by CATHY SHIELDS
ran Monday, November 27, 2000 page 2
"Performer: South Umpqua graduate turned a few card tricks into a full-time profession"
Levitate: Magician Hal Marquardt, who makes his home in Myrtle Creek, mixes comedy with magic to appeal to a large audience. He began teaching himself magic tricks as a college student in 1977 and now travels the world performing magic shows on cruise ships.
MYRTLE CREEK Magician Hal Marquardt won't tell how he carries off his tricks, but he will reveal where he learned to perform magic through public libraries. Marquardt, a 1976 South Umpqua High School graduate, travels the world performing magic on cruise ships that leave from U.S. ports in Florida, California and Alaska. He's been on ships that have cruised the coasts of Asia, Africa and South America. He makes coins disappear, levitates people, burns up money and makes it reappear during the performances that can take him away from his Myrtle Creek home for months at a time.
One of his favorite shows, however, is performed in libraries. Called The Magic of Reading, the 45-minute performance is colorful, involves children, and reflects his philosophy on the importance of libraries. "My message to the kids is that you can be whatever you want to be, and the best way to do that is through the public libraries," he said. Marquardt first became attracted to magic when he was home from college in the summer of 1977. He did a few card tricks at a Fourth of July party and then was asked to perform at the upcoming Wooden Nickel Days in Myrtle Creek. "I only had about five card tricks in my repertoire and they wanted me to
do a 30-minute show," said Marquardt, now 42. "I had to learn more." So he got busy. He went to Roseburg and bought three books, "The Amateur Magicians Handbook," "The Encyclopedia of Card Tricks," and "Learn Magic." Working graveyard at a gas station in Tri City and day shift on the green chain at D.R. Johnson Lumber Co. in Riddle, Marquardt read the books whenever he found time and used his customers as an audience. "I would give them gas, wash their windows and do magic," he said. "Then I would ask them what they thought. They would be there at 3 a.m. and pretty tired, and by the time they left, their eyes were wide open. I learned enough over the next three weeks to perform at the Nickel Days and people liked it.
He then went on a two-year mission to Pittsburgh with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He lived next to a public library and thoroughly researched the art of magic in his spare time. "If there was no public library system in this country I would never be doing what I am doing now; I would have never traveled the world and never been on national television (ABC's America's Funnist People)," Marquardt said.In 1981, he went to work at the Main Street Magic Shop at Disneyland. The same year he was invited to join The Magic Castle, a private club for professional magicians in Hollywood To get into the club, he had to be invited, sponsored by two other magicians and perform before a board of directors. Yet, there was still no guarantee he would be chosen. "If you can work there, you can perform anywhere in the world," Marquardt said He auditioned three times over nearly a year's time before he was accepted as a club performer Marquardt performed magic in nightclubs for two years before moving to the cruise ships in 1986, where he still works. He said he is paid handsomely
for his work, allowing him to support his four children and wife of 14 years, Sandy.
He also performs magic at functions ranging from corporate bashes to large stages in front of hundreds of people
He specializes in stand-up magical comedy, in which he likes to make the audience laugh, and close-up magic, where he sits at a table and gives an intimate performance. He does walk-around magic in malls, at fairs and promotion and trade shows. "He is a quick thinker," Sandy Marquardt said. "Hal finds a way to let the audience know he is in control." Seven years ago, Marquardt moved his family back to Myrtle Creek, OR when his wife fell in love we the small town qay of life. "I feel very good about my wife wanting to move back here," he said."I like the people here, they are honest and straightforward."
For his 11-year-old daughter, Heather, Marquardt's occupation is indeed different."He goes on a ship to go to work, where other people's fathers go to work at other places that are closer," she said. "Usually, people don't have dads that are magicians."
Marquardt, who was in theater in his high school days, has always been comfortable on the stage."There is no such thing as a true magician, only an actor playing the part," he said. "The real secret is selling it and getting it across." Marquardt will be home in Myrtle Creek until January and can be reached at (541) 863-7749, or by e-mail at hal@halmarquardt.com
