The first Conjurors' Magazine made its appearance in 1792 in London under the editorship of Henry Lemoine. This, the first monthly periodical ever devoted to the art of magic, featured "singular deceptions, philosophical amusements, curious experiments, mathematical operations and sympathetic secrets."
Then in 1906 Harry Houdini together with his brother Theo Hardeen revived this almost forgotten publication under the title of The Conjurer's Monthly Magazine (spelled with an 'e' instead of an 'o').
In 1945 Walter B. Gibson and Julian Proskauer gave this title another shot at life and started The New Conjurors' Magazine, which ran until September 1949, spanning five volumes. The 'New' was later dropped.
This magazine is filled with wonderful tricks and features in the 'Speaking of Pictures' column two full page photos of celebrity magicians each and every issue. The photos alone are a treat and worth the modest asking price for this magazine. The series of De Land marked and gaffed cards is a must read for anyone interested in marked or trick cards.
- No 1:
- SPEAKING OF PICTURES: George Karger Demonstrates
- EDITORIAL PAGES
- TOMORROW'S TRICKS
- KALMAR'S MAGIC - A Letter
- ROBERT HOUDIN - by Houdini
- STAGE MAGIC: Blackstone Illusions
- HANDCUFF ESCAPES - Hardeen
- COPYISTS - Ramee Sami
- MAGICIANS GUILD SHOW - A Review
- NEW TRICKS - NEW BOOKS - JONES
- SLEIGHTS - MANIPULATIONS - CARDS - MENTAL - SILKS - GAGS - LESSONS by CARDINI - MacDOUGAL - GEOFFREY - TOWNS
- WEST COAST HAPPENINGS - Hayman
- NEW YORK GOSSIP - Gimco
- CHICAGO NOTES - Chinot
- No 2:
- SPEAKING OF PICTURES: Leo Rullman in action
- EDITORIAL PAGES: Read Fulton Oursler and W. Scott Peacock
- STAGE MAGIC
- HANDCUFF ESCAPES - Hardeen
- DR. DALEY'S THIRTY-ONE
- FOUR ACES - Cardini
- ROUTINING AN ACT - Maurice Raymond
- RAMEE SAMI
- RANGOON RICE BOWLS: Warren E. Simms' own routine
- MENTAL MAGIC
- DE LAND'S AMAZING CREATIONS
- SLEIGHTS - MANIPULATIONS - CARDS - MENTAL - SILKS - GAGS - LESSONS by BLACKSTONE - KAPLAN - ELLIOTT - HARDIN THURSTON
- ROBERT-HOUDIN - by Harry Houdini
- NEW TRICKS - NEW BOOKS by Lloyd Jones
- JUNIOR CONJURORS' CORNER
- WEST COAST HAPPENINGS - Hayman
- NEW YORK GOSSIP - Gimco
- CHICAGO NOTES - Chinot
- No 3:
- SPEAKING OF PICTURES: Dunninger Demonstrates and Karger Photographs THE INDIAN ROPE TRICK
- OUT OF THE MAIL BAG: Fleming, Perry and Rullman Letters
- STAGE MAGIC
- MORE DE LAND CREATIONS - Gibson
- WILL ROGERS - by Vernon Scobie
- TOMORROW'S TRICKS
- OUT OF THE PAST - by J. C. Walter
- CARD MAGIC
- TWO BOOK REVIEWS
- Magic Without Apparatus - W. B. G. Miracles in Mentalism, etc. - J. J. Proskauer
- NEW TRICKS . . . NEW BOOKS - Jones
- WALKING AWAY FROM SHADOW - Blackstone
- DR. DALEY'S 31 SYSTEM
- ROBERT HOUDIN - Houdini
- SLEIGHTS - MANIPULATIONS - CARDS - MENTAL - SILKS - GAGS - LESSONS by BLACKSTONE - ROYO - SARDO - PERRY - THURSTON
- CARDINI'S BILLIARD BALL ROUTINE
- ANAGRAMENTALIX - Mental Mystery
- TRICK OF THE MONTH - Foo Ling Yu
- SATAN'S SILKS
- ROYAL HEATH'S FLOOR TRICKS
- No 4:
- SPEAKING OF PICTURES: George Karger photographs Bert Easley; Irving Desfor snaps Jean Hugard
- TOMMY WINDSOR AND DAN FRIEDMAN Answers to W. Scott Peacock
- STAGE MAGIC: Shaman, Thurston, Blackstone
- OUT OF THE PAST - J. C. Walter
- VISIBLE RICE AND WATER
- MULTIPLE COIN BOX - Something new
- BEFORE YOUR VERY EYES - Warner Perry
- CIG CANE - "Hen" Fetsch
- CARD MAGIC - Some Good Elfects
- TWO BOOK REVIEWS Heineman's "Original Magic" - W. B. Gibson; Gotberg's Ventriloquism - J. J. Proskauer
- MAGICIANS GUILD ELECTS CARDINI-BLACKSTONE-HARDEEN
- NOVEL MAGIC
- PRIZE CONTEST LETTERS
- HARRY HOUDINI'S COMMENTS
- TRAVELING KNOTS. THREE CARD MONTE. CHINESE DISCS. DOUBLE COLOR CHANGE. NOVEL COIN STAND. ETC.. ETC.
- DE LAND'S MARKED CARD CREATIONS - Walter B. Gibson
- KEEP MAGIC CLEAN - Collins Pentz
- REVIEWS FROM SHOWS FROM COAST TO COAST
- No 5:
- SPEAKING OF PICTURES: GEORGE KARGER Pictures DAI VERNON and JARROW for Conjurors' readers
- THEO HARDEEN PASSES ON
- BEER AND GIRL FROM BARREL - Brooks
- ROLLER COASTER - Comdr. Adair
- THE CAULDRON - Rudy Roxo
- TAMBOURINE BOWL - Chung Ling Soo
- HOP-A-LONG HANK - Bert Eeasley
- PRIZE CONTEST LETTERS
- WAND TO TABLE
- NEW TRICKS - NEW BOOKS - Lloyd Jones
- IMPROMPTU COIN TRAY - Dai Vernon
- XKWIZIT or the DANDY DECK
- MOUSE FROM DECK OF CARDS - Smythe
- MORE DELAND CREATIONS - Gibson
- "REDUCING HAZARDS OF BUYING MAGIC" - Kemp
- Modern Magicians - Bert Allerton
- First of a Series by Maurice Zolotow
- Three Book Reviews - J. J. Proskauer
- "What Are You Getting" - Pentz
- "Defense" of Mentalism - Nelson
- "Out of the Past" - Walter, the Magician
- HARPINGS FROM HAYMAN
- MAGICIANS GUILD
- HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE
- No 6:
- FRONTISPIECE - - HARDEEN'S ORIGINAL POSTER
- ESCAPE FROM "TRAMP CHAIR" - Joseph Yadah
- FINAL CURTAIN - HARDEEN'S LIFE STORY
- HARDEEN'S EARLY TEACHINGS
- THERE IS NO DEATH - EULOGY
- THE BROTHERS HOUDINI
- GERMAN SHOW BILL
- TOMB OF HOUDINI AND GRAVE OF HARDEEN
- WORLD'S MANACLES
- MILK CAN ESCAPE
- DOLLY SPENCE TELLS OF YEARS WITH HARDEEN
- CARDINI AND HARDEEN
- OLSEN AND JOHNSON DINNER FOR HARDEEN
- HARDEEN'S SHOW BILLS IN COLOR
- THE BOOK OF LIFE: HARDEEN'S LEGACY TO MAGICIANS
- THE TEMPLE OF MYSTERY AND OVERBOARD BOX
- OUT OF THE DOG HOUSE - Night Club Illusion
- ALLIED VICTORY CONVENTION OF MAGICIANS
- MY PAL "DASH" - Joe Hayman
- THEO AS I KNEW HIM Walter B. Bower
- PIPE OF THE MANDARIN - Ladson Butler
- FLIGHT OF THREE COINS - Dr. H. Walter Grote
- A BLACKSTONE EFFECT
- CARDINI'S CARDS & ENVELOPE
- TRICK OF THE MONTH - Bob Sherman
- NECKBAND ESCAPE - Warren E. Simms
- TRIBUTES AND PHOTOGRAPHS
- DOUGLAS GEOFFREY, Successor to the HOUDINI-HARDEEN SHOW
- No 7:
- SPEAKING OF PICTURES: George Karger Masterpieces: WARREN E. SIMMS, Vice-President, Magicians Guild; CANTU AND DOVE
- STAGE MAGIC: Flight of the Mandarin; The Great La Follette's Illusion
- CONTEST LETTERS
- MESSAGE FROM MARS - Warner Perry
- COIN PASSES - William Hanna
- ORIENTAL SNOW STORM - Warren Simms
- CHINK-A-CHINK SUPREME
- CENTURY TWENTIETH
- LATEST PRODUCTION CABINET
- ROBERT HOUDINI (conclusion) - HOUDINI
- PASS AWAY CARD
- MAGI CARDS - Harry Hardin
- MORE DeLAND - Gibson
- HARPINGS FROM HAYMAN
- OUT OAKLAND WAY
- COUNT ALONG CARDS - Jarrow
- OUT OF THE PAST - Walter the Magician
- VICTORY CONVENTION
- MORE HARDEEN MEMORABILIA - J. J. Proskauer
- No 8:
- SPEAKING OF PICTURES: The Charlier Pass; Audrey Walsh demonstrates and George Karqer pictures this subtle sleight.
- VICTORY!
- DE LAND'S "FIGURE-IT-OUT"
- THE GREAT RAYMOND SHOW
- VISION THROUGH SPACE - Warner Perry
- DE LAND'S SPECIAL PACKS - Gibson
- HARPINGS FROM HAYMAN
- MEXICO'S MASTER MAGICIAN
- PRO AND CON - Magic Dealers - Pentz and Deals
- ROBERT PARRISH ANSWERS FULTON OURSLER
- THE GREAT OVETTE
- KOLAR "GIVE MY REGARDS TO THE CHIEF OF POLICE"
- HENRY HARDIN AND HIS MAGICAL MEMORANDA
- SOLDIERS PREFER COMEDY - Foust
- THE KAHUNA - Baird and Murata
- "REAL CRYSTAL GAZING"
- SEMANTIC SILKS - Griggs
- TRI-TIE - A Hen Fetsch Masterpiece in a Brilliant Color Spread
- INVISIBLE RAINBOW - Jack Gwynne
- MAGIC DATES - Ten Calendar Mysteries
- "400" OF MAGIC AT COLON! - Dr. Tarbell
- RAE'S PSYCHO-ANALYSIS MODERNIZED - Jerry Soss
- TORN CARD EFFECT - Prof. Jack Miller
- JUNIOR CONJURORS' CORNER
- No 9:
- SPEAKING OF PICTURES: Blackstone and Magical Beauties
- PRIZE WINNING LETTERS: Fifteen Prize Awards
- DOUBLE COLOR CHANGE - Blackstone
- "WORLD'S GREATEST" CARD TRICK
- MODERN MAGICIANS - Richard Cardini by Maurice Zolotow
- WITH THE GREATEST OF EASE - Jerry Ross
- CHEST OF CELESTIAL BLISS - Rudy Roxo's New Illusion
- VISIBLE LIQUID PRODUCTION - Capt. R. C. Brooks
- SIMMS AND RAYMOND ELECTED BY MAGICIANS GUILD
- CHARLES A. LEEDY DIES
- OLD PHOTO OF HOUDINI - George Brooks
- THE APPEARING LION - The Great Ovette
- HARDIN'S "MIRACLES" EXPLAINED
- ROYAL MARRIAGES - Dai Vernon
- FIVE CARDS AND FIVE COLORS - Conjurors' Staff
- DELAND'S EVER-READY TRICK CARDS
- BOXES OF CHANG - Prof. Jack Miller
- TRI TIE SET-UP - "Hen" Fetsch
- CHATS BY KOLAR
- MASTER POKER DEAL
- CONJURORS' CORNER
- FLOATING CARD - Domer Scaramucci
- THREE TAPED SLATES
- No 10:
- SPEAKING OF PICTURES - The Royal Family of Magic Dell O'Dell and Charles Carrer
- CONJURORS' CONTEST VICTORY BOND WINNERS
- DOLLAR BILL PEREGRINATION - Dr. Grote
- ELECTRONIC CARD RISE - F. W. Blaisdell and Dr. Blaisdell
- PICKPOCKET MAGICIAN - Count Lionel
- SO YOU THINK YOU ARE A MAGICIAN - Theo Dore
- TRIPLE MYSTERY - Collins Illusion
- SIXTH CARD - SIXTH SENSE
- FLAG FUN - "Hen" Fetsch
- BALL OF SILK ADVERTISING ACT - Warner Perry
- DECEPTIVE COLOR CHANGE OBLIGING BOTTLE BREMA'S CARD CHANGE TUBE
- DELAND'S GREATEST CARD CREATION - Gibson
- HARDIN'S "MIRACLES" and EXPLANATIONS WHAT IS A MAGIC TRICK? - Collins Pentz
- HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE
- NEFF SHOW REVIEW - W. B. Gibson
- MARDO AT LANCASTER
- CHATS BY KOLAR
- HARPINGS BY HAYMAN - Joe Hayman
- RAMEE SAMI SAYS
- CONJURORS' CORNER - Hocus Pocus, Jr.
- REVIEWS THIS MONTH - J. J. Proskauer
- No 11:
- SPEAKING OF PICTURES: CARDINI, by Karger; BALLANTINE, by Desior
- SPIRIT PAINTINGS
- WORLD'S BEST CARD MAGIC: Two Blackstone Eflects
- GREAT FELLOWSHIP AT IBM CONCLAVE
- KROGER'S CHARIOT ILLUSION
- FOLLIES GIRL ILLUSION - Rudy Roxo
- VANISHING GLASS
- HOUDINI SHOW REVIEW by J. J. Proskauer
- SUCKER CARD EFFECT
- ZOLOTOW SPANKED . . . AND PRAISED
- SO YOU WANT TO BE A PRO? - Bert Easley
- MODERN MAGICIANS - Maurice Zolotow
- Photo by Karger of Blackstone
- IN THE MONEY - Bert Easley
- MILBOURNE CHRISTOPHER'S WANDS
- DELAND'S CHANGING CARDS - Gibson
- SILK DRINKS - Dore
- LIFESAVERS CARD TRICK - Scaramucci
- STARS DOT GUILD MEETING - Hawbecker
- HARDIN'S MYSTERIES AND EXPLANATIONS
- A LOVE LETTER TO BILL LARSEN FROM J. J. Proskauer
- SOMETHING FOR NOTHING - Will Goldston
- No 12:
- SPEAKING OF PICTURES: JERRI DAWN. Magical MISSteries; STEPHEN MIACO
- THE PASSING PARADE - Magic in Review
- CRYSTAL RISING CARDS - Pfisterer
- BURMESE PAGODA - A Fine Illusion
- BREMA'S NEEDLE TRICK
- HARPINGS FROM HAYMAN
- GAMBLER'S DREAM - Audley Walsh
- HARDIN'S "MIRACLES" and EXPLANATIONS
- HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE
- MORE DELAND CARD EFFECTS - Gibson
- OUT OF THE BOOK RACK: Elaborating an Annemann Effect in full color
- FOUR ACE TRANSPOSITION - Paul Rosini Presentation
- BALINESE RICE - Jerry Ross
- MATCHLESS MATCH BOX: A Sibley Table Routine with a Blue Print
- HOMING HALVES - Warren Simms
- CHATS BY KOLAR
- PERFECT ONE WAY DECK - Charles Arbuthnot III
- HEALING BY MAGIC - J. Spencer Dean, M.D.
- CONJURORS' CORNER
- ANY CARD FROM CIGARETTE - Edward W. Dart
- RAMEE SAMI SAYS
- GOOD MISCELLANEOUS MAGIC
February 1945 - January 1946; 703 pages.
word count: 555368 which is equivalent to 2221 standard pages of text
Reviewed by Chet Cox (confirmed purchase)
★★★★★ Date Added: Tuesday 14 December, 2010The greatest writers in magic got together and appeared in one magazine - and this is it! One cannot begin to list and describe the advice, the history, and the effects that Gibson showcased within this magazine in just one year. From the controversial Houdini attack on Robert-Houdin to secrets and advice of and from Hardeen, Blackstone, Cardini, and others of whom you just might have heard. 703 pages of the best in magic, reviews of magic, reviews of books and performances, history (including history-as-it-was-happening), and much - MUCH more! As soon as I finish reading and using all this material, I'm getting the next volume. And the next!