John Calvert - Magician
It’s been estimated that John Calvert performed magic on stage in excess of 20,000 times. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “The show must go on.” John lived it, once performing with a broken leg the day after his DC-3 plane crashed in foul weather due to instrument failure. While the following quote could just as easily belong on John’s acting page, I will include it here. I think Bess Houdini said it best, "Calvert plays the part of a magician better than any actor I have ever seen, except for Harry, of course."
This wand is a signed commemorative wand celebrating John's 100th birthday.
The Magic Set That Never Was
John told me an interesting story about these magic sets. He ordered them for a show he was going to do and paid a deposit. However, they were late arriving and he was done with the show. John was getting ready to leave on a world tour and told them to keep the sets and his deposit since he couldn’t use them anymore. The sets sat in a warehouse for over 40 years before being discovered and are the John Calvert collectible that was never released.
Magicarama Posters
John’s full stage illusion show, Magicarama, was the longest running world-touring magic show in history. John and Tammy performed all over the world for over five decades.
Press Books
This Singapore press book from 1969 is one of my favorites. I love the images from John's show. You can click on the inside pages to see a larger view.
This second press book, also from Singapore, is from the same time period. As you can see, it has some great information along with the photographs.
Programs
The program above is from 1952.
This program from the late 50's / early 60's reminds me of one of my favorite "John" stories. Crossover Alert: Hollywood here we come... as the result of a scene in one of John's movies, Coca-Cola became a life-long sponsor of his magic shows, as shown on the back of the program above. Check out the story in the Search for Danger section of the John Calvert - Hollywood page!
Casper the Friendly Ghost
One of John’s signature routines was "Casper the Friendly Ghost". At John's command, Casper came alive and danced around the stage. This is a stage used handkerchief used by John in the 1960’s or early 1970's.
The Audio Sharp Shooter Act
One of John and Tammy's most astounding feats was the Audio Sharp Shooting Act where John would shoot by sound instead of sight.
Two members of the audience would help blindfold John using heavy tape to ensure that he could not see. John was then handed a .22 caliber rifle, and Tammy would use a hand clicker to provide John with the sound he needed to aim at the targets. After demonstrating incredible feats of marksmanship, the act would end with a volunteer sitting in front of the blindfolded marksman, John Calvert. Tammy would put a metal hard hat on the volunteer and place first a lit candle and then a small balloon on top of the hard hat. Tammy would use the clicker to help John aim the rifle. Amazingly, John would shoot out the lit candle and then the balloon, leaving the volunteer unharmed.
John and Tammy performed this unbelievable act until 1995.
Normally the bullets used in the act would be pried from the target and either discarded or melted down to make new bullets. The bullets were never kept. During their Magicarama show in Singapore during December of 1969, Tammy decided to keep a few of the bullets used in the show. These are the final bullets that Tammy Calvert saved from that show and were presented to me by John and Tammy.
Recommended Reading…
- John’s biography is a wonderful read.
- The Magic Press Books book put out by Fantasma Magic is listed as an edition of 50, but in talking to Fantasma owner Roger Dreyer, it’s more like 40 since 10 copies were lost.
- If you are interested in learning how to live to be 100, then find a copy of John’s book of the same name.