Jones, "Little Johnny" (1898-1995) and Catherine (1899-1997)

Jones, "Little Johnny" (1898-1995) and Catherine (1899-1997) his wife for 75 years. He was the "Conjuring Humorist." His epitaph reads: "Now I have to go and fool St. Peter." He first tried his hand at professional magic when the Depression hit. He is best known as a nightclub performer with a full-evening show. During World War II he was with the USO. He retired after giving his final performance at the 1964 Abbott's Get-together. Sec 7; Row 29; # 3

LITTLE JOHNNY JONES PHOTO GALLERY
Known as the "Fasionable Magicians to the Stars"

Johnny's Star Promo

On the tenth day of this month Little Johnny Jones will celebrate his 74th birthday, and we wish him the very best. Known as "The Fashionable Magician," Jones has spent his lifetime as a professional entertainer. Today he lives in retirement in his comfortable home at 107 Bangor Street in Bangor, Michigan, 49013. On several occasions it has been your editor's pleasure to spend several hours in Johnny's magic den listening to this great, but humble, magician talk of his brilliant past. His library and other items, collected over the years, are magnificently displayed with an aura of mystery prevailing. He is also the perfect host.

Born in Bluefield, West Virginia, he remembers seeing his first magician, Ching Ling Foo, and immediately began to produce yards of paper ribbon from his mouth. His second magician was none other than Harry Kellar; The Blue Room, Flower Growth and, of course, the Levitation, all left a deep impression upon him. When Johnny was twelve he saw Howard Thurston and it was then the magic bug really bit hard.

Thurston was at that time a very handsome young man. In Johnny's own words, "His rising cards, back palming, and other sleights left me with mouth agape. My mouth never hung so loosely again until at Abbott's 1964 Get-Together, where I had the pleasure of seeing Neil Foster do the Zombie; it was a costly experience for me because when I returned home I destroyed mine."

In 1930 Jones met 'Dorny' Dornfield at the Erlanger Theatre in Chicago where he had gone to photograph Thurston. Dorny and John Northern Hilliard were in the office alone, and when he inquired about Mr. Thurston, Hilliard said, "Dorny, go see if the old man is backstage." Johnny said, "Are you Dorny? I've got your book, 'Trix and Chatter'." Dorny said, "John, he's a magic nut!" So it was through Dorny's invitation that Johnny joined the S.A.M. Later on Harry Blackstone signed his application for the I.B.M.

On November 27, 1932, Little Johnny Jones made his debut with a full evening show at the CHICAGO WOMAN'S CLUB THEATRE, which was well attended by the local magicians and a grand delegation from South Bend, Indiana, who ploughed through huge snow drifts to arrive on time.

William J. Hilliar, Magic Editor of the BILLBOARD, made several complimentary remarks about this show, quote. . . "Little Johnny Jones has been playing independent houses through Iowa, doing a single vaudeville act, but he expects to take his big show out later in the fall. Howard Thurston, his brother Harry and myself thoroughly enjoyed Jones' two hour show. He is possessed of a delightful personality, really understands magic, and if you want a lesson in how to be nonchalant just watch Jones when something goes wrong." . . . unquote. When Johnny introduced Thurston from the stage, he praised his accomplishments with only two assistants. Later from New York Thurston wrote John a beautiful unsolicited letter that he has framed in his den, and which he shall always cherish.

Recorded music was used throughout the show where needed. To Jones' knowledge this was a 'first' with a full evening show. Later McDonald Birch added this feature to his show. Jack Gwynne made Johnny's Doll House, Russ Walsh contributed the Vanishing Telephone, and there were many of Doc Nixon's effects including the Oriental Tube, the Fish Bowls, Dove Vanish and Production, and the famed Duck Vanish. Thayer's Duck Tub and Vanishing Lamp were also used. He used a Vanishing Cane made by the Chicago Magic Company as Russ Walsh hadn't developed his cane as yet. Abbott's were not in business then but later he included their Chinese Chopper and the Parasol. Father Maddox made him his Levitation and Chinese Torture Chamber. He also used many effects from Joe Berg, Laurie Ireland and Sam Berland. His first catalog of magic came from Clyde Powers, in New York, whose name Johnny had found in the BILLBOARD.

In 1933 John played the Coconut Grove in Milwaukee. He would like to know if any magician had played a night club previous to this, as to the best of his knowledge this was also a 'first.' Night Clubs were tough, but very educational to a magician, after you'd been through the mill, nothing would daunt you, you could even play a telephone booth. Johnny even worked on top of bars. At Chicago's Edgewater Beach Hotel, with Paul Whiteman's orchestra, he worked on top of the grand piano, entering from the rear curtain to the piano's top which was on a level from backstage.

Johnny recalls an unusual anecdote. "When playing the Zephyr Room at the Washington-Youree Hotel in Shreveport, Louisiana, I had just begun my act when suddenly from nowhere there appeared a rat, rather aged and perhaps somewhat retarded by poison. He made several attempts to climb the column nearest me and the bandstand. Bob McGrew's entire band, along with the lovely Betty Taylor, immediately stood on chairs which created a sensation. Falling to climb the column, the rat made the rounds of the ringside tables, creating an unusual picture because in those days the ladies didn't wear panty hose. He proceeded the length of the room to the back near the bar where a bus boy knelt with an empty milk bottle which the rat entered. The bus boy clapped his hand over the mouth of the bottle and goose-stepped off to a big hand. After the show a gentleman said my act with the trained rat was the greatest thing he had ever seen. I never told him that the rat had entered a side door and worked his way unobserved downstage, but I secretly wished that I was that good."

Sid Lorraine was honeymooning when Johnny played the Embassy Club in Toronto, and John was disappointed not to have a gabfest with him but he could not expect Sid to neglect his bride for the dubious pleasure of his company. While at the Embassy Club, and just before show time, John ventured to the washroom and upon his return the door to his dressing room had slammed and he was locked out. The manager came to his rescue and saved the evening. Of course, for such a thing to happen to a magician was predestined to rate publicity in the next day's Toronto Star. While in Toronto he had the honor of performing before members of the Canadian Parliament who were at the Royal York Hotel. Jean Harlow was in Toronto at the time and was hosted by an assortment of show people and the press at Johnny's night club late one evening.

In August of 1935, when playing the New Lyceum Theatre at Port Arthur in Ontario, the movie being shown was Noel Coward in "The Scoundrel", but the marquee read as follows:

"The Scoundrel"

Little Johnny Jones

One of the most indelible memories of his experiences in show business occurred when John was playing the New Lyceum. When he went out to eat between shows he was stunned by newspaper headlines which announced the death of his friend Will Rogers and the pilot Wiley Post in Alaska. In opening the next show he announced this tragedy to the audience who thought he was joking until he held up the headlines. He asked them to stand in silence as a mark of respect, and the entire audience stood with bowed heads. He has since often wondered if he could have obtained the same results in other places. This audience seemed to respect him for this.

Johnny can only recall having 'stopped a show cold' twice in his life. Both times the agents assured him that they had a full show but would use him anyway. The first time was for Dutch Schmidt in Des Moines for the Iowa Funeral Directors. He did his fifteen minute act and made an exit, returned for a bow and exited again. The uproar brought him back for an encore. It was a big show with top talent and Johnny, least of all, never expected such a reception. The other occurrence was when he was playing the Northwood Inn in Detroit for Corine Muir. Miss Muir had a big club date at the Detroit Lei and for a convention of Advertising Men. On the bill were Charles Carrer, the gifted juggler; The Lathrop Brothers and Virginia Lee, a top dance group; and the star of the show, Irene Bordoni, the musical comedy favorite. Miss Muir used Jones in the 'clean-up position' following Miss Bordoni. Several times she assured Johnny that he was to do only three tricks, and as this date was between shows at the Northwood Inn, he took only three with him: the Vanishing Bird Cage, torn and restored newspaper and his cigarette manipulations. With all due respect to the talented and beautiful Miss Bordoni, Johnny felt she had tired her audience by doing too many encores. When John finished his short act by walking off stage with his pipe smoking, the applause was deafening. Jones was dumfounded and Miss Muir was panic stricken as she knew he only had the three tricks with him. The confusion backstage made it impossible to retrieve the Bird Cage so he just went out and thanked the audience. This experience, however, taught him that under no circumstances to ever be caught again without an encore.

Many people ask him where he got the name of Little Johnny Jones. He was born John Davenport Jones but his father often called him Little Johnny Janes. George M. Cohan wrote a play called "Little Johnny Jones", so our Johnny decided to adopt the name professionally. When he was a tramp comedian (early in his career) he was Johnny Weary Jones, and as Little Johnny Jones the Magician, he claims he was just a plain nut.

While in the Navy during World War I, Johnny was stationed in Paris with Admiral Richard H. Jackson, who was the Naval Attache. For two years he was in the communication office, and it was during this time he took up the serious study of art. He arrived in Paris a month and four days after the death of Degas. He was there when DeBussy, Appolonaire, Rodin and James Gordon Bennett died. Johnny said, "I could have bought some Utrillo's for as little as ten dollars each in those days - oh to roll back the clock!" Admiral Jackson, incidently, died this year in Coronado, California, at the wonderful old age of 105.

During the second World War, Johnny was with USO Camp Shows for 32 months. His first overseas trip was to Brisbane, Australia, where he met Les Levante for the first time since 1939 at the Battle Creek I.B.M. Convention. At the time John weighed 185 pounds, but while in New Guinea he had to punch four holes in his belt as he could barely cast a shadow. When in Finschaven, he visited a native village called Wari. He had often wondered how natives of a primitive race would react to magic. He soon found out. The women grabbed the children and retreated in fear, the men were fascinated but cautious. Afterwards the chief presented Johnny with his staff, a symbol of autnority, which he has had shortened and a ferule put on the end and uses as a cane.

While doing a show in Hollandia a python fell from a tree into the audience and temporarily stopped the show. Once in Biak there was a burst of small arms being fired during Johnny's act. After the show the officer in charge said that an enemy patrol was discovered watching the show, and that is the only show he ever did that killed 'em literally. His U.S.O. tours included all of the South Pacific.

Between his overseas trips for Camp Shows he was offered fabulous money to stay home and accept night club engagements. John says, "Perhaps I was foolish not to accept as I could be quite wealthy now, but my conscience would not permit it, I was determined to see the war through." After the war he made the decision to 'cross the Rubicon' and began to book himself as an after dinner entertainer, doing one hour shows, and it proved to be an excellent decision. Johnny and his wife, Catherine, have had two sons, John, Jr. and James. Jim was killed at Magai Dong, Korea, on October 26, 1952. He was a Marine, age 21 years and 8 days. John, Jr. lives in Hayward, Wisconsin. Johnny and Catherine have two granddaughters, ages 17 and 21.

Little Johnny Jones played his 'swan song' at Abbott's 1964 Get-Together. He asked the MC, Monk Watson, to announce this but Monk refused. Perhaps Monk felt like so many of us, that this just couldn't be the farewell performance of such a great entertainer. But Johnny meant it and has said that it was a splendid ending for an adventurous life with the Muse. Many people have asked Johnny why he retired from magic and this is his answer: "I did so because I felt that it was the proper thing to do after a magician has reached his peak, and his eyesight has begun to dim and his coordination getting a little shaky. But they have said that I should still do magic and no one would know the difference. My answer has been that I would. Unfortunately I have always been an unhappy perfectionist. No perfectionist can ever be entirely happy, because absolute perfection is unattainable, but a bull-headed perfectionist hates to admit it. Through magic I have met and enjoyed the friendship of thousands of the most fraternal. No one has sweeter memories than I, and memories, happy ones, are our most treasured possession. Now that I am retired I have gone back to my first love, painting in oils. I have been painting for 51 years and optimistically anticipate the next fifty.

"Glamor is somewhat like beauty in this respect; it is in the eye and mind of the beholder. To the average layman, entertainers are glamorous. To the average entertainer, glamor is hard work, sweat and tears; a feast or a famine. But as I sit in my arm chair amid great recollections, it does seem rather glamorous now. As John Northern Hilliard once said to me 'Don't put away the toys'."