It was an unbelievably crazy idea, the likes of which will never become reality again.
Nothing could have been more dangerous than driving around the streets of Southampton totally blindfolded. Yet on Saturday, March 27, 1948, that was exactly what happened.
The driver on this hazardous journey was Maurice Jackson of Russell Place, Portswood, who was a member of the Associated Wizards of the South - a clue to how he gained his uncanny ability to keep the drive safe.
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Amateur conjurers, The Wizards, were preparing to stage their annual magic show and thought up the blindfold driving stunt to generate some pre-publicity for extra ticket sales.
Hundreds gathered at the Civic Centre to watch Maurice get ready for his death-defying drive through Southampton's busiest streets.
On the Civic Centre steps he was blindfolded by the mayor, Councillor Frank Dibbin, with a two-inch thick pad of cotton wool and yards of surgical bandage, over which was tied a black velvet hood.
Maurice then climbed into the car and set off alone down Above Bar, driving around the Bargate and travelling back up the main street to arrive safely at the Avenue Hall, where the magic show, Whizz, was being staged later on.
A few days later the Daily Echo was in the audience for the first night of Whizz, where the daredevil driving seemed to have done the trick as there was a full house for the production.
The newspaper’s review made special mention of the ventriloquism act of Tony Spicer – in later years to become the well-known “Uncle Tony” of the Daily Echo’s children’s club – and Jeffery Atkins’ illusion of sawing a woman in half.
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