The first time I saw Jo Landry was the fall of 1977 and it was amazing. He was about a year younger than me, slim with long curly rock musician type hair. I won the tickets in a contest at our local radio station by the end of the first half of the show I was hooked my boyfriend was on stage with him under hypnosis Dave (I Changed this Name to protect his identity) was a hockey player on our NHL farm team he would never be seen without every hair in place and suddenly he was acting like nothing I could have imagined Jo had a power that was as frightening as it was Intriguing. Dave didn’t remember anything but a feeling that he said was the best of his life. He stopped drinking and pot and said that the 90 minutes with Jo on stage changed his life he felt he could go after his dreams. I saw him a couple months ago he played in the NHL and all his dreams came true he said he’d give anything to see Jo again that’s how and why I started this page.
In my attic were clippings posters and memories from years ago when a teenager with out of these world abilities changes our lives and then just vanished.
Dave and I were together for over a year and whenever Jo Landry had a show within a thousand miles we’d pack in the car and go. At an autograph signing in a mall in Kingston a couple thousand of us waited for hours I was going to leave but Dave wanted to stay, it was that summer Saturday that I met Jo he needed a volunteer and picked me he had me open a book I picked from a big pile randomly I picked a word counted the page and line number and position of the word on the page he gave me an envelope inside he bought me a lottery ticket the number was 37-12—07 and written on the ticket was “believe” the word I picked the ticket number was the page line and position of Believe as I had picked it. I was awe struck after the show Dave and I got autographs and I asked if Jo would come to our marriage. He smiled kissed my cheek and said No. He said that the world would change and before the end of the summer I would buy a record meet the love of my life and have 2 kids within the next three years. Davis dreams would come true but until Dave let his heart shine they would be empty. And no matter what Dave cared about me. Dave didn’t hear this he and I gave Jo a big hug and we got posters and t-shirts from Jo. I still have both. The ticket won $10. A lot of money to me in the late 70’s Dave and I wrote Jo fan letters but never got an answer read in insight magazine he got 40-100 a day. Then one day out of nowhere we got an autographed picture each with a note on dave's of encouragement and one word on mine BELIEVE.
Jo seemed to know the future I never believed that kind of thing but he new our thoughts and when Dave and I met again after all these years I discover that he had told Dave exact events in dave’s life and in one case asked Dave to stop going to a monthly party and search for his heart, turned out the guys at the party were gay and within months they all got what we would later know as aids. Dave was safe because he listened he said that Jo knew all of his secrets and was his best friend on earth aside from me yet they never spent a moment alone or spoke for more than a few minutes. I would have thought this crazy except for the fact I felt the same way. Dave was gay I would have never believed it, my husband Gord had only worked at the mall one day when I was at the woolco store and bought a record from him. Later we saw each outer and he asked if he could sit at my table. We have never been apart since. Jo changed our lives and so many others and then retired we wish we could see him just once more. I have spent the last few months trying to find him and discovered he’s still special. His old manager said he no longer performs as a Mentalist/Illusionist/Hypnotist/Escape Artist. He was in private practice as a hypnotherapist retired to become Joseph Landry the sculptor married a man Brian Gazely and has a son Billy who he wrote a bunch of children’s books about. I saw a play a few years ago and loved it watching it was magic and at one point the young ingénue is told to “believe” I got tingles but didn’t realize that J.B.Landry was Jo his hair is now blonder and shorter and thinner but when I looked in his eyes there was no mistaking the magic was still there.
I traveled 1500 mile to see him for just a few minutes. He was busy and distant yet polite I told his husband my story he whispered to Jo and came back and asked me to go to Star Bucks coffee shop on 68th and Columbus Ave. my husband Gord though we should give him his space but I had to go. An hour later there he was walking through the door a long black overcoat flowing, I felt like a teenager again we talked for over an hour. He was everything I imagined and more he walked away from his early life because everyone expected him to perform miracles all the time or were frightened he knew their deep dark secrets and would go into attack mode. I realized that I saw this on a small scale when I watched him years ago. I understood I couldn’t live like that in a bubble. My husband and I believe in God and were against gay marriage Jo brought it up and we were uncomfortable. He asked if it changed how I loved Dave or Dave’s care for me. He asked us to think carefully before making any choice and he said the God he prays to created all of us with love and that if we treasure what we have we should go home hug our daughter and tell her we lover. No word of a lie 2 nights later our daughter introduced us to her girlfriend said she was a lesbian and was moving to the west coast so as not to embarrass us. The talk with Jo & Brian prepared us for this and we were able to save our family by not over reacting. I have no idea what God wants now and Jo said that’s the way it should be. We shouldn’t try to read Gods mind we should only do what’s right by never judging or gossiping or hurting another to live in love. I think he taught us more than he’ll ever know by just being himself. The illusions are gone but the magic of Jo is stronger than ever. As a Jew I was hesitant to see Jo for the first time in over 20 years playing Hitler in his play “Pogrom” my husband Gord and I agree that he created a version of Hitler that was frightening and real if you ever get a chance to see Pogrom go it is not easy to watch because it is like looking into Hitler’s life and heart but in the end you understand how fragile we all are. Jo’s message is love but what a road he goes down to show us.
When we met for coffee I kept staring because the blond hair, bubbly, fun, brightly dressed Jo was such a change from the man I just watched as Hitler or idolized so many years ago. Jo said we should move forward and only think back with a smile. I’am glad I looked back because I think I have a great view forward and Jo and Brian will be a special part of our life once again even if it takes another 20 years to met again.
Dave and Gord and I have a stronger friendship than ever
Jo and Brian are a small part of our life
And our Daughter and her fiancée are the best children a parent could wish for
Jo was right
“BELIEVE”
A fan forever,
Rosanne
J.B Landry's plays can be reached at his web site for writing
http://dramatist.wordpress.com/
Joseph Landry and Brian Gazeley sculptors can be reached at their web site for their art.
http://imagesofstone.wordpress.com/
I may never see him perform again but I can hope and believe!
The following are some clippings and memorabilia from all those years ago.
