Remembering John A. Reed
I met John Reed while we were both attending the Morgan County High School in Hartselle, Alabama. I entered the 7th Grade there from the Flint Elementary School in 1969. We were in the same Grade and may have had some general classes together, but I do not remember. I can't recall exactly when we met and began to get acquainted - but our friendship started and and developed outside of our school.
Dennis Bain - 7th Grade John Reed - 7th Grade
John and I connected through our common interest in Magic.
Not Magic, at all, really. Tricks, illusions, prestidigitation. Entertainment - not occultism or spiritism, wizardry, or sorcery. Nothing devilish or demonic - just pulling rabbits out of hats, card-throwing, and silk handkerchief dancing.
By age 12 I considered myself to be an amateur magician. I had quite a collection of illusions and tricks and a repertoire of performing and presentation skills. At first I was developing this interest in a vacuum - but I soon began meeting others who had similar interests and goals related to this past-time. (I was FAR too committed to it to consider it a mere HOBBY!)
When I was 8 or 9 years old my Mother purchased a set of Child Craft Encyclopedias and I read every volume (the great beginnings into Nerdom) from first page to last.
There I met Harry Houdini (Eric Weiss 1874-1926) - the greatest Magician - Escape Artist - Spiritism Debunker - Author - and Entertainer in World History. I was hooked.
While still attending the Flint Elementary School, I discovered a book about Houdini offered in our 5th Grade Class Weekly Reader and book purchase program. It was a book by Beryl Williams and Samuel Epstein entitled The Life - and secrets - of the master magician: The Great Houdini.
I read the book until the pages were frayed.
I worried my family to distraction by demanding that they tie me up with clothesline so that I could attempt to escape! Most often I was successful, but I think that my Dad tired of the game and occasionally would truss me up so that I had to beg to be released!
I moved from "escapism" to magic and illusions.
My "fate" was sealed when, while on a Family Vacation - my folks discovered that as we traveled through Canada - there was a very famous Houdini Magical Hall of Fame Museum in Niagara Falls, Canada.
Visiting that place as a child was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. It contributed elements (and people) to my life that are still important to me today.That is where I purchased my very first "real" magic tricks. A Svengali Deck of Cards and a set of the Cups and Ball effect. I was on my way!
Performing magic was attractive to me because I wanted desperately to connect with people. I wanted to focus my attention on them without intrusion - and I wanted THEIR attention. I was so shy and bashful that I had no ability to bridge the gap between me and others. I had a severe inferiority complex and an outright FEAR of trying to speak to others or make any kind of introduction. I was afraid that I would never have any friends - or ever have anyone even notice that I existed.
If you start showing a magic trick - the "patter" is contained in the trick instructions - all you have to do is start delivering the patter and showing the trick. The "audience" will look at you. They will notice that you are there! And as long as the trick lasts - you can bask in their attention and admiration. It was meeting a selfish need - but I also felt as if I was giving something that others wanted, too. Something for THEM.
I would eventually discover that most "magicians" were people who were just like me.
They were socially awkward and hungry for the kind of attention that every human being craves. Magic provided a way for them to connect with people. Normal people actually LOVE other people, and want to be loved in return. Some of us just never knew how we were going to make that kind of connection in the world.
I began building my "show" and my immediate and extended family members began to encourage me by asking me to perform at gatherings. I began to receive invitations to perform at parties and celebrations.
I must have gained some area notoriety - because one day while my Mother was at her job at Kroger - checking out groceries for the customers - an elderly couple introduced themselves to her and said, "We heard that your son is a Magician!" She was surprised and told them that was true.
They were Elmer and Elizabeth Newman.
I would later meet them and know that for many years they had performed as Professional Magicians all over the country. He was The Great Newdini!
Elmer and Elizabeth Newman
The Newman's gave Mom a card and invited her to call them and bring me over to their house in Decatur to meet them. I remember when Mother told me about this - I would not let her rest until she called and set up my first meeting with the Newman's.
We went to their home and they entertained us and taught me - for hours! I will never forget their magical kindness and generosity. They had a special room in their home that was dedicated to magic. The walls and shelves were lined with props, posters, and magic equipment. I was dazzled to say the least.
I left that first visit with my arms and mind full of magic tricks - and two pieces of important information: There was a magic shop in Birmingham, Alabama --- and there was another student that attended my school who was a Magician, just like me.
Ronald Patterson records that the name of the magic shop was the Merhs Magic Shop. The Dealer there who managed the novelty, party, and magic store was Robert Chadwick.
Before the next Christmas after meeting the Newmans, my Mom gave me $50.00 and told me we could go the the Magic Shop in Birmingham and I could spend that allowance on magic for my Christmas that year. I'm not sure that I realized what I wonderful Mother I had when I was just growing up - but I know that I was excited and grateful. Memories like that warm my heart now more that magic or music ever has. She was the best Mom, and I miss her.
When we walked into the shop, Bob Chadwick was behind the counter and he was friendly and exuberant. I don't remember any other customer's coming into the shop while we were there, but Bob showed us 20 or 30 tricks that fit my level of experience and budget. I spent every penny of my Christmas allowance.
My Mom was particular about things like that - she confiscated all of my newly purchased magic - and hid it away so that I couldn't see it at all again until Christmas morning!
*Note: Just off the cuff - while we were shopping - Bob just incidentally peeled a playing card off of a desk and made it vanish into thin air! He taught me everything that he knew about back palming cards (in about 10 minutes). That lesson was one of the most important lessons in magic I was to ever receive. Card Back Palming is my favorite thing to learn or do in all of magic. (YouTube Video: Backpalming Cards) (Amazon Book on Back Palming).
I really got my money's and memories worth that day!
Elmer Newman gave me John Reed's telephone number in Hartselle. Elmer asked me if I knew him - I didn't, and I could not recall having met him at all.
When I got home, I called John and we introduced each other by phone. We met at school on the first occasion that we could and he invited me to come and see his magic collection at his home. I soon visited with him and would do so many times after our first meeting.
John and I were the same age, and we WERE in the same Grade at Morgan County High School. I learned that John loved magic for much the same reason that I did. He was a very pleasant and friendly young person with a smiling face - but he was very shy and insecure. He struggled with his weight and all of the social and health difficulties that come with being an over-weight child and then teenager.
Magic was his bridge into society and much desired attention and acceptance.
John's photo from the MCHS Yearbook in 1972
We became very good friends and often got together to exchange magic tips and tricks.
John worked hard and saved and made money performing magic --- and every bit of what he earned went right back into magic. He had the largest collection of magic equipment and historical memorabilia that I have ever seen. He often bought magic from Elmer, Ron Patterson and myself (and his other magician acquaintances).
Once Ron told me that he used to love going over to John's house (or later his Magic Museum) to "visit" his old magic equipment that he had sold to John. Ha!
When I was graduated from High School I was headed to college and needed money more that I needed magic. So, I sold just about everything that I had collected over the years to John before I left. It was to be several years before I would see John again. I lost track with him and many other friends from home during the years that followed.
In 1997 the Decatur Civitans organization sponsored a charity magic show at the Princess Theater. I was invited to perform in that show with many of my other magician friends from the past.
It was a realization of a childhood dream to perform before a packed house at the Princess Theater - the site of so many memories of my youth.
Backstage at the Princess Theater in 1997 preparing to perform
Houdini's famous Chain-bar escape.
But a greater thrill came the following year when the Civitans sponsored their second fund-raising show - and Ronald Patterson was on the performance list - and my old friend, John Reed.
My daughter, Charise, and one of her friends helped on stage that year as I performed Harry Blackstone's Dancing Handkerchief. (I know that someone filmed that show - I sure wish that I could find out who it was, and if they still have that old movie.)
But to make that day one that I will never forget - John Reed asked me to perform his wedding ceremony between shows!
The reason that I had left home for college was to receive my education toward becoming a Minister. I became a Christian in 1970 and was licensed as a Gospel Minister in 1973 (I was 16 years old). I was ordained to my first pastoral position in 1977.
In 1998 I was pastor at the Oak Park Baptist Church in Decatur, Alabama. John contacted me when he learned that we would all be on the stage together in the Civitan Show. I had never met his intended (Mitzi), but I happily agreed to serve - and then learned that Ron would be his Best Man.
John and Mitzi Reed
(Photo belonging to Ronald Patterson)
When I saw John before the first show --- it had been many years since we had been about to get together. He was almost unrecognizable. He had overcome his problems with weight and the accompanying difficulties - he was small and slender!
The wedding was a beautiful, Fairy Tale Affair and a most wonderful memory.
During the following years - John and Mitzi would visit me at Church at Oak Park. It was always good to see him. We never performed together again.
John passed away on September 15, 2003. He was only 47 years old.
He was gone and buried before I had even heard that he had passed. I'm sorry that I never heard of his illness and did not get to say goodbye to him before he left.
Here is his Obituary:
John Reed Obituary
Funeral
for John A. Reed, 47, of Hartselle will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Peck
Funeral Home Chapel with Milan Dekich officiating.
Burial will be in Hartselle Memory Gardens. Visitation will be tonight from 6 to 9 at the funeral home.
Mr.
Reed died Monday, Sept. 15, 2003, at Decatur General Hospital. He was
born Feb. 28, 1956, in Morgan County to Alvie E. Reed and Eula A. Reed.
He was a Baptist and a member of the International Brotherhood of
Magicians. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include
two brothers, Jimmy A. Reed and his wife Mitzi of Decatur, and Tommy
Joe Reed and his wife Lisa of Hartselle; two half-sisters, Rita Wagner
of Dearborn Heights, Mich., and Syble Zembo of Raleigh, N.C.
Pallbearers will be friends and relatives.
John's Grave Marker in the Hartselle Memory Gardens
On John's wedding day he drew me aside backstage behind the curtains before the ceremony was to begin. He had a gift for me.
He had a gift wrapped that about twice the size of a shoe box.
I opened it.
It was an old magic trick that I had sold him years before when I was leaving for college.
I can't imagine was possessed me to sell it --- John could probably see the pain on my face when I parted with it.
It was the very first stage-level magic trick that I had ever made. It was a production box.
I was not a very good carpenter - but I was proud of the final product. I could show the box empty and then produce scarves, doves, or live rabbits from it. I thought that it was perfect.
I showed it to one of my friends in High School, Linda Cocke. She was in the grade above mine and she was a very talented artist. She asked if she could borrow the box and put some decorations on it. I agreed - and what had been a functional piece of purely magical equipment became a work of art. Linda made it beautiful. I will never part with it again. It sits on the shelf in the study that I am writing from with all of my other magic memories.
I miss John A. Reed.
I recently saw Ron, at his brother Anthony's funeral. We talked about John.
Ron reached into his pocket and produced a small package -- every time I see Ron - if he knows that we will meet - he always brings me something from his collection.
I am so grateful for all of the wonderful people that God has brought through my life. They have been, by far, the most important things IN my life so far, and I know that good friends will line my path the rest of the way.
