Magic serves as an integral part of Shirley Ray's life
by Dennis Schick

Q. First of all, congratulations on being elected president of the largest I.B.M. Ring in the world. Tell us how you came to that position.

A. Thank you. I was honoured to be asked and look forward to representing the British Ring as its ambassador during my presidential year. Of course joining and being an active member of a magic club is important, along with the willingness to volunteer and to accept responsibility. When I lived in Scotland, I was a member of Edinburgh Magic Circle and the Forth Valley Magic Circle.
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(My grandfather and my mum were both founding members of the Edinburgh Magic Circle.) When I moved to Leeds, I joined the Leeds Magical Association and became their president in 2004.

I became a member of the Magic Circle in 2009. I was voted onto the Committee of the I.B.M. British Ring 25 in 2005, and am the British Ring Shield Stage Competition organiser for the conventions. This year I have reached what I consider to be the pinnacle of my career in magic.

Q. You’ve referred to both Scotland and England as home. Sort that out for us.

A.  I was born July 8, 1953, in Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh. I now live in Leeds, West Yorkshire. I moved to England in 1996. My roots are in Edinburgh, and I worked as a magician in Scotland for so many years that I guess I am still thought of as coming from Scotland, even though I have now made Yorkshire my home. I still have my Scottish accent and am very patriotic about my homeland. My husband, Dave, and I go back as often as we can so that I can top my accent up, and take in the Scottish Hills.

Q. You are a woman of many names. Tell us about them.

A. My dad’s stage name was Johnny Neptune (his real name was John Dawson), therefore my birth certificate reads Shirley Ray Silver Dawson. Mum and dad married too young and split up when I was a baby. I grew up as Shirley Ray Silver Hooper because my mum, “Ray Silver” (a magician and magical dealer in her own right), was married to Edwin Hooper of The Supreme Magic Company. I married Dave Cass on November 10, 2000, and my name is now Shirley Ray Silver Cass, although I am known by my stage and first two names, Shirley Ray.

Q. Speaking of stage names, I understand you have had several over the years.

A. Shirley Ray -- my Christian name and first middle name -- is what I have used the most, and which is how most people know me. I still use it today. Auntie Rainbow: This name came about when I needed a character for my birthday parties. Mum had a bale of rainbow material from which I made myself a long rainbow dress. All entertainers at that time were “Aunties” or “Uncles,” so Auntie Rainbow just fell into place! The Rainbow Magic Show featured Honey Bear, a large and loveable puppet bear. When I first made him he was just a lump of fur on my arm. My mum told me I had to think of him as being real, and when I believed he was real, so would my audience. I think I ended up with a split personality for a while. He became so real, I would sit him in the front seat of my car and would talk to him on the way to bookings. It wasn’t long before everywhere we went people began to treat him like a real bear. For a while we were a double act -- Auntie Rainbow and Honey Bear.

Polly Paintpot: This was my children’s birthday party stage name. I used this name when I moved to England. “Auntie” became old-fashioned and I was looking for a new character. Polly Paintpot was created as a rag doll-type character and the tricks were linked together with a Magic Paintpot theme.

The Prince of Humbug was a character I created for what became known as “The Prince Of Humbug Act.” I created the act to compete in the British Magical Championships in Blackpool. I was looking for some music for a new act, when a friend and fellow magician, Leslie Melville, introduced me to the music of Barnum. From there, we themed the act and created the character “The Prince Of Humbug.”

Q. You mentioned your birth year as special. How?

A. I was born in the year of the Queen’s Coronation and all babies born in the U.K. in 1953 were given a bank book from the Queen with half a crown deposited in it. (Today it would be worth twelve and a half pence, approximately twenty cents). Further, 1953 was the only year that the British Ring Convention ventured north of the border -- from England to Scotland -- and it was held in my home town of Edinburgh. Was that prophetic of my future in magic? I’d like to think so. 

Q. How did your interest in magic come about?

A. I have loved magic, the theatre, and all things creative for as long as I can remember. Being a third generation magician, I was born into a world of magic tricks. I have been told that I was three years old when I performed my first magic trick. My party piece was to leave the room while a picture was chosen from my fairy tale picture building blocks and I would then return to make the chosen picture. But I suffered a severe case of stage fright, which delayed my magic career by several years.

When I began performing again in my late teens, I never looked back. Following in my mother’s footsteps, my first paid show was in Princess Street Gardens in Edinburgh. I toured Scotland with my “Rainbow Magic Children’s Show” for many years and spent the summer months working the parks, seaside towns, and theatres.

Q. What attracted you to the world of magic?

A. The thing I love most about being a magician is the way of life. I have always loved entertaining, traveling, and meeting people. I also love the fact that no two days are ever the same. Once, when I was very young, I worked for the Laird and Lady Dundee in their Castle, and as I did not drive at the time, they sent their chauffeur to collect me. I had never been in such a big car and on the journey from Edinburgh to Dundee, I remember thinking, “Oh my word, I feel like the Queen.” I have to say that wearing the British Ring Chain of Office has a similar effect on me.

I have also made so many friends and have gained so many memories and experiences -- from my early days of catching the bus, to my first shows with my case of tricks, my rabbit and table -- I must have looked like a runaway! Then later, I had so many unique experiences, such as sawing the manager of a packed shopping mall in half, and working with the children on the beautiful Orkney Islands. I would not change my life for all the world.

Q. Have you ever worked at anything other than magic?

A. For most of my life my main work has been in magic and, more recently, in balloons. There was a short spell when I first left school when I worked in a shoe shop, and then as a window dresser. I had a few holiday jobs to earn extra money in my teens, and when I was married to my first husband, I left magic behind for a short while and we ran a small family take-away food shop in a small fishing village. However, even then I was in the local choral society and a drama group and I took art classes in my spare time. I am very creative and have a need to find an outlet for my creativity. My heart is in magic and entertainment, and I also love art and painting. Designing and creating balloons seemed to come naturally to me.

My first-ever trip to the theatre was to see Cinderella and I can still close my eyes and see the show. Even today I think in pictures. From a young age, I discovered that I had the ability to close my eyes and watch a show or film that I had really enjoyed all over again in my mind's eye.

I left the stability of the real world and -- according to my grandma -- all hope of a normal life and a steady income. I went to work in my mum’s business, Silray Magic. I helped with prop making, folded endless spring flowers, and created the artwork for some of the children’s effects. Then in my late teens and early twenties, I became a full-time magician and specialised in magic for children. Magic is my passion and is in my blood. There has never been a moment when I have regretted my decision to make magic my life. However, having left school at an early age, I have had to work much harder educating myself, and I would always encourage the youngsters coming into magic today to put their education first.

Over the last ten years, I have entertained both as a magician and as a balloon artist. I have lectured and taught my balloon designs and creations at many events for magic clubs throughout the U.K. and at many magic and balloon conventions throughout the world.

Opening my horizons a little more, I decided I wanted to know more about the decorating side of the balloon business and qualified as a CBA (Certified Balloon Artist) and a QAI (Qualatex Approved Instructor) in 2008. I can now cover all aspects of events, providing both the balloon decor and the magic/balloon art entertainment. I also teach for the Pioneer Balloon Company, both in the UK and at many of their worldwide events and conferences. 

Q. Obviously you have a creative mind. What drives it?

A.  I have a vivid imagination and carry an ideas notebook and pen with me everywhere I go -- something I highly recommend for all creative people. I will draw a shape that catches my eye or colours that I think go together, or perhaps write down a phrase or the name of a piece of music. When I am working on a project, balloon design, or new show, I will start a storyboard and will pin anything on it that will give me ideas. I tend to throw myself into everything I do, one hundred percent heart and soul. But my biggest fault is that I am a perfectionist and sometimes don’t always know when to stop.

Q. With all your experiences in magic and the performing arts, what are some accomplishments you are most proud of?

A.  I have helped create many children’s effects for Silray Magic and, before moving to England, with help from my mum, I began dealing myself as Rainbow Magic and designed and made props for our business.

My grandfather, Jack Silver, was an inventor and maker of magic props and illusions. In the late forties, he ran a magical business in Edinburgh called the Scottish Magic Studio, and he made props for many of the leading dealers of the day including the Davenports, Ken Brooke, Jack Hughes, and The Supreme Magic Company. Many of Jack’s props were made in Bakelite, as it was then known, or Perspex. He was a craftsman and, among many other items, he was known for making perfect billiard balls. I have in my collection many of his original props which still look as good today as they did then. I used a Perspex silk caddy made by my grandfather in my own Prince of Humbug Act.

One of my favourite effects from my collection is a trick which he called “The Clock Strikes Twelve,” the story of Cinderella. A wooden figure of Cinderella is shown dressed in rags (on both sides) and a balloon is inflated and placed in a wooden ring of leaves to represent the pumpkin. A wave of a wand from the fairy godmother and Cinderella’s dress changes to a ball gown and she is placed in full view in the doorway of a palace. As the clock strikes twelve, she vanishes in full view and at the very same moment the balloon bursts and she appears dressed in rags in the pumpkin ring.

I like magic which tells a story. My own children’s show is full of story magic, and I have now developed a magical fairy tale balloon show in which the children interact with both the magic and balloon characters.

Q. Surely your talents and creativity have been recognized with various awards. Tell us about some of them.

A. To save some space, I’ll just list them: Scottish Stage Competition Shield, The Harold McMillan Shield, SAMS 1993. (My mum, “Ray Silver,” also won The Harold McMillan Shield in 1954). (SAMS is the Scottish Association of Magical Societies.) Winner of The Murray Wand for Showmanship, SAMS 1992; British Ladies Magical Champion, Blackpool, 1994; The Craig Trophy, I.B.M. British Ring, 1994.

Balloon Accomplishments: Ironman Latex Competition winner, The Millennium Jam, Belgium 2005; Dewey Award for Balloon Excellence, Phoenix, Arizona, 2006; One-Balloon Sculpture Award, 2nd place, The Millennium Jam, Belgium 2007; CBA ( Certified Balloon Artist ) Qualification, 2008; QAI (Qualatex Approved Instructor ), 2009.

I have been Spotlighted in the “Balloon Magic” magazine, and in 2007 was invited to Kansas to photo shoot some of my designs for the magazine. Author of numerous instructional balloon books, articles and instructional DVDs (See my website, www.balloonparade.co.uk).

Q. Please tell us a little about your family.

A. I am married to Dave Cass, whom I have known for many years, since he has been the musical director at many of our magical events and conventions. We first got together at the Scarborough I.B.M. British Ring Convention in 1995, and we were married in 2000. Dave is a very talented musician. He studied piano to grade eight and then graduated at Leeds College of Music where he gained a first class diploma in Jazz and Light Music. He worked as a session musician with the recording band, Jive Bunny, and had three consecutive number one hits on the British charts in 1989. In 1991, having reached over 100,000 sales in the UK market, Dave was awarded a Gold Disk for the Jive Bunny album, “It’s Party Time.” He has also written over one hundred and fifty jingles for television commercials and composed around sixty pieces of music for the Sony music library.

Today, Dave still plays live at various venues and he also arranges and composes music for many musicians, singers, and artists. He has great belief in me and gives me a huge amount of encouragement and support in everything I take on board. We also work together whenever we get the chance.

My brother, Mike, along with his father, was in the magic business for many years, demonstrating for Supreme Magic. However, he has now left magic altogether and lives in Australia with his wife, Kris, and their little girl, Kelsey.

My eldest son, Bernd, performed magic when he was young and twice won the Scottish Young Magician of the Year, the first time when he was twelve years old, with a themed wizard  act. He is now thirty-two and has just left the army. He joined at the age of 16 -- went through Sandhurst becoming an officer and later a helicopter pilot. This year he left the army and has set up a photography business in Edinburgh. Bernd and his wife, Sabriena, are expecting their first child in June, and I am looking forward to becoming a grandma.

My youngest son, Errol, also did magic as a boy and although not in magic now, has also chosen a career in the entertainment business. He took performing arts at the university and won a three-year scholarship to attend the London Dance Studios. Since graduating, he has toured with “Joseph’s Technicolour Dreamcoat” and recently completed a two-year tour with “Evita.” He is a singer, dancer, and actor and is based in London.

Q. I don’t know how you can have any time for other interests, but what else do you like to do?

A. I love music and to sing (but only as a hobby). I love to swim and walking our three dogs (two Papillions -- Teddy and Heidi -- and a Lhasa Apso called Bonnie). I love all types of theatre, and especially musicals. I enjoy reading non-fiction, fiction, and biographies. I was brought up with books and my grandfather taught me that everything I needed to know could be found in a book. That was before the days of computers, of course, but I still love books. I love and am inspired by fine art.

My favourite place to holiday is Disney World in Florida. I love roller coasters and rides and the magic and theatre of Disney. As for my home life, I love cooking and organising dinner parties. We have held some amazing “murder mystery” parties. My ideal night out would be spent with my husband sharing a nice bottle of white wine in an al a carte restaurant with live background music.

Q. You regularly refer to people who have influenced your life. Who are some of them?

A. My mum, who taught me how to perform. My grandfather, who taught me to turn problems into challenges and to look for the answers. He was one of life’s true gentlemen. My grandma, who brought me up while mum and grandad worked, and taught me right from wrong. Mike Decker, who changed the course of my life by inspiring me with his balloon lecture at a Blackpool Convention.

Leslie Melville, who encouraged me to take that first step outside of my comfort zone and to continue to set new goals. And my husband, Dave, who is my soul mate, workmate, and my very best friend.

Q. Here’s your chance: what do people not know about you?

A. Believe it or not, off stage I am quite a shy person. Also, I am in the Guinness Book of World Records. When I was eighteen years old, I was part of a team which broke the non-stop trampolining record; we trampolined from Sunday at 3 p.m. to Tuesday at 5 p.m. Maybe that explains why my life is so full of vim, vigor, and energy.