Tony Spicer – The Joker

According to the dictionary Autolycus is defined as “One who is a snapper up of unconsidered trifles,” and this is a very apt description of our subject Tony Spicer, for as described in The Magic Circular, Tony Spicer was, “. . . a born collector of antique magical trifles which he has dressed up and used in his modern magical entertainments.”

This well-known British performer was multi-talented offering magic, ventriloquism, Punch & Judy and serving as a Toast Master. In addition he also wrote a regular newspaper column in the Southampton Echo. He was born in 1911 and lived in Birmingham originally, later moving to Southampton.

Here is his promotional playing card featuring a photo of the smiling Spicer with a fan of playing cards behind him. It notes his membership in The Magic Circle (London) and the Aladdin Brotherhood of Magicians. Just to be thorough he includes “author” and “lecturer” as two of his skills. Not being familiar with British playing card back designs I am unable to identify who might have produced this Bridge-sized promotional piece. It looks to be from the 1950s.

A review of The Conjuring Arts Research Center’s Ask Alexander database shows him to be a popularperformer at British magic club meetings, banquets and shows. In July 1939 Spicer was entertaining crowds at the popular seaside resort Littlehampton, the most populous civil parish in the Arun District of West Sussex, England. It lies on the English Channel on the eastern bank of the Arun River.

 

He appeared at the Associated Wizards of The South “Whizz” magic show in December 1972 on the same bill with Jeffrey Atkins, the late International President of the I.B.M. and organizer of many of the British Ring conventions, who performed “Dizzy Limit.” Dizzy Limit is the vanishing of a motorcycle and rider from inside a large crate. Spicer also appeared on the Presto Show in Wessex in 1967. On this show he impersonated a Chinese magician Chung Ming Fu. He also MC’d the show of the Portsmouth One-Day Convention in June 1973.

Spicer’s note of being a lecturer was quite true. He frequently lectured on the presentation of magic before fellow conjurors. One lecture titled, “Spice of Variety” was presented to Magic Circle members on the 17^th of March 1969. He told attendees that he hoped he was an entertainer and not just a presenter of a collection of magic tricks. He added, “Whilst tricks could be bought from the dealers, experience is what counted and experience could not be supplied by the dealer.” Freddie Brickman, who authored the Circular piece on Spicer wrote:

Simplicity was what he strived for and he at all times endeavour3ed to avoid complicated effects – the audience must clearly understand the plot of the effect and the performer must understand every necessary move in order to bring it to its logical conclusion. It was also very important to have an “out” ready in case of something going wrote – and something usually did go wrong at some time or other no matter how good and skilled the performer might be.

 

Shown below is Brickman’s report on the magic Spicer performed:

In January 1972, Spicer gave another lecture and performance at the Associated Societies of the South Convention where he spoke on “Old Props and Posters.” On Monday January 19, 1973 he performed at The Magic Circle offering a variety of effects involving cards, cigarettes, ropes and mental magic. They were all presented and enhanced by his collection of apparatus that he assembled over the years. Among his most cherish props were Will Goldston’s Hand Dagger Box, Harry Leat’s Coronation Card Box for the production of a full pack of cards; Walter Wandman’s Card Box and a cigarette box that delivered a cigarette into the performer’s hand ready for production. Again, he presented Hoffman’s Flying Cards to great applause.

Spicer died in 1980 at age 69 and his obituary noted that he was a full-time entertainer ever since leaving the Royal Navy. He left a wife, son and daughter. This popular entertainer of children and adults was certainly a colorful and interesting figure in magic. He was some who added spice to his profession.