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Derek Lever

Derek Lever

(Manchester, England: 30th August 1937 - 21st January 2024)

Aka "Derek Jones". Learned at age 11 from an Ernest Sewell magic set. Billed at age 11 as "World's Youngest Fire Eater". Pro comedy magician, fire eater, and illusionist since 1953.

Dealer ("Taurus Magic Supply" in Manchester and, later, Wyre) since 1974. Founder and organizer of the British Magical Championships held annually in Blackpool since 1986. Opened the Tommy Cooper Joke Shop in Blackpool in 1990. President British Ring 1997-98.

Coauthors: Jack Hughes

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$15
Derek Lever
Las Vegas Magic by Derek Lever

To compile this work, Derek Lever approached a number of Las Vegas resident magicians and visiting performers to contribute. Many have participated offering tricks, essays, and advice, including Rick Thomas, Jeff McBride, Aaron Fisher, John Bannon, Dan Garrett, Joshua Jay, Ed Ellis, Tony Chapek, Dirk Losander, Luna Shimada, Craig Dickson, Daryl, and Banachek.

  • Foreword
  • Ten Tips For Serious Magicians
  • Here Is My Secret To My Success
  • The Magician's Magician Daryl
  • Untouched
  • Magic Competitions - "The Will To Win!"
  • Luna Shimada The Feminine Force Of Magic
  • The Union Of Magic & Performance Art "Is It Magical Drama Or...
$12
Derek Lever
A Trip Down a Magical Memory Lane 2 by Derek Lever

More interesting and fun stories from Derek's life as a performer, organizer, and booker.

  • For Queen And Country
  • I Work With The Stars
  • Doves And Disasters
  • The Genius Of Tommy Cooper
  • Face To Face With Tommy Cooper
  • Becoming A Magic Dealer
  • Frank Baumforth's Magic
  • Taurus Magic Studio
  • Magic Max And The Dolls
  • Max Turns The Tables
  • Max Goes Chinese
  • Max And The Thumbtip
  • Max And The Three Sword Suspension
  • Max And The Tabouret Illusion
  • Memories Of Max
  • Professor Peller
  • Murray Smith And The Stool
  • Orlestone From Shoreham-On-Sea
  • Ventriloquism
  • Ray Alan & Lord Charles
  • Albert Saveen & Daisy...
$12
Derek Lever
A Trip Down a Magical Memory Lane 1 by Derek Lever

Interesting and fun stories from Derek's life as a performer, organizer, and booker.

Excerpt from the introduction:

In this book I will be recalling the heady days of Club-land and some of the artistes I met and booked, when I was a Theatrical Agent.

Manchester could lay claim to having invented Club-land. It was around 35 years ago that people in the South first became aware that something unusual in light entertainment was happening in the North. Whilst London was still lamenting the closing of variety theatres such as Finsbury Empire, Manchester had already acquired substitutes, more...

$12
Derek Lever
The Encyclopaedia of Magic with Crocodiles by Derek Lever

Ever since Derek Lever toured Florida, he has fallen in love with crocodiles. This fascination with that creature was the point when the crocodile gags were born. Since then, people have sent him all kinds of crocodiles, from stuffed pyjama cases to crocodile biros and bubble baths. Ever since then, Colin Harmer has sent Christmas and Birthday cards in which he has composed drawings of magical crocodiles performing illusions. Simon Lovell and several others have also sent drawings specially composed for this book. These drawings and cartoons make up the bulk of this ebook, complemented by funny comments...

$24
Derek Lever
The World's Most Ingenious Magical Apparatus by Derek Lever

This is a fascinating compilation of apparatus magic explained in text and photos.

Excerpt from the foreword:

'The World's Most Ingenious Magical Apparatus' was the title of a Lecture which I have presented all over the world including the famous 'Magic Castle' in Hollywood. Many of the items in this book were used in the Lecture but I have added some recently acquired items which have never before seen the light of day.

  • Foreword
  • Corinda's Dictionary Memory Feat
  • Claude Chandler's Window Penetration
  • J. F. Orrin's Match-Box Trick
  • The Veroni House Of Magic Presents Gene Morrell's Miniature Illusion ...
$15
Derek Lever
Sensational Secrets by Derek Lever

Fire eating and other Yogi stunts.

Most publications on this subject are dated and they generally do not include any information on where the dangers lie. Derek Lever, who has performed almost all the stunts described here, provides additional information on what not to do and why. Somebody who has tried out the bed of nails at 3 years of age, as a photo in this publication proves, knows the ins and outs of these stunts.

Nevertheless, we do not recommend replicating any of these stunts unless you are a professional and know the risks involved.

  • Author And Publishers Warning
  • About The...
★★★★ $99
Derek Lever & Jack Hughes
Jack Hughes World of Magic Volumes 1, 2 and 3 by Derek Lever & Jack Hughes

The trilogy contains all of Jack Hughes creations, a staggering amount of illusions, apparatus and props. Each illusion comes with drawings that depict its construction and its main dimensions. While the drawings and sketches do show all the pertinent details, these are not blueprints that have every little dimension spelled out. Nevertheless, anybody who has built a box before will have no problem in building any of these apparatus. It is a tremendous source book for ideas for any prop builder and illusion builder.

$45
Derek Lever & Jack Hughes
Jack Hughes World of Magic Volume 3 by Derek Lever & Jack Hughes

The following illusions and apparatus are described in this volume:

  • The Chinese Rising Cards
  • The Wrist Spiker Illusion
  • Needle Thru' Body
  • Doves To Poodle
  • The Sword Maiden Illusion
  • Visibly Sawing Thru' A Person
  • The Girl Through Glass Illusion
  • The Buzz Saw Illusion
  • The Card Target
  • Edwin's Sponge Ball Routine 'Roger The, Lodger'
  • Beado
  • Knife Thru' Girl Illusion
  • The Middle For Diddle Illusion
  • The Modern Cabinet Illusion
  • The Vanishing Cage And Girl Illusion
  • Slicing A Slave Illusion
  • Cabaret Girl Vanish
  • The Striptease Illusion
  • The Girl's Gone Illusion
  • The Revolving Broomstick Suspension ...
$45
Derek Lever & Jack Hughes
Jack Hughes World of Magic Volume 2 by Derek Lever & Jack Hughes

The following illusions and apparatus are described in this volume:

  • Auto-Rise
  • Break-A Way Box
  • Buttons
  • Sydney Sterk's Patter Routine For Buttons
  • Camera Dove
  • Can Can Polka
  • The Cardometer
  • Card - Ring
  • Card Rising Box
  • Change-Over Ring
  • Jack Hughes Clatter Box
  • The Comedy Clock
  • The Crown Jewel
  • Jack Hughes' Crystal Screen
  • More Crystal Screen Suggestions
  • Dolls House Illusion
  • Dovenus
  • Doves To Dog
  • Doves: Training and Breeding
  • Drooping Daisy
  • Evacuee Doll
  • Fantastic Figures Of Foo
  • Four Wrongs - Make A Right
  • Ghost Glass
  • Giant Dwarf
  • Gloves To Dove
  • Hats Off! The King!
  • Improved Tele-Flash ...
★★★★★ $45
Derek Lever & Jack Hughes
Jack Hughes World of Magic Volume 1 by Derek Lever & Jack Hughes

Jack Hughes was a master builder and craftsman who created and built props for some of the biggest names in magic for decades. Most of the items he built were his own inventions. The few that were not he most often improved significantly.

Every item is carefully described in terms of its effect, apparatus, and performance. Nevertheless, the emphasis is on the prop with detailed drawings and dimensions to allow anybody handy to replicate these wonderful magic tricks. (The drawings are not blue-print type construction drawings, but rather sketches and illustrations with the main dimensions...

★★★★ $29.50
Derek Lever
Ken Brooke and Friends by Derek Lever

This ebook is filled with classic routines and effects performed by Ken Brooke.

From the introduction:

He was a rare magician, born with a wonderful sense of humour, good looking, with the 'gift of the gab' tinged with a Yorkshire accent that was his trademark. A quick mind, which could retain much information and a sharp and ready wit enabled him to climb up the magical ladder in leaps and bounds.

Of course many would say that Ken was blunt to the point of rudeness, pig-headed, short-tempered and a very difficult man to get on with.

They would be right! He almost certainly did have...

$5
Derek Lever
Derek Lever's Magic Mag Volume 4 by Derek Lever

Derek Lever's Magic Mag, Volume 4
Published by Derek Lever, Peter C. Woolley & Taurus Magic, Manchester & Bury, Lancaster, England
Volume 4 consists of 6 issues, 266 pages total

Volume 4, Number 1, October/November 1982, 40 numbered pages plus 4 unnumbered cover pages

  1. Candid Comments by The Editor - Derek Lever
    • Praise from Abra
    • Magic Mag Magician of the Year
  2. Comedy Corner - jokes, comedy routines, etc. - Derek Lever
  3. Free Trick, complete with the Apparatus, from Magic Mag
    • A Different Card Trick - Maurice Deighton
  4. cartoon
  5. Free Advertising Section
  6. Happiness...
$5
Derek Lever
Derek Lever's Magic Mag Volume 3 by Derek Lever

Derek Lever's Magic Mag, Volume 3
Published by Derek Lever, Peter C. Woolley & Taurus Magic, Manchester & Bury, Lancaster, England
Volume 3 consists of 6 issues, 264 pages total

Volume 3, Number 1, October/November 1981, 40 numbered pages plus 4 unnumbered cover pages

  1. Candid Comments by The Editor - Derek Lever
  2. Magical Inventor of the Year Competition
    • The Impromptu Chop Cup - Eoin Taylor
    • Phenominal Coincidence - E. W. Thomas
    • Routine for the Cups and Balls Plus Chop Cup Set - Paul Anthony
  3. another (better) photo of Edwin Hooper
  4. List of readers who passed the examination...
★★★★★ $5
Derek Lever
Derek Lever's Magic Mag Volume 2 by Derek Lever

Derek Lever's Magic Mag, Volume 2
Published by Derek Lever, Peter C. Woolley & Taurus Magic, Manchester & Bury, Lancaster, England
Volume 2 consists of 6 issues, 264 pages total

Volume 2, Number 1, October/November 1980, 40 numbered pages plus 4 unnumbered cover pages

  1. Candid Comments by The Editor - Derek Lever
    • Lever Agrees with Edwin ???????
  2. Stage Magic - illusion plans
    • The Boy to Rabbit Illusion
  3. Entertaining the Under Fives - Myster Yaffe
    • Part Three - Your Material and You
    • It Need Not be Magi
    • Ya Gotta Have Love
    • Dealer's Items
  4. List of readers...
$5
Derek Lever
Derek Lever's Magic Mag Volume 1 by Derek Lever

Derek Lever's Magic Mag, Volume 1
Published by Derek Lever, Peter C. Woolley & Taurus Magic, Manchester & Bury, Lancaster, England
Volume 1 consists of 6 issues, 260 pages total

Volume 1, Number 1, October/November 1979, 36 numbered pages plus 4 unnumbered cover pages

  1. Candid Comments by The Editor - Derek Lever
    • Are Magic Societies Out of Date?
  2. drawing collage of Chung Ling Soo
  3. Blast from the Past - Chung Ling Soo - personality
  4. Kid's Entertainers Only - news and advice
  5. On the Road with Michael Allport - series
    • Zurich, Switzerland
  6. Well I'll Be Hanged - a new...
★★★ $16
Derek Lever
Derek Lever's Magic Mag by Derek Lever

The magazine started in October 1979 and the final issue was published in August 1983. When Derek Lever launched Magic Mag he felt that the entire magic scene had become stagnant and uninteresting and once the magazine was launched he was not afraid of having a dig at anyone and everyone. It was an outspoken magazine with some top professional contributors such as: Simon Lovell, Trevor Lewis, David Howarth, Tommy Copper, Terry Seabrooke and Billy McComb. It contains hundreds of professional effects and routines, articles, hints and tips for everyone with an interest in becoming a working professional.

Included is an index (not hyperlinked...

Displaying 1 to 16 (of 16 products)