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Billy McComb

Billy McComb

(Belfast, Northern Ireland: April 12th, 1922 - April 30th, 2006)

Son of physician Sir Charles Henry McComb. Learned in childhood out of "either natural curiosity or instinct to deceive!". Amateur in 1940s as "Innis More", "Callidus", and "The Great Liam". 1946 Cotswold Gold Cup. Qualified as a physician in 1949 but never practiced.

1949 British Ring Shield with partner June Cochrane (later with own act as "June Merlin") whom he married later that year. Pro stand-up and stage magician since 1949. Separated from wife in 1967 and moved to USA.

1977 AMA Visiting Magician of the Year. 1984 AMA Performing Fellowship. In 1984 became 1st living European magician elected to the SAM Hall of Fame. Member of the Board, Academy of Magical Arts, 1988-2006. 2000 Christopher Lifetime Achievement Award.

Invented Hot Book (1945), Slow Cage Vanish (1945), Half-dyed Silk (1949), Double Sawing in Half (1960), McComb-ical Deck (1960), Banana Split (c1963), etc.

Coauthors: Ken de Courcy

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Billy McComb
McCombical Millennium Miracles by Billy McComb

From the introduction by Terry Seabrooke:

Billy is my longest standing magical mate - although we have been known to fall over now and again!!! We have shared so much in our lives, but the overall love we all have for Billy, is his help on all things magical, and his readiness to share with all of us his most creative ideas on new tricks and particularly on amazing and entertaining presentation. Give Billy, what to most of us is just an ordinary trick, and after thought and work, he will come up with a real commercial presentation which is above all - ENTERTAINMENT.

  • Why Listen To This Man?
  • Karrell...
$7.95
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Billy McComb
Hole Collection by Billy McComb

This comedy routine on 'Holes' is right out of Billy McComb's commercial material. You are furnished with the designs for a pattern so you can quickly make up the props (all in paper) for stage or close-up use. You will have ten minutes of laughs from a pros act. You will find many uses for this excellent material. It can be as up-to-date as today's newspaper with current comedy talk.

PDF 8 pages

$10
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Billy McComb & Ken de Courcy
Cabaret Card Divination (used) by Billy McComb & Ken de Courcy

Stapled booklet in like-new condition. For details on the contents see the digital edition.

$10
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Billy McComb
I Did It My Way by Billy McComb

In the pages of this booklet Billy goes fully through the great material which earned him such a tremendous ovation at the Supreme 2nd Magical Weekend.

Contents include:

  • The True Secret of Magic - Introduction.
  • Cut & Gone Rope (a rope is cut and then disappears).
  • The Williamised Spider
  • Torn and Restored Airmail Letter. Simple; Amusing; complete with all the patter, this was one of the hits of the lecture. It could be a hit in your show.
  • Eye-level, One-Man Card Vanish (crazy trick, yet absolutely baffling)
  • A Variation on a Theme - A rope and a ring. The audience are let in on the secret,...
★★★★★ $10
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Billy McComb & Ken de Courcy
Cabaret Card Divination by Billy McComb & Ken de Courcy

The Effect: The magician removes a pack of cards from its packet and hands it out for shuffling and cutting. He also gives a sealed envelope to another spectator for safe keeping. The shuffled deck is passed to someone else who is instructed to deal seven cards on to the hand of the person seated next to him. The performer reclaims the balance of the pack then asks the spectator to fan the seven cards he holds faces towards himself.

From the center of the floor, the magician says, "Sir, I think you are looking at a Queen of Spades. If I'm right, please remove it from the other cards and hold...

★★★★★ $20
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Billy McComb
McComb's Magic: 25 Years Wiser by Billy McComb

From the introduction:

Billy's approach requires a boldness which some may find rather disconcerting but, if you learn the routines and approach them confidently and assuredly, your hesitancy will soon disappear. Nothing has been kept out of this book. Here you will find the cream of Billy's own routines, each one polished to a thing of beauty by a great deal of study and thought, and then by repeated performance before the paying public.

  • Dedication
  • Publisher's Introduction (by Edwin)
  • Foreword
  • The Dark Side of the Moon (Ken de Courcey)
  • Extension to MIKO: A twist on a standard pocket effect to give...
★★★★★ $39
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Billy McComb
The Magic of Billy McComb Volumes 1-7 by Billy McComb

These are all seven volumes in the series.

This seven-volume series is probably the longest and most detailed audio-testimonial of a famous magician. Each of the recordings can be heard individually; if purchased and listened to in sequence they quite clearly form a complete course of magic for anyone with or without experience. Billy has worked everywhere and with most kinds of magic. What he relates on these tapes is the result of a lifetime of experience in magic. Invaluable lessons are taught. Each volume lasts around 90 minutes each (more than 10 hours in total) describing not only the...

$8
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Billy McComb
The Magic of Billy McComb Volume 7 by Billy McComb

This is volume 7 of a seven-volume series. The full routine for the Bill in Lemon effect.

  • The Full Routine for the Bill In Lemon Effect
    • Side 1 [46:37 long]
      • Recording of Bill In Lemon Effect [0:00]
      • Discussion of the Bill In Lemon [5:18]
      • Preparing the lemon [13:09]
      • Identification of the bill [24:26]
      • Vanishing the bill [28:21]
      • Inserting the bill in the lemon [32:25]
        • Delaying the applause [33:59]
      • Cutting the lemon [35:59]
      • Getting the correct lemon selected [39:46]
    • Side 2 [31:16 long]
      • Getting the correct lemon selected continued [0:00]
      • Presentation...
$8
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MP3

Billy McComb
The Magic of Billy McComb Volume 6 by Billy McComb

This is volume 6 of a seven-volume series. The full routine for the Nap Hand effect.

  • The Full Routine for the Nap Hand Effect
    • Side 1 [42:07 long]
      • History of the Nap Hand (Whist) effect [0:00]
        • What is Nap (and Whist)? [2:06]
      • Basis of the effect [2:46]
        • Do tricks the audience likes [6:24]
      • The blindfold [17:00]
      • The set-up [19:41]
      • The routine [20:23]
        • Getting volunteers on stage [21:13]
        • Following suit [35:51]
        • The run of the cards [39:19]
    • Side 2 [33:52 long]
      • The routine continued [0:00]
      • References...
$8
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Billy McComb
The Magic of Billy McComb Volume 5 by Billy McComb

This is volume 5 of a seven-volume series. The full Ring On Stick routine.

  • The Full Ring on Stick Routine
    • Side 1 [44:01 long]
      • Himber Ring Routine [0:00]
      • Ring on Stick Routine [1:51]
        • About the recording [2:40]
        • Sound & lighting [6:38]
        • Practicing [9:25]
        • The stick [11:18]
      • Recording of performance – part 1 [13:10]
      • Ring on Stick Routine continued [14:48]
        • The jeweler’s loupe [14:48]
        • Rings & ring index [21:08]
      • Recording of performance – part 2 [27:06]
      • Ring on Stick Routine continued [28:08]
      • Recording of performance...
$8
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MP3

Billy McComb
The Magic of Billy McComb Volume 4 by Billy McComb

This is volume 4 of a seven-volume series. Close Up Magic.

  • Close Up Magic & More
    • Side 1 [28:22 long]
      • Close Up Magic Conditions [0:00]
      • Cigarette Through Handkerchief [1:59]
      • Paper Napkin in Hand [7:53]
      • Silk Vanish in Hand [11:55]
      • Close Up Magic Conditions – again [15:57]
      • My Drink [17:25]
      • The Recurring Card [19:17]
      • Magic Auctions [20:41]
      • Punch & Judy Outfit [21:22]
      • Glove Monkey [22:27]
    • Side 2 [27:52 long]
      • Glove Monkey continued [0.00]
      • Selbit Sawing Through a Woman [1:21]
      • Crushing a Woman [5:48]
      • Compeering a show [7:23]
        • Thief Proof Case [9:32]
        • Flash...
$8
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MP3

Billy McComb
The Magic of Billy McComb Volume 3 by Billy McComb

This is volume 3 of a seven-volume series. The Himber Ring Routine and Night Club Magic.

  • The Himber Ring Routine and Night Club Magic
    • Side 1 [36:53 long]
      • Night Club Magic – recording of a performance [0:00]
        • Half Dyed Silk [0:00]
        • Silk to Egg [4:09]
      • Cabaret Magic [8:46}
        • Heckler stoppers [11:46]
          • Coin in Bottle [18:32]
        • Gags and recording your act [23:02]
        • Opening Effects [24:18]
          • Six Card Repeat [25:06]
          • Golf Balls in the Handkerchief [27:37]
          • Torn and Restored Letter [27:47] ...
★★★★★ $8
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MP3

Billy McComb
The Magic of Billy McComb Volume 2 by Billy McComb

This is volume 2 of a seven-volume series. Introduction continued, together with a great deal of information on working cruise ships.

  • Introduction Continued from tape 1
  • Together With a Great Deal of Information on Working Cruise Ships
    • Side 1 [29:50 long]
      • Teaching magic continued from tape 1[0:00]
        • What to wear [0:00]
        • Established acts [10:33]
        • What stagecraft you need for an act [17:05]
        • The business end [17:47]
        • Effects that suit the performer [21:54]
          • Two Linking Rings [24:29]
        • Knowing what pleases an audience [25:36] ...
★★★★★ $8
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Billy McComb
The Magic of Billy McComb Volume 1 by Billy McComb

This is volume 1 of a seven-volume series. Get to know Billy. A general introduction to magic.

The Magic of Billy McComb Volume 1

  • A General Introduction to Magic
    • Side 1 [29:38 long]
      • Introduction [0:00]
      • Adding a trick to the act [1:30]
      • Writing patter & structuring a routine [3:34]
      • Selling yourself vs selling the tricks [6:15]
      • Picking effects that have problems & overcoming them [7:36]
        • Rice Bowls [8:39]
      • Bad experience with a rocket trick [16:00]
      • Heckler stoppers [20:16]
      • Arriving at an engagement [23:37]
      • Taking an ordinary trick and dressing it up...
★★★★★ $25
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Billy McComb
The Professional Touch by Billy McComb

My oh my is this a great ebook! If you intend to earn a living doing magic or if you simply want to make your performances more professional then do yourself a favor and read and study this ebook. There are decades of experience bottled up in its wisdom. And on top of this it is fun to read.

The ebook starts with a superb introduction by Kirk Charles reproduced with kind permission of the Linking Ring. The ebook is edited and illustrated by David Britland with extra illustrations by JAT. And Martin Breese was the publisher. It was also Martin who recorded on tape Billy's recollections from which this book was largely...

★★★★★ $9
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Billy McComb
McComb Comes Home by Billy McComb

This wonderful publication is subtitled: First lecture in England in Years. Illustrated by Ken de Courcy. McComb is at his best with a range of props from ropes, balls, egg-bags, cards, and more.

1st edition 1990; 20 pages.

  1. McComb-ical Billiard Ball Extravaganza
  2. About Face Card Stunt
  3. McComb-ical Cheap Girl, Post and Ropes
  4. When you "Haven't Anything with YOU"
  5. Egg-less Bag-less Egg Bag
  6. The Money Saving McComb-ical Rice Bowls
  7. Hank to Egg Repeat with Sucker Finish
  8. New Traveling Dove Feeder
  9. Finish to the Diminishing Cards
  10. Get Credit where you Can
  11. Whiskey Egg-Bag Finish
  12. Booking ... All...
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