Barrows, Ralph "Jack" (1935-2007)

Barrows, Ralph "Jack" (1935-2007) Magician and Author, He was a President of Magical Youths International, and served with the Society of American. Magicians. He later moved to Colon Michigan to worked at Abbott's as chief salesman & demonstrator in their showroom. Later he worked for FAB Magic (also in Colon). Sec 7; Row 31; # 6

JACK BARROWS PHOTO GALLERY
Jack published a magic magazine called "The Magician".

Suppose you are doing a crossword puzzle and you need to find 2 words which together mean dedicated magician. If your answer is Jack Barrows, then you are 100% correct.

I'm sure that those people who know Jack will all agree that he is one magician truly devoted to promoting magic to it's fullest. Jack was born in South Bend, Indiana, and lived there until the time of his high school graduation. He is now a bachelor residing in Elkhart, Indiana, and works as a lab assistant for Elkhart Foam Products, a division of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. Though Jack seems to enjoy his work at Elkhart Foam, his real love lies in promoting, practicing and performing magic, for about 80% of all his free hours are spent doing just that.

Jack's interest in magic was initiated by his stepfather, Alexander Great, a very fine magician who has been in the business for more than 50 years. Aside from being a superb showman, Alex is also a master craftsman and manufactures magician's equipment under the label of A & B Magic. Jack had learned to help build the equipment and as work progressed, so did his interest in the art.

In 1967 Jack attended the Abbott Get- Together where he had purchased a number of books and tricks. With the additional knowledge and magic that he had acquired from Alex, Jack agreed to do a birthday party for a friend. His enthusiasm continued to grow as he began to attend local magician's meetings, make more investments, and also make frequent visits to Abbotts in Colon. Since the time of his first show, he has made many appearances for groups ranging in size from a dozen children to audiences of over 1,000 persons. His credits include high schools and grade schools, service clubs, banquets, church groups, shopping centers and also several television shows.

Jack places a great deal of emphasis on self-improvement for he believes that you either move ahead or get lost at the side of the path made by those who are moving. When you lose the desire to be first in something - you also lose a reason to be second.

In 1969 Jack joined the Society of American Magicians, the International Brotherhood of Magicians and Magical Youths International. He is the President of M.Y.I, and has held that position for 3 consecutive terms. He has also served 2 terms as National Deputy to S.A.M. and one term as Regional Vice-President of that organization in the Central Plains states. Jack has formed the S.A.M. Assembly No. 87 in Elkhart, Indiana, and has been named President to that club as well. He is obviously interested in strengthening the clubs because he has brought over 100 magicians into membership of one group or another since he himself joined.

In 1970 he opened a magic shop in Elkhart which was to be known as the Square Circle. The store had gotten off to a good start and had been progressing quite well for some time, but his work at Elkhart Foam had finally made it necessary to close the small downtown shop and move the merchandise into his home where he still continues to sell magic supplies. Shortly after the Square Circle opened up, Jack sent out the first issue of "The Magician," a monthly news bulletin which was originally received by a few local conjurors. Now, the publication goes out, on schedule, each month to over 250 magicians coast to coast. The bulletin contains a variety of very useful tips, tricks and hints, local and national news, very honest convention reviews, and is the first, to my knowledge, ever to have contained a center fold.

Jack corresponds regularly with over 25 magicians whom he considers to be his close friends and has a correspondence file of over 140 other magicians which he is in contact with at least once a month. His greatest enjoyment comes from attending any kind of magic gettogether and also being with friends to talk magic and exchange ideas. He firmly believes that to be a successful magician you must let your magic and entertainment reflect your character and innermost feelings. It's your show and you don't want your last one to be the only one in which you play the leading role.

Although Jack is a real enthusiast to the magic world, he says that you must realize that magic can only be a part of your life. There must also be education, income and concern for those who mean the most to you. In 1970 Vince Lombardi said, "I believe in God, and I believe in human decency, but I firmly believe that any man's finest hour - his greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear - is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious." This too describes Jack's views on life. Magicians will be hearing more of him in the time to come, for he is one man who truly deserves credit for helping to make magic what it is today.

Following his enlistment in the U.S.Navy in 1956, and after serving four years, which took him all over the world, Jack Barrows opened his magic shop in Elkhart, Indiana, it was called "The SQUARE CIRCLE MAGIC SHOP." Barrows started a newsletter which he named "THE MAGICIAN". For the next five years the newsletter grew into a fine magical publication. THE MAGICIAN was the result, each month, of many hours of sacrifice and devotion.

Today Jack Barrows lives in Colon, Michigan, and for over a year has been Abbott's chief salesman/demonstrator in their showroom. We asked Jack why he was going to cease publication of the magazine with the December 1975 issue. His reply was twofold: He did not want to raise subscription rates and publication and mailing costs steadily rise.

Secondly, he wants to spend more of his spare time developing his own magic. . . his act, books, etc. The magazine has given him personal satisfaction and many rewarding friendships have developed over its tenure. On the back cover of the last issue of THE MAGICIAN, Editor Jack Barrows has written the following epitaph:

"IF YOU BELIEVE"
If you believe in MAGIC!
Not the superstitious kind. . .
But the everyday enchantments. . .
Happy people seem to find.
In the magic of a friendship,
In the wonder of a smile;
The charm of sharing happiness;
That makes a life worthwhile.
If you believe in MAGIC. . .
And I kind of think you do;
You'll understand the magic -
We've tried to bring to you