 | On February 11 Magic lost one of it’s living legends. Patrick Page (March 17, 1929-February 11, 2010) was one of the best all-around magicians, creators and magic consultants in the business. We asked one of his best friends, Charles Reynolds, to write a brief tribute about one of the best liked and respected men in magic. (2/22/10: A MagicTimes Photo). |
Patrick Page (1929-2010)
A Tribute by Charles Reynolds
With the recent death of Pat Page, the world of magic lost one of its true masters and I lost one of my best friends. Like the magician who he perhaps admired the most, Al Flosso, Pat was a superb performer who had honed his craft by working for real people (not just magicians) nearly every day of his life. From his early days behind the counter of Davenport’s magic shop in London, to performing in gritty working men’s clubs, to appearing in film and on television (where he even played a David Devant-like magician performing the Mascot Moth on the Hercule Poirot detective series), Pat developed the encyclopedic knowledge of magic for which he was legendary.
Pat, who was disinclined to engage in the type of self-promotion that characterized many of his contemporaries of far less ability and who was notoriously reluctant to be interviewed, was a modest and generous man. Without great fanfare, he contributed ideas to every area of magic varying from close-up to stage illusions many of which have become classics and all of which are characterized by their audience appeal and their practicality. His concepts found their way into the repertoire of such diverse performers as Doug Henning, Fred Kaps, and Raphael Benatar. Along with his innate ability and his unbounded generosity, Pat was the most realistic of magicians. He knew what would work and what wouldn’t work and why. Whether expounding on the use if the Topit, on which he wrote the shortest and, by far, the best book available or giving his views on magic classics like the Miser’s Dream, his advice was invaluable. Like very many others who have benefited from his wisdom and his friendship, I will miss him.
—Charles Reynolds
To read the Feb. 16, Scotsman Obituary click: HERE.
Photos by Meir Yedid.
Top image is of his publicity photo used for the July 1994 Magic Hands Poster Series.
