Mike Bornstein had a greatness so great it did not reveal itself. Low key? He defined it and therefore defined real power. He exemplified brotherhood. Always a schmooze; a laugh, and that twinkle ah, that twinkle!

He is the subject of detailed writing in a book. Titled "Magic as a Hobby" by Bruce Elliot Mike was in no mean company. Orson Welles wrote the foreword. Mike was not just MAGIC. Mike was MAJOR! His stage name was Kolma and he didn't talk about his grand success as a supper club entertainer ­ even though he could have bragged. The closest he ever got to talking about his past was, "Yeah, I did that. I know what I'm talkin' about."

I first met him in 1970. He sold me a stripped deck in Russ Delmar's old shop on 8th Ave. and about 46th. Mike lived in magic shops; his own and others. All in Times Square and Herald Square. What a life; always ready to laugh. Hard.

I swear this is true: I once met Mike on the street, and we stood there and talked for 3 hours!

We laughed, never moved except to dodge an umbrella or five, and then we both looked at our watches and said, "Aw jeez, we gotta be someplace." And whoosh! we both disappeared. So went one meeting of thousands he had with magicians all over the world.

I must have talked to Mike Bornstein over 500 times in my life. Once I called him late at night. He was up, and coddled right up to the conversation like a warm fire.

"Hey, how ya doin' kid?" he bellowed with his breathy snap.

I was like a lion with a fresh kill waiting to share it with the Master.

So I told him to turn on the tube. It was about 1am. And there was the amazing Kreskin on some late night show doing one of Mike's watch miracles, and I mean miracles!!! Well, I taped it and sent it right over to Big Mike.

He called me about a week later "Hey, kid, thanks a lot for that. No one woulda thought of that." I say, "Sure Mike, natch."

Mike was alright in every way. Once I ran Flosso's for a week while Jackie was having his eyes fixed and he didn't want anyone wise to the deal. So, I got the nod and in I go fending off the rumor mill.

People are all nuts over why Jackie isn't around and I calm the masses with, "he's just out and I'm looking over the place." Sure, sure. So in walks Mike.

He looks around, "Where's Jack?"

"Oh, you know, he's out."

"You making sure everything's jake?"

"Yup."

So Mike sits down and he taught me Paul Curry card magic all afternoon that knocked my socks off. All afternoon he sat there patiently nodding and saying stuff that made my ears alight with burning curiosity. When Jackie was really missing once. I was on tour and I called Mike having gotten the word from Bev Bergeron in Florida, "Jack's missing. Find him."

I called Mike from some airplane over the Pacific. I finally get him and he calls me back. I am now in Pittsburgh doing a 5-monther in an amusement park side show ­ a rough gig.

Mike gets me. "Kid, here's the gag. The police knocked the door down, we found some medication prescribed by a Dr. We call the guy up and find Jack in NJ resting easy on the meds. He didn't bother to tell anyone. Call off the dogs." I tell Bev. He tells the rest of the world. Mike found Jack, I didn't.

Mike was one in a million. Mike left the Earth a few days before Johnny Carson, and I sort of think Mike was Johnny's opening act. They could not have been more opposite, yet similar. Mike knew Carson, I am pretty sure. After all, you could not miss a B'way character like Mike for 70 years in Manhattan. When Johnny shot the Tonight Show in NYC, Mike was sure as heck laughing it up with Johnny while he looked for great gags in Times Square.

You have to remember, in Times Square in the 30's, 40's and even 50's there were four of five magic stores in Times Square and they all called each other and helped each other, competed for sure but always enjoyed that brotherhood Mike was famous for spreading.

Two great magicians have left us, but we are all the richer for having had them in our lives. I loved Mike Bornstein. I really did. He was a guy's guy and had impeccable manners.

His spiritual civility toward his fellow human made him a guy you liked being around because he made you feel great. I can't say enough good about my pal Mike. Oh, one last thing. The last time I saw him, He comes up to me and says, "So, what halls you knockin' down these days?"

I say, "None as exciting as yours." And we laughed and smiled at each other.