The Beauty of Magic
Celeste Evans 1931 ~ 2017
Celeste Evans (1931-2017)
At nine years old Margaret Ruth Evans (Celeste Evans) was mesmerized by watching twin boys perform magic at the beach for tourists. As she watched the boys tying knots into silks with a magical flourish she knew she just had to know how they did it. Little did they know their brush off "you can't do magic...you're a girl! Magic is only for boys!” would be all that little Ruthie needed to hear before taking up the challenge of entering into a boys world of make believe and magic.
Margaret Ruth Evans grew up in the small costal community of White Rock, British Columbia, Canada. She earned any money she could by selling hand picked berries to tourists and neighbors to fund her dreams of becoming a magician. Her first purchase was a deck of cards and book on magic.
There weren't too many magicians from whom to learn, making the new adventure all the more difficult. It was not till she was well into her teens and met John Kirby who would become her mentor, from him Margaret learned the only way to get to where she wanted was practice, practice, and more practice. Rehearsing her sleights on top of her bed so that her mother and father wouldn't hear the cling and clang of items dropping to the bedroom floor, Ruthie soon discovered her love of magic but also understanding that the road ahead would be paved with obstacles.
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As a teenager Ruthie was walking home at night imagining what being a magician, performing for large crowds would be like. She just could not imagine “Ruthie Evans” being a show-stopping name. She had to come up with something magical, something that would encapsulate the star she wanted to become. As she looked into the stars above she thought they were magical, celestial, and inspiring…. That night little Ruthie Evans became Celeste Evans.
As Celeste was becoming a young lady, people took notice of her and her magic... especially the men, who no longer admonished her from trying to compete in their world. Many years later, while living in New York City, Celeste had a dream of her performing magic in a skin tight, quite revealing costume with colorful doves flying all around. She awoke and went to making that dream into reality. With the help of a NY Follies costume designer they created a body corset with a tear away skirt that would create it’s own misdirection.
Being a female magician in a male dominated world, and although she traveled from continent to continent performing for kings and queens, presidents, and millions people around the globe she still found herself trying to be accepted. Magic was still a vastly male dominated field. Once in England, as a lark, her British friends found a way to sneak Celeste into the elite Magic Circle by dressing Celeste up as a man in men’s clothes. She impressed many in the club with some card tricks before exiting knowing not only she fooled them with more than just her magic.
There were a few other female magicians of the day, but none had quite the sex appeal that Celeste Evans had. While the men would watch Celeste perform...and not necessarily watching her magic, the wives sat watching their husbands. But she had, indeed, proven herself as a trailblazing magician opening the door all the way for anyone who has a dream to follow.
My first magic convention I attended was in 1971 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I was a young man still trying to decide what I wanted to do with my life. It was at this convention that I first saw a photo of Celeste Evans. She was part of the bill of performers who were to appear at Abbott's Get-Together that following month. On this advertising flyer she certainly stood out from the rest. There stood a woman, there was no optical illusion to her stunning beauty and vivaciousness. The young hormones took over and I remember thinking, "If this is magic…. Then this is the hobby for me!"
But beyond her beauty and class, she had the chops to deliver a wonderful magic act that took her around the world as well as performing in some of the best clubs there were, including The Palace in New York. Celeste has appeared on numerous television shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show, To Tell the Truth, Barbara Walter's' Not for Women Only, and an unprecedented 33 appearances on one of the most popular television shows of the day, Bozo's Circus. When she was on To Tell The Truth, standing in front of the audience in nothing but a straight jacket, fishnets stockings, and heels, none of the panelists guessed who was the "real" Celeste Evans. The host asked, “Would the “real” Celeste Evans step forward. To which she escaped from the straight jacket before millions of television viewers in the 8 seconds before the next commercial break.
They say that show business isn't all beauty and glamour. In her autobiography, I Can Still See Me (SPS Publications, 2010), Celeste writes about her adventures abroad when touring with the USO shows. Celeste and her doves were put in some harrowing situations, from performing in the back of truck to the soldiers, engine on and in gear, foot poised over the gas pedal in case of enemy fire to fighting off advances from the extra friendly. Celeste was very embarrassed when one of her doves, left a "surprise" on the jacket of Indonesian President Sukarno's arm during a photo session. Celeste claims it was because Sukarno must have pinched the bird. “He certainly had pinched every other female in the tour.”
While performing at Abbott's Magic Get Together in 1971 Celeste was presented the best Magician trophy, for that year. She has also been inducted into the SAM Hall of Fame and has been honor in various tributes throughout and after her career most recently at the Magicpalooza conference in Orlando, Florida in 2016. Celeste is honored to be in many magic museums across the globe. She was immensely proud of being included in David Copperfield’s museum and Taschen’s Magic 1400’s – 1950’s book honoring her contribution into magic.
Celeste Evans was known as, and will always be, "The Beauty of Magic". Celeste passed away in her sleep on July 25th, 2017 in Tega Cay (Charlotte area), South Carolina. She lived and died with strength, beauty, and determination. Celeste is survived by her daughter, Evanna Breyn Brening and son Evan Breyn, and grand children Ethan (21) and Rachael (19) Breyn.
As a teenager Ruthie was walking home at night imagining what being a magician, performing for large crowds would be like. She just could not imagine “Ruthie Evans” being a show-stopping name. She had to come up with something magical, something that would encapsulate the star she wanted to become. As she looked into the stars above she thought they were magical, celestial, and inspiring…. That night little Ruthie Evans became Celeste Evans.
As Celeste was becoming a young lady, people took notice of her and her magic... especially the men, who no longer admonished her from trying to compete in their world. Many years later, while living in New York City, Celeste had a dream of her performing magic in a skin tight, quite revealing costume with colorful doves flying all around. She awoke and went to making that dream into reality. With the help of a NY Follies costume designer they created a body corset with a tear away skirt that would create it’s own misdirection.
Being a female magician in a male dominated world, and although she traveled from continent to continent performing for kings and queens, presidents, and millions people around the globe she still found herself trying to be accepted. Magic was still a vastly male dominated field. Once in England, as a lark, her British friends found a way to sneak Celeste into the elite Magic Circle by dressing Celeste up as a man in men’s clothes. She impressed many in the club with some card tricks before exiting knowing not only she fooled them with more than just her magic.
There were a few other female magicians of the day, but none had quite the sex appeal that Celeste Evans had. While the men would watch Celeste perform...and not necessarily watching her magic, the wives sat watching their husbands. But she had, indeed, proven herself as a trailblazing magician opening the door all the way for anyone who has a dream to follow.
My first magic convention I attended was in 1971 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I was a young man still trying to decide what I wanted to do with my life. It was at this convention that I first saw a photo of Celeste Evans. She was part of the bill of performers who were to appear at Abbott's Get-Together that following month. On this advertising flyer she certainly stood out from the rest. There stood a woman, there was no optical illusion to her stunning beauty and vivaciousness. The young hormones took over and I remember thinking, "If this is magic…. Then this is the hobby for me!"
But beyond her beauty and class, she had the chops to deliver a wonderful magic act that took her around the world as well as performing in some of the best clubs there were, including The Palace in New York. Celeste has appeared on numerous television shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show, To Tell the Truth, Barbara Walter's' Not for Women Only, and an unprecedented 33 appearances on one of the most popular television shows of the day, Bozo's Circus. When she was on To Tell The Truth, standing in front of the audience in nothing but a straight jacket, fishnets stockings, and heels, none of the panelists guessed who was the "real" Celeste Evans. The host asked, “Would the “real” Celeste Evans step forward. To which she escaped from the straight jacket before millions of television viewers in the 8 seconds before the next commercial break.
They say that show business isn't all beauty and glamour. In her autobiography, I Can Still See Me (SPS Publications, 2010), Celeste writes about her adventures abroad when touring with the USO shows. Celeste and her doves were put in some harrowing situations, from performing in the back of truck to the soldiers, engine on and in gear, foot poised over the gas pedal in case of enemy fire to fighting off advances from the extra friendly. Celeste was very embarrassed when one of her doves, left a "surprise" on the jacket of Indonesian President Sukarno's arm during a photo session. Celeste claims it was because Sukarno must have pinched the bird. “He certainly had pinched every other female in the tour.”
While performing at Abbott's Magic Get Together in 1971 Celeste was presented the best Magician trophy, for that year. She has also been inducted into the SAM Hall of Fame and has been honor in various tributes throughout and after her career most recently at the Magicpalooza conference in Orlando, Florida in 2016. Celeste is honored to be in many magic museums across the globe. She was immensely proud of being included in David Copperfield’s museum and Taschen’s Magic 1400’s – 1950’s book honoring her contribution into magic.
Celeste Evans was known as, and will always be, "The Beauty of Magic". Celeste passed away in her sleep on July 25th, 2017 in Tega Cay (Charlotte area), South Carolina. She lived and died with strength, beauty, and determination. Celeste is survived by her daughter, Evanna Breyn Brening and son Evan Breyn, and grand children Ethan (21) and Rachael (19) Breyn.
Bio written by Dan Stapleton, Magician, Orlando Florida