(26th December 1918 - 4th March 1994)
Born in St. Louis, Missouri. Grew up in Mason City, Iowa. Inspired at age 12 seeing Gerald Heaney at school and learned from library books. Public relations and writer. Semi-pro mentalist since 1934. Moved to Chicago in 1937. Won the IBM's Coke Cecil Trophy in 1940 at his first magic convention. US Army 1942-46. Editor Magicol 1988-death.
Coauthors: Oscar Weigle, John Goodrum, George L. Boston, Okito
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. ...
Hardcover book with dust-jacket. The dust-jacket is damaged. A piece is missing from the top spine area, some foxing, small tears, and rubbing. For details on the contents see the digital edition.
Hardcover with dust-jacket. Dust-jacket has some damage. Book has some light staining inside. For details on the contents see the digital edition.
In this ebook, George Boston, old time magician, takes his readers behind the scenes of the magic shows. Associate and confidant of the great men of magic, he recalls the greatest "tricks" in his memory and in many cases tells "how it was done." The great names of magic - Thurston, Blackstone, Houdini, Kellar, Carter and Nicola - appear in these pages. The book is liberally illustrated with many photographs, and is written in the highly readable style that has made Robert Parrish's For Magicians Only and New Ways to Mystify such popular favorites.
This is a wonderful collection of some of Charlie Miller's signature pieces with photos showing Charlie Miller performing the moves and routines.
From the introduction by Theo Bamberg (Okito):
I consider Charlie's technique not only original, subtle and entertaining, but above all, highly commercial. In this respect, he is in the tradition of the Old Masters, whose skill could be appreciated by the connoisseur, but who used that skill to keep their audiences highly entertained.
1st edition 1961, 1st digital edition 2014, 59 pages.
Sidelights on some classics
New Ways To Mystify carries on its prestidigitation in the vein of For Magicians Only. Again Mr. Parrish has presented thirty "tricks" that can be performed without elaborate equipment, and with no more skill than the average person can muster. It's all in practice and in knowing how to distract the audience, Mr. Parrish says, and he demonstrates in such a simple manner that anyone, young or old, can master these feats of magic.
The general plan of the ebook follows that of the earlier volume, and Mr. Parrish again writes in his witty, urbane fashion. Dozens of simple diagrams, as well as clever chapter head...
This was a very successful book on magic when it originally appeared in 1944. Even the sophisticated New Yorker put at the top of its list of recommended books for servicemen.
Here's the book for every one who ever dreamed of pulling rabbits out of a hat or sawing a woman in two (and putting her back together again). The author, who has had a long experience in platform magic and two previous books...A complete repertory of tricks that can be performed without elaborate equipment.
The only book on magic that tells exactly how to keep the audience from seeing the mechanics of performance.
Tenkai was a legendary magician from Japan. As his gift for achieving the 'living legend' status in Japan he asked to meet Dai Vernon - which he did, but that is a story for another time.
In this manuscript Robert Parrish describes several wonderful effects created by Tenkai. All illustrations are drawn by Tenkai himself.
20 pages.
1st edition 1974; original 14 pages; PDF 28 pages.
A mix of cards, mentalism, and quite unusual manipulation with glasses and thimbles.
1st edition 1937, reprinted 1963; 65 pages.
Includes four sections, one on mental magic, card magic, silk magic and rope and lace magic respectively. All effects are easy to perform and do not require any exotic requisites.