Keith Stickley: Hey Kort!

Greetings from your good friend on the left coast. I know in your book (btw - Sandra, nice hand illustrations! What nifty young lad got to pose for some of those hehe) and at the Roundtable you have mentioned briefly of what I believed you said at one time was one of your fondest moments in magic 1968. The Scottish Conjurors Association held a party for you on a three masted ship. Can you tell us more and elaborate on the events of that evening?

I hope your feeling a bit better, and I look forward to seeing you this summer!

Kort: Hi Keith,
You brought up the good time I had on the retired navy ship while I lectured in Scotland through the courtesy of Roy Walton. The way they went out of their way to do things for my by throwing this party – it was as if I were royalty! The actual lecture was at the Royal Hospital at Glasgow in the operating theater. It was quite a feeling. I was sitting at a table and 2 chairs, the rest was tiered sections. A funny thing hit me when I was there. I looked out the window of the lobby and saw a cemetery. Imagine the way you would feel if you were a patient in the hospital and looked out the window and saw a cemetery! Then, later in the day we went to the ship. They had a large room where four tables were set up with a close up worker at each table. There was a lot of magic going on that evening.. It was one of the high points of my life. I never thought I would have an honor like that.

Jim Riser: Mr. Kort;
What I have always liked about your routines is the simple nature of the effects. They are elegant in their simplicity. Anyone in the audience can easily understand what is going on and appreciate the magic. Your routines are extremely workable, well thought out, and excellent examples of what good magic can be.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for sharing your many routines over the years. Whenever I get a new collection of routines with a "Kort" effect, I jump to it first because I know I will like it. They have been inspirations for many of us.

Kort: Jim,

Many thanks for the kind things you said about my magic. I purposely try to make things very simple, and, very entertaining.

Sean: What do you think about your fame in the magic world? What do you feel when you realize you are a role model for so many people and what do you feel when you see your names in magic books, magic books which magicians all over the world read.

Is it all water off a ducks back, or are you blown away by it?

Kort: Hi Sean,

I don’t consider that I’m famous. As a young fellow, I used to read all the magic books I could get my hands on, so I bought books for the knowledge I could gain from them. Then, as time went on, the more I read, the more I learned. Then we have the kind of people who find it difficult to learn from a book and they asked me questions and I would do my best to help them out. Then it got to be, from what I heard, when someone was stuck with something they’d be told, ask Kort and he’ll either know of be able to find out.

Things would come up, for example Stephen Minch (Hermetic Press) asked Ron Bauer about some credits and Ron said contact Milt Kort and he’ll find out for you. That’s how my friendship with Stephen began. People would contact Stephen about something and he would have them contact me. Paul Curry wanted to find out some things about various versions of his trick, Out of this World and he contacted Del Cartier in New York and Del said to contact Kort (I found all the variations he wanted and shipped them out to him. I got a nice thank you note from him.) Then, the biggest assistance I gave was to Jack Potter for Potter’s Bar over the years – looking up things for him.

I don’t consider it fame. I read a lot, and retained the knowledge and had a lot of fun in passing it along. At times I thought that there are people who can’t get enough of seeing their names in print. I could have put all my coin work in a book by myself but, I thought it much better to have it in the Bobo book which is a book that will live forever and it looks like I made the right choice.

Dave (Pennjarr): Mr Kort

Over the years you have worked with and seen most of the greats, I wonder who of the current crop of magicians and mentalists you would go out of your way to watch, for pleasure?

Kort: Hi Dave,

As far as going to see someone in person, I’d have to say it’s always a treat to watch Ron Bauer perform. When I’m up to it, I go to a weekly magic meeting at the Orion House restaurant where he often performs for the magic students, but I especially like to watch him perform for the children who invariably will come up to see if he’ll do a magic trick for them.

As far as any up and coming magicians, I’m afraid I can’t comment because I really haven’t seen many as I am pretty much house bound.

Mister Toad: I've heard it said that magicians are their own worst enemies. Our love of secrecy hampers the development of many up and coming youngsters but when a magician successfully markets his skills and creates an upsurge of interest in magic, there is condemnation too?

Where do you see a middle ground, if any?

Kort: Hi Mr. Toad,

Magicians are their own worst enemies because 90% of the time they don’t practice or when they do practice they practice wrong, therefore, becoming exposers of magic.