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Pabular by Nick Bolton & Fred Robinson & Eric Mason

Here is the complete file of Pabular, one of the most remarkable and influential magazines ever published.

Pabular was first published in 1974 by Nick Bolton and ran for just over eight exciting volumes. It is probably the finest ever British close-up magazine to be published. It was mainly edited by the well-respected Fred Robinson (later by Walt Lees and Stephen Tucker) and the art editor throughout was Eric Mason.

The first effect in the magazine was by Roy Walton and contributors include: Jack Avis, Gaeton Bloom, John Carney, Tony Corinda, Ted Danson, Will Dexter, Bob Driebeek, Shiv Duggal, Peter Duffie, Alex Elmsley, Dominique Duvivier, Cy Endfield, Bob Farmer, Flip, Piet Forton, Roberto Giobbi, Ray Grismer, Paul Hallas, Steve Hamilton, Francis Haxton, Jim Hooper, Basil Horwitz, Charles Hudson, Gentleman Jack, Larry Jennings, Rick Johnsson, Peter Kane, Fred Kaps, Gerald Kosky, Steven Kuske, Simon Lovell, Trevor Lewis, Ed Marlo, Bob Ostin, Pat Page, Oscar Pladek, John Ramsay, Bob Read, Rovi, Jerry Sadowitz, Sam Schwartz, Al Smith, Hans Trixer, Stephen Tucker, Dai Vernon and Tommy Wonder. Some contributors had one man issues and these include: Roy Walton (2 issues), Phil Goldstein (3 issues), Gordon Bruce, David Carre, Walt Lees and Barrie Richardson.

A wonderful index of 74 pages by Ian Keable is included.


Pabular Magazine

The indexing of Pabular did not arise out of any altruistic or financial considerations: it purely arose because many times I had attempted to find something in my own Pabulars which I vaguely recalled but could not place. Eventually I got so frustrated that I sat down and indexed the entire magazine - the result of which is included with the digital Pabular.

It may be of interest to mention one or two points about Pabular that those who have picked up copies over the years might be unaware. Pabular was the brain child of three people - Fred Robinson, the first and longest serving editor; Eric Mason, the illustrator and Nick Bolton who ran all the administrative side, including the printing and publishing. Fred Robinson came to writing on magic very late in his life and rather to his own surprise found himself to be a gifted writer. In London he was always the first port of call for all overseas magicians: to those who did not know him, attempting to witness his legendary dealing; to those who did, just to hear him chat and tell his, oft-repeated, stories.

The strength of contributions to Pabular rested entirely with Fred Robinson: he had the kudos and the reputation to draw out the best from the best in the world. However it is noteworthy how very much a British magazine Pabular was. The vast majority of contributors came from these lands and confirmed Fred's belief that the British tended to underestimate their own skills and innovation when it came to close-up magic. Certainly contributions from the likes of Alex Elmsley, Roy Walton, Jack Avis, Peter Kane and Gordon Bruce, to name just a few, would seem to confirm this.

If Fred had a fault as an editor it was to create "magazine heroes" - a fault, it must be said, that the majority of magic magazines tend to make. Mind you, Fred Robinson chose his heroes carefully: Fred Kaps, Ricky Jay and Juan Tamariz were three of his favourites whilst John Ramsay, the great Scottish magician, was beyond all objective criticism.

Fred was in essence an extremely modest man. However he was especially proud of two particular pieces that he wrote in Pabular: one was his write-up of Tamariz’s Oil and Water (Volume 4, Number 3, Page 484); the other his appreciation of Fred Kaps in one of his Oasis columns (Volume 6, Number 4, Page 830). The latter he always insisted should be read in conjunction with one of Kaps' own rare pieces of writing which was reprinted in Pabular (Professional Views On Doing Professional Magic For Laymen - Volume 1, Number 7, Page 82).

If the content of the magazine lay with Fred Robinson, the look of the magazine was undoubtedly that of Eric Mason. Eric Mason was one of the few genuine artists, as opposed to illustrators, that have turned their attention to the insular world of magic magazines. From the distinctive logo, through to the generous spacing and onto the free and easy drawings, Pabular looked like no other magic magazine before it.

Eric himself made many contributions to the magazine of his own unique tricks and sleights - ones it must be said that very few other magicians could possibly get away with. Not because they were technically particularly difficult but because they were so imbued with his own misdirection and flair that they were almost impossible to imitate.

Unlike Fred Robinson, who on his own admission was no great close-up performer, Eric Mason most certainly was: he was the supreme amateur, in that he only performed for the love of it, rarely for the money. In the Marlborough Arms, a pub around the corner of the old Magic Circle at Chenies Mews and the unofficial "office" of Pabular, Eric Mason would regularly weave his magic every Monday night.

Maybe memory plays its own tricks but watching Eric Mason perform his vanishing pack of cards under a wallet, a glass penetrating the closed fingers of a spectator's hands (Moniker - Volume 3, Number 2, Page 313) or his colour changing packet tricks that seemed to go on and on until the spectator just could not believe that any more changes could take place (The Problem Is… - Volume 4, Number 10, Page 585 followed by Beau Ideal - Volume 4, Number 12, Page 606), I have never felt more uplifted as a magical spectator. All that, and his charming and winning smile too - it makes the close-up workers of today seem like pygmies in comparison.

It was not just Eric Mason who tried out his Pabular contributions in the Marlborough Arms. Many other contributors demonstrated their own creations within its crowded walls: in particular I recall Barry Richardson had people gasping with disbelief at his magnetised pencil (Volume 4, Number 4, Page 504); Tommy Wonder achieving something which was totally beyond explanation with his torn and restored cigarette (Volume 7, Number 4, Page 1018) ; and Kevin Davie analysing to the ninth degree the theory of misdirection with the top change (The Lollipop Trick - Volume 6, Number 4, Page 835).

Fred Robinson always saw Pabular as a magazine of practical close-up magic that could and would be performed: certainly whilst he was Editor, that is precisely what it was. There is no doubt that with the replacement of Fred Robinson by firstly Walt Lees and then Stephen Tucker, the magazine did gradually lose its distinctive style. Fred, I suspect, stepped down partly because of age and partly because he felt he had said everything that he had to say. He had kept it going for over 5 volumes (66 issues - he stood down in Volume 6, Number 6). Walt Lees was editor for 17 issues before handing over to Stephen Tucker (Walt said his farewell in Volume 7, Number 12 - an issue which he credited to Stephen). I must here express a personal interest as I mentioned to Walt, on hearing of Stephen Tucker's appointment, that I might have wanted to become the Editor. Walt replied that I should have asked! I was that close to becoming Pabular editor. Walt has always been a literate man and this he put to good use in his short reign as Editor. His editorials and some of his articles still bear re-reading. I have always in particular liked his creation of the "magically sophisticated layperson" (Iconoclasms No. 3 - Volume 5, Number 9, Page 736).

By the time Walt had handed over to Stephen Tucker the magazine was on its last legs: it still managed to keep going for a further 10 "British" issues but the magazine had lost direction and, more importantly, its heart. Contributions were clearly less forthcoming as demonstrated by the inclusion of tricks and letters that were found in the back files of Walt Lees and Fred Robinson (ones that had perhaps originally been "passed over" for publication).

It was in New York that the final two issues of Volume 8 were published, still under the editorship of Stephen Tucker - these came out in 1989 and 1990.

Many purchasers of this index may be slightly surprised at hearing of the existence of these final two issues. Certainly paid-up subscribers to the magazine (of which I was one) never received copies of them - I managed to track down my copies with the kind assistance of Keith Bennett. I have included them in my index for the sake of completeness but as they are of a slightly smaller size and of a different texture to the other Pabulars, they cannot really be considered to be part of the true Pabular.

Taking it even more up to date, in 1992 there was published Volume 9 Number 1 - an issue devoted to George Schindler, written by him and with illustrations by Delvin. The logo and format of the magazine remains the same. However without the drawings of Eric Mason, the Pat Page column and a British editor, it is Pabular only in name: in any event my index makes no reference to Volume 9.

I would like to finish by thanking Shiv Duggal who painstakingly checked my index correcting errors and omissions. Any remaining mistakes are, of course, entirely mine. I would be grateful if any reader would point them out to me.

Ian Keable, author of Stand-Up, A Professional Guide to Comedy Magic


Copyright 2016 by Lybrary.com
1st edition September 1974 - May 1985; 1376 pages.

Volume 1, No. 1 Sep 1974

  • Pegasus Coin / Andrew Galloway
  • The Witch-Doctors / Roy Walton
  • Spectator Magician / Tony Faro
  • Slow Motion Ring Release / Peter Kane
  • Uriker / Eric Mason
  • The Perfect Faro Shuffle / Fred Robinson
  • 678 / Barrie Richardson
  • Focus
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 1, No. 2 Oct 1974
  • Dribble Coincidence / Edward Marlo
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • Give Me A Ring / Ted Danson
  • Colour-Psychology / Stanton Carlisle
  • Bob Read
  • The Case for Cozenage / Tony Doc Shiels
  • Focus
Volume 1, No. 3 Nov 1974
  • The Business for the Card in Wallet / Bob Read
  • Improved Travelling Coin / Magini
  • One at a time Collectors / Alex Elmsley
  • Dribble Concept Continued / Edward Marlo
  • Disc-O / Arthur Setterington
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • +3 / Fred Robinson
  • Focus
Volume 1, No. 4 Dec 1974
  • Vampire - a method for a living and dead test / Bob Ostin
  • Obsolete Prediction / Roy Walton
  • Up Down & Around / William Zavis
  • The Flea / Frank Monaghan
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • Cull-A-Separation / Walt Lees
  • Simplicity / Trevor Lewis
  • Focus
Volume 1, No. 5 Jan 1975
  • Ad Infinitum / David Berglas
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • A Spirit Detection / Jack Avis
  • Bent Upon Deception / Bob Hamilton
  • Paired Choice / Francis Haxton
  • The Doc brief ...
  • Coins Through the Table / Ross Bertram
  • Focus
Volume 1, No. 6 Feb 1975
  • Goldfinger / Trevor Dawson
  • Bob Driebeek on the Witchdoctors
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • Double Exchange / Geoff Ray
  • A Las / Trevor Lewis
  • My Blue Ac-es / Walt Lees
  • Impromptu Sight Bits Business / Bob Read
  • Kings over Queens / William Zavis
  • Focus
Volume 1, No. 7 Mar 1975
  • Flight Four / Mike Cassidy
  • Tearaway / Roy Walton
  • Kings over Queens II / William Zavis
  • Professional Views on Doing Professional Magic for the Layman / Fred Kaps
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • George P. Sanderson on Colour Psychology
  • Focus
Volume 1, No. 8 Apr 1975
  • Be-Wild-ering cards / Flip
  • Box Clever / Bob Read
  • Ambitious Riser / Fred Robinson
  • Chop-Coin / Arthur Setterington
  • Faro Felon / Mark Scudiery
  • Extra / Bob Hamilton
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • Carousel / Roy Walton
  • Gone Sandwich / William Zavis
  • Focus
Volume 1, No. 9 May 1975
  • We'll Ring You / Kevin Fox
  • Earthbound / Roy Walton
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • Diary Dice-Card / Des Colgan
  • Edge Spinners / Fred Robinson
  • My blue Ac-es Again / Michael Austin
  • Supertransportation / Ian Baxter
  • Tickets Please / Bob Ostin
  • Focus
Volume 1, No. 10 Jun 1975
  • Elmsley Out-Sexed / David A Wright
  • The Bending Key / Barry Govan
  • High-Jacked / Trevor Lewis
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • Arise Comrades / Eric Mason
  • Soft Spot / Bob Hamilton
  • Bob's Business / Bob Read
  • Focus
Volume 1, No. 11 Jul 1975
  • Glittering / Pete Biro
  • The Summer Cups / Tony Doc Shiels
  • Impromptu Mental Divination / Barrie Richardson
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • Blind Date / Fred Robinson
  • Lap Flick / Geoff Ray
  • Crocodile Tears / Walt Lees
  • Obsolete Encore / Phil Wye
  • Focus
Volume 1, No. 12 Aug 1975
  • Colour Changing Knives Without a Paddle / Peter Stammers
  • The Calculator Business / Mark Weston
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • Twin Beds / Alf Goodwin
  • Variations on a Circle / Barry Govan
  • Table Top Motorway / Des Colgan
  • Focus

Volume 2, No. 1 Sep 1975
  • Seduca Deck Trick / David A Wright
  • The Knowing Nine / Johnnie Geddes
  • Match Card / Bob Read, Barry Govan
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • Madness with the Ascanio Spread / Ed Eckl
  • Behavioural Bluff / Fred Robinson
  • Odd Optic
  • A Fansee Blind Shuffle / Peter Duffie
Volume 2, No. 2 Oct 1975
  • The Wishing Envelope / Jack Avis
  • An overhand shuffle retaining the whole pack in the same order / Keith Bennett
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • Blank Faces / Phil Wye
  • Business for Knife Through Coat / Bob Read
  • Impromptu Coin Dropper / Peter Stammers
  • The Ascanio Spread / Fred Robinson
  • Past Help / Roy Walton
Volume 2, No. 3 Nov 1975
  • The Perpetual Elevator Routine / Walt Lees
  • Coinjuring
  • Pontification
  • The Winning Hand
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 2, No. 4 Dec 1975
  • The Powers of Darkness / Tony Corinda
  • Circulating Coins / Fred Robinson
  • Festive Fun
  • Collected Thoughts / John Bragoli
  • Miracle Matchstick Missile / Des Colgan
  • Business for Knife Sharpening / Bob Read
  • The Page boy speaks
  • Think-A-Rise / Bob Hamilton
Volume 2, No. 5 Jan 1976
  • Clairvoyant Chicanery / Basil Horwitz
  • Cashmatch / Will Dexter
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • A Mixed Bag / Trevor Lewis
  • More For Less / Fred Robinson
  • Spotting the Spot / Leslie May
  • Aces with a Twist / Peter Duffie
Volume 2, No. 6 Feb 1976
  • The Card Shark / Roy Walton
  • Multidie Box / Mark Weston
  • On Faro Felon / Charles M. Hudson
  • Don Alan Lectures
  • Face Up / David Carré
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • Ace in the Hole
  • Mental Jigsaw / John Bragoli
Volume 2, No. 7 Mar 1976
  • John Ramsay / Fred Robinson
  • The Cig Trick / Andy Galloway
  • Dice-O-Metrics / Walt Lees
  • Off the Handle / Bob Ostin
  • Switchback / Alex Macfadyean
  • An Understanding / Ken Hawes
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 2, No. 8 Apr 1976
  • Headline Hit / Arthur Setterington
  • Up the Sleeve / Fred Robinson
  • Spectator Cuts to Locate Aces / Edward Marlo
  • Marksman Extraordinary / Car Herron
  • A Table Workers Table / Jos Bema
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • The Useless Pack / Doug Alker
Volume 2, No. 9 May 1976
  • Play it Again Sam / Peter Duffie, Roy Walton
  • Transpo Ink / Fabian
  • Four Gone Conclusion / Bob Haines
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • Cardshark Too / Trevor Lewis
  • Dropit / Fred Robinson
  • Thoughts in Transit / Barrie Richardson
  • Mission Accomplished / Joe Riding
Volume 2, No. 10 Jun 1976
  • From a Mentalists Notebook / Barrie Richardson
  • Revolving Revelation / Jerry Sadowitz
  • The Go-Between / Peter Duffie
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • Supreme Glimpse / Mark Weston
  • The Pip-Eating Spider / Jos Bema
  • Continuous Ballpen Production / Mark Weston
Volume 2, No. 11 Jul 1976
  • Eca Tuoba Ecaf / Eric Mason
  • With an Okito Box / David Carré
  • Book Reviews: Stabbed Coincidence by Larry Jennings
  • Psychic Exposure / Bob Stephens
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • The Spinners / Mark Weston
Volume 2, No. 12 Aug 1976
  • Card in Case Transposition / Peter Duffie
  • Aenigma Variations / Bob Dribeek
  • Double Monte / Doug Alker
  • The Legpull / Alf Goodwin
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • A Gag from Pat Conway
  • My Cup Flippeth Over / Ian Baxter

Volume 3, No. 1 Sep 1976
  • A Roy Walton Collection
  • Inflated Ace
  • A Martian Plot
  • Your Very Own
  • Chiefly Yourselves
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • Denary Deceit
  • Ambitious Movie
  • Truth & Consequences
Volume 3, No. 2 Oct 1976
  • Moniker / Eric Mason
  • Through the Fourth Dimension / David Britland
  • Kniphofia / Fred Robinson
  • Assignation / Walt Lees
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 3, No. 3 Nov 1976
  • Coins & Handkerchief / Larry Jennings
  • Double-X-Posure / Steven Kuske
  • Double Lift Drop Switch / Fred Robinson
  • Liar / Trevor Lewis
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • Your Choice / Phil Goldstein
Volume 3, No. 4 Dec 1976
  • Baker Street Revisited / Roy Walton
  • Holidaze / Arthur Day
  • Counter Revolution / Phil Goldstein
  • Versadeal / John Bragoli
  • Twin Key-Boards / Peter Duffie
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • Turncoat / Doug Alker
Volume 3, No. 5 Jan 1977
  • A Cy Endfield Location / Fred Robinson
  • Three Card Buckle / Doug Alker
  • Three Cards Across Extra / Doug Alker
  • Twisting the Aces Revisited / Keith Bennett
  • Book Reviews by Fred Robinson: Koschitz's Manual of Useful Information; The Little Secrets by Frank Bonville; Poker by Hardison
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • Occamitis / Gaeton Bloom
  • Teragram / Jan Heins
Volume 3, No. 6 Feb 1977
  • Assemblage / David Carré
  • Coin Congregation / David Carré
  • Just Dice
  • The Card Expert
  • Impromptu Cup and Ball
Volume 3, No. 7 & 8 Mar-Apr 1977
  • Take Three / Fred Robinson
  • Move to show both sides of a card blank / Mark Weston
  • Second Variation on Twisting the Aces Revisited / Keith Bennett
  • Transfo Transpo / Flip Hallema
  • Club Night Twins / Mark Weston
  • Animal Magic / Arthur Setterington
  • The Ramsay Reunion / Fred Robinson
  • Double Denial / Fred Robinson
  • Yecrik / Roy Baker
  • One in Four / Doug Alker
  • Rosini Thimbles / David Carré
  • A Straight Shuffle / Roy Walton
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 3, No. 9 May 1977
  • Prestidigitational Prediction / Gaeton Bloom
  • Pseudo-Psychometry in a paper bag / Barrie Richardson
  • Fancy Deal Stop Trick / Mark Weston
  • Over the Top / Glennan
  • Half & Half / Phil Wye
  • Helping Hand / Vic Allen
  • Diception / Arthur Setterington
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 3, No. 10 Jun 1977
  • Lock & Key Mystery / Barrie Richardson
  • A Plea / Bert Graham
  • Just Changes / David Carré
  • The U.S.A. Trail / Roy Walton
  • Taking the Plunge / Dorion Sagan described by Phil Goldstein
  • Hamman Count / Bob Farmer
  • Mason's Moniker Modified by Roy Walton
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 3, No. 11 Jul 1977
  • The Secret of Schhh... / Ray Waters
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • Cannibal Land / Peter Duffie
  • Splitz / Mark Weston
  • Mexican Geometry / Phil Goldstein
  • Hanky Panky / David Carré
  • Your Autograph Please / Jim Hooper
  • Oh No, Not Another Ace Trick / Doug Alker
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 3, No. 12 Aug 1977
  • The Third Eye / Basil Horwitz
  • Pyramid Aces / Jerry L. Christensen
  • Another Plea / Bert Graham
  • Red-Black Surprise / Kevin Davie
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • Half Through / Dorion Sagan
  • Twice Two / Roy Walton
  • The Page boy speaks ...

Volume 4, No. 1 Sep 1977
  • An Eric Mason Collection
  • Cubism
  • On Reflection
  • Billet-Doux
  • Caboodle
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • Brainwave
  • Kineto
  • N.C.R.
  • The Page boy speaks
Volume 4, No. 2 Oct 1977
  • Where there's smoke ... / Fred Robinson
  • Splitting the Money / Jos Bema
  • Secrets of the Street Conjurer / Eddie Dawes
  • Jazz Pieces; Body & Soul / Bob Farmer
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 4, No. 3 Nov 1977
  • The Oil and Water of Tamariz / Fred Robinson
  • Where there's smoke / Fred Robinson
  • Pyramid Variation / Tom Craven
  • One Two Three Four Aces / Andrew Galloway
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 4, No. 4 Dec 1977
  • One in a Million / Barrie Richardson
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • Memorable Memory Stunt / Barrie Richardson
  • Coin in Bottle Mentalism & Molecules / Barrie Richardson
  • Think Hot - Think Cold / Barrie Richardson
  • The Clean Second-Card Force Concept / Barrie Richardson
  • The magnetic force / Barrie Richardson
  • The undisturbed deck prediction / Barrie Richardson
  • Where there's smoke / Fred Robinson
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 4, No. 5 Jan 1978
  • Nosferatu / Roy Walton
  • Cabungle / Bob Farmer
  • Jazz Pieces / Bob Farmer
  • Where There's Smoke / Fred Robinson
  • Jack Catch / Simon Lovell
  • A Coin Effect / Richard Chiswell
  • Rainbow Triumph / Doug Alker
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • Card in Mind / Phil Goldstein
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 4, No. 6 Feb 1978
  • OOTW / Steven Kuske
  • Simplified spin pass aces / A. Pargeter
  • RSVP / Hans E. Trixer
  • Mhairi / Jerry Sadowitz
  • Where there's smoke / Fred Robinson
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • Tomorrows World / Cy Endfield, Fred Robinson
  • Take Three Plus One / Arthur Setterington
Volume 4, No. 7 Mar 1978
  • Simplified Follow the Leader / Phil Goldstein
  • Double Exposure / Mark Weston
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • One Potato Two Potato / David Carré
  • Bob Read Lecture / Gordon Bruce
  • Simon Lovell Writes Again
  • Latest Gag? / Trevor Lewis
  • Where there's smoke / Fred Robinson
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 4, No. 8 Apr 1978
  • Copy Cat / Kevin Davie
  • Eyes Down / Vic Allen
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • Handywork / Richard Chiswell
  • Signachange / Kevin Davie
  • Behavioural Bluff and Beyond / Doug Alker
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • Rip It Up / Archie McIntyre
Volume 4, No. 9 May 1978
  • Whodunnit? / Arthur Setterington
  • Thimble-O / Fred Robinson
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • Twisting, Turning, Extending and otherwise molesting the Aces / Bob Farmer
  • A Pound with a Bottle / Eric Mason
  • Peter's Presto Pop-In / Peter Crush
  • Where there's smoke / Fred Robinson
  • Handy Aces / Simon Lovell
  • Tea Totaller / Vic Allen
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 4, No. 10 Jun 1978
  • Paul Curry Writes
  • Tube-Off / Arthur Setterington
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • The Problem Is ... / Eric Mason
  • Where there's smoke / Fred Robinson
  • Rollaway / Martino
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • Coin Through Hand / Anath Viswanathan
Volume 4, No. 11 Jul 1978
  • Alter Ego / Phil Goldstein
  • Cry Wolf / Phil Goldstein
  • Immediate Aces
  • Negative Intruder
  • Back Gammon
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • Where there's smoke / Fred Robinson
Volume 4, No. 12 Aug 1978
  • Beau Ideal / Eric Mason
  • USA Happenings / O'Bie O'Brien
  • Where there's smoke / Fred Robinson
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • Computer Discovery / Gerald Kosky
  • Coin Assembly / Wayne Dobson
  • The Snap-Turn Count / Phil Goldstein
  • Atomic ESP / Simon Lovell
  • Ace-Stounding / Kevin Davie
  • The Page boy speaks ...

Volume 5, No. 1 Jan 1979
  • Constructing a Routine / Walt Lees
  • Stranger than Fiction / Walt Lees
  • New Finish to Larry Jennings Coins Through Handkerchief / Walt Lees
  • Clean Collectors / Walt Lees
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • Four Card Surprise / Walt Lees
  • The Page boy speaks
Volume 5, No. 2 Feb 1979
  • Coins Across / Tommy Wonder
  • USA Happenings / O'Bie O'Brien
  • In Jokes / Walt Lees
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • Triple Flip / Piet Forton
  • The Piscatorial Peg / Wally Boyce
  • Rip It Up / Dennis Sargent
  • Transpo Aces / Brian Glover
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 5, No. 3 Mar 1979
  • Chicago January 1979 / Bob Read
  • Under my Foot / Mark Weston
  • Ouch / Bob Hamilton
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • Coins Across continued / Tommy Wonder
  • Territory / Phil Goldstein
  • Stud / Kevin Davie
  • Thanks for the Memory / Arthur Setterington
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 5, No. 4 Apr 1979
  • One in the Eye / Tommy Wonder
  • A Passing Thought / Basil Horwitz
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • The Sexbomb / Jan Heinz
  • Joker Sandwich / Wayne Dobson
  • The Red Aces / Brian Glover
  • Colour Cap / Jerry Sadowitz
  • Intimate Spirit / Phil Goldstein
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 5, No. 5 May 1979
  • A Gordon Bruce Collection
  • Cased
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • Coin Assembly / Gordon Bruce
  • Matching Pairs / Gordon Bruce
  • Pocket Palm / Gordon Bruce
  • Little Metal Eater / Gordon Bruce
  • USA Happenings / O'Bie O'Brien
  • Card in Envelope / Gordon Bruce
  • Packet Poker
  • The Duplicount
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 5, No. 6 Jun 1979
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • Card School / Roy Walton
  • Irish Poker / Walt Lees
  • Book Choice / Rovi
  • The Pit-A-Patter of a tiny feat / Eric Mason
  • The Pinochle Caper / Jack Avis
  • Handkerchief Through Glass / Bob Read
  • The Tired Travellers / Gordon Bruce
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 5, No. 7 Jul 1979
  • Hank to Egg Exposed / Gaeton Bloom
  • USA Happenings / O'Bie O'Brien
  • Wolf Trap / Phil Goldstein
  • Amason / Eric Mason
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • Black Days / Juan Tamariz
  • The Bermuda Triangle / Jerry Sadowitz
  • Iconoclasms / Walt Lees
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 5, No. 8 Aug 1979
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • USA Happenings / O'Bie O'Brien
  • A Gestalt Revelation / Barrie Richardson
  • Make a Note of It / Eric Mason
  • Multi-Count Technique / Andrew Pargeter
  • Time Flies / Trevor Lewis
  • Synch-cerely / Phil Goldstein
  • Coin and Cover / Keith Charnley
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • Iconoclasms No. 2 / Walt Lees
  • Where Have all the Aces Gone? / Al Smith
Volume 5, No. 9 Sep 1979
  • The Cards Across / Brian Sinclair
  • Tommy Wonder on Close-Up
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • Multi Count Technique continued / Andrew Pargeter
  • Anything for a Change / Eric Mason
  • Collectors Seminar / Peter Duffie
  • Iconoclasms No. 3 / Walt Lees
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 5, No. 10 Oct 1979
  • Can you do the gypsy thread again? / Piet Forton
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • The Poetry of Magic / Fr. Cyprian
  • Shiv's Exchange Collectors
  • USA Happenings / O'Bie O'Brien
  • Paddy Clancy's Right Angled Coin Vanish
  • The Three Chair Enigma / Barrie Richardson
  • Add on Plus / Trevor Lewis
  • Two Faced / Simon Lovell
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 5, No. 11 Nov 1979
  • The Basic Twink / Phil Goldstein
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • The Reunited Match / Oscar Pladek
  • Galaxy Telepathy / Tony Binarelli
  • Extra Climax Card to Wallet / Marv Long
  • Iconoclasms 4 / Walt Lees
  • Put and Take / Eric Mason
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 5, No. 12 Dec 1979
  • For Nudists Only / Bob Hamilton
  • Lucky Joker Prediction / Basil Horwitz
  • Spectator Unexplained (after Vernon) / Mark Weston
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • Pop / Eric Mason
  • Oldfinger / Arthur Setterington
  • Close Upping / Ken Hawes
  • Psychia-Twist / Phil Goldstein
  • The Tamariz Ambitious Double / Fred Robinson
  • The Page boy speaks ...

Volume 6, No. 1 Jan 1980
  • 1-2-3 Card in Wallet, an exercise in misdirection / Barrie Richardson
  • Ring on Stick / Tommy Wonder
  • Las Vegas Close-Up Seminar / Bob Read
  • Detective Story / Roy Walton
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • A Tuppenny One / Arthur Day
  • Ivor's Control / Rovi
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 6, No. 2 Feb 1980
  • Overture - an open change of a card / Eric Mason
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • The M.W. Vanishing Pack / Mark Weston
  • Ringleader / Phil Goldstein
  • Seconds Out / Al Smith
  • Bob Read in Wichita
  • Falling Pips / Tommy Wonder
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 6, No. 3 Mar 1980
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • Ferly Defragmentation / Steven Hamilton
  • Minerve / Sonny Day
  • I-O-U / Gordon Bruce
  • Unsuspected Extra / Andrew Galloway
  • The Changeling / Andrew Galloway
  • Quadruple Inflation / Alex McFadzean
  • ... And the Card Came Back / Peter Duffie
Volume 6, No. 4 Apr 1980
  • Gaspers Galore / Kevin Davie
  • Sign There / Kevin Davie
  • Highly-Skilled Aces / Kevin Davie
  • Relative Rise / Kevin Davie
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • Palm Steal / Kevin Davie
  • The Lollipop Trick / Kevin Davie
  • Fumdubulators
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 6, No. 5 May 1980
  • Pocket Slates Routine / Tommy Wonder
  • USA Happenings / O'Bie O'Brien
  • Grandma Triple Cut / Steve Kuskie
  • Outward Bound / Roy Walton
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • Krix / Al Smith
  • Data / Phil Goldstein
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 6, No. 6 Jun 1980
  • It's a Pity: The Juan Tamariz routine and Presentation for Find the Lady / Fred Robinson
  • Oasis / Fred Robinson
  • Walt Lees Reporting
  • Sharp Sharp / Steve Kuskie
  • The Lady Vanishes / Jan Heins
  • Dai Vernon's "Centerpiece" / Phil Goldstein
  • In Anticipation / Neil Somerville
  • Piet Forton's Fan Club / Fred Robinson
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 6, No. 7 Jul 1980
  • Editorial
  • End Game Plus / Roy Walton
  • Even Break / Walt Lees
  • Almost Real Mindreading / Barrie Richardson
  • Trans Collection / Steven Hamilton, Peter Duffie
  • Hat Gag / Mo Howarth
  • Back Hander / Arthur Setterington
  • Amulation / Phil Goldstein
  • A Peep in a Bottle / Eric Mason
  • The Sadowitz Plunger / Jerry Sadowitz
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 6, No. 8 Aug 1980
  • Editorial
  • Yours, Mine & Ours / Rick Johnsson
  • The Voice of Experience / Sam Schwartz
  • Split Second / Gordon Bruce
  • Hip ESP / Ray Grismer
  • Penatring / Algonquin McDuff
  • Fred Trick the Great / Eric Mason
  • Rip Off / Rick Johnsson
  • Biddle-Kardyro Cased / Phil Willmarth
  • Oil Colours / Steve Kuskie
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 6, No. 9 Sep 1980
  • Turpin's Turnip / Dick Turpin
  • Editorial
  • A Deceptive Click Pass / Keith Chamley
  • Through the Centuries of Time / Roy Walton
  • Asque / Al Smith
  • Prndl/Prndl / Rick Johnsson
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 6, No. 10 Oct 1980
  • Editorial
  • Doing the Splits / Roger Crosthwaite
  • The Little Salt Man
  • Skating on Ice / Roger Crosthwaite
  • Partial Brainwave / Roger Crosthwaite
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 6, No. 11 Nov 1980
  • Cointraption / Johnny Johnston
  • Editorial
  • Cambridge Close-Up
  • Sandwich Escape / Arthur Setterington
  • Hong Kong Coin Visible Release / Mark Weston
  • Precoinition / Phil Goldstein
  • The Drinks are on me / Dick Turpin
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 6, No. 12 Dec 1980
  • Simple Oscar / Phil Goldstein
  • Editorial
  • Simple Thornton / Phil Goldstein
  • Either Aura / Phil Goldstein
  • Jan-Ken-Pon / Phil Goldstein
  • Brasso Profundo / Phil Goldstein
  • 37th Parallel / Phil Goldstein
  • Spirit Count / Phil Goldstein
  • The Page boy speaks ...

Volume 7, No. 1
  • The Tamariz Turnover
  • Holy Smoke / David Ben
  • Editorial
  • Three into one won't go / John Fells
  • Dumbo / Wally Boyce
  • Coincealment / Paul Hallas
  • Everywhere and Nowhere / Tommy Wonder
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 7, No. 2
  • The ???? in Wallet / Pat Conway
  • Take me to your leader / Keith Bennett
  • Editorial
  • Magic Shoes / Vic Allen
  • Simplicity Card in Wallet / Rovi
  • Double Force / Rovi
  • An Approach to magic / Roger Crosthwaite
  • What's in a Name? / Arthur Setterington
  • More Recollections of Horace Spencer
  • Elizabeth 2nd / Wally Boyce
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 7, No. 3
  • Surprise Follow the Leader / Roxy
  • Editorial
  • One in the Eye / Keith Charnley
  • More Recollections of Horace Spencer
  • Card in Calculator / Paul Hallas
  • Mental Blockbuster Prediction / Juan Tamariz
  • The Page boy speaks ...
  • Joseph Schmidt Writes
  • Packetrainer / Phil Goldstein
Volume 7, No. 4 May 1982
  • Torn and Restored Cigarette / Tommy Wonder
  • Editorial
  • Giant Cigarette Production / Richard M. Gamble
  • Double Lift Techniques and Variation / Gordon Bruce
  • Way Out / Gordon Bruce
  • An Approach to magic part 2 / Roger Crosthwaite
  • Back to Back / Bill Worsley
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 7, No. 5 Aug 1982
  • Dollar Divination / Barrie Richardson
  • Transposition '71 / Roxy
  • Editorial
  • Vendetta / Jerry Sadowitz
  • All for Nought / Phil Goldstein
  • Recollections of Horace Spencer
  • An Approach to magic / Roger Crosthwaite
  • Snap Count Lost Ace / Ian Land
  • Getting List in the Shuffle / Ian Land
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 7, No. 6
  • Card-Trek / Andrew Pargeter
  • Thimble Finger / Arthur Setterington
  • Location / Steve Kuske
  • Commercial Coin in Pack / Lawrence Frame
  • Elizabeth 3rd / Tommy Wonder
  • Casanova / Phil Goldstein
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 7, No. 7 Dec 1982
  • Tenting Trip / Phil Goldstein
  • Newspaper Mind Reading / Barrie Richardson and Eric Mason
  • Editorial
  • Audible (fake) Transfer / Keith Charnley
  • Fred Robinson in Glasgow / Gordon Bruce
  • Proteus / Ian Land
  • Double Repeat Turnover / Ron Lashbrook
  • Blooming Aces / Richard M. Gamble
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 7, No. 8 Feb 1983
  • Splash / Jan Heins
  • Editorial
  • Human Error / David Hawkins
  • Repeat Bluff Sandwich / Paul Hallas
  • The Magician's Four Aces / Alf Goodwin
  • Zig Zag Prediction / Roxy
  • Wallet - With Dressing / Mo Howarth
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 7, No. 9 Mar 1983
  • The Strange Key Stunt / Barrie Richardson
  • Editorial
  • Prone to Live Dangerously / Jerry Sadowitz
  • Among the Great Unwashed (Close-up at Blackpool)
  • Kaning Mercury / John Anders
  • Kciker Colour Change / Richard M. Gamble
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 7, No. 10
  • A Tribute to Ken Brooke / Fred Robinson
  • Nil Seperatum Est / Stephen Tucker
  • Editorial
  • Repeat Burned Match / Mark Weston
  • Oddment / Phil Goldstein
  • Micro Magic / Les Johnson
  • Triangle Prediction / Ron Lashbrook
  • Compression / Lawrence Frame
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 7, No. 11 Jul 1983
  • Interlaced Jump / Ian Land
  • Editorial
  • Second Direction
  • ... A Mouthful of Air
  • Back Palm
  • Technicolour Departure / Ian Land
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 7, No. 12 Sep 1983
  • Ambidextrous / Stephen Tucker
  • Editorial
  • A Sweet Cigarette / Richard M. Gamble
  • Forcing a Date with Cards / Paul Hallas
  • Fresh Sliced / Al Smith
  • Comb Vanish / Mark Weston
  • Ace Sandwich / Doug Alker
  • Coin Caper / Mark Weston
  • Alpha Minus / Ian Land
  • A Card To be Thought About / Roberto Giobbi
  • The Page boy speaks ...

Volume 8, No. 1 Oct 1983
  • Editorial
  • Blushing Jumper - an off colour card to wallet routine - on the table / Roberto Giobbi
  • The New Oil and Water Routine / Magic Ronnay
  • Correction to Ian Land's Technicolour Departure
  • Ring on Stick / Keith Charnley
  • Shear Magic / Stephen Tucker
  • The Flip Switch / Douglas Cameron
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 8, No. 2 Nov 1983
  • Avanturn / Phil Goldstein
  • Editorial
  • Review of the Martin Nash Lecture / David Britland
  • Under Control / Stephen Tucker
  • Alphabet Mentalism / Barrie Richardson
  • The Trevor Lewis Card to Wallet / Robert Giobbi
  • Modified Master Grip / Roger Crosthwaite
  • More Dangerous? / Paul Hallas
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 8, No. 3 Dec 1983
  • Editorial
  • One More Chance / Henrik Specht
  • Christmas Cards / Gay Ljungberg
  • Pickpockeyt / Gentleman Jack
  • Sympathy / Gay Ljungberg
  • Fantastic Elastics / El Duco
  • Think / Stephen Tucker
  • Ladies and Gentleman / Gentleman Jack
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 8, No. 4 Feb 1984
  • Editorial
  • The Four Card Trick / John Aukes
  • Short Circuit / Phil Goldstein
  • I'd Give My right Hand / Roy Walton
  • The Kangaroo Spots / Henrik Specht
  • The Joker Folks Up / Roberto Giobbi
  • Pocket Dictionary Book-Test / Barrie Richardson
  • Departure Lounge / Stephen Tucker
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 8, No. 5 Apr 1984
  • The 229-224 Trick / Roy Walton
  • The Magician's Name / Alex East
  • The Test Tube Child / Henrik Specht
  • The Deluxe Chink Box / Martin Breese, Stephen Tucker
  • The Trojan Deck / Roberto Giobbi
  • The Incomplete Deck / Stephen Tucker
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 8, No. 6 May 1984
  • The Domino Effect / Pascal Monmoine
  • Forceful Revelation
  • Card Through the table ... from a distance
  • Shattered
  • Chameleon
  • The Irresistible Force
  • Card in Pen
  • I've Seen a Rubber Band
  • Staircase
  • And Finally
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 8, No. 7 Jul 1984
  • Do You Wish to Continue? / Barrie Richardson
  • Editorial
  • For Susan / Roberto Giobbi
  • Philippe Socrate Lecture
  • Rainbow Road / Roy Walton
  • A Devil's Dozen ... plus two / Stephen Tucker
  • Intrigue 2 / Bill Worsley, Archie Palmer
  • 1, 2, 3 and 4 Queens / Roberto Giobbi
  • Straight and Round / John Aukes
  • Card-Warper / Stephen Tucker
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 8, No. 8 Oct 1984
  • Editorial
  • Triple Alliance / Roy Walton
  • Vernon's Indicator / Andrew Galloway
  • Sum Trick / Roy Walton
  • Going, Going ... Gone / Steven Hamilton
  • Devil's Delight / Douglas Cameron
  • Best Shot / Shiv Duggal
  • Literally Spelling the Aces / Stephen Tucker
  • Lost Fumbulators / M. B. Grierson
  • I met a card that wasn't there / Stephen Tucker
  • The Maneaters / Alf Goodwin
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 8, No. 9 Jan 1985
  • Editorial
  • Tag Team / Phil Goldstein
  • Queens & Water / Phil Goldstein
  • Stand Up and be Counting / Phil Goldstein
  • Greetings / Phil Goldstein
  • Eye-Cue / Phil Goldstein
  • Paper Chase / Phil Goldstein
  • Brackets / Phil Goldstein
  • The Page boy speaks ...
Volume 8, No. 10 May 1985
  • Editorial
  • Poor Mans Card Manipulation / John Carney
  • Spondulics plus Mentalism / Stephen Tucker
  • Less is More / Barrie Richardson
  • Murder Game / Gay Ljungberg
  • The Trick with No Name / Jerry Sadowitz
  • Quaternity / Ian Land
  • Five Knuckle Shuffles the final fix
  • Slow Motion Penetration / El Duco
  • Mexican Spectator Change
  • The Page boy speaks ...

word count: 775650 which is equivalent to 3102 standard pages of text


Reviewed by Howard Port
★★★★★   Date Added: Monday 13 June, 2011

This is a fantastic resource for the close-up magician. At almost 1400 pages, there is a wealth of information and effects here. I've had it for a year and don't think I have yet plumbed its depths. Here are just a few names I recognized as I leafed through the pages (and I edited this list down from double the number): Ross Bertram, Alex Elmsley, Andrew Galloway, Roberto Giobbi, Phil Goldstein, Larry Jennings, Simon Lovell, Juan Tamariz, Roy Walton. Here you'll find the original text of Tony Corinda's "The Powers of Darkness". Here are several Barrie Richardson effects with his extensive attention to detail. I can heartily recommend Fred Robinson's detailed write-up on the Faro shuffle: after years of being able to complete it only haphazardly, I can now do it perfectly (albeit still slowly) every time. I recommend this as one of the best bargains in magic.

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