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Walter Gibson

Walter Gibson

(Germantown, Pennsylvania, 12th September 1897 - 6th December 1985)

Gibson’s interest in magic began at an early age, when in 1905 at the age of 8 he was given a trick box.

During the 1920s Gibson’s output was prolific. In total he produced 6,800 daily articles that appeared at a rate of 680 a year, including "After Dinner Tricks", "A Puzzle a Day", Magic Made Easy and others. Additionally he wrote weeklies, ghosted books for Thurston and released several books under his own name - in total he wrote 187 books.

In 1931 Gibson was approached by the pulp fiction magazine publishers Street and Smith, who wanted a writer to produce a pulp magazine series called "The Shadow", based on the character of a popular "Detective Radio Drama". Gibson delivered under the pen name Maxwell Grant (devised from his friendship with two stage magicians, Max Holden and U. F. Grant). It was such a success that he wrote some 283 shadow novels. Through all this time he maintained an estimated 1 Million words a year annual output.

Coauthors: Nancy Webb, Julien J. Proskauer

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Walter Gibson
Seven Circles (all 5 Volumes) by Walter Gibson

Seven Circles was the official publication of the International Magic Circle (IMC). Editor-in-chief was Walter B. Gibson. In his first editorial Gibson wrote:

This magazine has a double purpose, as a perusal of its pages will show. First, it is a desire to give magicians a worth-while, readable publication, filled with items of value and interest. Second, it is definitely the magazine of a new organization - The International Magic Circle.

It is the editor's duty to produce a magazine that will be recognized as the best of all periodicals pertaining to the mystic art. There is only one...

★★★★★ $29.50
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Walter Gibson
Seven Circles Volume 5 (January 1934 - June 1934) by Walter Gibson

Number 1 (January 1934)

  • Editorial
  • Around the Magic Circle
  • Stage Effects: The Mysterious Cocoanut Shell Fountain Illusion / Clayton Lowell Jacobsen
  • Effective Card Tricks
    • Stand For Producing And Vanishing Cards / Signor Joseph Ovette
    • The Slide Discovery / Dr. Raoul Brochu
  • European Section: A Rope And Ring Trick

Number 2 (February 1934)
  • Editorial
  • Around the Magic Circle
  • Effective Card Tricks
    • Grant's Four Ace Trick / U. F. Grant
    • Reverse Reverse
  • Stage Effects: The Target Of Doom Illusion / Clayton L. Jacobsen
  • European Section: Affinity of Letters And Numbers / Will...
$10
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Walter Gibson
Seven Circles Volume 4 (October 1932 - December 1933) by Walter Gibson

Number 1 (October 1932)

  • Editorial
  • Why Is a Headliner? Harlan Tarbell
  • A Talk to Card Enthusiasts / Eddie McGuire
  • This 'n That / Mr. E
  • Kansas City Notes / Dr. E. G. Ervin
  • Manipulative Magic
    • The Lock Flap Jap Box / Glenn G. Gravatt
    • Monk Watson's Traveling Cigar Band
    • The Invisible Purse / Little Johnny Jones
  • Sensational Magic
    • The Floating Wand / William Meyn
    • Balls Box and Cages
  • U. F. Grant Says
  • Nixonian News Shots
  • Doings of The Society of Osiris / Ernest B. Marx

Number 2 (November 1932)
  • Editorial
  • Around the Ice-Box with Dom
  • With the Dealers
  • Sensational Magic ...
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Walter Gibson
Seven Circles Volume 3 (April 1932 - September 1932) by Walter Gibson

Number 1 (April 1932)

  • Editorial
  • Around the Magic Circle
  • Sensational Magic
    • Card Prediction / Dorner Scaramucci
    • Silk Production / Doc Nixon
    • Chemical Magic / Doc. Endlich
    • Silk-O-Drop / Clayton L. Jacobsen
  • Amateur Contest: Robert Nelson
  • Stage Effects
    • The Princess of Tepenac Illusion / Clayton L. Jacobsen
    • The Spooky Chair
    • Patriotic Finale / Ovette
  • E. J. Moore
  • Manipulative Magic
    • Vanishing Light Globe
    • Cigarette Vanish
    • Rub Away Coin
    • Perfection Coin Vanish
  • The Nelson Cup
  • Effective Card Tricks
    • Mathematical Card Mystery
    • Identical Thought
  • Around the Ice-Box with...
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Walter Gibson
Seven Circles Volume 2 (October 1931 - March 1932) by Walter Gibson

Number 1 (October 1931)

  • Editorial
  • Around the Magic Circle
  • Sensational Magic
    • Bouquet to Fish Globe
    • The Chinese Rope
    • Large Coin Vanish
    • Divino
  • Effective Card Tricks
    • Card Transposition
    • Improved Card Production / Dunninger
    • Car-Deck-O / Arnt
    • Improved Card Rising
  • Stage Effects: The Tom Tom Illusion
  • Around the Ice-Box with Dom
  • Salo Ansbach
  • Old Time Magicians No. 3 / A. F. Munroe
  • Tricks and Travel / Robert G. Thrasher
  • Magic for Pleasure or Profit
  • Saginaw Meeting
  • Color and Number
  • The Odin Rings
  • Poetic Patter

Number 2 (November 1931)
  • Editorial
  • Around the Magic Circle ...
$10
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Walter Gibson
Seven Circles Volume 1 (April 1931 - September 1931) by Walter Gibson

Number 1 (April 1931)

  • Editorial
  • Downs Greets Blackstone
  • Men Prominent in Magic Welcome the I. M. C.
  • The International Magic Circle
  • The First Convention
  • Sensational Magic
    • Word from the Spirits
    • The Penetrating Silk
    • The Best Diminishing Ball
    • The Bewitched Cigarette
    • Dollar Divination Test
    • Clear Through / Edward Massey
    • How to Tell What a Man Thinks Before He Thinks It / Frank W. Thomas
  • Something New in Magic
  • Around the Magic Circle
  • Magic Notes from Detroit
  • Stage Effects
    • The Message from Mercury
    • The Girl and the Ladder
  • Around the Ice-Box with "Dom"
  • Effective Card Tricks ...
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Walter Gibson
After Dinner Tricks by Walter Gibson

This is a lovely collection of simple tricks, puzzles, brain teasers and other similar items. Each one is explained with text and an illustration.

  • INTRODUCTION
  • Tricks With Matches
    • Strike Safety Matches Without Box
    • Levitation of a Match Box
    • The Leaning Match
    • A Light That Failed
    • Which End Burns First?
    • Balancing a Match
    • The Mystic Matches
    • A Puzzle With Matches
    • A Square by Moving One Match
    • Self-Serving Match Box
  • Tricks With Coins
    • Mysterious Sounding Money
    • The Changed Coins in Hand
    • Chosen Coin Picked Out
    • Coin Appears in Empty Box
    • A Puzzle With a Coin
    • Coin Balanced on Tumbler ...
$5
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Walter Gibson
Magic Made Easy by Walter Gibson

This is a lovely and unusual publication with more than 200 feats described. Walter B. Gibson had a magic column in the Public Ledger, a newspaper in Philadelphia. The entire run of his columns is collected in this publication.

You will find many simple magic tricks as well as some puzzles, stunts and brain teasers. While many will be familiar to most who have read similar collections of little tricks, there are a few real surprises I have not seen anywhere else.

1st digital edition 2013, 246 pages.

Table of Contents

  1. Preface
  2. The Balanced Egg
  3. The Jumping Card
  4. Coin In Handkerchief ...
★★★★★ $8
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Julien J. Proskauer & Walter Gibson
The New Conjurors' Magazine: all volumes by Julien J. Proskauer & Walter Gibson

First advertised as The New Conjurors' Magazine and dropped the word "New" after Vol 1, No. 1. Houdini's brother, Hardeen, helped get this magazine launched, but he passed away shortly after the magazine started. It was selected as the official organ for the Magician's Guild of America. It eventually changed hands to Ed Dart in 1947 (Volume 4, #10), with Robert Lund as editor (Gibson still continued as a columnist).

Genii magazine absorbed The Conjurors' Magazine and from November, 1949 until 1974 as Genii became Genii, The Conjurors' Magazine. It was eventually changed to Genii The International Conjurors'...

★★★★ $35
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Walter Gibson
The New Conjurors' Magazine: Volume 5 (Mar 1949 - Sep 1949) by Walter Gibson

This is volume 5 of The New Conjurors' Magazine.

  • No 1:
    • Speaking of Pictures: Richiardi, Chang
    • Abracadabra by Arthur Buckley
    • A Man Named Le Roy by George LaFollette
    • The Atomic Gun by Eddie Joseph
    • East Indian Rope Trick by Felix Korim
    • Liquid Mystery by Andrew Smythe
    • New Three Coin Trick by George L. Kier
    • Chicanery by Chaudet
    • GABBATHA by Walter B. Gibson
    • On The Magic Bookshelf by G. E. T. and E. W. D.
    • Light Up by Richard Gray
    • Journeys Into Aladdinland by Glen E. Towns
    • Blending by George Johnstone
    • In The Hat by Don Jacobs
    • Backwards by P. A. Dohm, Jr.
    • Prediction by Martin Gardner ...
★★★★★ $8
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Walter Gibson
The New Conjurors' Magazine: Volume 4 (Mar 1948 - Feb 1949) by Walter Gibson

This is volume 4 of The New Conjurors' Magazine.

  • No 1:
    • SPEAKING OF PICTURES: George Johnstone, Betty Johnstone
    • YOU'VE GOT TO USE "DYNAMITE" - Bruce Reynolds
    • CIRCUS BANDS - Warren E. Simms
    • THE GIRL AND THE LADDER - Harry Blackstone
    • THE VACUUM IMPOSSIBILITY - George Johnstone
    • SLIK SLEIGHTS - Bill Tarr
    • TRICKS I LIKE - Bill Chaudet
    • IN THE BAG - R. N. Menge
    • OVER THE DEALER'S COUNTER
    • ON THE MAGIC BOOKSHELF
    • HUMOROUS PATTER - Burling Hull
    • BURNT AND RESTORED BILL - John Scarne
    • THE BOTTOM STEAL - Mike Tannen
    • THE 17TH ANNUAL MAGI-FEST
    • CHINESE FLAG VASE OF ALL NATIONS - Okito
    • GAS...
★★★★★ $8
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Walter Gibson
The New Conjurors' Magazine: Volume 3 (Mar 1947 - Feb 1948) by Walter Gibson

This is volume 3 of The New Conjurors' Magazine.

  • No 1:
    • SPEAKING OF PICTURES: William Holden Maxwell, Ruth Dore
    • A THANK YOU FROM CONJURORS' STAFF
    • RIDDLE IN RED AND YELLOW: A Story about Chung Ling Soo by FULTON OURSLER
    • GIVE ME A RING - Edward M. Massey
    • CUPKAKES IN HAT - Burton Marks
    • SWORD-SORCERY - "Hen" Fetsch
    • FIFTEEN CARD TRICK - Stanley Beck
    • TORTURE BOX - Jay Berggren
    • ALONG WITH BLACKSTONE - Walter B. Gibson
    • MAGICIAN - SOLDIERS WANTED - Julien J. Proskauer: Featuring Statements to Conjurors' Readers by PRESIDENT TRUMAN and GENERAL EISENHOWER
    • TERRY LYNN - ON MAGIC
    • IMPROVED...
★★★★★ $8
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Julien J. Proskauer & Walter Gibson
The New Conjurors' Magazine: Volume 2 (Mar 1946 - Feb 1947) by Julien J. Proskauer & Walter Gibson

This is volume 2 of The New Conjurors' Magazine.

  • No 1:
    • SPEAKING OF PICTURES: George Karger and Audley Walsh; Give Conjurors' Another Scoop
    • TRIPLE CUT LOCATION - Blackstone
    • MAGIC'S BELOVED COUPLE Tess and Max Holden
    • CHATS BY KOLAR
    • A STORY BY DELL O'DELL
    • SHORT CHANGE - Hornmann
    • TRICK WITHOUT A NAME - Sgt. Schroeter
    • REVIEWS - J. J. Proskauer
    • COMEDIAN'S CORNER - Warner Perry
    • MAGICIANS HONOR TREPEL
    • VISIBLE COLOR CHANGE - Miaco
    • HERE THERE AND EVERYWHERE
    • PRACTICAL PRODUCTION TRAY
    • CUT AND RESTORED BILL - Marks
    • YANKEE DOODLE HAT - A TOMMY WINDSOR CREATION
    • MEXICAN TURN-OVER - McDermott ...
★★★★★ $8
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Julien J. Proskauer & Walter Gibson
The New Conjurors' Magazine: Volume 1 (Feb 1945 - Jan 1946) by Julien J. Proskauer & Walter Gibson

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...

★★★★★ $8
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Walter Gibson
Popular Card Tricks by Walter Gibson

Walter Gibson intended this book for the novice. All the tricks are quite easy to perform. And in the beginning under the heading "The Presentation of Card Tricks" Gibson gives very valuable advice on how to create a program and how to present it.

Nevertheless, the book is so good that even the intermediate and advanced card magician will be able to learn a lot from its pages.

This book was originally written by Walter B. Gibson for Houdini. Houdini's death in 1926 prevented him from putting it out, and Walter issued it under his own name. Ted Annemann considered it one of the best books in its field . ....

★★★★★ $8
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Walter Gibson & Nancy Webb
Blackstone the Magic Detective: 56 Episodes by Walter Gibson & Nancy Webb

Listen along to the thrilling adventures of Blackstone, the Magic Detective. Each week he will solve a variety of mysteries with magic. Along with his main assistant, the beautiful Rhoda Brent (voiced by Fran Carlon) and their radio announcers Alan Kent and Don Hancock (or here and there John, played by Ted Osborne, who may be Rhoda’s boyfriend) we get to hear thrilling inside stories about the mementos he has collected when solving fantastic crimes or the magic apparatus Blackstone has used to solve them. Then, Blackstone lets us in on the magic we can do at home and “reveal the guarded secrets of...

$14.99
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Walter Gibson & Nancy Webb
Blackstone the Magic Detective: Episodes 49-51, 54, 55, 78 by Walter Gibson & Nancy Webb

All these episodes have been digitally restored and remastered. Each episode has had the major clicks, pops, and distortions removed while preserving the vintage sound.

  1. The Vanishing Brooch
    While attempting to get his watch repaired, the jewelers ask Blackstone to solve a rash of robberies that are leaving their own detectives baffled. Could one of the store's oldest and best customers be to blame?
    After another mystery is solved by magic, Blackstone teaches a strange little card trick with a singing revelation. Originally broadcast 09/04/1949
  2. Crimes on a Merry Go Round
    The police are...
★★★★★ $3.99
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Walter Gibson & Nancy Webb
Blackstone the Magic Detective: Episodes 43-48 by Walter Gibson & Nancy Webb

All these episodes have been digitally restored and remastered. Each episode has had the major clicks, pops, and distortions removed while preserving the vintage sound.

  1. Crime in the Stars
    Astrology...hypnotism...and organized crime! The police suspect fortune-teller Madame Stella is behind a rash of robberies but can not prove it. Will Rhoda and Blackstone be able to foil her plans?
    Afterwards, Blackstone teaches Rhoda, Alan and you how to summon your own Tapping Ghost. Originally broadcast 07/24/1949
  2. The Devil's Cauldron
    While on a trip to "the islands" before the War, Blackstone helps...
★★★★★ $3.99
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Walter Gibson & Nancy Webb
Blackstone the Magic Detective: Episodes 37-42 by Walter Gibson & Nancy Webb

All these episodes have been digitally restored and remastered. Each episode has had the major clicks, pops, and distortions removed while preserving the vintage sound.

  1. The Hindu Sword Cabinet
    "Hello, Don. I'll be with you in a second; I just want to finish sticking knives in Rhoda," says Blackstone...and so begins this thrilling episode, which centers on this famous trick. Blackstone explains how he used the trick to foil the plans of yet another crooked swami.
    Don and Rhoda then learn to perform Blackstone's card trick "The Whispering Queen." Originally broadcast 06/12/1949
  2. The Face...
★★★★★ $3.99
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Walter Gibson & Nancy Webb
Blackstone the Magic Detective: Episodes 31-36 by Walter Gibson & Nancy Webb

All these episodes have been digitally restored and remastered. Each episode has had the major clicks, pops, and distortions removed while preserving the vintage sound.

  1. The Curse of Kali
    "Rhoda" says Blackstone, "India is a queer place." Blackstone and his beautiful assistant must help a young maharaja who has been threatened by the Thugs of Kali. Can Blackstone's magic overcome the curse of Kali?
    Blackstone ends the episode by teaching you how to look at the portrait of Washington on a dollar bill and predict if the serial number is odd or even. Originally broadcast 05/01/1949
  2. Footsteps...
★★★★★ $3.99
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Walter Gibson & Nancy Webb
Blackstone the Magic Detective: Episodes 25-30 by Walter Gibson & Nancy Webb

All these episodes have been digitally restored and remastered. Each episode has had the major clicks, pops, and distortions removed while preserving the vintage sound.

  1. The Missing Palmist
    This episode begins with Rhoda and Blackstone practicing their second sight routine. This leads to a story about dishonest carnival workers (as if there is another kind).
    Then, a handkerchief forms a makeshift pocket around a quarter that then disappears. Don and Rhoda can not figure it out, but Blackstone will let you know the secret! Originally broadcast 03/20/1949
  2. The Ladder of Wealth
    A legendary...
★★★★★ $3.99
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Walter Gibson & Nancy Webb
Blackstone the Magic Detective: Episodes 19-24 by Walter Gibson & Nancy Webb

All these episodes have been digitally restored and remastered. Each episode has had the major clicks, pops, and distortions removed while preserving the vintage sound.

  1. The Curse of the Yogi
    A yogi's chimes haunt a bank teller into attempting suicide. Luckily Blackstone saves him. But can Blackstone defeat the ghostly yogi?
    Then, Blackstone baffles his friends with the Floating Cigarette and teaches you the secret. Originally broadcast 02/06/1949
  2. The Coin of Cleopatra
    A discussion of Blackstone's collection of medals commemorating great magicians leads to the story of how the Magic...
★★★★★ $3.99
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Walter Gibson & Nancy Webb
Blackstone the Magic Detective: Episodes 13-18 by Walter Gibson & Nancy Webb

All these episodes have been digitally restored and remastered. Each episode has had the major clicks, pops, and distortions removed while preserving the vintage sound.

  1. Murder on Stage
    Rebuffed by Rhoda and angry at Blackstone, stage assistant Steve tries to murder Blackstone and Rhoda. Can the Magic Detective escape his water tank in time to keep Steve from strangling Rhoda!
    Don challenges Blackstone to name a card before Don chooses instead of after...Blackstone does and then teaches the audience how to as well! Originally broadcast 12/26/1948
  2. The Midway Robberies
    When Don asks about...
★★★★★ $3.99
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Walter Gibson & Nancy Webb
Blackstone the Magic Detective: Episodes 07-12 by Walter Gibson & Nancy Webb

All these episodes have been digitally restored and remastered. Each episode has had the major clicks, pops, and distortions removed while preserving the vintage sound.

  1. The Whispering Buddha
    Blackstone's new Buddha, like everything in his studio, comes with a story. When Blackstone and Rhoda stumble onto black marketers, only magic can save them!
    The episode ends with Blackstone teaching Don, Rhoda and you his magic lie detector routine. Originally broadcast 11/14/1948
  2. The Organ Murder
    Blackstone's new organ comes, of course, with a story attached. Rhoda's friend comes to Blackstone...
★★★★★ $3.99
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Walter Gibson & Nancy Webb
Blackstone the Magic Detective: Episodes 01-06 by Walter Gibson & Nancy Webb

All these episodes have been digitally restored and remastered. Each episode has had the major clicks, pops, and distortions removed while preserving the vintage sound.

  1. That Ghost That Trapped A Killer
    Blackstone is asked by the police to help prove a suspect is a murderer. He sets out to do so, with the help of a ghost!
    Blackstone teaches how to knock a match off a nickel while it is under a glass. Originally broadcast 10/03/1948
  2. The Reluctant Buzzsaw
    Rhoda, Blackstone's assistant, witnesses a robbery, and when the criminals return to silence her they find that they must deal with...
★★★★★ $3.99
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Walter Gibson
Blackstone Magic Comics by Walter Gibson

This compilation holds electronic facsimile versions of the popular comics Blackstone, Master Magician, Blackstone The Magician Detective and Pennzoil Presents Blackstone Master Magician. Follow Blackstone on his daring adventures to save lives and catch the bad guys, using his knowledge as magician.

This electronic edition has been prepared from originals of James Kleefeld's collection. James was instrumental in making this electronic edition possible. We would like to thank James for his collaboration and work.

Blackstone, Master Magician started in 1946 and ran for three issues. It...

★★★★★ $39.90
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