Biographies & History in Magic & Conjuring: page 5
Authors
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Sensational Tales of Mystery MenWill Goldston Stories and anecdotes of the Who's Who of magic in the early 20th century. Several are about Houdini.
| ★★★★★ $6 to wish list | |
Searching for ErdnaseRichard Hatch This article succinctly critiques the Milton Franklin Andrews case, and introduces us to two at the time new suspects, James DeWitt Andrews and Edwin Sumner Andrews. This article first appeared in the 1999 December issue of Magic Magazine, except for this release Richard Hatch added two pages introductory notes to better frame his article in the historical context of the hunt for Erdnase. The article is also essentially the talk Richard gave at the 1999 Los Angeles Conference on Magic History. 1st edition 1999 (intro 2021), PDF 16 pages. | $4.99 to wish list | |
Samuel Cox Hooker and his Rising CardsChris Wasshuber Dr. Samuel Cox Hooker's Rising Cards have been an unexplainable fascination for nearly a century. Hooker first showed his effect in 1914, and in 1993 and 2007 John Gaughan gave abbreviated performances. Nobody who has seen the Hooker Rising Cards performed has ever been able to explain how such effects can be accomplished. This includes the most notable and most knowledgeable magicians from past and present. How can, from a borrowed and shuffled deck, any card called for rise in the fairest possible manner on a well lit stage only a few feet from the spectators? This work is not just about... | ★★★★★ $39 to wish list | |
Rovi: The Story of a Man and his MagicRichard Owen The authorized book of Rovi's life, philosophy, and magic. The first part deals with Rovi's life from birth, through military service and marriage all the way to his success in magic. A fascinating story with over 50 tricks including the much-requested "Cowboy Trick." Wonderful effects for a variety of skills. Many sleights are thoroughly explained and discussed, including Rovi's fabulous forces, pass, side slip, peek and top change. Many of these ideas appeared in print in this book for the first time. Wonderful illustrations by Tony Dunn; produced and partly edited by Anthony Brahams. 1st edition 2000, The... | ★★★★★ $20 to wish list | |
Robert Harbin InterviewRobert Harbin Martin Breese interviewed Robert Harbin on March 26th, 1977, not even one year before Harbin's untimely death. The interview took place at Harbin's home in London, England. Spend 90 minutes listening to Robert Harbin - one of the world's most creative illusionists and inventors. Here is the full life story of the man who invented Zig Zag and a number of other illusions that will be performed by magicians over the years to come. Since making the recording Robert Harbin became ill and died. The words spoken on this tape were used as the basis for The Robert Harbin Book published by Martin Breese.... | ★★★★★ $14 to wish listMP3 | |
Radio Magic: Interviews Season 1Jay Fortune "I created Radio Magic way back in 2005 and interviewed many of the world's top magicians alongside lesser known but fascinating talent including the producer of BBCs The History of Magic. In hindsight, with the shows on 24-hour demand repeat at that time, we were podcasting before podcasts! I'm proud of this book and delighted to offer it as an eBook exclusively with Lybrary.com." - Jay Fortune.
Own a piece of magic history! In July 2005, Jay Fortune and radio presenter Layman Steve hit the airwaves live from London with Radio Magic; a lively hour-long radio show dedicated to magic and... | $15 to wish list | |
Quicker Than The EyeJohn Mulholland This is a wonderfully readable and fascinating description of magic and its history. Written by one of the scholars of magic - John Mulholland. Ben Robinson, the expert on John Mulholland whom he researched for more than 30 years, writes in his introduction to this ebook: "Quicker Than The Eye was John Mulholland's second book, and the first under solely his own name. It is a tale of adventure and creativity. The pages abound with names, dates, and thrilling stories of the great names in stage conjuring. It is an almost anecdotal history told in an easy-going, very readable style. Professionals today,... | ★★★★★ $12 to wish list | |
Prophetical, Educational and Playing CardsJohn King van Rensselaer This work explores the history, meaning, and uses of playing cards. From the foreword: If an apology is needed for writing again on the subject of playing cards, the excuse may be offered that new lights have been turned on the subject, so that there is fresh information to lay before the public, derived from a close and exhaustive study of the European libraries and museums, as well as of the pictures on the Playing Cards themselves or prints found in those repositories, and also in the collection owned by the writer; for these speak their histories to those who regard their symbols with... | ★★★★★ $10 to wish list | |
Programmes of MagiciansJ. F. Burrows Showing at a glance the tricks performed by all the leading conjurors, extending over a period of forty-two years, from 1864 to 1906.
| $10 to wish list | |
Piddington's Secrets: We know How They Did It!Martin T. Hart We know how they did it! The Piddington's were a 1949 husband and wife telepathy act who seemed able to transmit their thoughts to each other, even across vast distances. They could do this without talking. Finally, the unfathomable mystery behind the world's most baffling telepathy act is revealed after 70 years of silence. Martin T Hart takes us on a fascinating and detailed journey into the lives of 'The Amazing Piddingtons' and deep inside the cunning methods that fooled a global generation. To this day no magician or scientist has ever discovered how Sydney was able to transmit his thoughts... | ★★★★★ $37.50 to wish list | |
Percy Naldrett: A Man of Sussex, Conjurer and PoetPaul Gordon A tribute to Percy Naldrett by Paul Gordon who shares birth place Worthing in Sussex with Percy. Includes photos and other bits and pieces of information not published anywhere else. Percy Naldrett was born on 17th May 1888 and died 28th September 1973. He was a printer by trade and a semi-pro magician and collector. He wrote a number of books such as Magic of the Moment (1912, 50pp), Magical Notes and Notions (1913, 36pp), Miscellaneous Magic (1913, 48pp). He was editor of the Magic Circular from 1938-49. 1st edition 2005, 31 pages. | $6 to wish list | |
People I Have ReadStuart Cumberland Cumberland was a muscle reader who did not claim to possess any psychic abilities. In this work he recounts many such 'thought-reading' encounters with notable people. From the introduction: I have visited many courts and travelled in many lands and have, from time to time, been brought in close contact with the world’s rulers and those who have made their mark in the world’s history. With a great number of them I have performed actual experiments, whilst others I have read without the direct application of any experiments at all. Upon the correctness of my reading in connection... | $8 to wish list | |
Orville Meyer on the Bullet CatchOrville Wayne Meyer Listen to Orville Meyer as he recalls his creation of his bullet catch method which was so masterfully performed by Ted Annemann. A rare treat for all mentalism and magic history buffs. This recording was made June 20th 1985. Ben Robinson, an expert bullet catcher himself writes: "Before Penn & Teller, David Blaine or Criss Angel decided to catch bullets, there was a book that talked about the history and secrets of the stunt. It was called Twelve Have Died — Bullet Catching, The Story & Secrets. I wrote that book when I was 23 years old. I wrote it in six weeks of uninterrupted writing. But before I did, before... | ★★★★★ $10 to wish listMP3 | |
Orson Welles: The Man Who Was MagicBarton Whaley This Orson Welles ebook is a case study of an individual that was able to think "out of the box". Each small fact presented leads to the whole of a thinking process that will always provide an unexpected Third Option. The process that is presented here is the kernel of all deception theory. It's why Bart is called the "defining expert" of deception and counterdeception (the detection of deception) by the intelligence communities of many countries. Not only does it personify the Whaley Deception Theory it presents the genius of Orson Welles through all his creative work, not just Citizen Kane.... | ★★★★★ $30 to wish list | |
Okito on Magic: Reminiscences and Selected TricksOkito & Robert Parrish A fascinating glimpse into Okito's (Theo Bamberg) life and creations. The Bamberg dynasty had magicians spanning seven generations. Okito was a prolific inventor, builder of tricks, and exceptional performer. Learn the details of many of his most cherished secrets. From the introduction by Dorny: As the inventor of more magical effects than anyone else in the past half-century, he is constantly planning and building new tricks and illusions. In the construction of his miracles, he is a perfectionist. His finished work is always a masterpiece. Nothing is left to chance. With Theo, it must work. ... | $29.50 to wish list | |
Okito on MagicOkito This wonderful ebook recounts the story of Okito's very first stage show. It is history as told by the great Theo Bamberg (Okito) to magician and writer Joe Palen. He sat with Okito, as he found an old photograph (re-printed in the booklet) and told him stories of his props on stage, their origins and even some of their workings. This ebook is the result of that conversation. Do not confuse this booklet with the much larger work with the same title: Okito on Magic: Reminiscences and Selected Tricks. 1st edition 1973, 12 pages; 1st digital edition 2012, 10 pages. | ★★★★★ $9.95 to wish list | |
My Magic LifeDavid Devant This is David Devant's autobiography. On top of his personal recollections he included three chapters on how to perform magic, and six chapters on the history of magic.
| $15 to wish list | |
Michael Skinner InterviewMichael Skinner Michael Skinner tells stories from his early years in magic such as meeting Eddie Fechter and Ed Marlo. This short interview was hosted by Roger Klause. Both of these larger than life legends - Michael Skinner and Roger Klaus - have unfortunately passed away. Videos like these are time capsules allowing us to get closer to these legends, learn from their life, and understand them a little bit better. length: 3min 13s | $5 to wish listMP4 (video) | |
Memorable Magical MomentsSolyl Kundu Solyl Kundu invited the then IBM International President Phil Willmarth to visit Kolkata in 2007 for a magic Get-Together, and he encouraged local IBM members to join. It was a big success. For this occasion a souvenir booklet was published. This is a PDF version of this souvenir booklet. It includes:
| ★★★★★ $2 to wish list | |
Memoirs of Robert-HoudinJean Eugene Robert-Houdin This is a great book written by one of the greatest magicians of all time, Robert-Houdin. He describes in his own words his development from a little boy to a star performer. How he started as a watchmaker, performed in the St. James Theater, and ended up helping France with a conflict with the Marabouts. Read it. Highly recommended. Paul Fleming wrote: Eighteen hundred and forty-five was a great year for magic, and July third of that year a memorable date for all who love conjuring. For on that day Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin first presented his soirees fantastiques in his own little theater - on what... | ★★★★★ $8 to wish list | |
Malini and his MagicDai Vernon This is a gorgeous and careful digitization of a classic originally published by Harry Stanley in 1962. All drawings have not simply been scanned and included as images but have been converted to vectorized graphics. This means they are crisp and clear even under the largest magnification as well as when printed out. This PDF ebook has very detailed bookmarks making it easy to browse to your section of choice. Max Malini was one of the most extraordinary personalities in the history of the performance of magic. In this ebook, Dai Vernon shows how successfully Malini acted the role of magician and... | ★★★★★ $14.90 to wish list | |
Magicians in Action 1980 - 2015: P-ZChristian Scherer A unique documentary containing photos accompanied by autobiographical and anecdotal texts, featuring 250 magicians from 28 nations. This third volume includes names from P-Z:
| ★★★★★ $30 to wish list | |
Magicians in Action 1980 - 2015: I-OChristian Scherer A unique documentary containing photos accompanied by autobiographical and anecdotal texts, featuring 250 magicians from 28 nations. This second volume includes names from I-O:
| $30 to wish list | |
Magicians in Action 1980 - 2015: A-HChristian Scherer A unique documentary containing photos accompanied by autobiographical and anecdotal texts, featuring 250 magicians from 28 nations. This first volume includes names from A-H:
| ★★★★★ $30 to wish list |