Midland Mystic Marvels: Chris Gardner (7 photos)

Postcard Memories is a weekly series of historic postcard views and photos submitted by René Hackstetter.

Magic exerts its pull on us, whether the card trick or puzzle ring, which you wrestle open, each one more complex than the last, until you are stumped.

Houdini endlessly wriggles from entrapment as we hold our breath, claustrophobia, ever immanent. We know him as Houdini, his life as Eric Weiss concealed. It is this same kind of concealment, which was Chris Gardner, Midland’s Mystic Marvel's specialty.

One of the bags Houdini used in his escape attempts was owned by Chris. His autobiographical details reveal and, equally, conceal. “When the secret of magic has been exposed, the charm has gone."

This is Article VII of the Midland Mystic Marvel Club Bylaws founded by Chris for kids through the YMCA. We attach the Club rules.

Can we shed light on the Mystic Marvel?

We quote the bio: Born John Evans Gardner in Glasgow, 1899. On stage at seven in the Music Halls. At thirteen, winning prizes for his voice and performance.

Chris again: “We have been broke on the road several times. Carried our grips and walked from one date to another, slept on stages to save hotel bills and cooked and ate in dressing rooms. A little background on one of the cofounders of RCL Branch # 80, Midland, Veteran of WWI.

He was in the Retreat from Mons, Battle of Le Cateau, captured, P.O.W., escaped, 1st & 2nd Battle of Ypres, first gas attack and wounded at Vimy. Decorated by George V and discharged honourably 1918. Chris performed in all types of Concert, Stage and Magic shows as well as on the radio during and after the war in Europe. When he returned, he performed magic acts all over Ontario and the U.S.

Chris Gardner’s career found him in Midland working variously at construction, the shipyards and at St. Andrews Hospital in the twenties.

His stage show was appearing as the Mysterious Rendrag (Gardner spelled backward ) or the Mystic Marvel.

"While playing for Jas. Camp and Co., Tom Field was in charge of getting new Day Bills," Chris recounts. "He lost the copy of my billing, so he told the printers to bill me as 'Chris Gardner the Mystic Marvel and the name stuck ever since.'"

Chris was an entertainer. A boy from Glasgow, likely wanting to see kids today benefiting from all that magic he found that brought him to Midland and likely a better life.

Walkers Electric hosted Chris on King Street, the Midland Free Press did a window devoted to magic, the Midland Fall Fair had Chris entertaining the kids. Chris Gardner lingers in the memory and it serves us to remember his magic. Such are men of Midland.

Copyright René Hackstetter, August 5, 2020.