Historic Treasure of the Week - March 22, 1992
By Barbara Carney
Vigo County Historical Society
Historic Treasure of the Week - March 22, 1992
By Barbara Carney
Vigo County Historical Society
Magician’s memorabilia featured at museum
Jimmy Trimble was a magician and entertainer who began performing locally in the 1920s and continued into the 1960s.
Many 8-inch by 10-inch glossy photographs of him as well as publicity materials and newspaper articles have been given to the Vigo County Historical Society by his daughter-in-law, Mary Trimble. The items are this week’s historical treasures.
As a high school student in Mt. Carmel, Ill., Trimble began practicing magic as a hobby. He started with a chalk talk, then worked with painted scarves and progressed from there.
He later opened a sign painting company in Terre Haute and, what began as a hobby, became an art as he gained wide recognition in the field of prestidigitation.
His appearances were regular features for parties staged by such local organization as Kiwanis, Rotary, Knights of Columbus, the Elks, and at theaters. In addition, he performed before audiences in surrounding towns, as well as out of state. He appeared regularly for International Harvester.
Jimmy Trimble’s repertoire included some perennial favorites. One all time favorite was the cigarette trick. It seemed that cigarettes were coming from nowhere and everywhere--he was pulling them out of the air--at first a few--then more and more. Then pipes started appearing--finally one about 2 feet long. He would say, "I’ll have to get rid of them," so he start lighting them, take a few puffs and put them out in a big brass ash tray. The crowd loved it.
The ring trick was one of the most difficult. It took much dexterity and slight of hand. The success of the ring trick depended upon misdirection and distraction of the audience. Jimmy Trimble was a master at this.
He frequently opened his act to tearing a newspaper into pieces and restoring it. When it was back together, it often would have the symbol of the organization he was appearing before on the front page.
Kids loved the gold fish act. They would line up around him and open their mouths. He would look into one and say, "Not so wide, I can see daylight." Then he would bait the line with licorice, pull it out of their mouth and there would be a live gold fish on the end of the line. He would give it to the child along with a fish bowl.
The Dec. 11, 1927, edition of the Terre Haute Tribune described Trimble’s magic as a "One Man Circus" when it advertised his midnight appearance at the Hipodrome Theater.
Everyone enjoyed watching him "bake a cake." He would throw confetti and all sorts of things in a pan. Then squirt "oil and vinegar," along with a line of chatter and slight of hand. All of a sudden, a cake would appear.
Before his death, Jimmy Trimble began teaching his grandson, Jim, some rope tricks and acts using colored scarves and silks. Jim, who provided much of the information for this article, has fond memories of his grandfather. The two appeared together in the 1970 Elks variety show. Him now runs the sign painting business his grandfather started.
One Terre Haute native shared this recollection: "I remember when Jimmy Trimble gave me the rabbit he pulled out of a hat at the K of C Christmas party. I was so excited and kept it in the basement for two days. After that, I couldn’t find it. I think my mother let it go."
Not every child received a rabbit or a gold fish from Jimmy Trimble, but everyone who saw him perform left with the gifts of wonder, laughter and lots of fun!
The collection of Jimmy Trimble memorabilia now is being featured at the museum.
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.