Bill Coomer, magician

Bill Coomer entertains a young school group with magic in 1982. (Mark Sterkel photos)

Bill Coomer shows the children how the Chinese linking rings illusion can resemble a Disney character.

Bill Coomer performs a signature trick, tearing up a newspaper and restoring it.

June 20, 1980 Southeast Missourian

Who says a nickel won't buy anything anymore?

Five cents proved its old-time value Thursday night for residents in the 1100 block of West Mount. They thought they had purchased nickel notebook paper tickets to an amateur magic show prepared by three grade school girls in the neighborhood.

The girls and the theater patrons were both surprised and delighted when Bill Coomer, professional magician here, arrived on the scene, resplendent in tuxedo. Mr. Coomer presented an hour-long show of his mystifying magic acts, following the girls' finale of summersaults and cartwheels.

Nobody knows how he found out about the show, but Michelle Sullivan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Sullivan; Shelly Allen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Allen; and Missy Herbst, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Herbst, aren't complaining because the "real magician" crashed their act.

They just wished they had charged more.