A tricky day on the pier

Bill Okal performs on the Santa Monica Pier.   (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Bill Okal performs a trick in which a playing card magically changes into another card.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Bill Okal prepares to perform a cups and balls trick.   (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Bill Okal continues with the cups and balls trick.   (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Bill Okal continues the cups and balls trick.   (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

William Tee, 6, of Yucaipa uses a wand to make a ball seem to disappear out of the hand of magician Bill Okal.   (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Vanessa Oliva, 5, of San Bernardino is picked out of the crowd to help Bill Okal, 76.   (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Bill Okal takes off his bolo hat while performing.   (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Bill Okal, 76, wearing a black hood, performs the “Legendary Egg Trick of Max Malini” on the Santa Monica Pier. The trick consists of five eggs on individual tubes that drop into separate cups below after a tray between the tubes and cups is quickly removed.   (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Bill Okal gives a look of approval toward Freddy Calloway, 9, of North Hills, right, who he picked from the crowd to help him with a trick.   (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Bill Okal takes off his bolo hat to collect donations after performing on the Santa Monica.   (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Bill Okal collects donations.   (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Bill Okal heads back to his car after performing.   (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)