Archive-name: magic-faq/part1 Last-modified: Sept. 4, 1993 Frequently asked questions in alt.magic/part1 (of 4) Last modified: Sept. 4, 1993 Please send suggested corrections and additions to: mike@vpnet.chi.il.us Topics: Part 1 I. GUIDELINES/ETIQUETTE FOR POSTING II. MAGICIANS WHO SUBSCRIBE TO THIS GROUP III. MAGICAL EVENTS IV. MAGIC ORGANIZATIONS Part 2 V. BOOKS ON MAGIC Part 3 VI. OTHER MAGIC REFERENCES VI-A. MAGAZINES VI-B. VIDEOS Part 4 VII. LIST OF DEALERS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. GUIDELINES/ETIQUETTE FOR POSTING Q) What is the purpose of this group? A) This group is for the discussion of magic as entertainment, including but not limited to close-up, sleight of hand, platform, stage, and illusion magic. For discussions of pagan, occult, and spiritual magic try alt.magick (note the "k"), alt.paranormal, alt.divination, or alt.pagan. Q) Why not alt.conjuring, alt.prestidigitation, or alt.magic.tricks? A) Because escape artists are magicians who don't partake in "conjuring". Illusionists don't partake in prestidigitation (sleight of hand). And many magicians (myself inluded) don't like to refer to magic as tricks or trickery because of the negative connotation that you are out to "get" the audience. The emphasis should be on entertainment, not merely a puzzle, etc. (From: presto@bach.udel.edu (Jason Y Nocks)) Q) What topics should -not- be discussed in this group? A) Since this is a public forum some of us would prefer not to openly discuss the secrets behind the workings of magical effects. The following are some of the reasons given to support this policy: 1) You ruin the illusion for others. 2) Magic as an art only exists when the performance appears impossible. Focusing on "how it is done" reduces the art to a puzzle. 3) Magic as an art exists to entertain. To allow an audience to focus on the performance and not the gimmick is the ENTIRE REASON for the performance. The curiosity you feel when you're fooled by magic is part of the entertainment. When the curiosity is removed, so is some of the entertainment. 4) Although the public thinks it wants to know what we are doing they are disappointed when they find out. 5) Some folks count on the elements of surprise and subtlety in their techniques to feed their kids and pay rent. 6) The point is not to stop genuinely interested people from reading about magic, the point is to stop hecklers from getting more ammunition and ruining someone else's performance. 7) The secrets are not yours to give. There are very, very few truly original secrets of magic. The vast majority have been guarded and passed down, some for thousands of years. Q) What topics should be discussed in this group? A) All the other aspects of magic. For example, 1) Magic as entertainment 1a) Showmanship 1b) Delivery 1c) Presentation 1d) Philosophy 2) The performance of magic 2a) Embarrassing moments and how to handle them 2b) Views on borrowing/imitating 2c) Putting together a show 3) Magic performances 3a) Upcomming 3b) Performances you may have seen 4) Favorite effects 5) Magicians 5a) Favorite magicians 5b) Yourself and your performances 6) Where to learn more 6a) People willing to teach 6b) Books, tapes, magazines, clubs 6c) Magic dealers 7) Magic as a business 7a) Booking 7b) How to advertise 7c) Openings Q) What other sources are available on-line to find out more about magic? A1) Some of the subscribers to this list are willing to further discuss magic via e-mail. See section II of this FAQ. A2) Bruce Barnett maintains a magic mailing list as a place magicians can freely exchange information without the public listening in. Send mail to magic-request@maillist.crd.ge.com for more details. If that doesn't work, try the following in order... magic-request@crdras.ge.com magic-request@crdgw1.ge.com (crdgw1 is now gone, but is aliased) barnett@crd.ge.com ( last resort :-) A3) Jeff Isozaki (jti01@duts.ccc.amdahl.com) posts a monthly list of "Magic in Movies" indicating movies, actors, and scenes in which magic appears. A4) Mofo, Penn & Teller's BBS. If you try to call the old NY number (the one in the Cruel Tricks book) you won't be able to get in. They've moved the bbs to Delphi Systems (a Compuserve/Prodigy/etc type system). To subscribe to Delphi, dial 1-800-695-4002, hit enter twice and type the password, mofo. I'm not sure of the cost. A5) Don Martin (martin@biostat.washington.edu) has begun assembling a list of mystery stories where the detective or a major character is a magician. A6) Russ Sage (rsage@magic.taligent.com) has begun assembling a list of stage hypnosis performers. Q) Is there a possibility this news group could be altered in some way so that people wouldn't accidently keep posting things that belong in alt.magicK? A) It is easiest to just ignore these articles. Many newsreaders have a feature called a "kill-file" which will mark articles containing certain patterns as having been read or delete the article. Here are the patterns for some newsreaders. Check with your local documentation of system administrator for more information. News reader: Kill-file pattern: ------------ ----------------- rn /magick/h:j gnus (gnus-kill "xref" "magick") Q) Hasn't it been proven that most of magicK is actually magic? A) Many magicians have become involved in debunking charlatans who claim to have supernatural powers, most notably Houdini and more recently The Amazing Randi. Magicians can duplicate almost any miracle. There is a branch of magic that has blossomed in the last 20 years that uses occult science as a theme. Some of the material is strong enough to start a new religion. Here is one effect that gives you an example.... It is an occult alter. A young novice wearing a robe steps up to the magi. Several occult steps are performed. After building up to a climax, the magi takes a ceremonial dagger and raises it high in the air. He quickly plunges the dagger down, and the novice screams. The robe then falls to the floor, empty. The novice has vanished. If you were at a coven meeting and saw this, you would certainly be affected. Smaller/simpler miracles are much easier - of course. When someone describes a paranormal event, a magician knows how trivial it is to fool someone. Of course he/she is skeptical. (Example from: Bruce Barnett uunet!crdgw1!barnett) See also alt.skeptic. Q) Whatever happened to ... A) Doug Henning From: Bernie Cosell cosell@world.std.com From promotional material for Maharishi Veda Land, a theme park planned for construction in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The park, which is the creation of magician Doug Henning "under the guidande of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi," is expected to open by 1996. A press release states that the $1.5 billion park, on 1,400 acres, will "combine enlightenment, knowledge, and entertainment." The Maharishi Veda Land Theme Park --- "The Pride of Canada" --- will bring enlightenment to visitors as they experience higher states of consciousness. Each of the park's attractions will expand visitors' appreciation of their own infinite potential. They will experience reality and illusion, immortality and change, unity in diversity, infinity within a point, and the universe within the self. There will be thirty-three original rides and shows, including: * Magic Flying Chariot Ride --- Take a ride deep inside the molecular structure of a rose. * Corridor of Time --- Fly down through history from the beginning of of creation to the end of the universe. * Courtyard of Illusion --- See the world's only levitating building, which floats fifteen feet above water, and discover that there is more to reality than your sense can perceive. * Veda Vision --- Experience a spectacular vision of the totality of life as images appear in midair. * Seven Steps to Enlightenment --- Feel enlightened as you visit seven wondrous pavilions radiating out like the spokes of a wheel. Your path has been carefully designed to lead you, in an entertaining way, step-by-step to enlightenment. The park's attractions will answer those eternal questions in the minds of men: "What is my connection to the infinitely expanding universe? Where is the stream of life flowing as we spiral down the corridor of time? Who am I?" ---From the August issue of Harper's Q) Can experienced magicians give some tips on how to read a magic catalog? How can we spot tricks that are over advertised? A) It's amazing what people will say for money. The trouble is that you'll find a lot of misleading but correct ads in a strict legal way. Look for reviews of the items before you buy. Go and watch a demo, and then, if the demo looked wonderful, you need to have someone tell you whether this can be done by someone at your skill level. Suggested questions: Do you really need this item? Is it useful in more than one way? Or is it limited to the effect described? Will it gain in value over the years? Is it a limited edition? Will it help you in your act? Do you plan to USE it? Q) Do you believe that it is detrimental to the art of magic to post "insider" information pertaining to the methods used to achieve a magical effect? A) POLLING RESULTS: compiled by Hans Masing.(HCM100@PSUVM.psu.edu) There were 48 responses within the allotted polling time. 35 were magicians, 13 were laypersons. The average age of magicians in the poll is 32.2 (mean of 26). The typical layperson is 31.7 (mean of 27). For magicians, the average experience is 12.9 years, however there were a few outliers with more than 30 years that skewed the results. Eliminating these outliers, the average experience drops to 2 years. ***** Of the 35 magicians who responded, 46% of you say that methods should not be revealed, 43% say that they should, and 11% are undecided. Not surprisingly, of the 13 laypeople who responded, 33% said that it is detrimental, 54% said it is not detrimental, with 13% undecided. ***** Remarks AGAINST revealing secrets: **Layperson, age 44: "It is one thing to be the artist or the craftsperson discussing the skills needed, it is another to be the layperson intent on taking the illusion away. ANYONE can access this newsgroup. So even though I would enjoy reading the secrets of the craft and might even attempt to execute one, I know that there are other resources for that. This newsgroup is like a cafe - public and private at the same time. I wouldn't expect a real magician to be demonstrating the "how it's done" in a cafe." ***** Remarks FOR revealing secrets: **"Easy" magician, age 20, "12 or so" years experience: "Information is not just for people who can afford it. The main reason I haven't been able to go from half-magician to magician is because I cannot afford to. This would be a great forum to help young (and broke) half-magicians" **Close-up magician, age 29, 2 years experience: "An adult, through common sense realizes that a coin cannot be pulled from a persons ear without being palmed. They know it's being palmed. As a result, the art is to present the illusion in such a way that they don't see the palming." ------------------------------------------------------------------------- II. MAGICIANS WHO SUBSCRIBE TO THIS GROUP Q) WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE, ANYWAYS? What magicians subscribe to this group, what is their status, i.e. illusionist, pocket-magic, and what is their level of expertise i.e. professional, beginner. A) Interestingly enough, there is a very wide readership on ALT.MAGIC. The majority are from North America, but there are many of you from Europe and Australia, and even a few readers from the Orient. Below are biographies of some of the readers. If you would like to be included here please drop a note to mike@vpnet.chi.il.us along with a brief biography . Unlike other material in the FAQ, this is not lifted from the postings, but rather, based on e-mail submissions because I consider this of a personal nature. Please contribute. ****** From: Paul Nielsen First a shameless plug about myself: I've been interested in magic since I was 9. I am a performer and collector with previous experience as a demonstrator, teacher, and manager in a magic shop. Working in a magic shop gave me exposure to a broad range of experience with effects I otherwise would not have been able to afford and gave constant practice. I've performed for large audiences (over 5,000 people), on local television, and at fairs. I build and refinish many of my own props including small illusions. Currently, I don't perform as much as I used to, since a PhD in computer science pays better, but I like to remain active and support other's efforts. Paul Nielsen (nielsen@crd.ge.com) ***** To contact Penn & Teller: mjamroz@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Margaret Jamroz) will forward any questions or comments you might have directly to Penn. If you would like to send e-mail to Penn and Teller and don't want to go through Margaret Jamroz, you no longer need to. Just send messages to: mofo@delphi.com Colin Summers, their personal hacker, will make sure the messages get to them. At least now you don't have to subscribe to Delphi to get mail to them. However, the Mofo (P&T fan club BBS) is there, and if you're interested in that, you'll still have to join Delphi. ***** From: Shaene M. Steinauer I'm a half-magician with most of my experience in close-up magic for small groups of friends or kids. I'd be willing to discuss any type of magic; however, my knowledge is limited. My e-mail address is below. Thanks for listening. --Dulcinea (Shaene M. Steinauer) (dulcinea@cwis.unomaha.edu) ***** Name: Steve Silverman City: Los Angeles Bio: Professional level magician. Regular member, Magic Castle, Hollywood. Enjoy mostly close-up but have performed stand-up comedy magic and silent stage manips. No illusions. Worked clubs, restaurants, private parties in the So. Cal area and performed close-up at the Magic Castle. Living in Los Anegeles area provides me with the fortunate opportunity to hang out at the Magic Castle and to have become acquainted with and share ideas with the likes of Larry Jennings, Martin A. Nash, Bruce Cervon, Darryl, John Carney just to name a few. I even had the pleasure of being yelled at by Dai Vernon (15 years ago) as he watched me learn how to execute a top palm. He predictably urged me to read Erdanse. I strongly urge any magicians visiting the Los Angeles area to arrange to visit the Magic Castle either by calling ahead of time or contacting a member. ***** From: Jason Y Nocks A Senior Electrical Engineering major at the U. of Delaware, Jason has performed two full-scale stage productions in addition to countless shows in a parlor magic surrounding. Specializing in escapes, Jason also loves to read about and discuss the psychology behind the magic. -- | presto@brahms.udel.edu | A senior E.E. at the U of D with a side order | presto@freezer.cns.udel.edu | of stage and close-up magic. The views | nocks@snow-white.ee.udel.edu | expressed are exclusively my own (etc). ***** From: gold@ucscb.UCSC.EDU (William Maloney) I am a student at University of California, Santa Cruz. I started performing card magic three years ago and perform only for friends/ relatives. I have been reading alt.magic for about a month and a half now (Feb 93), and have found the discussions enlightening and entertaining. Bill ***** From: hes@unity.ncsu.edu Henry Schaffer amateur, 15 year IBM member closeup, mostly rope magic have judged stage magic contests at several IBM International Conventions --henry ***** Name: Hans C. Masing (Sleight of Hans) EMail: HCM100@PSUVM.PSU.EDU (For about 95% of the year) Main interest: Sleight of Hand Magic, close-up work. I have been performing magic professionally for about 3.5 years. I had a great teacher, and started working just six months after I learned my first sleight. I feel that my strongest ability isn't in the technical side of magic, it's in the ability to capture an audience and entertain them! I'm a clown by nature, so it's easy for me to pick up and go in front of an audience. Favorite magicians: Penn & Teller, simply for their irreverent attitude. Close second would have to be Dave Williamson, who is probably in a tie with Daryl Martinez. Current interest: I am concentrating hard and long on my ability with coins. Most requested effect: Vacuum Packed by John Bannon. I am CONSTANTLY being asked to perform this coin-in-bottle routine. If you don't know it, check it out. It's in his Smoke and Mirrors book. It's simple, and with a few modifications in the handling, repeatable! :-) Where I want to be in 10 years: Either doing research in Artificial Intelligence or performing magic full time. Either way, I'll be happy. Best piece of advice: Forget the technical side of magic. If you truly want to understand the ART of magic, you need to get into the mind of the audience. Some of my most popular material has been blatantly stolen from childrens magic books you can find in the library. But properly presented, even the lame tricks can dazzle and entertain. The art of magic is the art misdirection, not the art of tricks or sleights. The typical layperson (readers of alt.magic excluded!!) doesn't give a rat's behind about how difficult a certain move is or whether you know 45 different coin acquitments, they want to see something that they haven't seen before and something that they will talk about during the drive home. Concentrate on the basics. (1) Entertainment, (2) consistency of performance levels, and (3) naturalness of your sleights. ***** From: jillm@netcom.com Name: Jill "GIGGLES" Marci Professional Entertainer, I perform under the register servicemark of "Giggles The Magical Clown" Will correspond with people interested in performing for children, on television, at fairs, etc. Anyone wanting a copy of my book (The Art of Clowning), or wanting to hire me for a lecture etc. You can contact me at: P.O. Box 2519, Santa Clara, CA 95055-2519 ***** From: Bruno.Degiovanni@CSELT.STET.IT My name is Bruno Degiovanni (bruno.degiovanni@cselt.stet.IT) and I'm an Italian close-up fanatic. I'm VERY happy to find out a way of exchanging ideas, suggestions or simply book references in order to improve my technique. I'm an electronic engineer with a 15 years experience in close-up magic. I'm member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians (just another IBM!) and my favourite routines are with cards and coins. ***** From: ronnb@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu Status: Very good amateur Style: Close up and platform - manipulation, juggling, comedy Been doing the magic 'thing' for 19 yrs - currently use it to keep a roomful of engineers or 2nd level managers from dozing off during those particularly technical talks... Ronn Brashear ****** From: msibbern@nyx.cs.du.edu (Michael Sibbernsen) Michael Sibbernsen, Age 24 Kearney, NE Email address- (msibbern@nyx.cs.du.edu) I have been into magic since I was about 9, learning mostly by reading library books and watching Omaha area magicians, like Denny Rourke and Peter the Near Great. At 12 I started performing for family and friends and at age 16 started professionally. I have been a member of the SAM for the past 8 years. My particular specialty of magic is Cabaret, although I also do allot of close-up, and have performed some stage. After taking a four year hiatus from stock bookings (I only performed a half dozen times) I went to the University of Nebraska at Kearney to get my B.S. in Physics. For the last year I have worked for the physics department as a lecture demonstrations specialist, and assistant planetarium and observatory director. I have also started up my magic once again and enjoy inventing and building my own apparatus, one for expense reasons, and two, to add an aire of originality. I would be happy to correspond to both professionals and those just starting out, to exchange ideas and advice. My other interests besides Magic include, Astronomy,, Photography, Electronics, Computers, Star Trek, Comics, and Scuba Diving. So many interests, so little money. ***** From: mike@vpnet.chi.il.us Mike Kamlet Member of several different clubs in the Chicago area (IBM/SAM and a few others) Currently secretary IBM ring 43. I've been interested in magic since age 8, but I have recently renewed my interest. I prefer stuff without gimmicky-looking objects and routines built around a charming story... ------------------------------------------------------------------------- III. MAGICAL EVENTS Send your list of ongoing magical events including: brief description, location, cost, and admission requirements to mike@vpnet.chi.il.us Contributors: cragaisi@nyx.cs.du.edu (Chris) jti01@duts.ccc.amdahl.com (Jeff Isozaki) nielsen@crd.ge.com (Paul Nielsen) Scott Flanagan Upcomming events which merit separate postings. -- Clubs for magic: Comedy and Magic Hermosa Beach, CA Does this place still exist? Do they still perform magic? El Duco's Magic, HB Lergoeksgatan 18 S-215 79 MALMOE Sweden +46-40-214592 +46-40-217228 (fax) Fork's Hotel Buffalo, NY Funny Bone At 114th and a block north of Dodge St. Omaha, NE I heard Dan Fleshman performs here. Any other info? Illusions Keystone, Indiana (Just North of Indianapolis) (317) 575-8312 Magic Castle Hollywood, CA This is a members only magic club. Probably the best place to watch magic since they have 3 different magic venues, large stage platform and close-up. The Magic Castle is a membership systemed night club. If you are not a member, you have to have a guest card or go to there with a member. There are some rules on the back of the guest card. 1. Absolutely no one under 21 admitted. Proof of age required. 2. Strict dress code. Coats and ties for men, dresses for ladies. No casual wear. (No jeans.) 3. This card is non-transferable, good for one visit only and must be surrendered at the door. Expired cards not accepted. 4. Guests must have dinner and make reservations well in advance (1 week recommended.) There is an entrance charge of $????? for each guest in addition to the dinner price. For reservations call 851-3313 between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday thru Saturday. Please notify the Castle if you plan to cancel. 5. This card honored for dinner Sunday night thru Thursday only by advance reservation. Shows follow dinner and are open to all guests. This card not honored on Friday and Saturday. If you go there with a member, you can go on any day of the week and you don't have to have a dinner, you don't have to pay the entrance charge. (213) 851-3313 Magic Island 3505 Via Oporto ; Newport Beach, CA ?????? (714) 675-0900 I believe this is closed now Magic Island Houston, TX (713) 526-2442 We went with a coupon for about $25 per person. That included dinner, a live stage show with two acts, and two close up shows. Without the coupon, prices vary, depending on what you order. $50 per person is probably a reasonable minimum estimate, but they may have gone up. The food was good, and the entertainment ranged from fair to excellent. Mississippi Live Minneapolis Night Club They have magicians Wed-Sat nights. Mostly Magic - Closed now. 53 Carmine St New York, NY (212) 924-1472 Reuben's For some magic talk at 38th and Madison in Manhattan. Check it out on Saturday afternoon. Straight out of Woody Allen's "Broadway Danny Rose"! Tower ?? This is the place in Colorado owned by singer John Denver. Doc Eason tends bar and performs magic. Tom Foolery Tom Mullica's place. This is closed now. Thurston's Buffalo, NY -- Theatre: Altered Reality National Improvisational Theater New York, NY Le Grande David and His Own Spectacular Magic Company Cabot St. Theater Beverly, MA (508) 927-3677 -- In Atlantic City: Trop World Bunny Collins, Brooks Comer, Bully Damion, Dale Vargus Trump Castle R.J. Lewis, Carl Ash Marn Ann Calkins, Arian Black -- In the Bahamas: Carnival's Crystal Palace Dick Arthur Nassau -- In Las Vegas: The Las Vegas magicians' round table is held on Wednesday nights. You never know who will show up in the land of magic. All magi are welcome. Just give a call to any of the shops when you're there and they'll fill you in. There are alot of magic shows in Las Vegas. Some of the shows are: "Alakazam" - ????? "City Lites" with Joseph - Flamingo Hilton "Elaine's Restaurant" with Mike Skinner - Golden Nugget "Jubilee" with Bob Arno and Hans Panter - Ballys "Roman Festival" with Jordan Hahn and David Kesterson - Caesars "Spellbound" with Joaquin Ayala & Lilia, Tim Kole & Jenny Lynn, Mark "Splash" with Shimada - Riviera Connie Boyd - Tropicana Geno Munari - San Remo Kevin Barnes, Teresa Liu, and Joe White - Excalibur Kirby Van Vurch - Dunes Lance Burton - Hacienda Melinda - Lucky Lady Siegfried and Roy - Mirage Vince Carmen and Phyllis Guggenheim - Circus Circus Plus many others Lance Burton's show at the Hacienda: Burton's show was a treat. It was reasonably priced (about $23.00 including tax) and well thought out. The music was appropriate. Lance is personable, and can be funny. I think he spent too much time trying to establish himself as a "serious conjurer." His smile is contagious, and he's pretty quick on his feet with one liner responses to audience comments. There's not a bad seat in the house, either. The room is _small_. The only thing that I din't like about the show was the time he spent plugging the items he would have for sale in the lobby after the show. I found that sleezy. He did a number of transpositions, levitations (including a dream sequence that could approach hardcore R bordering on X rating - but more on that later), and a great bit with an audiance member on stage. Lance was the arms and the volunteer was the body. The productions were a lot of fun that way! I was going to mention the show rating bit. I found this out after I went, but it seems that if you catch the 8:00 show it's the family version. The 11:00 show has nudity. (Too bad I din't find out earlier!) The girls _weren't_ the solid gold dancers (they _did_ have a dance number) but quite easy on the eyes, and they added to the routines rather than being just something sexy to look at. -- From: silverman@kelvin.Jpl.Nasa.Gov (Steve Silverman) Michael Skinner at the Golden Nugget. He is the resident magician and strolls between Lily Langtree's and Stefanos restaurant. Michael has been reffered to as one of the worlds finest close-up performers by some very notable people. I was fortunate enough to have dinner with him during my last visit and must say that he is also a very nice person and real gentleman. ---- In Reno: "Spellbound" starring The Pendragons ------------------------------------------------------------------------- IV. MAGIC ORGANIZATIONS The following organizations exist to promote magic and further its development. Each produces a magazine and sponsors local club meetings. International Brotherhood of Magicians P. O. Box 89 Dept. G Bluffton, Ohio 45817 Society of American Magicians c/o John Apperson S. A. M. Membership Development 2812 Idaho Granite City, Illinois, 62040 \\ // \\// ___________________________ /00\ (____(________________(____() \> ________ | | / \ | | | A | \____/ | S /\ | | / \ | | ( ) | | )__( | | | \________/ -- Mike Kamlet mike@vpnet.chi.il.us ****************************************************************************** Frequently asked questions in alt.magic/part2 (of 4) Last modified: June 1, 1993 Please send suggested corrections and additions to: mike@vpnet.chi.il.usn Topics: Part 2 V. BIBLIOGRAPHY OF BOOKS ON MAGIC Originally compiled by Scott Duncan [SD] Reorganized and expanded by Robin Dawes [RD] Additional material from the following contributors: barnett@grymoire.crd.ge.com (Bruce Barnett) [BB] dhm@ug.cs.dal.ca (David H MacFarlane) [DF] exujbl@exu.ericsson.se (Jerry Blackerby,CS/D,x77810) [JB] fdeignan@vax.clarku.edu [FD] hes@unity.ncsu.edu (Henry E. Schaffer) [HS] Bruno.Degiovanni@CSELT.STET.IT [BD] HCM100@psuvm.psu.edu (Sleight of Hans) [HM] mike@vpnet.chi.il.us (Mike Kamlet) [MK] Other contributors are listed along with their review. Topics: 1. General 2. Performance/Philosophy 3. For the Beginner 4. Card Magic 5. Coin Magic 6. Card & Coin Combinations 7. Mentalism 8. Other Magic 9. History/Reference 10. Business Issues in Magic ------------------------------------------------------------------------- V-ADDENDUM. RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT From: cragaisi@nyx.cs.du.edu (Chris) Here is an official press release from the P&T office regarding the infamous sugar packets (I'm forwarding this for Maggie Jamroz (mjamroz@casbah.acns.nwu.edu): VILLARD BOOKS A DIVISION OF RANDOM HOUSE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE VILLARD TO RECALL HUMOR BOOK AND REPLACE DEFECTIVE ITEM NEW YORK, December 10 -- Villard books today recalled Penn & Teller's HOW TO PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD, a humor book published in November, in order to replace a defective fake "sugar packet" that is packaged with the book. The company warned consumers that the contents of the "sugar packet" represent a potential health hazard if ingested. The company stressed that Penn and Teller are not responsible for this manufacturer's error. The faulty piece, meant to be used as part of a trick described on pages 134-135 of the book, is intended to be the classic joke "sugar packet," made of a material resembling paper but impossible to tear open by hand -- a standard item sold in novelty shops for many years. Due to a manufacturer's error, many of the packets included with the first shipments of the book can be torn open. They do not contain sugar, but a blue granular substance supplied to the packet manufacturer. It is a potential health hazard if ingested and is unfit for human consumption. Villard has recalled all copied of the book now held by wholesalers and retail bookstores. New books will be immediately shipped with the defective "sugar packet" replaced by a postcard that purchasers can send in to receive a correctly made "sugar packet." Villard has a toll-free phone line (1-800-733-3000 -- customer service) so that those customers who have already purchased the book can simply destroy the defective "sugar packet" and call in to receive their replacement. Any who wish to return the book for a full refund may send it to: Random House Inc. Attn: Customer Service 400 Hahn Road Westminster, Maryland 21157 Speaking for himself and Teller, Penn said, "We hope everyone gets the word right away. We asked for the standard joke shop gag, which we knew was safe, to be included with the book. We got this instead. All you have to do is vanish the old 'sugar packet' by heaving the damn thing in the trash and calling the 800 number for a replacement. It's the easiest trick in the book." Teller is said to agree but as always made no comment. CONTACT: Jacqueline Deval, Directory of Publicity, Villard Books (212) 572-4957 ------- Update: From: mjamroz@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Margaret Jamroz) Here's the toll-free number to call if you bought Penn & Teller's How to Play with Your Food and got a defective sugar packet. 1-800-726-0600. Just call and they'll send you out a new one for free. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. General Ammar, Michael The Magic of Michael Ammar (1991, L&L Publ.) [SD] Very nicely executed book of effects and magic "philosophy." Starting with an entire stand-up Cups and Balls routine, the book includes "utilities," "restaurant" effects, other "stand-up" effects, "magic management," as well as various chapters of philosophy and advice. In a chapter on "classic renditions," you'll find the "Crazy Man's Handcuffs" (i.e., rubber bands that seem to melt through one another) which seems to be a favorite of many folks. [RD] I use the "C. M. Handcuffs" all the time. There is a heavy overlap between this book and Mr. Ammar's previous publications (such as "Command Performance") but if you don't have all of those, this is a recommended purchase. Bannon, John Impossibilia (1990, L&L Publ.) [SD] A variety of nice stuff with cards, coins, cups. Easy to challenging. de la Torre, Jose Magicana of Havana (1975 de la Torre) [SD] Interesting routines based on some familiar themes, including effects using jumbo (oversized) cards. Elliott, Bruce Magic as a Hobby (?,?) [RD] A great book for beginning to intermediate students of the art. Much of the material comes from the Phoenix magazine, but is still current. Has chapters on cards, coins, miscellaneous, mentalism, etc., and a fine essay on developing a magical presentation. Also includes (with permission) the complete money act that Mike Bornstein used to perform on stage. Elliott, Bruce Classic Secrets of Magic (?,?) [RD] Devotes a chapter each to such perrenials as the Ambitious Card, Multiplying Billiard Balls, Cups and Balls, Two Covers and Four Objects (Elliott seems to have been ahead of his time in eschewing the politically incorrect name usually given to this trick), and so on. All extremely practical material that will require some practice. Gardner, Martin Encyclopedia of Impromptu Magic (1978, Magic, Inc.) [PN] Tricks with no special apparatus, gimmicks, or involved preparation. Lots of wonderful stuff. This is being sold by Klutz Press since Martin Gardner was one of the consultants on the Klutz Book of Magic. Gardner, Martin Martin Gardner Presents (1993, Kaufman & Greenberg) [SD] A large collection of previously published material from when Gardner was a boy through adulthood, covering the years from the 30's through the 90's. Cards occupy a large part of the material as do effects based on counting and math "tricks." However, there is material here with coins, ice, sponge balls, thimbles, handkerchiefs, as well as mentalism (though mostly related to math/counting). Harkey, David Simply Harkey (1991(?), Clandestine Productions) [SD] The work of David Harkey has stuff in it that looks "impossible" but which, when you see him lecture, is very impressive. Then, you find out it isn't as hard as it looks. On the other hand, the explanations of some of these (like his "crystal transformation" effect) sound more complex than they turn out to be in practice. (Not because the explanations are poor, but because there is a lot going on sometimes. It is not easy stuff to do because of that rather than because the individual things done are particularly hard.) I like this book mostly for the card and coin stuff, though his "Goldfinger Trilogy" (with a finger ring) and "Sweet Talk" (with a coin and sugar packet) are neat as well. Kaufman, Richard 5 X 5 (19??,Kaufman & Greenberg) 5 Japanese magicians each of whom disclose 5 of their pet close-up effects. These range from impromptu coin and card tricks to tricks employing some very ingenious and easily constructed gimmicks. The material is really fresh and innovative. It's been a long time since I came across a book on close-up that contained material I could get excited over - creative effects that can really make an audience sit up and take notice. My favorite effects are: - An ambitious card routine where you put a paper clip on the card, bury it, and with a shake of the hand the paper clipped card is back on top. - A beautifully startling effect where an empty, flattened out card case is folded into its original box shape and then with no false moves, the box is opened and a deck of cards is dumped out. - A card warp type of effect where a dollar bill that has been folded lengthwise into 1/4 its original width is pushed through another dollar bill (a la card warp). When it emerges on the other side it has started to unfold itself. Each time it is pushed through it has magically unfolded a little more till it unfolds completely and is then immediately handed out for examination. From: (Rashid) Kaufman, Richard Amazing Miracles of Shigeo Takagi (19??,Kaufman & Greenberg) [SD] Nice mixture of stuff -- including silk, rope, and ring effects plus the usual card magic -- from one of Japan's foremost magicians. Kaufman, Richard Richard's Almanac Volume 1 (19??, Kaufman & Greenberg) [SD] A book covering Kaufman's magazine for 1982-83 with effects from many folks on many topics. Marlo, Edward M. I. N. T (198?, L&L Publ.) [SD] Ed Marlo's magic collected from material presented in now out- of-print magazine sources. Marlo, Edward Marlo's Magazine Volume 1 (1976, Ed Marlo) [SD] Really a large book of many effects. However, as he says in the Foreword, he wanted to "say something" besides talk about routines and effects. So he makes "editorial points" throughout the book. I like to read about how magicians think (and what they think about) when it comes to magic. There's lots of card magic here as well as the thoughts. Minch, Stephen Korem Without Limits (19??, A.D. Robbins Publ.) [SD] Reasonably good collection of intermediate magic -- not everything caught my attention -- with reasonably good photographs illustrating things. Minch, Stephen Ken Krenzel's Close-Up Impact (1990, Hermetic Press) [SD] Krenzel is a "thinking person's" magician with a reputation for exploring the psychology of effects. The fact that he's a psychologist -- it's Dr. Krenzel -- explains that partially. Not all this stuff has the impact that the title claims -- at least, I've seen him lecture and wasn't overwhelmed. Ouellet, Gary The Masters of Magic Series (various dates, Camirand Academy of Magic) [SD] Ouellet covers many routines with cards, shells and pea, coin penetrations, cups and balls, etc. One routine per monograph. [RD] These are generally well-written and produced. The Coin Connection - excellent routine from Eric DeCamps. Supershells - a 3-shell routine Threshold - an attractive method for the torn-and-restored card, using lapping. Finger on the Card - a presentation of the Dunbury Delusion - not bad Two Goblets - a cups and balls routine Slaight, Allan Stewart James in Print: The First Fifty Years (1989, Jogjestja) [SD] Probably the thickest book in magic. At least the thickest one I've seen at over 990 pages! You have to dig stuff out, but there's a variety of things here from the easy to the more challenging. [RD] James invented the ever-popular Miraskil. Volume 2 of this incredible inventor's work is in preparation now (1992). Tannen's Magic Stars of Magic (1975, Tannen) [SD] A series of 11 monographs (plus two "lessons") which appeared individually in the past but are collected into book form. Usually multiple effects per monograph. [RD] Much of the magic seems dated, but Scarne's "Triple Coincidence" and Vernon's "Ambitious Card" and "Royal Monte" are excellent. [BD] It is noticeable also for the famous SPELLBOUND coin move (D. Vernon). In every coin book you'll find a reference to that. Tannen's Magic New Stars of Magic (various dates, Tannen) [SD] A monograph series from the 1970's and early 1980's on subjects such as MacDonald's Four Ace Trick (Garcia), the Card Tunnel (Krenzel), the Ultimate Invisible Assembly (Kaufman), a 3-Ring Routine (Capehart), Immaculate Connection (Harris), Bewildering (Bennett), etc. Some nice routines (one per monograph) with certain equipment included (gimmick cards, etc.) for some routines. [RD] Immaculate Connection is great. For a better handling of MacDonald's Aces, try John Mendoza's "The Book of John: Verse Two". Tarbell, Harlan Tarbell Course in Magic (7 vols, 1972, D. Robbins & Co.) [SD] Originally distributed in the late 1920's as a mail-order course in magic with 60 separate lessons and now a multi-volume set covering nearly every aspect of magic. Not the first thing to buy, for sure, but something everyone may want to get eventually. (Of course, at $120+ a set, that may take a while.) [RD] Harry Lorayne actually wrote Volume 7. [FD] For those of you who have posted that you would like to get into magic but don't have the money for tricks, books are your best bet. Probably the grand-daddy of all series is the Tarbell Course in Magic. It is hard cover and comes in seven volumes. I bought the complete set at a magic convention for $115. If bought separately, I believe that the first volume is $15 and the succeeding ones are $18 each. The complete course is a wealth of magical information! For a little over $100 anyone can get into magic and be able to perform some amazing feats. Every so often I'll see a fellow magician perform some magical miracle I've never seen and he'll then tell me that he got it out of Tarbell. Wilson, Mark Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic (1991(?), Courage Books) [SD] A large book offering a beginner's course in magic. Good for lots of fundamental stuff, but with a few things that may interest slightly experienced magicians. Think of it as an abbreviated Tarbell in some respects. [FD] Another fine book is the Mark Wilson Course in Magic. The 472 page hardcover book sells for about $20-$25 and also is a wealth of magical information. For this small investment you too can get into the field of magic. The original book should be a staple in every magician's library. There is more magic in that one book than you might suspect. Beginners stuff, yes. But also some great effects and sleights. 2. Performance/Philosophy Burger, Eugene Experience of Magic (1989, Kaufman & Greenberg) [SD] Well-known for his thoughtfulness about performing, Burger does offer routines and magic effects, but goes to great lengths to talk about the feeling and spirit with which they should be presented. Along with people like Fitzkee and Tamariz, Burger should be of interest to people who want to read the opinions of someone on how to present magic. [RD] Highest recommendation. Mr. Burger asks "What do we want people to experience when we show them a magic trick?" Is "I've been fooled" the same as "I feel stupid"? Must we always go for laughs, or can we evoke other emotions and still achieve entertainment? READ THIS BOOK. Burger, Eugene The Performance of Close-up Magic (1990(?), Kaufman & Greenberg) [SD] I liked the latter half of the book starting with Chapter 10 on Magic Lectures. I'm sure folks might like the rest, but I liked his narratives and opinions best in this book. Burger, Eugene Craft of Magic (?,?) [RD] I like all of Mr. Burger's books. He write about how to be a magician, not just how to do tricks. He talks a lot in this book about the value of proper practice and rehearsal. Sound obvious? Ok, explain the difference between practice and rehearsal. Burger, Eugene Secrets and Mysteries of the Close-up Performer (?,?) [RD] Another good one. The secrets and mysteries are not "where to put your left index finger while doing the diagonal palm shift", but "where to put your brain". Carey, Chris Find the Stuff That's You (?,?) [RD] I read this once and said "It's content-free". I read it again and said "I think he's saying something, but I don't know what". I read it again and said "Oh! Oh! Oh!" I guess I'm just slow. Seriously, it rewards re-reading, if you have the patience. Fitzkee, Dariel Trick Brain, The (19??, Lee Jacobs Productions) [SD] One of a set of three books on "conjuring psychology" and how to "think" magic. Most of what I liked was his division of effects into categories and then definition of ways to perform such effects (not in detail but generally the kind of look-and-feel the audience would get). Though several kinds of effects might be called, for example, "levitations," they may appear differently to audiences based on what technique is used. An almost academic book classifying magic effects. Galloway, Andrew Diverting Card Magic (?,?) [RD] Actually a discussion of the techniques of attention control (as in midirection etc) as practiced by the great John Ramsey. Mr. Galloway makes his points and illustrates with workable tricks that require some skill (you don't need misdirection if you're not doing anything), but his point is not how to do the sleights invisibly, but how to prevent the spectator from ever becoming suspicious. Kurtz, Gary Misdirection and Direction (1990, Kurtz) [SD] Subtitled "Keys to the Amplification of the Magic Effect," this is an unusual little booklet on presentation and audience "control." [RD] Worth reading, especially for the thoughts on timing and "creating the moment" at which the audience's attention is off your hands. Nelms, Henning Magic and Showmanship (1969, Dover) [SD] Mainly advice about many aspects of performing magic which uses effects to illustrate performance points rather than to teach the effects. [RD] Makes a nice companion to Mr. Burger's "Experience of Magic". Nelms argues in favor of consistency - for example, at any given venue, you should not pretend to be both a psychic and a magician, since this breaks the over-all illusion. Roper, Steve Comedy Magic Textbook (?,?) [RD] Some people take extreme exception to Mr. Roper's claim that comedy magic is "easier" than other kinds. However, here's a little experiment you might try: attend an improvisational theater session, and observe how many of the scenes are comedic rather than dramatic. I think that what Mr. Roper is saying is that everyone has some innate ability to be humorous (especially with self-directed humor), while not everyone has the intuitive ability to act out a serious role. In this book, Mr. Roper does a fair job of explaining how he creates some of his comedy magic (which reads as though it would indeed be very funny). Tamariz, Juan Five Points in Magic, The (19??, Frakson) [SD] Using your body in presenting magic: the eyes, the voice, the hands, the body, and the feet. Basically discusses how to present yourself physically to be more effective. In particular, it focuses on misdirection (and direction) of the audience using your body. 3. For the Beginner Anderson, George Magic Digest (19??, DBI Books) [SD] Don't know where you'd find this, but it is a very nice beginners book which opens with basic "rules" for magic and performing. It contains nice effects that are easy to learn but effective, covering cards, coins, ropes, etc. One particularly interesting effect is "The Australian Belt," a gambling trick using a chain (or rope could be substituted) which is folded into a figure-8 and then used to challenge a spectator to pick which loop would catch the finger and which would not. Why even mention this, of all things? I saw David Roth do this at a magicians' picnic a few years ago to keep a kid out of his way while he did his more interesting coin stuff for the adults. It was a memorable distraction and I looked around for it for a year until I came upon this book. Hay, Henry The Amateur Magician's Handbook (1982, Signet/New American Library) paperback, 396 pages, AE 5502, $ 4.95 US. [SD] Reprint of a 1950 "classic" for the amateur. Lots of basic advice, but, as with many older works which just get reprinted rather than really updated as to language and layout, the prose is dense. Also as in many books (not just older ones reprinted), the photos are often dark -- illustrations seem to work out better in magic books unless the highest quality photography is used. However, this is a good introduction to magic and includes a "modern" section (by The Amazing Randi) on using video-tape to practice. Klutz Press?? The Klutz Book of Magic (????, Klutz Press) [FD] Don't underestimate the Klutz Book of Magic. I sat through a great lecture by Eric DeCamps and then realized that the "lecture notes" could be the Klutz Book of Magic! There is a ring steal on page 58 that is a classic in magic. The demonstrator from The Collector's Workshop used this sleight in his demonstration at Tannen's Jubilee. Lorayne, Harry The Magic Book (1977, Putnam) [SD] A good first book in magic and maybe the cheapest hardback book in existence (at $9) for its size and specialty topic. Lorayne's considered a good author and teacher of magic and this book covers basic card and coin sleights and effects as well as a smattering of number magic, mental effects, and miscellaneous magic with everyday objects. Tarr, Bill Now You See It, Now You Don't (Vols 1 & 2) Classic Magic Tricks (19??, ????) [SD] For the beginner, the first two of these are really recommended. (Supporting videos are available now, I believe.) They talk about basic sleights with cards, coins, balls, cigarettes, matches, thimbles, silks, etc. The third is an "everything you always wanted to know about" certain "platform magic" like how Linking Rings, Rice Bowls, etc. are done. 4. Card Magic Ackerman, Alan Esoterist (?,?) [RD] A small collection of variations for well-known card effects, some quite clever, including a number of methods for the "universal card". Not for the beginner. Annemann, Ted 202 Methods of Forcing (193?, ????) [SD] Just what it says. Just about every way is in here (and not just for forcing cards either), including stacked decks. Annemann, Ted Annemann's Card Magic (1977, Dover) [SD] Reprint from two prior works from 1943 and 1948. Some nice effects that are not hard to do but aren't too "simplistic," i.e., they look harder when you see them performed. Bannon, John Smoke and Mirrors (1991, Kaufman & Greenberg) [SD] Card effects which Bannon feels "surprise" the audience rather than "merely challenge" them so that "the impossible thing itself [is] unexpected." Actually, his two-page Foreward is a nice little essay on magical philosophy as a lead-in to the (31) effects presented. Boudreau, Lou (Leo?) Spirited Pasteboards & Skullduggery (1987, 89, Rustic Press) [SD] Card effects using binary number system counting techniques to remember and identify cards, ordering, ranking, etc. Craven, Tom 16th Card Book (?,Craven) [RD] An exploration of a variety of effects that can be achieved by positioning a chosen card 16th from the top of the deck. Some tricks require perfect faro shuffles. de la Torre, Jose Real Magic (1978, de la Torre) [SD] Nice card effects, including various color changes. Dodson, Goodlette Exhibition Card Fans [BB] A classic book is that teaches techniques for producing card fans. I bought my copy 15 years ago for $4. Don't know what the current price is. Erdnase, S.W. The Expert at the Card Table (1902, Erdnase) [SD] The classic work on card "manipulation" focused mainly on gambling but with some "legerdemain" (literally, "light of hand") as well. Erdnase, S.W. and Ortiz, Darwin The Annotated Erdnase (?, Magical Publications) [HM] Everything you ever wanted to know about cards is in there. No one will ever tell you that it is an easy book to master, and I don't know if ANYONE has truly mastered it all (Except the Professor), but for learning how it should be done, this is the bible. It is a tough read, and the annotations and photographs added by Darwin make it an exceptional book. Field, Ed and Schwartz, ? Invisible Secrets Revealed (?,?) [RD] A booklet on presentations for the marketed trick "The Invisible Deck". We should all stop ripping off the Don Alan patter. Fulves, Karl Millenium Aces (?,?) [RD] Actually a booklet on applications of the half-pass. Some very clever methods for this sleight, including the Neil Elias half-pass, which is easy to do. Fulves, Karl Kaleidoscope (?,?) [RD] Fairly heavy card work. Nothing really grabbed me. Fulves, Karl Self-Working Card Tricks & More Self-Working Card Tricks (1976 & 1984, Dover) [SD] Two paperbacks with basic, easy-to-learn and perform card effects "for the amateur magician." (From a set of books by Fulves on various aspects of easy magic effects.) [RD] Favourite trick from the first book: the O. Henry trick. Ganson, Lewis and Endfield, Cy Entertaining Card Magic (1955, Supreme) [SD] The highlight of this book for card sleight fans is the Signed Card To Pocket trick which utilizes a variation of Erdnase's diagonal palm shift. Garcia, Frank Wildcard Miracles (1977, Garcia) [SD] The "Wildcard" routine and its variations, along with stuff like the Ambitious Card, are important intermediate effects to learn once you have basic sleights down. This book covers Wildcard well as an introduction to the effect Garcia created (though it evolved from other work done earlier which he credits). [RD] Most people seem to credit the original Wild Card to Peter Kane these days. Garcia, Frank Elegant Magic of Father Cyprian (?,?) [RD] Mr. Garcia is a great magician, but he can't write worth beans. His books are exquisite torture, because the magic is so good and the explanations are so over-written. This is no exception. Favourite trick: Solid Gold Deception. Garcia, Frank Exclusive Card Secrets & Exclusive Card Miracles (?,?) [RD] Ditto the comments under "Elegant Magic of Father Cyprian". Frank, get an editor! I'll do it! The card work is very clever, and the entertainment value is very high. Favourite trick: Pinnacle Aces. Goldstein, Phil Focus (1991(?), Hermetic Press) [SD] The favorite/best card work of Phil Goldstein. Short on illustrations, but explanations seem clear enough. Green, Cliff Professional Card Magic (1979, Tannen Magic Inc.) [BD] A wonderful book with a lot of card sleights and techniques very well illustrated. Only for experts on card magic. Haines, Ronald 36 Tricks with Fa-Ko Cards (19??, Haines House of Cards) [SD] The Fa-Ko deck is filled with bizarrely manufactured cards that you can slip into regular decks. This book describes effects to put them to use. It covers basic "gimmicked" card ideas and is interesting without the actual deck. (Making the cards yourself would be difficult, though.) Harris, Paul Supermagic (1977, D. Robbins and Co., Inc.) [SD] For those interested in creative, sometimes wacky work. Supermagic gives us Reset: a good effect with no gaffs or fakery, just the cards themselves. Harris, Paul A Close-Up Kinds Guy (19??, Tannen) [SD] Good stuff from Paul Harris with a few bizarre things (like a card flipping flourish) thrown in. Harris, Paul Las Vegas Close-up (1978, Chuck Martinez Productions) [BD] In my opinion one of the best book written by Paul. The effect "Stapled!" has been for 5 years my forte: a transposition of 2 cards which have been stapled together (and one is signed by a spectator!). Some improvements to the original effect are possible, but anyway it is worth the price of the book. Very interesting also "Gambler vs. Mentalist vs. Magician": a triumph effect with a very nice presentation. For cards+coins performers is "Silver Slide". 4 coins are produced under 4 cards: a good start for your matrix routine. Harris, Paul Close-up Entertainer (1979, Chuck Martinez Productions) [BD] "The Silver Elevator" is dedicated to cards+coins fans: 4 coins, one at a time, penetrate up from the table to the center of the deck. Also a classical move that every magician performing a matrix effect should know. I like very much "Ackerman's Face Lift": another nice transposition of 2 cards. Hugard, Jean Encyclopedia of Card Tricks (1974, Dover) [SD] A corrected version of a 1937 "classic" which covers over 600 card effects as well as explaining prearranged decks, gimmicked decks, and basic card sleights. Maybe the first book specializing in cards that a person would want to get. Simple effects, often tersely explained, but a good survey of effects. [RD] Includes the "Nicola" card system. Hugard, Jean Card Manipulations "(Series 1-5) & More Card Manipulations (Series 1-4) (1973 & 1974, Dover) [SD] Reprints of monographs on various basic (and not so basic) card sleights and effects which use them. Hugard, Jean and Braue, Frederick Royal Road to Card Magic (1981, Faber) [SD] One of the "classic" card magic books (originally printed in 1949) on all kinds of card sleights. Few actual routines, but much useful material on handling cards. Hugard, Jean and Braue, Frederick Expert Card Technique (1974, Dover) [SD] Reprint of 1944 work that is a natural companion to The Royal Road to Card Magic. Contains much more material than Royal Road and, therefore, may be even a more useful reference once the former's sleights are known and practiced. [RD] Not a beginner's book. Kaufman, Richard Complete Works of Derek Dingle, The (1982, Kaufman & Greenberg) [SD] Derek Dingle does (mostly) cards and this work by Kaufman covers most of the stuff the folks associate with Derek. A good modern book on card magic, but not easy by any means. Kaufman, Richard Secrets of Brother John Hamman (1989, Kaufman & Greenberg) [SD] As creator of one of the basic card count sleights, Hamman's name pops up all over in many magic books. A nice collection of card magic. [RD] Favourite trick: The Locked Room. Lorayne, Harry Close-Up Card Magic (1976, Tannen) [SD] Another in Lorayne's series of books on (mostly) card effects. (Every book claims he's "giving away the farm.") Lorayne, Harry Best of Friends (2 vol, 1982 & 1985, Lorayne) [SD] Two inch-thick volumes of (mostly) card effects from a variety of folks who contributed to this collection, including Lorayne himself. Lorayne, Harry Deck-Sterity (1967, D. Robbins & Co.) [SD] When you're starting to seriously expand your card magic, i.e., you have basic sleights down, Lorayne's books are a good extension of what you have learned from more basic books. (But they are all relatively expensive books except The Magic Book Lorayne, Harry Afterthoughts (1975, Lorayne) [SD] Features the Ultra Move and several effects based on it as well as a few other "moves" Lorayne likes. Difficult stuff, generally. Lorayne, Harry Personal Secrets (1964, Tannen) [SD] Some fairly neat stuff once you get other basic card stuff down. Lorayne, Harry My Favorite Card Tricks (1965, Tannen) [SD] Not my favorite Lorayne book, but good for folks who like card effects and are beyond the basic stuff. Lorayne, Harry Reputation-Makers (1990, Lorayne) [SD] More neat stuff from Harry Lorayne for the intermediate to advanced card worker. Lorayne, Harry Rim Shots (19??, Lorayne) [SD] More neat stuff from Harry Lorayne for the intermediate to advanced card worker. Lorayne, Harry Trend-Setters (19??, Lorayne) [SD] More neat stuff from Harry Lorayne for the intermediate to advanced card worker. Lorayne, Harry Quantum Leaps (19??, Lorayne) [SD] More neat stuff from Harry Lorayne for the intermediate to advanced card worker. What I liked about this book was that is contained material he does on video, so, after having seen it performed a few times through the video, I had a reference to go to at some point. MacDougall, Michael Card Mastery (1975, Tannen) [SD] This book contains card "manipulation" skills, especially for gambling, and is actually material from the late 1930's. However, the major attraction of the book is that it includes the complete text of Erdnase's The Expert at the Card Table. Mentzer, Jerry Counts, Cuts, Moves, and Subtlety (1977, Mentzer) [SD] An important text on important card manipulation, focusing, as the title suggests, on ways to false count cards, cut them, spread them to conceal cards, etc. Worthwhile having, though the material is covered many other places, simply because it is all here in one place. Mentzer, Jerry Basic Skill With Cards (1981, Mentzer) [SD] A very useful booklet covering false cuts and shuffles, controls, sleights (like the "glide"), forces, and palming. Minch, Stephen The Collected Works of Alex Elmsley, Vol I (1991(?), L&L Publishing) [SD] The objective of this two-volume set of Elmsley is to cover his work completely. Only this first volume is available at this point. Besides lots of interesting card work, including Elmsley's own explanations of his "ghost" count known to most as the Elmsley Count, there is a lecture "On the Theory and Practice of Magic." Minch states that Vol II will contain, among other things, the performance portion of the lecture in full detail. Minch says this lecture was highly regarded when Elmsley toured the U.S.A. many years ago. [RD] An outstanding book. Elmsley was a subtle thinker, and many of his creations are simply brilliant. A few of the effects in this book (which contains dozens of tricks) involve more "dealing through the deck" than is popular right now, but I think that for the right audience, these tricks go over quite well. Favourite trick: Serendipity (a fantastic "collectors" with no dealing). Minch, Stephen Vernon Chronicles, The vols. 1-3 (198?, 198?, 198?, L&L Publ.) & Lost Inner Secrets Volume 1 (1987, L&L Publishing) Ganson, Lewis Inner Secrets of Card Magic & More Inner Secrets & Further Inner Secrets & Ultimate Secrets of Card Magic (19??,???) [SD] Several books of stuff from Dai Vernon, the patriarch of LA's Magic Castle. Mostly cards. Some stuff for the person just beyond the beginner stage, but mostly effects of an intermediate nature. Includes classics like Twisted Aces and Triumph. Minch, Stephen Daryl's Ambitious Card Omnibus (1987, ???) [SD] (Actually written in 1985.) Contains an entire history of the Ambitious Card effect and shows various ways to present/use it. An excellent book on a single effect and its variations. Minch, Stephen Larry Jennings' Neoclassics (1987, L&L Publishing) [SD] Subtitled "Three Complete Lesson in Professional Card Presentation," this book has three effects embellishing more familiar themes: the card in the orange, the spectator finds the aces, and cards across. The BEST BOOK IN THE WORLD!!!! If you want to learn how to do first-rate card tricks (I do), go out and find the <<<>>> book. This guy is the absolute Ninja. He is right up there with Brother Hamman (sp?). I mean it. You won't regret it. From: tnielson@spock.NMSU.Edu (THORIN NIELSON) Nash, Martin Ever So Sleightly & Any Second Now & Sleight Unseen (3 vol, 1975, 77, 79, Micky Hades International) [SD] Subtitled "The Professional Card Technique of Martin A. Nash," this series covers, as the subtitle suggests, covers many basic -- and not-so-basic -- card sleights and techniques, using effects to demonstrate them. A good book for the intermediate magician, but pretty technical and detailed for a newcomer. Ortiz, Darwin Darwin Ortiz at the Card Table (19??, Kaufman & Greenberg) [SD] Ortiz is a sheer genius with cards and gambling tricks. He lectures to police and security folks, consults with casinos, etc. The stuff in this book is really hard to do, for the most part. Seeing Ortiz is better than reading about what he does. But there are a few things here that are within the realm of human possibility! [RD] Favourite trick: Modern Jazz Aces. Osterlind, Richard Breakthrough Card System (?,Busby) [RD] A mathematical system for stacking a deck that leaves it looking totally random (and hence examinable), but which permits all of the effects possible with Si Stebbins, Eight Kings, etc, and other stacks that will not bear inspection. At $5, this is a bargoon! I always carry this with me, and use it for a "just think of a card" presentation. It astonishes. Ouellet, Gary Procontrol (?,Camirand) [RD] If you buy this for the advertised effect, be prepared to be VERY disappointed. Exactly the same technique is explained in complete detail in Bill Severn's Magic Workshop, which is probably in your public library. However, Procontrol contains a tutorial on the spread pass which is great - it's worth the price of the book, if you are interested in simple and deceptive methods for the pass (so who isn't?). Racherbaumer, John The Wild Card Kit: A Modular Experiment (1992,???) [SD] Racherbaumer has put together a "theme" book just on the Wild Card effect which he states comes originally from Brother John Hamman's "The Mystic Nine" and became the Wild Card through Peter Kane (whose handling is part of the book). The book breaks the effect into several stages and shows variations at each point, including a version with plain cards that can be handed out to the audience. (Those less extensive, it is like Daryl's Ambitious Card Omnibus.) There is a nice bibliography as well for those who wish to pursue the subject further. All in all, it's a compact coverage of a 'classic' effect (and even comes with the requisite packet of cards). Racherbaumer, John Universal Card, The (1975, Tannen) [SD] Like "Wildcard" and the "Ambitious Card," this is a basic routine with many variations. Racherbaumer's book covers the subject well and gives a history of the effect. Ross, Fawcett Early Vernon (?,?) [RD] Some of Dai Vernon's earliest creations continue to impress. These tricks were marketed to a small group of magicians by giving them a complete description of the effects, then offering to sell the workings. The famous "psychological force" is in here. Scarne, John Scarne on Cards Tricks (1950, Signet/New American Library) [SD] Paperback of card effects that you can probably find in any mall book store. [RD] Contains simplified handlings (virtually no sleights anywhere) of a number of well-known plots. Not to be scorned because of general availability. Sharpe, Alton Expert Card Mysteries (1975, Tannen Magic Inc.) [BD] A collection of moves and card tricks from Tony Kardyro, Frank Lane, Alton Sharpe itself and many others. There are special sections dedicated to Larry Jennings, Paul Swinford and Ed Marlo. Sharpe, Alton Expert Card Conjuring & Chicanery (1976, D. Robbins and Co.) [BD] Another collection of card tricks from the world experts. The special sections on the most important sleights and effects by Marlo are the most valuable parts of the book. You will find for example: the Perfect False Riffle Shuffle, Marlo Slip Cuts, Double Lift Substitutes, many Triumphs, etc. Simon, Frank Versatile Card Magic (1983, Magical Publications) [SD] Has great food for thought. His Versatile Spread Controls were a fad among young card workers in Japan. This is one of those books that makes you want to go out and show somebody what you just learned. Really nice card control. Not entirely original, although the handling described sees print for the first time. Stevenson, Al 75 Tricks with a Svengali Deck (1964, Wizard's Workshop) [SD] As it sounds, a book on how to use this gimmicked deck. Stevenson, Al 75 Tricks with a Stripper Deck (1962, Wizard Books) [SD] As it sounds, a book on how to use this gimmicked deck. 5. Coin Magic Andrus, Jerry Five Dollar Tricks (?,?) [RD] Silver dollars, that is. This booklet (five routines) includes a nice effect of producing coins from a dollar bill which is continually shown on both sides. Bobo, J.B. New Modern Coin Magic (1966, Magic, Inc.) [SD] The "classic" book on all aspects of coin magic. If you're going to do coin magic, this is a book you need to have. Dover has a much less expensive paperback edition of this available now. Fulves, Karl Self-Working Coin Magic (1989, Dover) [SD] Easy to learn and perform effects with coins for beginning magicians. Jennings, Nina et al Larry Jennings on Card and Coin Handling (1977, Jeff Busby Magic Inc.) [SD] A booklet which, besides cards and coins, includes Larry Jenning's Chop Cup routine. It's based on magic lectures Jennings developed in 1967 and 1970 Kaufman, Richard Coinmagic (1981, Kaufman & Greenberg) [SD] A collection of coin magic routines from many people, compiled by Richard Kaufman. After Bobo's book, perhaps the most useful intermediate coin magic book. As usual, the illustrations are very good. Kurtz, Gary Coin Magic (1990, Kurtz) [SD] Booklet of good stuff to move a beginning coin worker along. Roth, David Expert Coin Magic (1985, D. Robbins) [SD] Originally published by Richard Kaufman, this book covers most of the things you will have seen Roth do over the years. As perhaps the most skilled coin magician in modern magic, Roth sets technical standards with his work. The book, like most of what Kaufman has published, has fine illustrations. Highly recommended for someone who really wants to get into coin magic by learning some nice (but not easy) routines. Simmons, Ken Scotch and Soda (Parts 1 and 2) (1982, 86, Magic City) [SD] Two booklets on how to use the Scotch 'n' Soda effect. I actually picked these up in Disney's Magic Kingdom Magic Shop in Walt Disney World -- Disneyland's is, overall, a superior shop, but both had decent booklets on magic. 6. Card & Coin Combinations Kaufman, Richard Williamson's Wonders (1989, Kaufman & Greenberg) [SD] Magic from a well-respected "new" name. People who have seen David Williamson perform/lecture seem to really like him. Definitely good card/coin stuff here. Kaufman, Richard Sankey Pankey (1986, Kaufman & Greenberg) [SD] The works of Jay Sankey, including Forgery - An amazing routine that gets great mileage out of a simple duplicate marked card. The effect: A card is marked with a big X. X mark 'jumps' from back to face, to back, and then... Split Ends - Anyone who has ever seen or read the late Nate Leipzeig's Knife between two selected cards trick will appreciate this fresh new treatment. Apparently, Stephen Minch proposed the idea and solution of doing it with one card, that is card stabbing into the layers of a selected card. Jay's handling is really ingenious and one of my favorites. Some really twisted coin effects are also in this 121 page hardcover book making a great treat to the magician that is looking for a book with more than just one good trick in it. [RD] This book also contains the "card through balloon" trick that Copperfield did on TV. It was my favorite trick from the book before that, and still is. Kurtz, Gary Continuations ... Departures, 1&2 (1988, Kurtz) [SD] Another booklet on coin magic plus a few things with cards. Lorayne, Harry Star Quality - The Magic of David Regal (?,?) [RD] Mostly cards, but also some coins (and even Q-tips!). This is a fine book. Mr. Regal is very creative, and very conscious of the visual aspects of magic. Favourite trick: the Divining Card. Maxwell, Mike Classic Magic of Larry Jennings (198?, L&L Publishing) [SD] Just a ton of stuff with cards (and some coins). [RD] An outstanding book. Favourite trick: The Visitor - an absolute classic. Maxwell, Mike Commercial Magic of J.C. Wagner (198?, L&L Publishing) [SD] One of the most respected of magic's "underground" names. Wagner was, like many other magicians, a bartender who did his magic in (or at) the bar. [RD] This is available in soft cover now. A great book for the money. Favourite trick: The Assembly. Ouellet, Gary Close-Up Illusions (1990, Camirand Academy of Magic) [SD] A fine book on different approaches to common sleights such as the French Drop, Double Lift, etc. A companion video-tape can be purchased that shows all the sleights performed -- probably worthwhile (at $20) since seeing magic performed is more important than being told about it or looking at pictures. [FD] I'll discuss Gary Ouellet's book CLOSE UP ILLUSIONS. I think it's a great book. It is very well written, and is loaded with tips. There's a section on the "Cigarette through the Coin" which is great. Gary writes about how all of us sometimes buy a prop which then ends up in a drawer because we think it's too difficult to use. He uses this trick as an example and then proceeds to tell you how the effect can be done effectively and be a killer. I tried it and it was great! The effect had previously sat in a drawer for over a year. I've also met Gary at conventions and he is a real gentleman. He is willing to spend time with you just to say hello or to discuss an effect. The last time I spoke to him and told him I much I liked the book, he told me that the Modified Kosky Illusion at the end of the book was worth the price of the book. He then proceeded to show me the effect. [JB] I have an extensive library and this is my favorite. Most items in the book are explained in terms that anyone can understand. I am a technical writer and have found few books on magic written so clearly. If you are primarily interested in close-up magic, then definitely buy Gary Oullet's CLOSE UP ILLUSIONS. 7. Mentalism Annemann, Ted Practical Mental Magic (1983, Dover) [SD] Reprint of a 1944 Annemann book which is one of the basic texts for learning mentalism. Becker, Larry Larry Becker's World of Super Mentalism (1978, Tannen) [SD] Some nice mentalism effects that are not hard to do. Corinda 13 Steps to Mentalism (1968, Tannen) [SD] A "classic" work but, some feel, flawed because it often obscures the important stuff it has to say with a lot of verbiage. (However, older books often seem to be written very pompously.) Fulves, Karl Self-Working Mental Magic (19??, Dover) [RD] A collection of basic methods for a variety of mental magic, including predictions, psychometry, book tests, etc. Favourite trick: "bill-halves into the sealed envelope" - DEADLY! 8. Other Magic Albenice Reel Magic (1950, Tannen) [SD] The main treatise on use of "the reel." Like many such "classic" works, it shows its age, but is still one of the only books on this topic. Anderson, Gene and Marshall, Jay Newspaper Magic (?,?) [RD] A wide variety of tricks using newspaper, including Anderson's award-winning paper-tearing and paper-folding act. Anderson's torn-and-restored newspaper is something of a classic. It's my favorite trick in this book. Fitzkee, Dariel Rope Eternal (1984, D. Robbins & Co.) [SD] Robbins edition of a 1956 monograph on "The Only Six Ways to Restore a Rope" which focuses on the Cut-and-Restored Rope effects. Includes numerous effects based on these techniques. Basic book for folks who are interested in this effect and its variations. Fulves, Karl Self-Working Paper Magic (1985, Dover) [SD] Easy to learn and perform effects with paper for beginning magicians. Many based on "topology" tricks, paper folding, and effects with money. Ganson, Lewis Reelistic Magic (?,?) [RD] A collection of tricks using reels. A bit more modern than Albenice's book, but still dated. James, Stewart Abbott's Encyclopedia of Rope Tricks for Magicians (1975, Dover) [SD] Reprint of a 1945 work covering all aspects of magic with ropes covering knots, penetrations (one and two rope varieties), cut- and restored, the "Hindoo" rope trick, and miscellaneous effects. Marci, Jill The Art of Clowning (1993, ?) I have authored a book called the art of clowning...Its been reviewed in Genie Magazine...the book deals with children's magic, nightclub magic, Magician versus clown magic, magic at festivals, fairs, on television also deals with designing a clown face, animal balloons, puppetry. Promotional ideas, selling yourself, plus more. 62 pages book sells for $12.50 plus $5.00 shipping and handling Foreword to the book is written by Goldfinger and Dove. From: jillm@netcom.com (Jill Marci) Marshall, Francis The Sponge Book (19??, Magic Inc.) [SD] Lots of advice (in a small booklet) on sponge magic, including explanation of Al Goshman's routine with the invisible purse. Mishell, Ed and Abe Hurwitz ELASTRIX (1979, Magico Magazine) [HS] Rubber Bands - Tricks, Stunts and Puzzles Novak, Bob Jack Miller's Famous Linking Ring Routine (1976, Tannen) [SD] Reprint of a 1945 monograph on one well-known Linking Ring routine which includes a variety of ways to display rings during the routine. One could take these individual ideas and craft shorter routines as well as reorder the one that's here. Penn and Teller How to Play with Your Food Got the book last week-end, spent all afternoon reading it, almost wet myself. Definitely worth the price, but don't get your hopes up about the included gimmicks, they're pretty lame. NOTE: See the recall announcement about the sugar packets. Page, Patrick and Goshman, Albert Magic by Gosh (19??, Goshman) [SD] Basically, Goshman's act, all of it, plus other items. [RD] Goshman's work with sponges was incredibly good, and his "coins under the salt shaker" routine was great. I assume these are in this book. Rice and Van Zandt Through the Dye Tube (1971, Silk King Studios) [SD] Reprint of a 1943 document on use of the dye tube for vanishing, producing, and performing color changes with silks. A basic text on working with a dye tube for silks. Shute, Merlyn How-To Book of the Chop Cup (1980, Morrissey Magic Ltd) [SD] A monograph on the use of the Chop Cup. Shute, Merlyn Out of Your Pocket (19??, Morrissey Magic Ltd) [RD] More than the title suggests, this booklet gives some pointers for choosing effects to perform professionally in a restaurant setting, choosing a professional name, etc. Favourite trick: Sid Lorraine's handling for the cut and restored rope. Shute, Merlyn How-To Book of the Zombie (1983, Morrissey Magic Ltd) [SD] A monograph on the use of the Zombie. Shute, Merlyn Cups, Cups, Cups (1980, Morrissey Magic Ltd) [SD] A monograph on the use of the Cups and Balls. Walsh, Audley Sponge Ball Manipulations (?,?) [RD] A booklet of routines using mostly standard, but also some non-standard sponge balls. Includes the "Master Routine" Weigle, Oscar and Dell, Alan Money Magic of Mike Bornstein, The (1980, Magico Magazine) Lees, Walt More Money Magic of Mike Bornstein (198?, Magico Magazine) Bornstein, Mike Latest Money Magic of Mike Bornstein (1988, Bornstein) [SD] Set of three booklets on magic with dollar bills: floating them, folding them, tearing them, etc. Willmarth, Phillip Ring and Rope Book (Vol One) (1976, Willmarth) [SD] A survey of things to do with rope and a single ring (metal or wooden). For those who do the Linking Rings and or rope effects, maybe you'd like putting them together for some variety. (Some folks like to do this sort of stuff with silks and rings.) [RD] This is a fine book, but it has more typos per page ("left hand" instead of "right hand", etc) than any other I've seen. Once you sort them out, some of the tricks are great. Favourite trick: Quicksilver. 9. History/Reference Christopher, Milbourne Illustrated History of Magic, The (1973, Crowell) [SD] A very nice history of magic book. A "coffee table" book, but good information. [RD] Is this the book where Christopher perpetuates the myth about one of the pyramids of Egypt containing a picture of a magician performing the cups and balls? Clark, Hyla World's Greatest Magic, The (1976, Tree Communications) [SD] A "coffee table" book about personalities in magic both past and present (around the time of this book, e.g., Doug Henning). An interesting book, however, for those who want to know about some of the folks who have (and do) make a name for magic. The book also discusses some magic effects (including large stage illusions) and how they are done in a special section by The Amazing Randi. Cox, J. Randolph Man of Magic and Mystery: A Guide to the Work of Walter B. Gibson (1988, Scarecrow Press) I visited him often in the last decade of his life and took most of my notes for the book from his own collection and from interviews with him. A fascinating man. From: cox@stolaf.edu (J Randolph Cox) Dawes, Edwin and Setterington, Arthur Encyclopedia of Magic, The (1986, Gallery Books) [SD] Mainly a "picture book" (color and B&W) discussing the history of magic and some of its major categories such as escapes, stage illusions, mentalism, levitations, card magic, etc. Also includes some current -- at the time of the book and shortly before -- personalities. [RD] No relation. Fisher, John Paul Daniels and the Story of Magic (?,?) [RD] Basically a rave-up about Daniels (who is admittedly pretty good), but also has a lot of interesting information about the development of magic as an entertainment form. Gibson, Walter The Master Magicians: Their Lives and Most Famous Tricks (1966, Doubleday and Co.) [RD] Historical and biographical information about the greats of years gone by. Interesting stuff. Randi, James Conjuring (1992 St. Martin's Press) [MK] Some nice photos. Some historical & biographical info. Still not sure who Randi decided who to include in the book -- its impossible to include everyone.. Waters, T.A. Encyclopedia of Magic and Magicians (1988, Facts On File Publ.) [SD] Just what is sounds like: a one-volume reference book on people, effects, and places related to magic. Can't think of a better book to have for such purposes given its reasonable price ($20). It doesn't explain effects but tells you what they are about, i.e., explains the parlance of the magical arts. Includes some photographs of personalities mentioned. 10. Business Issues in Magic Charles, Kirk Standing Up Surrounded (1989, Hermetic Press) [SD] Advice about performing in a crowd on your feet with a Foreword by Eugene Burger. Covers the kinds of bookings you're likely to get requiring such performance conditions and deals with subjects like "Food and Drink," "Problem Audiences" (e.g., children, repeaters, drunks, jerks, and -- ta-da -- The Exposer), "Promoting," "Selling," sample contracts, and advice on selecting material for such venues. Charles, Kirk Manual of Restaurant Magic (1987, Conjurers' Press) [SD] Just what it sounds like: advice on performing in restaurants -- Foreword by Eugene Burger. Sections cover preparation, booking, selling, and, of most concern, the actual working of such an audience. As opposed to standing up and walking around, it is likely you'll be sitting at individual tables with a small group (though some may end up behind you). It talks about getting tips and getting away from a group politely, too. Ullman, Al Business of Restaurant Magic (?,?) [RD] This covers much of the same ground as Kirk Charles's book. Lots of sound advice for starting out as a restaurant magician. \\ // \\// /00\ \> | | | | \____/ -- Mike Kamlet mike@vpnet.chi.il.us ****************************************************************************** Frequently asked questions in alt.magic/part3 (of 4) Last modified: June 1, 1993 Please send suggested corrections and additions to: mike@vpnet.chi.il.us Topics: Part 3 VI. OTHER MAGIC REFERENCES VI-A. MAGAZINES VI-B. VIDEOS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- VI. OTHER MAGIC REFERENCES ------------------------------------------------------------------------- VI-A. MAGAZINES ON MAGIC The following list of magic magazines is from contributions from the following people: barnett@grymoire.crd.ge.com (Bruce Barnett) nielsen@crd.ge.com (Paul Nielsen) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- General Magic ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Genii PO Box 36068 Los Angeles, CA 90036 $30 a year for 12 issues. Color cover, 80 pages an issue. The largest circulation of any magazine. Everyone should get this just for the ads, as most items are advertized here. Some columns are useless. I currently enjoy "The Giorgio Letters" which describes how the Erdnase book is a lot of bull. I also enjoy the T. A. Waters book reviews and Harkey's column. ------- MAGIC Magazine 13337 E South Street, #310 Cerritos, CA 90701 one year subscription is $30. In my (st922964@pip.cc.brandeis.edu) opinion, is certainly the BEST magic magazine out there. It is where I learn about 90% of my magic news and features very interesting articles by the likes of Stan Allen and Michael Caveny. Checks go to MAGIC CIRCULATION. ------- MAGIC - an Independent Magazine for Magicians. Stan Allen & Associates 7380 S. Eastern Ave. Suite 124-179 Las Vegas, NV 89123 $30 a year/ 12 issues. Similar to Genii (actually - they are competitors) Color cover and color inside. Columns by Paul Gertner (performance tips), Richard Kaufman (editor of the magic section), and reviews by Mike Weber. ----- Goodlife's Abracadabra Published weekly. $88.50 for 52 issues 20 pages each issue. (Send $2.00 in cash for sample issue ) Goodlife Publications 150 New Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B60 2LG. England ----- Magigram 12 issues for $35 Supreme Magic Company Supreme House, Bideford, Devon EX39 2AN England ----- Precursor: A Magazine of Innovation unikorn magic 2215 Mytle St. Erie, PA 16502 Edited by Bill Miesel 3 issues a year $16 in US. Canada, Mexico, $19 elsewhere Similar to Ibidem. Mostly new/experimental card work. ------- The Trapdoor Steven L. Beam Trapdoor Productions 407 Carrington Drive Knightdale, NC 27545 (919) 266-7900 5 issues a year $30 USA, $42.50 Overseas Excellent artwork and Humor, Closeup ------- The Minotaur P.O. Box 470025 Broadview Hts. Oh 44147 $18/year (I think 4-5 issues) This is Dan Harlan's magazine and its suppose to be one of the best close up magazines. Not much card stuff. Dan's has a great mind (I should probably get a subscription-- Mike Kamlet) ------------------ The Servante P.O. Box 1714, Sta "M" Calgary Alberta Canada T2P 2L7 $20 for 4 issues Unknown quality - read about the magazine in an ad. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- New Age, Bizarre Magic, Mentalism, Occult, Tarot, Crystals, etc ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Magick (Edited by Bascom Jones) 7107 Weldon Ave. Bakersfield, CA 93308 $25 for 26 issues. 4-6 pages per issue. (Every other week a bonus insert in included.) This magazine specializes in mentalism. ------- Snake-Oil Almanack P. O. Box 465 Monroe, MI 48161-0465 4 issues @ $20. An issue is two books 4" by 5 1/2", ~20-30 pages each book. The presentation is in one, and the method is in the other. Published quarterly, hopefully. Specializes in Bizarre, New Age, Occult presentations. ------- Krypts Quarterly Crier c/o David Zver 89 West Broad St. Bethehem, PA 18018 4 issues for $20. An issue is 16 pages of 8 1/2 by 11. Specializes in Bizarre, New Age, Occult presentations. ------- The New Invocation (Edited by Docc Hilford) PO Box 17163 Phoenix, AZ 85011 $20 for 12 issues (12 pages, 8 1/2" by 11") Published irregularly. Specializes in Bizarre, New Age, Occult presentations. ------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Magazine for Collectors ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Aphelion Thomas A. Sawyer 521 S. Lyon St., No. 105 Santa Ana, CA 92701 $30 ----------------- Magic Collector's Bulletin George Daily's Magacana for Collectors 3778 Cayuga Lane York, PA 17402 (717) 757-3098 $4 for current issue ----------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Magic Clubs ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Linking Ring International Brotherhood of Magicians PO Box 192090 St. Lousis MO 63119-9998 Tele: (314) 351-7677 Fax: (314) 353-4771 ---- M. U. M. Society of American Magicians John Apperson S. A. M. Membership Development 2812 Idaho Granite City, Illinois, 62040 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Special Interests ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Rubber Chicken Chronicles Comedy and Christian Newsletter Send $2 for sample issue P. O. Box 505 Sweetwater, TN 37874 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- VI-B. VIDEOS ON MAGIC The following is a list of video tapes on magic. The intent is to list tapes which instruct rather than tapes of magic performances. If you are interested in the later, Jeff Isozaki (jti01@duts.ccc.amdahl.com) posts a monthly list of "Magic in Movies" indicating movies, actors, and scenes in which magic appears. Contributors: Sleight of Hans cragaisi@isis.cs.du.edu (Chris) georgec@eng.umd.edu (George B. Clark) gumby@matt.ksu.ksu.edu (David B. Gumminger) halw@hpwrce.mayfield.hp.com (Hal Work) jti01@duts.ccc.amdahl.com (Jeff Isozaki) msibbern@nyx.cs.du.edu (Michael Sibbernsen) nielsen@crd.ge.com (Paul Nielsen) nigel@ietech.demon.co.uk ("Nigel G. Backhurst") Advanced Card Work - all of the Tannen's Stars of Magic-Paul Harris series. Paul is good, funny, and weird. The tapes are extremely well done, and the selection of magic is commercial (i.e. not just finger flinging to impress other magicians, its finger flinging to impress _everybody_!) Definitely not for beginners! Animation and Levitation - Kevin James' Floating Rose This tape is phenomenal! You might never do the floating rose, but you learn everything you need to do levitiation and animation (close up and stage). It is difficult, but Kevin takes you step by step and leaves nothing out. Basic Card and Coin Sleights - Brad Burt series Brad is the best teacher of effects around. He has beginners' tapes on cards, coins, flourishes and sponge balls. They are self-produced so they are more reasonably priced than Tannen tapes. Brad "guarantees" you can learn the stuff from the tapes. I don't know if that means refunding the price of the tape if you can't, but it seems worth a try. For more info, call (619) 571-4749, Fax: (619) 571-7943. Basic Card Slights - Bill Tarr 90min tape packed with, as Bill Tarr says, "everything you need to know to be a dynamite card magician." The video has fairly poor production quality, and the backdrop is quite confusing. This aside, the instruction is excellent; Bill Tarr is a very good teacher. The topics include: The Slip Shuffle, Jog Shuffle, Hindu Shuffle, Slip Cut, False Triple Cut, Double Cut Classic Pass, Invisible Pass, Say When Pass, Classic Force, Riffle Force, Top- Palm, Double Lift, Top Change, Glide, Buckle, Elmsley Count, Card Weaving, and Key Cards. It includes good bits of card business and a few good card tricks. Recommend to any beginning magician as a good way to start with almost all basic card slights. Also pretty good for those more experienced that need to work on old skills. Brad Burt Video Tapes - Brad Burt series Are excellent for instructional purposes. They are not fancy studio productions but are easy to follow. One includes the Zarrow shuffle and appears excellent. The tapes are advertised in Genii from Brad Burt's Magic Shop in San Diego. Card Manipulation and Flourishes "Card Flourishes" - Lou Lancaster "The Major Card Flourishes" - Brad Burt "Fedko - Card Illusions" - John Fedko "Card and Ball Manipulation" - Peki "Steven's Vol 3" - Shimada Chop Cup, The - Brad Burt Everything to do the Chop cup, complete with the double large load endings standing up and surrounded. Eugene Goes Bizarre - Eugene Burger - STEVEN'S VOL 4" I'm very impressed with Burger's Videos. The number of tricks is pretty low but the production values are the highest I've seen in any of the 8 videos I own. I do a modified version of his "Retribution" (aka the burned card) and just left people with jaws on the floor. His Gypsy thread routine in "..Bizzare" is REALLY nice. I have several of his books and attended a small seminar that he gave in St. Paul last year. A thoroughly enjoyable person, he really puts a lot of work into his routines, books and videos. Gambling Protection Series - Steve Forte Mail order from RGE - 414 Santa Clara Av; Oakland, CA 94610 Phone: (510)465-6452; Fax:(510)652-4330 Mail: RGE is a publisher and distributor of gambling related literature, software and videos. (Visa and MC only for phone orders) Tape #1: EXCELLENT examples of the pass. These videos are NOT DESIGNED FOR MAGICIANS OR THE GENERAL PUBLIC. They target pro gamblers and expose gambling sleights from many angles and in slow motion, etc. Forte's execution of the two handed pass is flawless. Steve makes a living doing "cheating at gambling" demos, writing, etc. HE USED TO BE A FULL TIME CASINO DEALER. He also discusses stacking decks, etc. A great video. Greatest Hits - Randy Wakeman C&S Enterprises - 1116 Brookview - Brentwood, TN USA 37027 90 minutes. 13 effects all taught. All Card routines. Great quality, post production editing by pro magician (Jim Suprise). Three good routines are Overclock, Card under glass, and Spectator on stage. I have included Spectator on stage in my own performance it is a great ace cutting effect. Harry Loryane Linking Ring "Fine Selections, fine quality, fine teaching tape" David Harkey Lecture - David Harkey Top notch! His routines are simple, visual, and strong. It requires some good misdirection, but its not overly finger flinging. Here are some of the routines he performed: 1- He takes out a clean purse filled with black balloons. He blows one up and pulls off the round part. It becomes a billiard ball. 2- He took a glass marble (it's like, man, a new age crystal, you know) and softened it with a lighter. He then held it to his lips and blew into it. It expanded from his mouth like a balloon and you realize it's a test tube. He fills the tube with sugar from a packet, and then turns the tube into an hour glass - filled with sugar. He uses this hour glass to turn time back to the beginning, where the tube becomes a marble and the sugar is back in the unopened packet. (PERFORMANCE ONLY) 3- "No Return" - A safety pin is placed in a business card, and the hole is dragged around. (steel pin = $12) 4- A bill and pencil are borrowed. the pencil penetrates the middle of the bill, which remains untorn. 5- Four coins are visibly produced and appear at the ends of his fingers as he touched the table. 6- A ring penetrates his ring finger visibly. A spectator can place her hand on his and FEEL the ring travel up and thru his finger. 7- 4 coins travel into a glass - You can visibly see the coins arrive in the glass. Most (all) of the material is in his book. His lecture consists of 10 items. His book has 60 items. All of the material is similar in style/strength. He is very innovative. His routines have been used to win awards. He spent "10 years of his life" working on this book and it shows. He is a nice guy and quite funny. He is easy to talk to and not egotistical. He has a knack of ribbing people in the audience w/out insulting them. This is a rare talent. Strongly recommend the lecture and the book. Illusion Video, The A cheaply made, cheaply bought video teaching you how to make and perform some standard stage illusions. Included are producing an assistant, a dove production and vanish, various producing tubes and boxes, and the flying carpet levitation (you could use an audience member for this one without tipping the method). Impossibilia - The John Bannon Video. It demonstrates and explains 13 tricks, and it runs 90 minutes. It's excellent. Linking Rings - Here is a partial list of tapes with instructions on the linking rings: 1) Fedko - John Fedko has a series of 6 tapes numbered 1 thru 6. One of the tapes has linking rings as well as other platform effects. I believe the linking rings are on the "Classic Magic" volume. 2) Marc DeSousa - "Prize Winning Magic" 3) Richard Ross - Stevens' "Greater Magic" series The most beautiful version of rings I have ever seen. I watched it many times and was always impressed. He's great. Negotiating Higher Performance Fees audio tape - Michael Ammar Recommended regarding fees earned by magicians. On the Pass - Richard Kaufman I just bought the video "On the Pass" by Richard Kaufman last weekend. It is a good presentation of the classic pass, riffle pass and Herrmann pass along with several variations and tricks based on them. He first demonstrates the pass as the spectator would see it. Then carefully shows finger positions and moves very slowly. This is shown from the performer's point of view. Then he speeds things up. Awesome! My first time through the tape, I just sat there with my mouth hanging open. Do I ever have a lot of practicing to do. One comment he makes near the end of the 40 minute video is, "Practice the classic pass 100 times a day for a year and you'll really have something special." Penn and Teller - 1: Cruel Tricks for Dear Friends, The video version of their book of the same name. The Tricks are different than those in the book. You actually use portions of the video to play the pranks. Hilarious. 2: Penn and Teller Go Public: A 30 minute video which I believe was originally a PBS special. They do some of their classic bits like the handstab and Teller's Straight-jacket escape. A mini-concert if you will. 3: Penn and Teller Get Killed: An actual movie about Penn and Teller. Penn and Teller guest star on a talk show. Penn mentions how exciting he thinks life would be if someone were trying to kill him. You guessed it. Someone takes him seriously!! Some good magic and lots of humor. Restaurant Magic Business - Charles Green Tape that is VERY helpful for the restaurant performer. Routine Closeup - John Mendoza's C&S Enterprises - 1116 Brookview - Brentwood, TN USA 37027 1 hr 40 min tape. Mendoza performs 10 effects and teaches 6 of them. Great quality, post production editing by pro magician (Jim Suprise). Particularly well explained are Mendoza's Cups and Balls and Dice Stacking. The Dice stacking are done in slow motion with a clear glass. Phil Willmarth in Linking Ring said, ".. it is far and away the finest instructional video I have ever seen" Simply Magic - Bill Thompson - from The House of Secrets, 12 Caunce Street, Blackpool tel 0253 20902 Thumb Tips - Patrick Page - from the Trik-A-Tape Company, 45-47 Clarenwell Road, London, EC1M 5RS tel 01 253 9693 Having watched perhaps a dozen instructional VHS tapes on magic, this one has to be my favorite. It gives an incredible amount of detail for the endless variety of tricks you can do using a thumb tip. I see beginners frequently posting inquiries about how to get started in magic. Buying a copy of this tape is my advice. Topit Secrets - Patrick Page - from the Trik-A-Tape Company, 45-47 Clarenwell Road, London, EC1M 5RS tel 01 253 9693 Zarrow Shuffle, The - Brad Burt This man has to be one of the best teachers I've ever seen. Here, he teaches both the Zarrow and Faro shuffles as well as tricks. The Zarrow is the best looking table false shuffle I've ever seen. Unless you are specifically looking for it, you can't tell the difference between a Zarrow shuffle and a tabled riffle shuffle - even then you might not do it. \\ // \\// /00\ \> | | | | \____/ -- Mike Kamlet mike@vpnet.chi.il.us ****************************************************************************** Archive-name: magic-faq/part4 Last-modified: Sept. 4, 1993 Frequently asked questions in alt.magic/part4 (of 4) Last modified: Sept. 4, 1993 Please send suggested corrections and additions to: mike@vpnet.chi.il.us Topics: Part 4 VII. LIST OF DEALERS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- VII. LIST OF DEALERS The following list of magic dealers is compiled from contributions from the following people: barnett@grymoire.crd.ge.com (Bruce Barnett) batten@kodak.kodak.com (James x42773/RDCS/5-15-KO) blake@cs.buffalo.edu (Brian C. Blake) drbill@cbnewsg.cb.att.com (william.h.davies) fmah@mta.ca (Frank) georgec@eng.umd.edu (George B. Clark) jillm@netcom.com (Jill Marci) jl3a+@andrew.cmu.edu (James A. Lane) jti01@duts.ccc.amdahl.com (Jeff Isozaki) nielsen@crd.ge.com (Paul Nielsen) presto@bach.udel.edu (Jason Y Nocks) rja@batcomfs.Eng.Sun.COM (Robert Allen) scream@brahms.udel.edu st922964@pip.cc.brandeis.edu zerucha@shell.portal.com (Thomas E Zerucha) Comments, appearing in parens after the dealer's name, represent the opinion of the contributor, though in some cases they have been edited for brevity. Abbotts Magic Company (Catalog is pretty good. Definitely of the thick variety. (about 500 large pages) It's got a heck of a lot of stuff in just about every area. The pricing seems fair to good, but probably not excellent in terms of good deals.) Colon, MI 49040 (616) 432-3235 (800) 92MAGIC Al's Magic Shop 1012 Vermont Ave. NW Washington, DC 20005 (800) ALS-MAGIC Aladdin Books (An independent Bookstore Featuring an Eclectic Selection of New and Antiquarian Books" has a very large selection of new, used and rare magic books and lecture notes. The owner is very knowledgeable about magic.) 122 West Commonweath Fullerton, CA 92632 (714) 738-6115 Amer. Magic Co. 3261 Trinity Road Harrisburg, PA 17109 Axtell 230 Glencrest Circle - R Ventura, CA 93003 (805) 642-7282 Balloon Box (Balloons, & related books) St. James Park 2416 Ravendale Court Kissimmee, FL 34758 (407) 933-8888 Barry's Magic Shop (The magicians who work at Barry's Magic Shop will teach a customer how to use anything they buy.) Wheaton, MD Bill Tarr Dept 21, Box 700 East Hampton, NY 11937 Brad Burt's 4688 Convoy St Suite 109 San Diego, CA 92111 (619) 571-4749 (inquiries) ORDERS: (800) 748-5759 Browser's Den of Magic, The 875 Eglinton Avenue West, Unit 13 Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6C 3Z9 (416) 783-7022 C & C Magic and Special Effects Company Inc. P.O. Box 331 Littleton, MA 01460-0331 or 5 Elm Court Maynard, MA 01754-1101 (508) 897-7599 (800) MAGIC-04 Camirand Academy of Magic Dept. 300 Succ A P.O. Box 269 Longueuil QC J4H 3XC CANADA (514) 670-6026 Cards by Martin (High quality gimmicked cards/decks custom made) 44533 N. Date Lancaster, CA 93534 Carrandi (Old books, apparatus, magazines, posters, catalogs, puzzles, etc.) (The latest catalog is 72 pages long and goes for $7.) 122 Monroe Avenue Belle Mead, NY 08502 (908) 874-0630 FAX: (908) 874-4892 Celestial Sorcery Inc. (Operated by Jay Scott Berry) 11333 Moorpark Suite 1000 Studio City, CA 91602 Collector's Workshop (Most all of their stuff is very expensive, catalog is $5.00. For folks who don't know, CW is one of the few shops to take a less draconian stance on returns. Ever since a shop refused to accept a strait-jacket after the T-bar tore out the first time I tried it on, despite a history of business with them and full knowledge of the methods before I got the jacket, I've started to appreciate CW's policy more and more.) Misty Morn Farm, Rt#1, Box 113A Middleburg, VA 22117 (703) 687-6476 (inquiries) ORDERS: (800) MAGICCW FAX: (703) 687-6122 Dallas & Co. 101 E. University Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 351-5974 (217) 351-9255 (fax) (owned by Andy Dallas who is primarily and escape artist. SAM #120 meets at the shop thrid tues. of the month) Dan Garrett 4929 Salem Rd. Lithonia, GA 30038 Davenports, 7 Charing Cross Underground Shopping Arcade, London WC2N 4HZ Tel: 01 836 0408 Daytona Magic 136 S. Beach Street Daytona beach, FL 32114 (904) 252-6767 ORDERS: (800) 34-MAGIC FAX: (904) 252-9037 Douglas Tilford P.O. Box 650 Experiment, GA 30212-0650 (404) 227-7634 (inquiries) ORDERS: (800) 537-5381 Eagle Magic (Larry Kahlow) 708 Portland Ave Minneapolis, MN 55415 (612) 333-4702 El Duco's Magic (Catalog $5) Box 31052 200 49 Malmo Sweden Fleming Book Co, 728 Madison Ave, York, PA 17404 Flora & Company (Videos and Audio tapes. Excellent material on practical marketing, etc.) box 8263 Albuquerque, NM 87198 Flosso Hornmann Magic Co. 304 W 34th St. New York, NY 10001 Flying Apparatus Catalogue (Juggling, etc.) 2121 Staunton Court Palo Alto, CA 94306 (415) 424-0739 Four Jokers Magic Shop (Visa/Mastercard orders accepted) (There are larger stores, but its hard to beat these guys. If they know you are a magician and are interested in a trick they will let you in on the secret. After all, to be honest, if you are in the comunity (magic) you are bound to eventually find someone who has purchased the same thing and will eventually find out the inner workings. BUT, you might see something that just blows your socks off, go and buy it THEN find out it is beyond your abilities. At least this way, you have the chance to 'test drive' it to see if it is something you really want.) 45 Main Street - P.O. Box 38 Tonawanda, NY 14150 (716) 693-7930 E-mail contact: blake@cs.buffalo.edu (Brian C. Blake) Great American Juggling & Fun Co., The (Call for a catalog. Their prices are discounted, and they ship quickly! They also have magic and balloon stuff. Most of the jugglers I know buy their props there.) P.O. Box 227 Pine Forge, PA 19548-0227 (800) 3-JUGGLE H and R Magic Books (Specializes in old books, catalog is $3) 3702 Cyril Dr. Humble, TX 77396-4302 (713) 454-7219 or (713) 488-4578 Hades Publ. Box 1414 Calgary, Alberta Canada, T2P 2L6 (403) 254-0160 FAX: (403) 254-0456 Hades Seattle Magic Sentre (A very wide selection, pay to get their catalog.) (Great selection, catalog is $12.00 Book catalog is $5.00. These guys are probably one of the more useful references on this list.) Box 2242, Seattle, WA 98111-2242 (206) 624-4287 Haines House of Cards (Retail, manufacture, and wholesale. Located near US Playing Card Co.) 2514 Leslie Ave Norwood, OH 45212 (513) 531-6548 Hank Lee's Magic Factory (Catalog is thick, chock full of good deals, and does what no other magic catalog I've ever seen do - offers fun to read descriptions.) Mail Order Division P.O. Box 789 Medford, MA 02155 (617) 482 8749 FAX: (617) 395-2034 ORDERS: (800) 874-7400 Hermetic Press Box 20383 Seattle, WA 98102 Hollywood Magic, Inc. (They carry a decent selection of standard effects in their catalog, which is about $7.50) 6614 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, CA (213) 464-5610 House of Magic, The (Carries both old and new stuff, and specializes in antiques, imported, and limited edition stuff. The primary drawback with this place is that it's full of rubber doggy-do, inflatable women, rubber snakes, etc., and seeing into the over-stuffed counters is sometimes tough. You have to become sort of known face to get the most value out of this store. It does have the largest local book section.) 2025 Chestnut St. San Francisco, CA (415) 346-2218 International Magic, 89 Clerkenwell Road, London EC1 Tel: 01 405 7324 Jeff Busby (Many unique books, close-up props) 612 Cedar Street Wallace, ID 83873-2233 ORDERS: (800) 445-0918 Jeff Busby (Carries mostly books, but also carrys some magic equipment. He uses a tremendous amount of hyperbola in his advertising, and makes it sound like he's the only guy who carrys the stuff that he carrys, which isn't true. But he does make unexcelled machined and spun copper, brass, and stainless steel cups for cups and balls (I'm not sure if he's doing this right now), and he also has some beautiful turned wood wands & cups.) 10329 MacArthur Blvd Suites 5&6 Oakland, CA 94605-5147 (510) 562-6340 (inquiries) ORDERS: (800) 445-0918 John Brownback (He has tons of books, new and old for sale. He's really good to work with and you're sure to get a good deal!) Springfield, IL. (217) 522-5800 Johnson Precision Magic Products, Inc. (Well known manufacturer of coin magic) P.O. Box 734 Arcadia, CA 91066 Johnson Smith Co 4514 19th Court East P.O. Box 25500 Bradenton, FL 34206-5500 Kennedy 8 Winchester Irvine CA 92720 (714) 262-1164 Ken-Zo's Party Place Ken & Bernie Horsman 1025-29 S. Charles St. Baltimore, MD 21230 410-727-5811 Kevin James 9682 Katella Anaheim, CA 92804 (714) 520-4381 FAX: (714) 535-5237 Klamm Magic (They stock a wide range of books, close-up effects and even stage sized illusions.) 1412-L Appleton Independence, MO 64052 (816) 461-4595 KT Magic (Collectable magic & books. Prompt service, good prices, and good quality merchandise. Catalog is $4.00.) 3925 Richardson Rd. Ste #24 Independance, KY 41051 (606) 525-1605 L&L Publishing P.O. Box 100 Tahoma, CA 96142 (916) 525-5700 ORDERS: (800) 626-6572 FAX: (916) 525-7008 La Rocks's (Balloons + Clown Supplies) 2123 Central Avenue Charlotte, NC 28205 (704) 333-3434 FAX: (704) 536-4600 (10AM - 6PM) ORDERS: (800) 473-3425 Lee Jacobs Prod P.O. Box 362-L189 Pomeroy, OH 45769-0362 (614) 992-5208 old posters/books, repro posters.. Magic Center 739 8th Ave. New York, NY 10036 Magic Collector's Bulletin George Daily's Magacana for Collectors 3778 Cayuga Lane York, PA 17402 (717) 757-3098 $4 for current issue Magic Land (The most famous magic shop in Tokyo is Ton Onosaka's, "Magic Land". It's located near Kayaba-Cho subway station (Tozai-line or Hibiya-line). Near the Tokyo Station. The shop is very small and hard to find. Call for directions. Closed Mondays. Tu-Sat 10-18:00 (?)) Phone from Narita airport (outside of Tokyo city) : 03-3666-4749 Phone from inside of Tokyo city : 3666-4749 Magic Masters 2224C Stone Mtn-Lithonia Rd. Lithonia, GA 30058 (404) 482-1100 Magic Methods P.O. Box 4105 L Greenville, SC 29608 Magic, INC (Large publisher of books. Catalog is $7.00) 5082 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago, IL 60625 (312) 334-2855 The Magic Shop Evan Katz 829J State St. Lemoyne, PA 17043 (near Harrisburgh) 717-737-7559 Mark Leveredge 29 Wresfords Close, Exeter, Devon EX4 5AY, England Tel: 0392 52000 Martin Breese International (Close-up books, props, etc.) P.O. Box 842 Sheffield S2 5TB, England Phone: 0742 737441 (24 hour answering machine) FAX: 0742-726420 (24 hours) Maxilla & Mandible, LTD The Natural History and Science Emporium (Bones, specimens, skulls, etc. Catalog: $9.95) 451-5 Columbus Ave New York, NY 10024 (212) 724-6173 Meca Magic Bloomfield, NJ (201) 429-7597 Meir Yedid P.O. Box 55 Rego Park, NY 11374 (718) 592-6082 Metaempirical Magic P.O. Box 500-M Stockbridge, MA 01262 (413) 243-4573 Mike Rogers P.O. Box 461723 Escondido, CA 92046-1723 (619) 489-1303 More Than Magic Bob Lloyd 11 Davenport St Somerville, NJ 08876 (908) 218-0065 Morrissey Magic Ltd. (This is probably an economical choice for the Canadians of the group. What with the Canadian dollar sitting so low and everything.) 2882 Dufferin Street Toronto, Ontario M6B 3S6 (416) 782-1393 Murphy's Magic P.O. Box 7373 St. Louis, MO 63177-7373 Mystique Magic Mfg. P.O. Box 577 Rush Springs, OK 73082 (405) 476-2481 FAX: (405) 476-2692 Old Curiosity Shop 409 16th Street Watervliet, NY 12189 (217) 273-1374 Old Town Magic Shop, The ($2 for list?) 5770 W. Bronson Highway Suite 220 Kissimmee, FL 32741 Olde Towne Magic Shop 424 S. Main St. St. Charles, MO 63301 (314) 947-9292 Olde World Magick (Catalog: $1, Props for the Bizarre Magician) P.O. Box 162 Oakville, CT 06779 Palmer Magic, 23 Duane Number 6, Redwood City, CA 94062 (415) 365-3818 Paul Diamond's Magic Company (The place seems to have a HUGE selection of books, even things that are supposed to be out of print!) P.O. Box 11570 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33339 (305) 772-8067 ORDERS: (800) 330-2713 Phila. Magic 141 N. 12th St. (219 Market St ?) Phila, PA ????? (214) 627-5128 PM Magic 12977 View Mesa St. Moorpark, CA 93021 (805) 529-8416 PM Productions 1701 Monroe St LaPorte, IN 46350 Powerful Magic 1516 Purdue Ave #7 Los Angeles, CA 90025 Rabbit In The Hat Ranch 1017 Crystal Bowl Circle Casselberry, FL 32707-4536 Radella 9222 159th St, Suite #346 Orland Park, IL 60462 Repro Magic, 46 Queenstown Road, London SW8 3RY Tel: 01 720 6257 Richard Kaufman Suite 183-a 8401 Colesville Rd Silver Spring, MD 20910 Robbins 70 Washington St 9th floor Brooklyn NY 11201 ($3 catalog) Ron Allesi (Quality Used and Rare Magic) ($3 for current items, $18 for year's subscription) 364 W. Main Street P.O. Box 64 Fredonia, NY 14063 (716) 679-4073 Silques Etc. P.O. Box 272 Renssselaer, IN 47978-0272 (219) 866-4287 Sorceries Limited - (They carry about 50 effects, mostly handmade woodwork by C. Miller, at reasonable prices, but they also have a few unique publications, plus they periodically sell used magic.) P.O. Box 4169 Bethlehem, PA 18018 (215) 867-0711 Stanford Prod. P.O. Box 161 Stilwell, KS 66085 Stephen Tucker Tel: 0684 566485 Steven Dawsons Magic Touch (Steve Dawson owns and runs the place. Tends to carry new stuff only, not antiques or second hand. They also carry a few of their own manufactured tricks of various types. They have a newsletter which comes out every few months. He also is now in the mail order business, so he has a catalog available. Steve can get many more things than he stocks. What he stocks is a good selection of closeup stuff, including coins, plus standards like vanishing canes, cups & balls, etc. And some of the usual strangely painted boxes & tubes. Steve keeps a close eye on the trade, and can usually offer comments on new or old tricks.) 144 N. Milpitas Blvd. Milpitas,CA 95035 (408) 263-9404 Stevens Magic Emporium - (Much good stuff. Pay $7.50 to get on their catalog list.) (Catalog about $7.50, they carry imported magic, and intermediate priced magic in general. They carry lots of finely made brass pieces too.) 3238 East Douglas Wichita, KS 67208 (316) 683-9582 or (316) 683-5861 FAX: (316) 68-MAGIC Supreme Magic Company (From: Andy J Taylor This may be of some importance to you. The Supreme Magic Company of Bideford, Devon, England has ceased trading. All the news I have at present is that they went into voluntary liquidation. This means that there may be a reincarnation. For the time being, however, don't order from them... More news as I get it.) 64 High Street, Bideford, Devon, England. Tel: 02372 21440 Tannen's Magic, Inc (Large, impersonal) 6 W. 32nd 4th Floor New York City, NY 10001-3867 (212) 239-8383 Fax: (212) 643-0199 ORDERS: (800) 72MAGIC Top Hat, The c\o Allan Adcock 2232 W. Richwoods Blvd. Peoria, IL 61614 Tosi's Magic Manufacturing (Little known manufacturer of coin magic) 4042 Cypress Landing Winter Haven, FL 33884 (813) 324-7122 Venture III (Magic, mentalism, antique magic. Part owned by magic's largest collector. They have a special mailing for collectors.) 106 Main St. Milford, OH 45150 (513) 248-1666 Wheeler-Tanner Escapes (Escape artist equipment) P.O. Box 349 Great Falls, MT 59403 (406) 453-4961 Wheeler-Tanner Escapes (Mainly escape artist supplies. Catalog is $2, refundable with first order). 3024 E. 35th Spokane, WA 99223 (509) 448-8457. \\ // \\// /00\ \> | | | | \____/ -- Mike Kamlet mike@vpnet.chi.il.us ******************************************************************************