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Connie Greta Van Buren
Andrew Van Buren
Sadly
on 5th July 2020 my mum Connie Greta Van Buren passed away.
From humbled beginnings mum along with my dad had a long and successful show
business career, she met and started working with my father in the 1950s as The
Amazing Yoxanis, before their name was changed to Fred Van Buren & Greta in
1961.
Mum often joked that “it was love at first sight” – “but I think Fred could see
I was the right size to fit in the boxes”!
From presenting their themed magic act ‘Mystic Baggage’ in circus, then catching
the end of the heyday of Variety and Music Hall they went on to appear on
television numerous times, including repeatedly with David Nixon, (my parents
being the first to appear on TV presenting the Multiplying Bottles in 1960).
They lead the way through the 1950s and 1960s with their new version of the
Substitution Trunk, which at the time was considered “the fastest ever” with
mum’s lightning speed “box jumping ability” and dynamic presentation - according
to past president of the Magic Circle, Alan Shaxon it was my parents who
introduced the hoop of material and popularised the Sub trunk effect making the
transition from a screen to the canopy for surrounded performance. Other
illusions that they invented, built and performed were reported in the press as
“21st Century Miracles” include the unique Van Buren’s Vanishing Motorbike &
Rider Surrounded – (performed for the first time ever at the Collegiate Theatre
for the Magic Circle in 1976), The Fluorescent Light Tube Penetration, Sub Trunk
to Flower Garden Finale, Temple of Life and The Creation amongst many, many
others.
Their massive success on the London Banquette scene and creative minds mixed
with ability to build, brought them to the attention of Walt Disney who they
worked for in Wembley Arena as part of Tom Arnold and Walt Disney’s Snow White
on Ice before going on to tour the show the following year.
Through the 1970s mum and dad appeared in cabaret, theatre, television and
worked numerous Summer Seasons with many stars of the day including The Billy
Cotton Band Show, Windsor Davies & Don Estelle, Little & Large, Arthur Askey,
Victor Borge, plus great friends Gladys Mills and Bob Harbin to name just a few.
They went on to top the bill on numerous shows, with more TV appearances and
touring their own full large scale illusion shows around the world, with a team
of dancer assistants and regularly employing other acts to appear in their
shows. They were invited to appear in the Grand Place Brussels presenting their
Vanishing Motorbike Illusion with mum vanishing along with the motorbike as part
of the FISM World Congress of Magic Convention in 1979, at a leggy 5 foot 2 inch
height - mum made a formidable ‘biker’.
Quite often the role of the magicians assistant is wrongly overlooked and
underestimated, mum was a master of the art, years of experience taught her that
when she needed to draw attention she did with class and style, when she needed
to fade into the background she could become almost invisible, but always her
presence was there, never missing a beat, organising the other girls and stage
crew, props never late, always moved and stored she had the eye for detail and
professionalism.
Slowing off from performing briefly in the 1980s - to make sure that I went to
school between my own performances and when I wasn’t allowed to tour with my
parents, mum concentrated on running their Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire
based Hardware / DIY store business, which included mum carrying and cutting
large 8 x 4 whole sheets of glass and timber for the customers.
Mum had so many skills and could turn her hand to almost anything with a
professional touch, from how to “Box Jump” to cooking, wallpapering and towing
trailers.
Early retirement was short lived however as when dad had just finished filming
the movie The Helen Keller Story and joined Chipperfield’s Circus he suffered a
heart attack, but the show must go on so mum stepped in to take over the role
reversal of presenting the act as the Illusionist, with the assistants and
myself in support.
Mum went on to front the illusion act on other occasions including in Gandeys
Circus whilst dad and I toured the second unit of the Van Buren show.
Through the 1990s mum and dad both slowed off but continued to “cherry pick”
their shows whilst I toured my own separate act and show. Mum amazingly even at
official retirement age could vanish with that motorbike.
Their last official show was in 1996 but both mum and dads involvement
continued, with mum cleaning up the workshops when dad and I were making the
illusions, as well as maintaining their household, regularly stepping in to run
my office & always there with her advice, not only for me, but for so many
others too. Always with a sympathetic ear for others and she was never, ever,
without her trusty camera to record magic moments.
In 2014 The Circus Friends Association presented mum and dad with The Circus
Lifetime Achievement Award.
In 2017 during the Blackpool Magic Convention both mum and dad were presented
the Neville King Lifetime Achievement Award in front of the packed 3000 seating
Opera House theatre of cheering magicians and a standing ovation.
Then in 2019 both mum & dad were honoured by being awarded the Freedom of the
Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme for their lifetime in showiness and contribution
to raising awareness of the Circus Creator Philip Astley.
Some of mum and dad’s life and achievements were recorded onto the Van Buren
Story Documentary and in more recent years mum became the loving “nanny” and
regular babysitter of my and Allyson’s daughter Harley, as well as juggling an
active social life with her many friends. On mums last day she watched Harley in
her dance class and offered as always quiet words of encouragement and
supportive advice.
After a short illness mum seemed to be recovering well, but then suddenly in the
very early morning of Sunday 5th July 2020 mum’s massive loving heart stopped.
In performance mum ruled the stage with her dynamic style, off stage however she
was happy to quietly step back with the shy, quiet, unassuming, flip side of her
amazing personality.
In the few days since mums passing the messages of condolence have neared a
thousand so far. Amongst the many stories being recounted everybody says the
same words about mum, “she was a beautiful person”, “never a bad word about
anybody”, “A great sense of humour”, “always smiling”, “Kind”, “Humble”,
“generous”, “loving”, “quietly giving”, the beautiful quiet backbone of the
family.
For my beautiful mum’s short stature, she was actually a giant of a person who
has now left a massive hole in a great many lives.
Andrew Van Buren, July 2020