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Jack Avis 1921-2004
A Tribute by John Derris
I
have just lost my brother-in-law and one of the best friends I ever had. Jack
Avis, one of the in-depth giants of magic as practiced by a consummate amateur,
he was known to everyone who reveres close-up conjuring (his favourite word) in
a smooth, classical, natural, unhurried style, devoid of flashiness and boastful
presentation. In the manner of his idols, Dai Vernon and John Ramsay with whom
he spent many hours in private sessions. Author of over four hundred items in
magazines and books during the sixty years that he was devoted to the art that
dominated his life, his influence on magic was far-reaching. He performed in
public less than a dozen times but his knowledge and digital skill with cards
and coins and other diminutive items, right up to the time of his death, were
exceptional and admired right across the magic world. He was one of the best
thinkers and originators in magic - he was the magician’s magician. A voracious
reader (he read my copy of The Mind and Magic of David Berglas - 565
pages - in three days and could recall everything), with nearly every worthwhile
book published in the last sixty years in his library and he was an avid
note-taker and letter writer. He corresponded for thirty years with many of the
greats including Ed Marlo who sadly he never got to meet.
I first met him as a teenager and whilst our respective magic skills and
interests were quite different he was always friendly towards me. Eventually,
once I had demonstrated my deference for magic, I was invited to his home and to
family Christmas parties along with Al Koran, where he often presented an
out-of-character magic show including tambourine rings, wonder box and Selbit’s
blocks. It was at one of these family gatherings that he introduced me to his
sister who I eventually married. (How could I ever thank him enough for that.)
His magic flourished and developed during his army service in Africa and Italy
when he had access to unlimited packs of Bicycle cards and the latest magic
books from the USA, unobtainable at that time by most UK-based magicians. A
printer by profession it was his overflowing passion for magic that led to
fruitful meetings with Al Koran, Alex Elmsley and Roy Walton, a group of
close-up aficionados whose work and original thinking attracted worldwide
attention and acclaim. At the same time he became a member of a distinguished
group of noted magi of the day - Peter Warlock, Francis Haxton, Eric de la Mare,
Louis Histed, Dr. Bernard Weller, Fred Robinson and Cy Endfield -from whose
collective, fertile brains many classics of original magic emerged and were
published in the magazine “Pentagram” In 1998 he was induced to release
original material for a book “Vis a Vis” published by Richard Kaufman and
just recently he co-authored a second book along with his friend Lewis Jones
called “Ahead of the Pack”. Both are packed with original items in the
distinctive Avis style and both received excellent reviews.
A quiet, totally honest, retiring man, shy by nature, quite devoid of ego and
not one to push himself to the front of the crowd, he hated fuss and any
adulation that might justifiably be directed his way. His respect for the
history and practice of magic went deep and he demanded the same from others and
he was passionate about exposure and the rape of secrets. Consequently he
abhorred the current style of magic media presentation and the lack of respect
of the art shown by professionals demonstrating greater interest in their bank
balance. He had firm convictions about life as well as magic; I never saw him
lose his temper but he possessed a verbal tenacity that would be used to support
any personal cause in which he held a firm belief. He didn’t smoke, didn’t drink
and was never one for fancy food or restaurants. He was a gentleman born of the
quieter days of last century courtesy, manners and consideration for people and
life.
About once a week I used to sit with him and talk about magic, politics,
society, life, anything - he was a great conversationalist. His magic recall was
quite incredible and he was always able to show me great ideas from the past and
his nimble fingers still worked well at 82 years of age. If I discussed an
effect that I was working on, he could invariably and generously come up with a
simpler, far more effective way of doing the trick. On January 8th, a short time
after we had all enjoyed one of the happiest family dinners ever celebrating my
birthday, he collapsed on the stairs at his home, was rushed to hospital where
he later died of a heart attack
He was the big brother I never had - God how I miss him.
John Derris, January 2004