Grdina

John J. Grdina came to America at age of five with his family and settled in Cleveland, Ohio. Checking through the internet, in 1940, census indicates he stated he was born in Yugoslavia in 1886 and not in Austria in 1885 as it has been indicated online and in past articles. Grdina became a naturalized citizen in May 1898. Years later he was in a theater audience in Cleveland and saw Harry Kellar perform. That show changed his life.

       

This is Grdina's brochure from 1920's front and back (measured closed 3 1/2" x 6 1/4")

During his youth, he had the good fortune to meet and learn magic from Karl Germain. Germain taught Grdina the ideas and performance qualities that would allow Grdina to excel in the art of magic. Grdina worked as a bookkeeper at the Cleveland Trust Company as he continued to develop and rehearse the magic he learned as well as made. He, his wife, Minnie and brother-in-law toured first with a two-hour magic show and toured throughout Ohio, neighboring states, and Canada. Seeing that the longer performances were not being received as well, Grdina began working in vaudeville with a honed down show of fifteen minutes. One amusing story during Grdina's time on the road happened when he was in Detroit, Michigan performing at the Majestic Theater. During his performance of his Nest of Boxes, he had borrowed a ring from a gentleman in the audience, proceeded to apparently smash the ring, and then jammed the pieces into the pistol. Before he could complete the effect, the gentleman whose ring was borrowed, became a upset and demanded his ring back. Grdina attempted to calm the man down and asked if he could complete his presentation. The man agreed and Grdina shot the pistol towards the boxes and with speed and deftness, unlocked the boxes and handed the borrowed ring in perfect condition back to the would-be volunteer. After the performance, the gentleman went backstage to explain his reaction during Grdina's performance. His explanation was he was trying to add something to the magician's performance. Grdina was cordial and thank him for coming backstage. The gentleman in question was Theo Hardeen, the brother of Harry Houdini.

The need to keep his family fed was important, so he returned to Cleveland to go back to working at a bank. He was well known by a number of other fellow magicians for his performance skills. Among those magicians he called friends included Karl Germain, Edwin Brush, and Harry Blackstone. It was years later whenever Blackstone performed his famous Dancing Handkerchief in the Cleveland area that he would give thanks to Grdina for teaching him the trick. Grdina continued to practice, perform, and develop magic for his own show as well as helping fellow magicians. Grdina was an I.B.M. member since 1927 and carried card number 1188 and he was also a member of the Order of Merlin. He became known as the Dean of Cleveland Magicians. He retired from banking at the age of seventy-four.

He took retirement in stride and went back to his love, his life of magic. He performed at hospitals, orphanages, and for the aged. He did it all for the love of magic. Interesting to not that throughout his career, he found a useful method of advertisement along with the flyers and letterhead. He had playing cards made up with his current photograph and address on one side, and then he would either have a sponsor or a simple playing card back on the reverse. John Grdina passed away in 1975, leaving behind family, friends, and scores of audiences who were graced by his presence.