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Magic is…

"The Great Santa Claus Escapade”

“How to Make Santa Appear in 102 Easy Steps"

By Sandy Dykes

The West Palm Beach Mall decided one year (with some major prodding from the Magic Fun Wagon staff) that instead of having Santa Claus arrive as he had for years in a helicopter or fire engine that it would be great fun if he magically appeared on stage following a fantastic Christmas magic show arraigned by the Magic Fun Wagon. For about a year before, Barry Gibbs and I had revived the nearly nonexistent local IBM Linking Ring 117 from 3 members (including one charter member) into a thriving membership of about 50 to 60 members. It was composed of quite a few “old timers” with experience in stage and theater magic. When we approached the club about the Christmas magic show everyone was thrilled and we were able to easily select all the acts we needed. We asked each magician to time their act to work with the schedule we blocked out for the entire show and each was allotted a specific time slot. Barry was to MC and I was the comedic foil as Snickers the Clown with running gags throughout the show. The mall provided the raised stage and draping and the whole thing was set up at the main entrance where everyone could see the show. One important item was the production box that would magically materialize Santa in all his glory. It was a full size production box on wheels built to appear as a large brick chimney with a door in front for Santa to appear from. Nothing spectacular but the illusion worked.

I can still remember all the excitement leading up to the show, the mall was abuzz with anticipation (or maybe it was just the whirlwind of anticipation we all felt). The mall did real HEAVY promotion for the show with newspaper, radio, and TV ads. There were smiling faces everywhere when “our” day arrived and the mall was packed literally from end to end. The turnout was much greater than expected and you could not get close to the stage if you had a crowbar. The estimate was 3000 people, but they kept coming especially the kids, lots of kids.
But we were prepared, we were all professionals.

Arnie Barnett owner of the Magic Fun Wagon provided the musical accompaniment on piano. He actually played quite well and it was rumored that he once played with Liberace. We all fiddled backstage with last minute preparations while Arnie merrily played Christmas tunes and got the crowd even more worked up (as if that was possible). Barry grabbed the mic and the show was on and after a bit of fun between Barry and myself as Snickers the Clown the first act was introduced. The first magician was well received by the crowd and when complete Barry and I were back on stage for more fun and to introduce the next act.

In hindsight I suppose it would have been better if we had a dress rehearsal, you know checked out the acts, timing, relevance…

Magic is…

"The Great Santa Claus Escapade”

“How to Make Santa Appear in 102 Easy Steps"

By Sandy Dykes

In hindsight I suppose it would have been better if we had a dress rehearsal, you know checked out the acts, timing, relevance…

I don’t remember the magician’s name and it’s probably best that I don’t. But it seems that his act was revived from the one he did in Vaudeville and I suppose he was a bit rusty here and there. But once he was on stage there was no stopping him because he went on and on and on well past his allotted time. When he got to his money magic trick you knew for sure he had never done a children’s magic show before. When he asked the audience to chant the magic words Jingle Bells, Arnie took that as a cue instead and started playing Jingle Bells. The money trick he was attempting to perform fell out of his hands and all the kids rushed the stage to grab the falling paper money while the rest of the crowd sang Jingle Bells as loud as they could.

But the show must go on and the magician picked up another trick even though the crowd was singing so loud that you could not hear a word he was saying he continued on. Barry grabbed the mic from the stand and he and I tried to regain control of the crowd. Because his act took more time than he was allotted our whole schedule was in a tizzy. The crowd was pressed up to the edge of the stage and getting harder to control but we decided to put on the next act anyway. The next magician was decked out in full Chung Ling Soo regalia with silk robe, hat and long handlebar mustache complete with Chinese “accent”. He had all sorts of tables and bowls and props and by the time he set them all up on stage by himself the crowd was rumbling with undertones of “we want Santa”. There was a slight pause in the crowd as the magician began his act but as his started another magic bowl trick the rumblings turned into chanting “We Want Santa Claus” We Want Santa Claus”. Again Arnie took that as a cue and he started playing “Here Comes Santa Claus” and there was no stopping the crowd this time as they shouted out the song “Here Comes Santa Claus”. All control was lost, we had to produce Santa Claus now!

Barry was at the mic again cutting the Chinese magician short in the middle of one of his effects and I’m backstage getting Santa set up in the production box. Meanwhile Chung Ling Foo is trying to get all his stuff off the stage. Barry calls for the chimney production box to be brought out and the curtains part and the chimney is wheeled out. Chung Ling Poo is now picking up the bowls and props that have fallen to the stage floor when the chimney hit one of his tables and he’s pissed to say the least because some of his antique magic brass bowls have been dented. The stage is short from front to rear and when the curtains are open the chimney can be seen from all around creating an almost perfect illusion for the production box. But Chung Ping Too now decides to close the curtains around the production box because he doesn't want anyone to see him remove his costume backstage. Barry cues for Santa to appear and I pop out of the chimney “Snickers what are you doing in their you silly clown” the banter continues. Arnie is now hammering on the piano “Here Comes Santa Claus” the crowd is chanting “WE WANT SANTA CLAUS”. I try to pull the curtains back open and but the disheveled Ching angrily pulls them back closed again as he continues to pick up his scattered props. Because the curtains are now closed around the chimney the production illusion is completely lost and everyone can see that Santa is not magically appearing and “voila” Santa Claus walks out of the production box. The crowd goes wild anyway as Santa waves and then heads off to his throne to see all the good little boys and girls.

There is a warm feeling you get when something goes really well, you know like after a good meal sitting back relaxing with that rosy glow. Believe me there was no mistaking what was permeating the area surrounding the stage that day. Several club members were never seen from again and the ones that did show up at the next meeting had a sort of blank stare that you usually only see in someone who has been at war for an extended length of time. But to top it all off the man who played Santa Claus complained that the mall was too cheap to pay for a helicopter or fire engine and that it was a disappointment to all the children when Santa had to walk out of a cardboard chimney. The local newspaper actually ran an article on the front page about the incident taking Santa Claus’ side in the matter.

Magic is fun, really it is…