It’s in the Cards

Adam D. Miller 02/12/1997

Remember the first card trick you ever saw? Remember how amazed you were after that wizened old uncle or family friend finished the trick?

`Do it again!` you probably said. Magicians, particularly the kind who perform what are called `parlor tricks` or `close-up` magic have been around since time began. (Or at least some tricks seem that old, magicians say.) Most magicians, like us, were awed as kids. Difference is, they never let video games, sports or dating distract them long enough to forget the joy they felt pulling a `fast one` on a friend and hearing him say `Do it again!`

Irene Peterson knows a lot of people like that. She has owned and operated Spot Lite Magic & Costumes at 11516 E. 21st St. for 20 years. Thousands of young magicians have pressed their noses to the glass display cases that take up real estate in half her shop. Peterson caters to beginning and professional magicians who perform close-up tricks, although she can get high-tech, well-built illusions that cost thousands of dollars.

Brad `Bradini` Evans is a local magician who draws income with magic. `The Great Bradini` is a well-known name locally and supplements his magic by working full time as corporate tax manager for T.D. Williamson, Inc., an international pipeline maintenance company headquartered in Tulsa. He is in charge of `making tax liability and … auditors disappear,` he said.

Evans has taken his act past card-table, top-hat and cape, junior high talent show phase into full-blown shows with birds, rabbits, assistants and big illusions — all choreographed to music.
Evans just returned from a magicians’ seminar in Hollywood, Calif, sponsored in part by the actor Dom DeLuise, who is also a magician. Only 50 guests were invited to the seminar, led by Mark Wilson, a magician well-known among enthusiasts, Evans said. Evans performs at corporate special events and private parties. The seminar was designed to help learn the business side of being a professional magician.
`A lot of shy people become a lot more outgoing after they learn a few magic tricks,` she said.
Evans was 6 years old when he saw his first trick. He liked watching performers on television. Early magicians like Marshall Brodien paved the televised trail for future Doug Hennings and David Copperfields.

`I used to be very shy, too,` Evans said, `But magic helped me come out of my shell.`

Evans performed in talent shows through high school, then got involved with a performing group at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. `The group at OSU helped pay for part of my tuition,` he said. Evans, of Owasso, continues to try to `grow his magic as well as his accounting career,` he said. `I try to upgrade each year.` His dedication to the art shows in the vehicle he drives. His late-model mini-van is covered with `Bradini` logos and his business number.
Evans can be reached at 272-1651.