Bordner, Recil (1910 - 1981) and Donna (1912 - 1974)

Bordner, Recil (1910 - 1981) and Donna (1912 - 1974) The son of an Ohio farm couple, he tried mind-reading at an early age and then switched to magic. Bordner came to Colon in 1934 to visit Percy Abbott's Magic Novelty Company, That visit ended up in a partnership with Abbott that lasted 25 years. Abbott sold to Recil who operated it for another 22 years. His son Greg then took over the company. Sec 6; Row 3; # 6

RECIL BORDNER PHOTO GALLERY
Recil partnered with Pery Abbott for $1,000 in 1934

Recil J. Bordner was born on Tuesday, September 20, 1910, in Edon, Ohio, the son of Ralp and Fern (Hake) Bordner, a farming couple.

Recil tried mind-reading at an early age and then switched to magic. (Why did Recil get into magic? I am told that Recil was tired of physically shoveling manure as a farmer and preferred to do it verbally as a magician). Recil and Percy Abbott met in Montpelier, Ohio, in 1931 and Bordner became intrigued with Abbott's magic catalogues. In 1932 and 1933, Bordner performed in Ohio and Indiana. Seeking illusions to expand his act, Recil came to Colon in 1934 to visit Abbott's Magic Novelty Company. That visit resulted in a partnership with Abbott that lasted 25 years. In March of 1934, at the age of 24, Recil bought a half interest in Abbott's Magic Company for $1,000 (in 2021, that would be the equivalent of $19,929.40).

Recil married Donna V. Lesnet on Tuesday, May 29, 1934, in Montpelier, Ohio. After they moved to Colon, Donna was a fifth-grade teacher at Colon Elementary School. The couple had two sons, Marty and Greg. Donna preceded Recil in death on Friday, December 13, 1974.

In September 1934, Percy and Recil held an open house at their new business. That day they had gross sales of $88.00. They were so excited about this being a money-making venture that they decided to do it again the following year as their first Get Together. There were a couple years during World War II that the Get Together was not held - one year when Recil was in the hospital and in 2020 because of COVID 19 Pandemic. Other than those few times, the Get Together has been an annual event for more than 80 years and is greatly anticipated by many magicians, hobbyist and mere mortals.

In 1936, the first issue of Tops, a monthly magazine filled with articles by magicians, was published at the company. The magazine had a circulation of 4,000 and was mailed to subscribers throughout the world.

The partnership worked very well for the two men. It's been said that Percy was the front of the house and Recil was the back. In other words, Percy was the showman and pitchman. He was in the showroom, demonstrating and selling whereas Recil provided the business sense, as the business part of the partnership. The two opened satellite shops in Detroit, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. Percy's and Recil's agreement lasted until Percy retired in 1959, whereupon Recil bought him out. During the partnership and under Bordner's guidance, the company became the world's largest manufacturer of magic supplies.

An example that Recil was a smart businessman was given to me by my Chicago correspondent Don Wilberg. He told me the story that, before the Colon High School was airconditioned, one year Recil was pretty generous by giving each Get Together registrant a free battery-operated fan; however, you had to purchase the batteries from Abbott's. Then, in 1973, the big draw for the Get Together was to come see the shows in the newly air-conditioned high school auditorium. Recil and Abbott's gave $9,000 to help pay for half of the air-conditioning costs.

Recil was ever the businessman. It is jokingly rumored that the reason Recil Bordner's grave is close to the entrance of Lakeside Cemetery is so he can collect your tickets for touring the cemetery.

Wayne Wisner of Bear Lake, Michigan, described the customer service he experience dealing with Recil. "I was 16 years old (1964) and I wanted to purchase the Basket Girl Illusion, so I called Recil and asked him about shipping costs and he told me he would put it on a bus and I would have it the next day which I did.".

Tim Wright of St. Marys, Ohio, an Abbott's employee during the summers of 1972 and 1978, shared a funny story: "I loaded a flash pot in the showroom and shot it off, in a strict scientific process. Recil came to me a little later, after the smoke cleared, and said the ladies in the office do not like the smell of gun powder and it may be best not to shoot a flash pot off anymore. Then he said, "I like the smell myself."

Recil appeared on the Abbott's Magic Get Together stage eight times between the years of 1934 through 1978. (1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1965, 1970, 1975, and 1978). Most of his appearances were cameos during the Saturday night follies, when Karrell Fox with Duke Stern and later Abb Dickson would do their parody of the Get Together acts. Recil had a good sense of humor and liked to play along. On one instance, Karrell and Duke were presenting Abbott's Square Circle, also called the Abbott's Spectacular Production. The two couldn't get it to work, claiming it was faulty, so Recil came out on stage and handed them their money back in cash.

Since Abbott's manufactured equipment for magicians all over the world, some of whom were top-name professionals in the industry, you may wonder whether Recil had a favorite. I couldn't find a definitive one-person answer but what I was told by my Michigan correspondent Kurt Richie was that Neil Foster was Recil's best friend. In 1959 , Neil became the Abbott Magic Company's chief magician-in-residence and vice president. In 1960, Neil revived The Tops magazine as the editor of The New Tops.

In 1972 Recil appeared on the popular TV show "To Tell the Truth." A panel of four celebrities asked question to ascertain who was "the real Recil Bordner."

Recil was a central figure in Colon's magic heritage. Along with Abbott and Harry Blackstone St, Recil brought Colon the title of "Magic Capital of the World." Recil's son, Greg, took over the business in 1974 and the Bordner family continued to run the company to this day.

A widower after 1974, Recil married Eda Mae Cubbernus (1916-1986) on Saturday, September 11, 1976, in Colon. Eda Mae was employed as a secretary at Abbott's for 20 years until she retired in 1983. I remember Eda Mae as the nice lady in the office who would help us kids find lodging in town during the Get Togethers. With all her friendships in town, she found places for a lot of us. Recil attended St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Colon. He was a member of the Society of American Brotherhood of Magicians. He was a past member of the Colon Board of Education and a charter member of the Colon Lions Club.

At the time of hid death, Recil was survived by his wife, Eda Mae Bordner, two sons, Martin "Marty" and Gregory "Greg" W. Bordner of Colon, Michigan; three grandchildren; four step-children, Frichard L. Cubbernuss of Mendon, Michigan, George F. Cubbernuss of Elkhart, Indiana, Mrs. Diane (Joseph) Saputo of Detroit, Michigan, and Doris Cubbernuss of Grandville, Ohio. Seven step-grandchildren; and one sister, Mrs. Donell (Letta) Campbell of Adrian, Michigan.

Recil Bordner died at noon on Tuesday, September 8, 1981, at the age of 70. His first wife, Donna Bordner, died in 1974 at the age of 62. His second wife, Eda Mae Bordner, died in1986 at the age of 69.