Fred Kaps - Life After FISM

Life After FISM

Kaps used those wins to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show in the United States, on February 9, 1964. He shared his American television debut with Wells & the Four Fays doing their unique brand of "acrobatic physical comedy." But, someone else was also having their debut that night, namely Rock and Roll sensation The Beatles. Kaps had to perform after the Fab Four whose noisy fans were in the studio audience. Because of this, when Ed walked out to introduced Fred, the audience was a bit restless. Sullivan had to quiet them down before he brought Fred on.

Kaps entered in full fanfare and looked confident. Kaps did his wonderful version of Fred Brau's Homing Card. He introduced it as a new trick. He told the audience that the trick is done with five ordinary red playing cards. As he counts them, he notices that the fifth card is not a red spot card, but a black face card. His confidence soon diminishes. He gets rid of the card because it doesn't matter how many, he can do it with just four spot cards. Each time he counts them, the face card returns. Fred gets very upset. The face card continues to plague him as he tries to get rid of it. He does this until he is left with two. He shows both of them and expects to see the face card, but is relieved to see that both are spot cards.

He shows the faces again, but one of the cards is a face card. The audience reacts, but he thinks they are incorrect as he states that everyone thinks it will be wrong again. So he continues only to find out that the face has returned again. He puts the face card away and apologizes to the audience because he can't do the trick with one card. And sure enough, when he shows it again, the face has played one last trick on the magician.

He closes with the now famous Salt Shaker trick. The Beatles followed up to close the show.

As a result of this performance, some 73 million viewers watched Fred Kaps' card and salt-shaker trick. While in the United States, he got an offer to appear in a movie. But because there was no magic in it, he turned it down.

Kaps also appeared on many European televisions shows. He also performed for 'august audiences' such as the royal families of both the Netherlands and Great Britain as well as President Sukarno of Indonesia. He also had the pleasure to perform for Princess Grace and Prince Rainier of Monaco to name a few.

Along with his appearance (immaculate suit and white shirt), sleight of hand was Kaps' trademark. He would practice an effect for weeks before he dared to perform it live. He performed both stage illusions and close-up magic using a variety of props like playing cards, candles, coins, balls, dice and silks.

Kaps didn’t take to fame very well. He’d rather relax on his boat or camper than be stared at, “…like a monkey.” He preferred to stay at home and work on new effects or read his magic books. He enjoyed companionship and would talk all hours about his favorite subject, magic.

Kaps would have a long career becoming a favorite of magicians and audience alike. He would forever be known as the grand champion of FISM. A magicians trophy was named after Fred's mentor, Henk Vermeijden.