Anybody ever get a chance to see Virgil and Julie? I saw them in 1969 at a stage show in Phoenix - a wonderful production of large illusions,sleight of hand, mental magic and hypnosis. I assume he has long passed on, but trully a wonderful entertainer.

I saw them once back in the late seventies or early eighties. They performed their show in a High school gymnasium and about all that I can remeber seeing is their Spirit Cabinet and Julie's Jap Mirako act.
We have a member of our local club who used to tour with them and he has many wonderful tales of this pair of performers.

In 1991 I wrote Virgil's biography, together with Julie. Virgil died in 1989. I spoke to him twice. A true GENTLEMAN in this business. Even though I wrote the book and am privy to lots of "behind the scenes" stories of their career, I never had the chance to see them perform. One of my great regrets.Virgil was truly one of the last of the "old school." (Wish there were more like him, today!)

Dave:

I think John Calvert is the last of the old time buckeroos. He will be 94 this year, still performing.

Don

David, is your book still in print? I would love to buy a copy. Their show was terrific. I remember being on stage twice ( as a spectator assistant) , once to check out his linkng rings and also as part of a group who was under mass hypnosis.

He even used "woofle dust" and a palmo ( do they even make those even more?)in a very entertaining silk routine. Julie also performed a blindfolded memory demonstration I beleive, ala Corinda.

I saw Julie do part of her memory act at the Collector's weekend honoring Virgil and herself. It was a great lesson in showmanship and presentation.

He was truely was one of the old school.

Yes, John Calvert is one of the old school. I worked with him again last summer. His pace is slowing a bit but not much. And the style of presentation is a little dated but watch and learn from him as there will never be anyone who the chance to develop into a performer the way these old timers did. Lee Grabel was another lesson I got to work with and learn from.

Sorry, the Virgil book is long out of print (1991) but H&R occasionally gets copies, and of course, eBay. Yes, Calvert is truly the LAST of the "old school." Although Virgil's pacing was slower and he did not have the "flash" of Calvert, his timing and magic were superb. Virgil was 13 years older than Calvert. If you watch Bill McIhaney's tape of the Garry Moore/Milbourne Christopher Magic Special "The World's Greatest Magicians" - 1967) you'll see Virgil and Julie do the Spirit Cabinet - and it is a MIRACLE.

Posted: Jan 16, 2005 11:04am
Another Virgil thought, about being "old school":
He used to carry a large black cyclorama curtain which would be hung to effectively "seal off" the back stage from the performing area. That way, local stage hands in the wings could not see how the tricks were done. Also, Virgil turned down performing on the Ed Sullivan Show (then THE top TV program in the country - like being asked to be on Leno's show today) because he feared that the stage hands would see how his "Sawing" and Dancing Hank routine worked during the rehearsal. Now THAT is "Old School."
Oh, for the day of "real magic" again!

I saw Virgil and Julie in a performance at the College of the Mainland in LaMarque, Texas about 1972 or 1973. He was quite a showman. So was she. I was very impressed with the way she did the memory act, especially the knight's tour. It was so inspiring that I went out and purchased a book on memory techniques so I could do the 20 object memory feat. I used it for a long time in various shows.