Thomas Rochford Aubum was bom July 7, 1917 - the seventh day of the seventh month of the seventeenth year of this century. His father died in the flu epidemic of that year, leaving his mother to raise Tom and two other children. At the age of three, Tom went to live with an aunt, and they moved to Verdun, Quebec, when Tom was about ten. In childhood Tom purchased a twenty-five cent book, "Thurston 's Card Tricks"; a copy of Dunninger's "Popular Magic", was given him, and then--- scarlet fever struck. It was a serious case and a long period of quarantine was followed by even longer period of convalescence, bed rest, no visitors, and only the two books for company. Tom studied avidly. He learned some manipulation and other magic and put on his first public show at the age of fifteen At first he played in a mask, then as he gained confidence the masked magician gave way to the "Great Auburn", and eventually "Magic Tom" Auburn. His reception was so encouraging that he proceeded to book every engagement he could secure, partly for the income, but mainly to improve his technique by constant performance. Tom completed his education at the Montreal High School with an extra at Sprott's Commercial College. He worked for Dominion Oxygen Co., Ltd., as a correspondent until his aunt died in 1936. Then he rejoined his mother, living in Notre Dame de Grace. He continued evening engagements, mainly banquet shows, until a lucky break enabled him to fill in for another magician at the Tic Toc Club. He went over very well, and the patrons thought that he was an "American" act. Apparently a foreign act acquires added prestige everywhere except in his own country! In 1941, shortly after his Tic Toc Club run, Tom joined the Canadian Army, first in the Medical Corps then in Corps No.4, where his commercial training came in handy. While in the service, and at the age of seventeen, he married his childhood sweetheart Dolores Edwards and they were able to set up a home of their own. The last year of his army career was spent in the Recruiting Department, and it was here that Tom's ingenuity proved itself, when he organised his own Army show under the guidance of his former Commanding Officer, Col. Walter H. Scott. Tom toured with a complete magic show until receiving his discharge in March, 1945, on medical ground. But During his army career Tom put over 1500 magic shows voluntary for the men of the services, and quite apart from regular routine duties. the shows were held in the evening and necessitated plenty of hours spent travelling from one camp to another. Back in civilian life, Tom was undecided whether to retum to his old firm which had been very good to him; or to plunge into professional magic. He finally decided on the latter course, bumed his bridges behind him, collected his savings, and headed for New York. There Tom met Miss May Johnson, the with Music Corporation of America, who later became his exclusive manager. Miss Johnson came to Montreal in 1946 and staxted her own business - May Johnson Associates, Ltd., an office with which Tom has been closely associated. While in New York, Tom also took screen tests for 20th Century Fox, but these were never completed, for thus far he prefers a career in magic to straight acting. Tom has a keen sense for obtaining desirable publicity, and takes full advantage of his photogenic qualities. Mayfair, a fashion magazine, for August, 1947, carded an amazing series of illustrations by the famous photographer Karsh, showing Tom doing a series of tricks for and with fashion models. These were far above the quality of photos normally used for show business, and Tom used them to illustrate one of his elaborate brochures. In fact, each year he has produced an increasingly productive advertising folder, lavishly illustrated, and most of them broadside style. Tom's wife Dolores helps him with his magic in many ways, but prefers not to appear with him on the stage. In 1946 she authored a charming article The Sun Life Review entitled, "I Married a Magician." Today they have a daughter Pamela, age 7, and a son Byron, age three. Tom has such a background of experience for a young man, that he is equally at home working theatres, night clubs, hotels, clubs, banquets or TV - and he has played the best in these fields. He patters in both English and French, a decided advantage in several parts of Canada. His latest venture is Kiddies' Cabaret Night, a weekly event at a prominent Montreal eatery. On Thursdays, the maid's night out, ma and pa bring their small fry to dinner, and to witness the table magic of Tom Auburn. The conditions are tough, but Tom considers them a challenge to his ability. The idea is highly successful, for Tom is starting his fourth season at the same place. Tom's pet peeve is what he calls push-button Magic - self working tricks which may temporarily permit rank beginners to pose as performers. Not that he objects to gimmicks and apparatus, so long as they fulfil a needed function. He believes that if beginners would first study the principles of misdirection and acquire some measure of skill, they could then make better use of the fine material offered by many of the dealers. "Magic Tom" has moved to French language television, and now performs for that segment of children's population. The mass of publicity he has received in late 1975 and 1976 is stunning, thousands of words (all French) indicate the marvellous reception he has been accorded. With his family life so important to him, his good works in the community, and the very busy professional magic career, one wouM not really expect tom to have for other activities. Buthe does, one hobbies is the study of history of magic/ He has researched authored a number of articles on the great magicians - with no exposing -for Canadian newspapers. He also performed a valuable service in running down birth and death of famous conjurors, and has forwarded to the S.A.M. Hall of Fame a copy of his impressive progress thus far, which in turn was helpful to the HaH's research Committee. He also has assembled a fine collection of autographed photographs of fellows outstanding performers. The magic career which had its roots in a serious illness, which was encouraged by seeing Cardin/at Loew's Theatre, Montreal, on 5 August 1932 (there is that historian again) and later Blackstone in 1938, has really progressed. Tom joined S.A.M. on 6 January 1940, in Assembly Number One, Sponsored by John Giordmaine and Leslie p. Guest. Tom has received so many awards and certificates from community groups, churches, service clubs and similar organisations they cannot be listed here. One organisation even gave him a gold watch on the occasion of his twenty-fifth annual appearance at its yearly banquet. He has ways supported S.A.M., and this year has been appointed Chairman of the Honorary Membership Committee. He began to subscribe to Spinx in December 1932, and has kept all issue of that great magazine, and his original receipt. Among his proudest possession is his S.A.M. certificate signed by Compeers Guest and H Adrian Smith. Once again M. U.M. says "hat off" to the fine performer humanitarian, and gentleman, "Magic Tom" of Canada. Let's close our story with an anecdote which Dolores dug up for us. It happened on a night club floor, when Tom palmed a handkerchief from a stooge's breast pocket to his own, and was surprised to feel a set of false teeth wrapped in the hanky. He quickly passed his hand over the victim's mouth and returned the square to his pocket. As the men left the floor, Tom asked him if there was anything missing, and the man unconsciously put his hand to his mouth in horror. The teeth were then restored to the blushing victim, while the audience marvelled at the light-fingered artistry that could actually remove a man's teeth from his mouth!