“Where have all the flowers gone? Long time passing.”

When I heard the news at the Fort Worth TAOM convention this old popular Pete Seeger song was playing. Moments of reflection got me to thinking, “Where have all the good guys gone?”

We met when there was no such classification as “close-up magic”. At the conventions and gatherings back then it was called “parlor magic”. We spent the day and most of the night at such gatherings in one of our hotel rooms. We marveled at each routine and shared what we had uncovered in our study of the masters -- Vernon, Marlow, and all of the other good guys. We were true students of the real world of magic. We applauded each other’s guarded and astonishing sleight-of-hand miracles. In our minds, we were the unbilled stars of the convention. WOW! What memories that brings back.

He took the technical and I the commercial road. He was the true Maestro. He asked me to write a few words in his classic book, In Concert. I wrote from my heart. I know the words were a little heavy for the time; however, those words personified the gift that he brought to this wonderful art form we call magic.

I look around today and ask,”Where have all the good guys gone?” In my lifetime I have had the pleasure of meeting and studying with the very best -- Vernon, Marlow, Miller, Jennings, Skinner, Don Alan…and many more.

Today’s styles, presentation skills and appearances have changed to keep abreast of this digital world that has engulfed our magic community. History foretells that when the fallout and residue have settled, there will be standing a new group of close-up warriors. However, in this world of instant gratification we have lost the style, grace, charm, and presentation skills of those good guys.

“Where have all the good guys gone?” My dear friend Roger Klause was one of the best of those good guys. His going truly creates a void in our world of magic.