Like this old footage, we got all misty reminiscing about the olden days of magic in New York while researching last week's post.
One of our fondest recurring memories was of Presto, not better known as Earl Everett Johnson, who held down the magic spot at Hubert's Flea Circus for many years.
We've written before about Presto's hilarious Sponge Balls Over the Head routine, based on Slydini but refined for the rigors of working the side-show in Hubert's cellar. We ourselves borrowed the routine and performed it with the help of another giant ghost of Broadway, John Belushi, back in the early days of Saturday Night Live.
We even started smoking, thanks to Presto, just to give us an excuse to steal his brilliant cigarette act:
Speaking of stealing, it's worth noting that magic saved Presto from a life of crime. He had served time in the reformatory as a youngster, and had already become an accomplished second-story man when he reached the turning point in his life. Magic helped him go straight, and kept him working at what he loved until the end.
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Somewhere there is a video of him teaching a stranger how to do fire eating. Amazing!!
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