 Nelson
Schmitt
940 Spaulding
Wichita, KS 67203
316-267-3003
nschmitt@cox.netNo. 24574
IBM 1971
OM 1996
Nelson started performing magic at the age of twelve out of necessity.
His 7th grade music class was planning a "talent contest" and he didn't want to
sing and didn't have any other performing skills, so the prospects were grim.
His father played with magic in high school and still had a few things
tucked away in a closet. He pulled down a small wooden box that to him was filled with
treasure. From this small collection of vintage magic, he helped his son put together a
small magic show. It was a big hit at the talent contest and his interest in magic started
to grow.
Prior to this, his dad had belonged to the Junior Wizards and so
introduced him to Maurice Lowe, who in turn taught him a few tricks. When Nelson was
fourteen he joined the IBM, which was the year Ring 47 was celebrating its 25th
Anniversary. By now he was quite a ham and an accomplished performer. He won the Ring
Talent Contest in his first year as a member. He had a routine with the Hippity-Hop
rabbits with a "cross-bussing" patter (the popular topic in those days) that was
a big hit at the 25th Anniversary show.
Maurice took him to his first magic convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma where
he performed the "Doodle Duck" routine. He had three curtain calls; more than
any other performer in the show. The duck act made him a hit and eventually helped pay his
way to perform at the IBM Convention in Dayton, Ohio and appear on the local TV news. He
also received a write-up in "Our Side of the Pond" in the Linking Ring.
Over the next few years he polished his skills performing here and there.
For a few summers he performed a magic "medicine pitch act" at Cow Town (a local
`old west' recreation spot) which opened up a new costume and character routine.
Today, Nelson doesn't appear publicly too often but enjoys magic just the
same. He prefers to perform before his fellow magicians in the Ring — especially
creating unusual routines with music and costumes. He also enjoys the history of magic and
is a collector of antique magic tricks, books and other collectible items.
It must be added that several years ago when the Ring was trying various
activity ideas, someone suggested a contest utilizing history and/or other general magic
information. Nick St. Erne provided a `prototype' made up of categories of questions which
was the basis of today's Rice Bowl Contest which is an annual event. When Nick
graduated from medical school, married and moved to Las Vegas to open a new veterinary
business, Nelson fell heir to bundles of trivia left by Nick and began building a super
package of questions, answers, points, penalties, etc. that provides our club one of the
most interesting evenings of the year.
To close this biography we will quote Nelson: "Most of
all, I enjoy watching and teaching magic. That is the best part of being a member of Ring
47. In this year of our 50th Anniversary, I will also become a member of the Order of
Merlin for 25 years of continuous membership in the I.B.M. Believe me, I've enjoyed every
bit of it and I look forward to many more years as a member of this fine Ring."
A young Nelson performs.
Nelson with the infamous Doodle Duck.
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