I LEARNED THIS WEEK of the passing of Anthony Crabbe in Bristol after I believe a long illness. I knew Anthony way back in the fifties when he lived with his father in Shirley near Croydon. He was tall, something in the city, very elegant with a cultured voice that delivered a sophisticated, raconteur type act,  immaculately dressed in evening clothes. Totally at home in the entertainment climate of the day but not necessarily  part of the cool, contemporary scene of magic entertainment today.

His patter was formal, light on comedy something like the style of Peter Waring if anyone can remember back that far. I remember one of his feature tricks was the vanishing biscuit tin, I believe originated by George Braund in which a large, square, 15″ metal biscuit tin was vanished inside a cover. Very 1950’s.

He was an excellent mimic and once gave a devastating and very lifelike impersonation  of Magic Circle President Francis White performing his famed card in orange effect. It was so good he was asked to repeat it many times.

I designed a publicity brochure for him at that time which described him as a man with a military bearing in immaculate evening dress presenting a sophisticated, droll evening of magic for private parties and social occasions; I don’t think he ever married but at one time he was going out with TV presenter Judith Chalmers.

He passes with an age the like of which I don’t think we shall ever see again.

Filed under: Magic Miscellanea