Marshall, James Ward. Boyhood Diary of Jay Marshall. Boyhood diary presented at Christmas, 1932 to Jay Marshall, the future Dean of American magicians, and filled with his notes and entries regarding not only the daily tasks and records of home life, but also his early encounters with magic and ventriloquism, two passions that would develop into his profession. In one entry, Marshall has pasted in an early newspaper notice in which he is dubbed ?James ?Houdini? Marshall? for his performance at a father-son banquet on January 11, 1936 noting in the margin that his afghan bands broke and the rabbit fell but the ?rest went well.? Another earlier notice gives him high marks at a scout event for his ?very clever mimicry and witticisms.? With a youthful portrait of Marshall pasted to the title page above his inked lines, ?James Ward Marshall, aged 13 years (not in wood).? Height 5 ?". With a wooden and glass display case.