BARCLAY SHAW

Written by TOM O'LENICK
for the TCP Monitor, January 1998
Shari Lewis, Jay Marshall, John Shirley, and Barclay Shaw have all shared something in common that is quite unique in the world of entertainment. They each were recognized as successful magicians as well as versatile puppeteers. Yet one, Barclay Shaw, was relatively unknown to many magicians and puppeteers despite being described as "The World's Greatest Exponent in the Art of Marionettes and Miracles." #Shaw, who was born in Hosack, United Kingdom (1931-1992) became a master of both marionettes and illusion.

As a young child Shaw's family moved to New York City where his fascination with puppetry is said to have been captured when he saw a clown marionette on display in Macy's department store. A year later, a move to Jamaica and a chance encounter with a female magician would trigger his interest in magic. Soon, the teenager would be performing a two-hour show with magic and puppets.
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Much of his early career was spent in New York state performing on the Catskill Mountain resort circuit with such celebrities as Danny Kaye, Sophie Tucker and Nat "King" Cole. Then onto Miami Beach where he performed in every major hotel showroom.

A brief two year tour with Holiday on Ice was short lived due to the rigors of travel. Hollywood became home for a time while he was employeed by Paramount Pictures to head their animation department. He thought this job would be great fun because of his interest as a filmaker and photographer but he "sat around doing nothing most of the time."

Onto the Chicago area in 1964 to further perfect his craft. In 1978 he toured with the Liberace Show as the special guest artist. He later created a life-size likeness of Liberace playing the piano which was used to "play out" the audience at the end of his show.
Barclay spent more than 15 years as a headliner in Las Vegas showroom reviews As an international star, he toured the Caribbean, Australia, did TV shows in Europe and South America but ultimately always returned to Las Vegas. #Toto's pouting would be of little help as he would be placed into a silver box which would soon vanish at the hands of puppeteer Shaw who would exclaim, "this makes traveling easier."
The character of Clara Cluck was much different from that of Toto. Clara would challenge the audience constantly with the banter of a naughty irreverent hen.
From the moment she comes on stage, she is complaining to Barclay about something. Whether it Is about a hangnail on his finger which accidentlly makes its way into one of Clara's oriffices or because he drops her onto the stage edge. It is on-going. After she releases a extended burp she says, " I've got so much gas that I'm being followed by Arabs!"
Then as Barclay would slide her across the stage she would shout "easy... you're going against the grain." As he steps into the traditional marionette operating position above her, Clara would announce to the audience, "here it comes. It's time for the string pulling sh>t, again!"
Flailing and swinging at the control strings she would continue, "I don't even need all these strings. He just puts them there to make it look difficult."
The audience howls throughout as Clara clucks out a litlle "culture. " She urges the audience to "sing along if you know the words." And just as she is about the hit a high note she sneezes and lays an egg. She quickly asks the audience, "How do you spell relief?" Then as any good hen would, she perches on the egg until it hatches ( to her suprise) a duck. "Let me think... I must have been really wiped out. You never forget a duck - they're greasy as hell! I don't know what i'm going to tell my husband. He's a horse! Our church is a little more liberal...", she continues.

Barclay's skill as a puppeteer is equalled only by his ability as a magician. Although I could relate numerous stories about his magical successes, it would extend this article beyond space limitations.
I must touch on, however, his inventing skills. He created a much talked about levitation. He demonstrated how he could float a lady in mid-air at poolside with no visible means of support. As she floated, assistants would surrond her in a plexiglass container. Barclay's presentation of the illusion was featured on the televison show That's Incredible.

Barclay Shaw is gone but he will be remebered for the many magic props and puppets he built and brought to life in his magical way.
Toto, the clown and the levitation are now part of magician David Copperfield's private collection in Las Vegas. Two life-sized marionette characters of magician Jack Gwynne and his assistant / wife Ann now reside in the private collection of my friend Rob Allen of Niagra Falls, NY. It is not known if Barclay ever used these 6 foot tall puppets in a show or if they were made to fulfill an artist's creative need. Other life-size marionettes are on public display at an art gallery in Las Vegas.
Barclay Shaw performs Toto the clown on Liberace's television special Leapin' Lizards. It is available on videotape from the Liberace Museum in Las Vegas.