Fantasio

MASTER MAGICIAN AND CREATOR

It is a rarity in magic when a master performer is also a master creator of magic. The names of those so noted are few and far between.

Most performers improve the creations of others either technically through the wisdom gained through many performances or in presentations earned the same way. Conversely, inventors tend not to be performers. Jarret, Grant, Marlo (that may get me some heat), Steinmeyer and Gaughan come most readily to mind. The exceptions: de Kolta, Selbit, and Harbin are three who were active performers and inventors who performed and invented throughout their careers.

A contemporary, who has uplifted magic both through his own performances and through his many inventions is Ricardo Fantasio, recently honored by the dedication of Desert Magic Seminar XIX to him. While the presentation specifically called attention to the elegance and dignity of his "work on and offstage," the influence of this unique individual can be seen in the performances of hundreds of magicians across the world.

Born Ricardo Roucau in Buenos Aires, Argentina October 3, 1936, he learned magic from a magic set at age eight, he turned pro in 1958, working under the name Ricardo. Needing publicity for an appearance in Uruguay, a friend took a photo of him under marquee advertising Larry (a comedian), and he. Became "the famous magician, Larry." In Uruguay, he met Monica, a Spanish dancer, and fell in love. Her real name was Margarita, which means Daisy in English, and the duo, Larry and Daisy, was born. John Scarne saw them perform and impressed by their beautiful act, asked if they wanted to perform in the United States. When they said they did, Scarne told them their name would never work in America. Brooding about this while playing with a deck of cards, Ricardo noted the brand name of the deck - Fantasio. That worked!

As a professional performer for 19 years, Fantasio worked internationally, sometimes with Monica, sometimes as a single, playing prestige engagements at Radio City Music Hall, the Latin Quarter, in Las Vegas, at Chicago's Conrad Hilton, and on the Ed Sullivan

Show (where he created an elaborate silk production for their first color TV broadcast, becoming in the process the highest paid act ever on the program (he got to keep the $7,OOO+ silks).

However, while Fantasio loves magic and loves to create, he does not love the stage or being in the spotlight. In 1966, living in New York City, Fantasio picked up a roll of spring plastic used to hold six packs of soda in place in a grocery display. He asked the manager if he could take it home as he realized immediately it would be perfect for his ideas for the Vanishing Candle and Color Changing Cane. He made a candle; it worked, and thus started a battle to get a supply of the material. His initial effort to market his plastic canes and candies met with derision, "Save your time and money, the market is saturated," he was told. Fortunately for us, he persevered and today his products appear in virtually every manipulative magic act going and many close-up performances.

Here are some of his products sold through magic shops: Musical Deck, Card Impact, Lighter to Cards Fan,' Poker Mystery, Color-Changing Lighter, King and Acts, Bic Lighter to Matches, The Magic Flashlight, Bic Hole penetration, Cane to Bouquets, Candle to Bouquet, Dancing plus Vanishing Cane, Candelabra Routine, ColorChanging Candle Plus, Card Sword Cane, 2lst Century Cane, Ribbon and the Candle, Candle to Ball, Appearing Lit Candle, Flaming Thumb Tip, Vanishing Flute, Cane to Candle Plus.

Here are others he hasn't marketed:

Silk through Bottom of Glass, Dove Vest, Triple Doves from Ballon, Multiplying Bali Climax, Airborne Bottle, Zombie Glass, Multiplying Bottle Caps, Glass Levitation with Hat, Hat to Tray, Dove from Sleeve, Checker Board Torn & Restored Paper, Candelabra to Card Castle, Match to Silk, Vanishing Card Case, Easy Holder for Card Manipulation, Multiplying Candle to Cane, Candle to Bird Cage, Lighting Your Lighter with Cigarette, Sticky Coin Palm, cha-cha Rope Penetration, Any Reel-Stop Reel, Turnover Coin, Chris-Cross Bills, Cigarette Penetration, Reappearing Candies in Candelabra, Automatic

Vanishing Candle the Real Vanishing Cane, Candle to Silk to Cane, Candle Levitation plus Vanish, Vanishing Candle with Candelabra, Vanishing Newspaper over Cane, 2Oth Century Pistol, Lighter to Silk, Spooky Glass With Flash Paper, A appearing Drum Sticks. And, there are still more. Wow!

It is a great pleasure to briefly profile Fantasio here (for still more on this fantastic career and delightful friend to magic, see Amy Steven's superb article in the June 1995 MAGIC). He is a good friend, an excellent magician, an elegant performer, and an inspired inventor of magic effects. Who else could put together a new act, a new performing persona, fill it with original effects, and without regularly performing take it to F.I.S.M. and win a major award?

Bravo, Funtasio/Fantasio! Long may magic enjoy you and the fruits of your creativity.

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