JC Wagner's battle with
cancer comes to an end
By Bobby Warren
Nearly nine months after undergoing surgery to remove a tumor, J.C. Wagner's battle with colon cancer ended. The beloved bar magician died Aug. 15, 2010.
A simple announcement about Wagner's death was posted on a page on the magician's website designed to keep friends updated about his health. It read, "We are sad to announce that JC Wagner died peacefully this evening at 7:11 PM with his family in attenance."
Magicians were visting Wagner's website before his death and leaving him messages in his online guestbook. Among them was Michael Finney. About 16 hours before Wagner died, Finney wrote his old friend, "Dear JC, What would I have done without you at Magic Island, Man we had some great times, When ever you were around, everybody had a good time, I love you J C Wagner. Thanks for everything!"
News about Wagner's death spread quickly over the Internet and Facebook.
Long-time friend Bob Sheets posted on Facebook, "JC Wagner just passed away. 7:11 Pacific. Private burial at sea. Memorial to be planned by Magi. He was at peace until the very end and amidst family."
Shawn Farquhar wrote on Facebook he was "sad that J.C. Wagner, a true magician, gentleman and friend passed away ... take a moment to tell a friend you love them ... JC contributions to magic were immeasurable and will live in those that study his ideas ... ."
Dodd Vickers of www.magicnewswire.com announced Wagner's passing and provided a link to a podcast he recorded with Wagner back in March. In describing the podcast, Vickers wrote on his site, "In March of this year, I was very lucky to have some time to chat with JC just after he finished a run at the Magic Castle and he was feeling great! We talked about everything from his days working the Disney Magic shop with Steve Martin to his time working the bar with Bob Sheets and Doc Eason. JC also shares some of history with Dai Vernon, Eddie Fecter and other legends of the west coast magic scene. If you want to work magic in the bar, there is no better teacher to learn from than the amazing JC Wagner."
In the hour-long interview (to listen to it in its entirety, click here), Vickers asked Wagner about his health, his start in magic, his influences and how his name became synonymous with bar magic.
In the March interview, Wagner said physicians diagnosed him colon cancer, and he was in stage four. The cancer was uncurable, and his chemotherapy treatments started in January.
Just days after those January treatments, Wagner was performing his brand of magic for the leadership of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, who were in San Diego, Calif., for the organization's mid-year meeting. The event was at Immediate Past International President Jack White's museum. He was engaging, entertaining and gracious.
In Vickers' interview, he gets Wagner talking about working with Steve Martin at Merlin's Magic Shop at Disneyland in the early 1960s, and a lesson taught by Tony Slydini. Wagner also talks about some of his effects Dai Vernon really enjoyed and his relationship with Eddie Fechter.
Wagner had been a co-owner of the Magic Lounge and wrote "Seven Secrets," "The Commercial Magic of J.C. Wagner" and released two videos, "Commercial Magic" and "More Commercial Magic."
Survivors include his long-time love, Sandy McIntyre; daughter Melissa Koehler; son John Wagner; grandson Aiden; sister Pat Jennings; brother Justin (Ted) Wagner; and numerous nieces and nephews. Private burial will be at sea.
The Wagner family wishes to follow JC's last request: in lieu of flowers and cards, please send donations to the Dai Vernon Fund, c/o The Magic Castle, 7001 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90028. The fund benefits magicians who are in financial distress.
To sign Wagner's guestbook, click here. To visit his website, which will become a tribute site to Wagner, click here.
Below is a video recorded during his performance for the I.B.M. group in January.
