His job includes getting impaled
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
AUSTIN -- Although he's been working his steady five-days-a-week job for the last 20 years, taking sick leave can be difficult.
After all, who else is there to saw the lady in half or to get impaled on the 4-foot spike?
Meet Ray Anderson, one of the longest-serving house magicians in the state, if not the entire nation.
The Star-Telegram caught up with him recently to learn about what might be the strangest steady jobs in the universe, or at least on Austin's Sixth Street, where he works at the iconic Esther's Follies comedy revue. Anderson was just coming off a stomach virus.
But he said that didn't mean he'd be taking any sick days.
"The show must go on, even if you're puking in a bucket off the side of stage," he joked. "I maybe missed one show [during my entire career] because people expect me to be there. I'm falling on swords and flying through the air five times a week. It's odd that way."
What is now known as Esther's Follies first opened 30 years ago. It's one of the nation's oldest live variety-show comedy revues, and it features jugglers, singers, dancers and Anderson, the magician.
He began there 24 years ago as a guest performer. Gradually his role grew, and he now might be considered the star attraction.
Anderson says he's proud of his steady job, although like any other it can sometimes become a grind. He wakes up. He goes to work. He gets sliced into pieces by razor-sharp knives. He goes home.
"I do call it work. When I leave my house, I don't say, 'I'm off to the theater!'" he said with a mock English accent. "But it's also different from most jobs in the sense that it's the job I've always wanted, even since I was a little kid. And to do that for a living, well, it's hard to get bored."
Anderson performed his first show at age 15 for the local Lions Club in Victoria. He said he got paid $5. From there, he went to the University of Texas, to study theater.
Anderson does big-stage illusions, complete with gigantic contraptions, despite the relatively small size of the Esther's stage.
There are lots of laughs, but Anderson can sometimes have a bad day at the office.
Like the time the time the floating lady suddenly stopped floating.
"She was levitating in the air, 6 or 8 feet up, and she fell straight to the floor," said Anderson, who said his assistant was unharmed in the mishap. "Boy, that's a show people will remember."
So while other Texans toil behind a desk every day, Anderson is doing things like getting handcuffed to a steel torture device.
"It all becomes very normal to us," he said. "I don't think about it being strange when I'm getting pierced through the stomach or flying. I know it may be different from sitting behind a desk every day -- but I guess that has its hazards, too."
Esther's Follies
The iconic comedy show is located in a colorful theater on Sixth Street, in the heart of Austin's entertainment district. Esther's Follies began in 1977 under a slightly different name and is now one of Austin's more popular tourist stops. Shows are 8 p.m. Thursday and 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $20 for open seating and $25 for reserved seats. Online: www.esthersfollies.com.
North Texas magic
The 105-year-old Society of American Magicians is holding its annual convention Wednesday through Saturday at the Adams Mark Hotel in Dallas. It will sponsor two shows for the public, both at the Majestic Theater. At 8 p.m. Friday, the society will present its Oceans 7 show, featuring leading cruise ship performers. At 8 p.m. Saturday, it will present Viva La Magia show, featuring some of the best magicians from Spain, Argentina, Italy and Portugal. Tickets are $25, available through Ticketmaster or at the Majestic box office. Online: www.magicsam.com/SAM2007.
rdyer@star-telegram.com
