It was difficult to have a real conversation with Peter as he was always "on" and seldom opened up for those around him. I don't know if he ever found that kind of happiness. He had that silly overwhelming crush with actress Ann Blythe and confided in me that he was always on the look out for a real girl friend to love. Peter protected his secrets, possibly because he likely didn't trust me and I think he probably didn't trust most people he came into contact with. Peter showed me a few things to set the hook and then I bought a number of books through Kanters in Philadelphia. I had always been interested in magic, particularly closeup card magic. In all of the massive amounts of down time at TMJ he was getting into ventriloquism and working on creating his dummy. He went through his imaginary one-sided love affair with actress Ann Blythe with a binder of photos, and as had been mentioned elsewhere, he had his thing about the Kennedy clan. He went through his fascinations with all the gusto he could muster. Peter was a unique individual, something of a free spirit. I left TMJ shortly after Peter received his promotion moving over to WISN where I eventually was promoted to a director position. Once the headset was his to wear and guide the production in the studio I think he was absolutely lost. He had no formal training as a senior floor manager because as a junior floorman he was not the crew member wearing a headset and learning the business through all the mechanicians of listening to the director create a TV show. Peter was ill-suited for behind the camera responsibilities. The stage manager sympathized with me but said his hands were tied. An opening developed for a senior floor director and although I had my Associate degree from MATC's television production program Peter had that seniority thing going for him. He started there a few months before I did, thus he had more seniority thru the stage hands union and any promotions were decided based on that seniority. I worked with Peter at WTMJ-TV back in the early 70s for just over one year. He never did anything half way, all in or nothing. He was very knowledgeable in subjects that interested him. He had a replica rifle, all the warren commission¡¦s findings, and he wrote articles for publications. One a side note, I am not sure many people know Peter was convinced of the John Kennedy assassin conspiracy. I know Peter had Parkinson the last 8 years, and his health was failing. I never saw him drink alcohol, or be rude. His test tube of grass, which his called hooch, his nickel with a penny nail solder to it, his funny glasses, and the list would go on and on. His props in his pockets were his act, Sneaky Pete did not do one trick after another, but told stories with the props in his pockets. Everything he carried on his body had a purpose for doing his magic act, the thumb cufflinks, the microphone in his ear was for his little amplifier he wear on his belt, the blank gun for effect in getting everyone¡¦s attention, immediately¡Kƒº Peter would carry over 25 Gimmicked Johnson Products coins everyday in different pockets so he know where the one he wanted to use without fumbling around. Once the secret service know of him, the Milwaukee Police Department would stop him and pat him down for it and his ¡§toys¡¨. Later in life, he started using a switch blade because of concealed weapons violations. Now the knife was stuck in the table or bar, and your mouth would just drop¡K. Pete did a world class chop cup, he taught me how to use the cup for entertaining small or large crowds, but during his routine, when he would ask if the ball was under the cup or in his pocket, he paused and say ¡¨this is a game of choice, do not grab¡¨ and with that he would grab the bowie knife and stick it into the table with a large ¡§bang¡¨. Many people never realized the reason he carried a bowie knife around, it was because he used it every day in his magic routine. He was the one who taught me to use props in close up, not only for visual intrigue, but for misdirection. His use of misdirection was the best I have ever seen, even as of to today. Peter would spend hours working with me for days on card sleights. Peter Elliott was not only a very entertaining close up magician, he was a very good teacher.
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