Magician of Many Talents
Magician of Many Talents BY BOBBY WARREN iversification. Integration. Collaboration. The Ring-A-Ding the Clown Show was DThose three words might sound simi- not the only television experience the lar to an advertising slogan for a Fortune young Hickman gained. His grandfather 500 company, but they are descriptive of BJ introduced him to Austin “Ace” Gorham Hickman’s approach to succeeding at the (an I.B.M. Past International President, business of performing magic, and speaking 1971-1972), who performed magic on the publicly. iconic Uncle Gus Show, which also origi- When one pokes into Hickman’s his- nated from WMUR TV-9 in Manchester, tory, it begins like most magicians: His New Hampshire. Eventually, Hickman father showed him a trick with a string, and would get his chance to fill in for Ace per- the magic bug bit. “I thought it was pretty forming magic on the show. neat,” Hickman said. “I went to the library, Hickman would perform little shows on read every book, and learned everything I occasion when he was eleven and twelve could.” When he worked his way through years old; but when he was older and was the library’s offerings, his father, Jaquett able to attend Ring 166 meetings, Hickman Hickman, introduced him to some magicians said he really blossomed as a performer. in the Manchester, New Hampshire, area. Through his study and participation at One of those magicians, I.B.M. member I.B.M. Ring meetings, Hickman says he Dr. Dwight Damon, had a television show learned not only effects but presentation on Saturday mornings, the Ring-A-Ding techniques, as well.
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