Thirty years ago today I made my television debut as a magician...

...unfortunately, or fortunately, my interest in magic pretty much peaked at that moment and I don't recall performing much, if ever, after that. Basketball pretty much dominated my interests for the next decade. My parents were still a year or two away from getting their first VCR so all we have are these two pictures of our television during the broadcast.

The television show, called "Kidding Around," was a highly regarded childrens program which won 5 Emmy Awards during its 7 year run (1978-1985) on the local NBC affiliate in Chicago WMAQ. The show was co-hosted by Steve Smith who went on to become Director of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College for ten years and an inductee to the International Clown Hall of Fame. Along with Steve Smith, the program had a number of young female co-hosts including, at the time of my performance, Shawn Gourdie, who later turned out to be a classmate of mine in high school.