Aust 77 onwards

Since returning to Australia I have mainly worked on the club circuit.   For some years I toured my own ice show called "Ice Varieties", but I also developed different solo sight acts which I have performed in variety shows, on televison and for corporate functions.   The best known of these was my "Tubeologist" act which I performed for many years, including on television for Roy and HG.

I have had bit parts in televisions shows, done a number of television commercials and was also  in a short film.   In between times, I have sold real estate and vacuum cleaners.    Then as a complete change from show business, I owned a farm on Nullo Moutain,near Rylestone running angora goats, followed by an apricot orchard near Kurrajong.

Magic & Chaplin

My introduction to magic was when performing on the Saturday morning children birthday shows at Anthony Hordern’s store in George St in Sydney.    An elderly clown, Bimbo gave me the dice box, which I still use for children’s shows now.    It has had the hinges replaced, repaired and repainted many times over the years.

I really got into magic when a magician, Paul Dalton retired and I purchased the Charlie Chaplin comedy magic act from him.   This promoted a real interest in magic.   I joined the magic clubs, purchased books practiced hard on manipulations, cards as a close up magician.   This led me to the  construction of props and various effects.   Then I was able to take bookings in hotels clubs restaurants and any venue.   This is something that you never stop learning.

I still perform this act for clubs and corporate functions,   It is a gentle Charlie Chaplin impersonation,  incorporating magic and is a favourite with audiences.

Interactive magic shows for both children and senior citizens form the majority of my work nowadays, and I have become well known throughout the the north and north west of NSW. since moving there in 1999.

Now I am mainly entertaining children.  I do interactive magic with a lot of audience participation.   This is at preschools,  birthday parties, shopping centres, outdoor functions etc.  Senior citizens also enjoy my shows.   There is a lot of satisfaction in being able to make people laugh and it doesn’t matter what their age is.

I recently worked at a nursing home and a lot of the audience were brought in by wheelchairs.  One lady just sat there staring with no change of expression.   I went over and gave her a stick with a plate spinning on it.  I rested the end of the stick on the armrest while she held the stick.  Well, she smiled and let out an exclamation.  The sister said that was the first time they'd heard any response from her.   She was 94 years of age.