The 1961 Abbott Magic Get Together - Colon, Michigan

(LEFT) Harry Blackstone, Sr - Guest of Honour - centre stage; Johnny by his side. Doesn't he look like he's having fun? (So do those kids!) Blackstone is performing his famous Vanishing Birdcage routine.

(BELOW, LEFT) Johnny centre stage with a young assistant from the audience. "John came on something like a whirlwind - the magic was so rapid fire... He delighted young and old, as always!" - John Braun

If you click either of these photos you will jump to the 1961 Abbott Magic Get Together photo page.

Photos reproduced with the kind permission of Greg Bordner of the Abbott Magic Company - 124 St. Joseph Street, Colon, MI 49040.

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The Closing of the Arcade Magic & Novelty Shop, Toronto - 1979

(LEFT) A summer 1979 article (note headline typo!) about the final days of the legendary Toronto magic landmark, the Arcade Magic & Novelty Shop on Yonge Street. (Link goes to Thomas Baxter's insightful recollections.) Johnny worked there during one of its earlier incarnations - of which you've already read and seen a photo on this site.

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December 2011

Cheers to all of you for almost 2000 visits since our relaunch in August. Please return every few months to check for updates. If you have memories of Johnny my e mail address is on page 11.

May all your Holidays be Magical! - jp

JOHNNY OULD COMMENTS... About the Smiths and the Arcade... Both Sophie and Harry were mentors to me... and many, many others. Super nice people. Sophie, as a music teacher was a great encouragement for me to continue on playing the organ and piano, without lessons, for my own enjoyment. I had a learning disability with reading most of the complicated music and she said just read what you can and follow my heart for the pace, etc. and I would do just fine - and I have... Harry and Sophia I feel need credit for uplifting magic of the times.