spent a lot of time bonding, as well, at the many Abbott's Get-Togethers we attended. For those who knew him, Jay didn't "suffer fools", per se, but once he got to know you, like you and repect you, he was a VERY sharing, giving, and great friend to have.... Of all people here on the Café, Dick Oslund knows this well!! I'm looking forward to Dick's stories as he adds to this thread.. And on a personal note, when I hear Sandy Marshall's voice...I hear JAY MARSHALL.......Sandy's voice is EXACTLY like his dad's.....it's spooky! |
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Quentin Inner circle 1020 Posts |
I have many happy memories of time spent with Jay, both in the UK and Chicago.
Jay, Billy McComb, Ali Bongo, Pat Page, Alan Alan, Bobby Bernard, all friends with wealth of knowledge and experience and all sadly missed. |
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jcards01 Inner circle Waterloo, IL 1438 Posts |
While attending a convention way back in the day, Jay was asked if he had a room? He answered, "no, it's only a 3 day convention"!
Jimmy 'Cards' Molinari
www.jimmycards.com |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
That was a "stock line" that Jay used. If I remember it "started" when he was a young kid, in the '30s.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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MJE Elite user After all these years,I STILL have only 409 Posts |
At an IBM convention, I noticed Jay sitting alone at a table. The room was crowded, but he was alone. I thought it was strange and went over to talk with him. I had never met him before and couldn't think of anything substantial to talk about. But it was a nice experience.
I still wonder what that was all about. Seems like there would be a crowd around someone as legendary as him. This was late in his life (that eye was gone by this time), so maybe it was just a matter of young guys not wanting to deal with an old man. Guess I'll never know. |
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msillusions New user Ft. Worth 60 Posts |
Why do I always have a tear in my eye when I see a video of Lefty? Is it because I'm laughing so hard, or because I miss them both? What a treasure.
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Rainboguy Inner circle 1915 Posts |
According to Jay's son Sandy, I'm the only Magician who has been given permission to use Jay's Line...."I'm one of the better, cheaper acts."
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Quote:
On Feb 24, 2016, msillusions wrote: Yup! At the SAM Convention in Philadelphia in 76. Jay asked me to bring out "Big Lefty". The audience (mostly SAM members) as one, "went" OOOOH! In bringing out the Big Lefty, I had "disrupted" the "theatrical illusion". There was a distinct "groan" from the audience. Jay, being the consummate showman, "got 'em back" with ONE LINE! --Big Lefty's arm appeared to be "twisted". Lefty "said", "My arm! My arm". Jay adjusted Lefty's arm, and, said, "Sorry!" The show went on!!!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Anatole Inner circle 1912 Posts |
Re MJ's comment "At an IBM convention, I noticed Jay sitting alone at a table. The room was crowded, but he was alone. I thought it was strange and went over to talk with him." People are sometimes just awestruck and shy around people they regard as living legends. Possibly the rest of the people were just too shy to walk up to him and initiate a conversation--in which case it was nice of you to break the ice.
----- Amado "Sonny" Narvaez
----- Sonny Narvaez
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foolsnobody Special user Buffalo, NY 843 Posts |
I had no difficulty talking to Jay. I had brought my girlfriend from Ann Arbor to Chicago in 1970 or so to watch a few Chicago bar and restaurant magicians. Before we set out, we went to Magic Inc. and Jay was working in the shop that day. My girlfriend was really cute; I think that might have helped. He was very kind and patient with a magic amateur in the true sense of the word (me).
He actually showed me a version of "Oil and Water" that fooled me, despite my having read the effect in one of the Inner Secrets books (Vernon) and The Cardician (Marlo). Not a trick Jay Marshall was noted for! Later I saw Charlie and Ed Schulien do their stuff after my girl and I ate a fine meal at Schuliens. Sadly Matt was already gone by that time. |
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hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
A couple of quick memories of Jay. Jay was working the Battle of Magicians in Canton, Ohio. It must have been about 15 years ago. I was stage manager for the show. Jay had forgot his coat for the show. He asked about a Thrift shore. Jay bought a complete suit and a couple of sport coats, one of which he wore on the show that night. BTW, he sold me the suit which I wore to a wedding the next week. But he was sitting on a chair and I sat down on the floor behind him. The theater is a restored 1926 vaudeville house. I said to Jay "You've worked a lot of these old houses, haven't you?" He replied "Yes. I am sitting here going through things. I am doing two tricks tonight and I can't remember the !@#$king lines".
At his last appearance at Abbott's, Jay was slowing down and showing his age bit. He had forgot "Lefty" so he borrowed one of his that Hank Moorehouse had. His shirt button was loose so Julie Slobanski sewed it on for him. He had forgotten his cufflinks, so he borrowed mine. He was never better on stage. He started slow and restarted and never missed a beat. When he come off he talked to me.."I got a standing ovation. I don't understand it. I wasn't that good." I replied "Jay, there are a hell of a lot of people out there that love you and that was their way of showing it. And there isn't a *** thing you can do about it!" And we still all love you. Another time I will tell the time of rooming with Jay and carpooling Jay and Ricky Jay in my pickup truck.
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
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Rainboguy Inner circle 1915 Posts |
One of the best Jay Marshall stories ever, in my opinion, is in Sandy Marshall's book about his dad "Beating A Dead Horse".
It's the story about the evening that Jay was running late for a show and asked his friend (and my mentor) Dick Oslund, if he could get to the date and please Open for him.... For those who love Jay Marshall stories.......buy this book....it's marvelous.... Dick, care to tell this story in your own words? |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
MY book, sorry to say, is not marvelous, but, it is reasonably good... I've had buyers from England, Ireland, Australia, and even a few in Colon, (that's in the USA) And, nobody has asked for their money back, YET.
I swapped a copy of my book for a copy of Sandy's book, when we did the book signing at Magic Inc last fall. (I think I got the best deal!) I wrote the story to which you refer (note how I avoided the "Charlie Miller"--I did not use a preposition to end that sentence with.--OOPS) in MY book (!) so, I should make you buy a copy. However, I'm really a nice guy, despite what people say. So, I'll laboriously retype that anecdote. (TOMORROW)!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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jakeg Inner circle 1741 Posts |
I only remember meeting Jay once, and that was in his shop during a trip to Chicago. He did the 3 card Monte for me with the bent corner ending, and sent me off with an instruction book.
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Sorry I don't have time, today, to write up the the anecdote that Rainbow Guy referred to just above. I will get to it ASAP.
Hey...there's a method to my madness! If you like the story, maybe you'll buy a copy of MY book to send to a friend!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Rainboguy Inner circle 1915 Posts |
Oh, Dick?
I think you forgot to post your response per your "I will get to it ASAP" |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Well, although I never met him, I was "borrowing" a bit of Nate Leipzig's philosophy". It's a rather long story, and, before typing it, I wanted to make sure that there was enough interest.
There's no big "punch line"! It's just a simple tale of a couple of professionals "working together". In the mid to late '70s, Jay, Frances, and I had just sat down in Fran's kitchen, ready to enjoy a nice quiet supper. The phone rang. Fran picked up the phone, and, we heard her say, after she had listened for a moment, "Oh, yes, Mr. 'Smith', Jay will be there. You know how Holiday traffic is!" Fran put down the phone and said, "JAY!!! You have a date, in Elmhurst, for a Masonic group!" Jay put down his coffee cup, and replied, 'Oh dear! I didn't check my calendar! It's an hour show! I need to do the act, AND, Punch!" I had just returned from a late afternoon club date, so I was dressed, but, Jay, was in "very casual attire". We both stood up. I said, "I'll get the Punch & Judy props and load them in my station wagon. --It's warmed up." Jay dashed to the bed room to get into "work clothes"! By the time I had loaded the car, Jay came down stairs with his act case. The phone had rang at about 7:00 PM, It was now, 7:10. With Holiday traffic, we had about a 45 minute drive, and, the show was at 8:00! Jay was "navigating" (as he knew the route). He was rolling up newspaper for the "Fir tree and Ladder" as we drove. We planned as we sped through traffic. The Masonic meeting place was in downtown Elmhurst. We arrived at 7:55! Fortunately, the traffic was relatively light. Jay got out with his act case in hand, and, I opened the rear door of the wagon. Two men wearing Shriner fezzes, had been on the sidewalk, obviously looking for Jay to arrive. They grabbed the Punch fit up, and the case of puppets. I started away to find a parking spot. One block away, was a parking lot with ONE space available! I ran (I was much younger then!) and got back to the Masonic meeting place at 8:00 PM! The meeting was upstairs over a store! I made it upstairs, and quietly entered the big hall. Several hundred people, ladies, men, and their children were watching Jay who was just starting his SECOND TRICK! (Jay's only "set up" was the Walsh Cane, which set up he could do in about 10 seconds! --and, he had!). I worked my way to the platform (there was no curtain!) and, as quietly as possible, began setting up the Punch & Judy "stage". Then, I unpacked and laid out the puppets. Jay was left handed, so Mr.Punch "worked" on stage left. Jay would need to hang the puppets in the proper order, himself. Jay was just starting "Lefty" as I finished the "stage hand work". I had 6 minutes to catch my breath. I stuffed my pockets with animal balloons, and, grabbed my comedy balloon "pump". I waited for a "break" in Jay's Lefty routine, and whispered, "OK, Jay!" He finished Lefty, and introduced me. He ducked behind the Punch fit up, to hang up the puppets. I did my balloon act until I heard Jay whisper, "OK, Dick!" I I went to my finish, and, "bowed off". Jay came on and, did one of the best Punches that I had ever seen him do! The Shriners were happy! We loaded out, and Jay said, "Thanks!". Then, he directed me to Marshall Brodien's restaurant, where we both had a prime rib dinner! So! you see! It was "just a club date"! Over the 12 years, in which I was a "regular inhabitant" of the "Charlie Miller Suite", Jay and I worked many dates together, but, none were as much "fun" as that one! In the book, I tell about another date, a Holiday school show, where I "opened" for Jay. That one was "almost" as hectic as the one that I've just mentioned. When Sandy Marshall, wrote up Jay's, and my "adventures", he somehow got the two stories "combined"! "There's no buciness like show business!!!"
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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