Martin Gardner
(21st October 1914 - 22nd May 2010)
Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Inspired by and learned at age ~10 from father's papers-on-knife trick and later from local Tulsa magic buffs, including Roy "Wabash" Hughes, Logan Waite and Roger Montandon. Took Tarbell Course. Amateur close-up magician, specialized in cards. Lived in Chicago for 20 years, taking a BA in philosophy and meeting the magic inner circle of Dorny, Marlo, Platt, etc. In 1947 moved to New York, associating with the inner circle of Vernon, Daley, Curry, etc. 1975 AMA Literary Fellowship. Moved to Hendersonville, North Carolina c1980. Professional writer, particularly in science and puzzle fields. Wrote the "Mathematical Games" column for Scientific American 1957-1982, and the impromptu magic column in Hugard's Magic Monthly. A man of many talents, he also edited The Annotated Alice (1960). Has used the pen name "George Groth" occasionally since c1936, but only on non-magical works. He played a central part in the unsuccessful early search for S.W. Erdnase.
Coauthors: James Randi, Barton Whaley, Jeff Busby