If I had my way….

The year was 2003, Saturday night at the 65th Annual Magic Get Together. Gene Anderson was the Emcee for the night. I was doing my usual duties backstage.

Jay was to perform on the show and close with Lefty. I remember Jay getting dressed back in the band room. His shirt was missing a button so Julie Sobanski sewed it on. He had forgotten his cufflinks (somewhat like Frank Sinatra had done in Vegas when Jay worked with him). So, I went and got mine as I had performed earlier in the week and I had my show wardrobe with me. But Jay had forgotten Lefty. Hank Moorehouse had one that Jay had thrown away at a show one time. Hank brought it in for Jay to use.

Before the show, Jay was going over what he was going to do. Gene Anderson was the Emcee for the night. Because the offstage area left was very congested that night, he had set up on stage right. Jay handed me his set of rings and told me to take them over to Gene. Gene was to bring them out when Jay asked for them. The bit was that they had already seen several of the tricks and Gene would take them away so Jay would not do them. Gene was reluctant to bring out the rings. Pretty soon I could hear the shuffling of feet coming across the stage to the right side behind the traveler. It was Jay. Jay said “Look just bring them out. It will get a bigger laugh and it will give you more time on stage.” As usual, Jay was right.

Jay did his spot and closed as per normal with Lefty. He started the routine but choked up a little and had to stop and compose himself. Jay had become very emotional in his later years when performing, possibly remembering all the friends no longer with him. But he regained his composure and Lefty was never better. Jay walked off to a standing ovation. After his curtain call, he came back into the band room and sat down. I was there to help him as I could.

Jay turned to me and said “You have been here all week. Did anyone else get a standing ovation?” “No Jay, only you”. In typical Jay Marshall fashion, he said “ I don’t understand it. I’m not that good any more.”

“Jay,” I told him. “Whether you know it or not a lot of people love you and there is not a damn thing you can do about!”

That was one of the last performances of Jay Marshall and Lefty at a magic convention.

To quote the routine…”If I had my way, you’d never grow old”.

Jay you never did. You and your magic were timeless.

Richard