The Night Jack Met ‘The Great One’

By Tom Morrow

Back in 1985 when I was vice president in charge of communications and historical archives for the Hotel del Coronado, I had a double coup, a somewhat unplanned event.
I had invited KGTV’s Jack White to come in and review the menu in the high-end Prince of Wales room where a steak would set you back more than $25 bucks – a lot of money in those days. Now, for those who don’t know it, Jack not only was a class-act as a news anchor, but he is a master magician. Over the years I watched him mesmerize audience with his sleight of hand tricks as well as other awe inspiring stage maneuvers.
As Jack was in the middle of his steak and lobster meal, an entourage of about six men walked in and sat around a table over in the corner of the room. In the middle of the group was former heavyweight boxing champion Muhammed Ali. And, for those who don’t know it, Ali was a master sleight of hand expert in his own right.
I pointed out the recent arrivals to Jack. And, he did what I knew he would do. After completing his meal (he skipped dessert), Jack walked over to Ali’s group and introduced himself. After a few minutes of pleasantries, the subject of magic came up. Ali smiled and began playing with a coin. After making it disappear and re-appear, Jack took out a deck of playing card, which he often carried just in case such an occasion arose. He began shuffling and doing a variety of card tricks. Ali asked to borrow the deck. He responded to Jack’s tricks with some of his own. It was classic master-meeting-master. All the while this was going on, Jack’s cameraman, Leon Varsano was shooting the action with his video camera.
The next day, Jack’s review of the Prince of Wales on Channel 10 included the meeting of the Champ trading tricks of the trade with our own resident magician.
BTW, Jack is internationally recognized and has served on the board of directors for the leading prestodigialists organization, the International Brotherhood of Magicians. Last week he was in Scottsdale, Ariz., for their annual board meeting. He grew up in Oceanside and is a 1957 graduate of Oceanside High School.
ME WORRY? While most of us in our waning years won’t have to worry about it, today’s upcoming generations who will be in charge of this country are going to be sorely lacking for leadership. California, alone, has an overwhelming percentage of students not graduating from high school and many of those getting through college are being tutored in socialistic principles. Who could turn down “free stuff?”
When basic civics and history are glazed over or not taught at all, can we be surprised if we end up with a generation of ignorant population? The average so-called millennial doesn’t know the First Amendment of the Constitution, or who won World War II, or worse yet, what are the three bodies of government and what do they do. We have a problem – a big problem.
Caution: They vote and walk among us!
THINK ABOUT IT – “Trump’s election wasn’t about Trump. It was a throbbing middle finger in the face of America’s ruling class. It was a gesture of contempt, a howl of rage, the end result of decades of selfish and unwise decisions made by selfish and unwise leaders (on both side’s the fence). Happy countries don’t elect Donald Trump president. Desperate ones do.” – Tucker Carlson from hi current best-sellings book, “Ship of Fools.”
SIGNS SEEN — In a Restaurant window:
“Don’t stand there and be hungry; come on in and get fed up.” In the front yard of a Funeral Home: “Drive carefully. We’ll wait.”
At a Propane Filling Station: “Thank Heaven for little grills.” In a Chicago Radiator Shop: “Best place in town to take a leak.”
And the best one for last Sign on the back of another Septic Tank Truck:
“Caution – This Truck is full of Political Promises.”
SCAG SEZ: Politicians double-cross any bridge they come to. – Cecil Scaglione, Mature Life Features.
TRUISM – “Beauty never lasts, but stupid does!” – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, R-LA.