(1936 - )
John Fabjance became interested in magic as a teen-ager, and performed as an amateur magician in his high school years. During his freshman year of college, John met Harry Blackstone, Sr. and eventually became an assistant on The Blackstone Tour Show.
In the 1970's, John opened a magic store in Chicago, IL, becoming a full time performing magician as well as a magic dealer and owner of Fabjance Studios. From February of 1977 until August of 1981, John edited the magic periodical Legerdermain. Today, he continues to perform magic with his son Gary.
Invented: Airborne Glass, an effect, created and marketed by John Fabjance, where the magician, while pouring liquid from a bottle or can into a glass, lets go of the glass and it remains suspended in mid air. Pink Elephants and Purple Cows (Fabjance Studios).
Wrote: 101 Professional Card Tricks with Trick Cards (1986)
Informative Website: http://www.chicagomagician.com
(1936 - 2017)
Born Richard Roucau in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he named himself Fantasio in 1961, when he joined the Círculo Mágico Argentino in Buenos Aires.
In July 1976, Fantasio -after 17 years on the professional stage- left show business. The second portion of his life then began. It was dedicated to creating, rnanufacturing and selling magic, especially the plastic candles and canes used in so much of his magic.
Wrote: My Canes and Candles
Media: Video Lectures 1 & 2 - Live at the Magic Castle (VHS videotape)
Web site
YouTube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLunktosaR4
(c1675 - 1731)
An early English magician, Fawkes was known to have performed the Egg Bag trick and Blooming Bush, effects still performed today.He also built and demonstrated mechanical automations, e.g. a clock, which imitated numerous music instruments and bird voices.
| Fay, Anna Eva
(1851-1927) Born Anna Norman, she demonstrated mediumistic effects, even before she married the spiritualist medium Henry Fay, but it was from him that she learned the rope tie in 1872. Up to the death of Henry Fay she developed her "act", but afterwards had great success on her own as "The High Priestess of the Mysterious Mysteries" around 1910. In 1913, she was honored by the famous conjurer's association "The Magic Circle" in London, which elected her honorary lady associate. She is credited with having invented the dancing handkerchief as a spirit apparition for one of her séances. It was upon witnessing Anna's presentation of the dancing handkerchief during a Chicago performance, that inspired Harry Blackstone, Sr. to add the routine to his own repertoire. |
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( 1928 - )
American Magician. Owner of the Fedko Magic Company of Santa Ana, California, and founder of I.B.M. Ring 313.
Inventor and manufacturer of the following Fedko Magic Company products: Ultimate Aces, Beads of Prussia, Ultra Coins Through The Table, Fedko's Finesse, Tri-card Monte, Twist And Turn, Ultimate Bill Box, Ultra Card/Coin Box, Joker Matrix, Monsieur Cassette, Tri-Force, Topsy Turvy Smiling Face, Fedko Electronic Light, This Way And That Way, Ultra Deck Vanish, Bill-O-Matches, Six Card Repeato, Topsy Turvy Six Card Repeat, Mind Blank, To Bounce Or Not To Bounce, Fedko Coin Pail, Block Of Fu Manchoo, Fedko Egg Bag, Exchango, Merlin's Triple Triumph, Ultra Color Changing Ribbon, Silks Of Tibet, Ultra Jumbo Dye Tube, ABC Cups And Balls, The Elusive Pimpernel, Let's Play Poker, Sash And Bead Penetration Illusion, Simplex Wild Card, Simplex Blank Paper To $1000, Ultra Poker Deal and Unirope.
Author and publisher of: The Magic of John Fedko, How to Make a Card Castle, Joe Cossari's Card Act, Magic Treasures.
(1912-1961)
Born Henry Nicholas Fetsch
Inventor of Mental Epic (1954), and various rope magic effects, including "Quad Ropelets,(1955)" the pre-cursor of The Professor's Nightmare. Also invented Symbologic, Wallet Wallop, Silk Epic (1951), Visible 20th Century (1952), and Rope Epic(1943).
Wrote: Miniature Card Magic (1943), Milk Pitcher Magic(1946), Magic at your Fingertips (with Milbourne Christopher) (1947), Rope Sessions with Hen Fetsch (1954), Quad Ropelets (1955) , Chinatown Quarter Magic (1955) , The Five O' Fetsch (1956), Magic With Canes (1960)
(1933-2014)
Born in Brno, Czechoslovakia, Fiedler's creations include Gozinta Boxes, the Dental Dam trick, Red Hot Wire and many more. So far he has created five successful effects for Tenyo with more in the pipeline. His most recent Tenyo creation is Blue Crystal. Lubor Fiedler resides in Spittal, Austria.
His inventions also include: Parabox (1993), Invisible Zone (1995), Krazy Keys (1996), Impossible Pen (1997), Antigravity Rock (1998), Phantom Clock (1999), Blue Crystal (2000), Gozinta Boxes(1966), Lubor's Lens, Royal Fantasy, and many more.
Video: “Inside Lubor Fiedler´s Brain”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yCa0fvGU6U
(1915-1994)
Inventor of Invisible Deck, Zodiac Card Miracle, Relaxation Double Turnover and many other tricks and sleights. American mentalist (with partner George Martz), card handling expert, former Coney Island sideshow magician. Also invented a two-man code that bears his name.
(1873-1940)
Born Ottokar Fischer Marteau, he started magic in Vienna at the age of 10. Gave his first puiblic performance at age 18. Starting in 1898 he appeared regularly at the Kratky Baschik theatre in Vienna, a magic theatre with nearly 1000 seats. For 12 years he performed daily with a two and a half-hour show of magic. After the First World War he no longer performed publicly and dedicated his life to the history of magic, in particular to the life of Austrian and European magicians. He wrote The Miracle Book of Magic (1929) and J. N. Hofzinser's Card Conjuring - Kartenkünste (1910), and Illustrated Magic - Zauberkünste (1942).
(1890 - 1940)
Caryl Stacy Fleming was born Oct 13, 1890 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Caryl worked as an actor, director, writer and amateur magician in New York and later in Los Angeles. His interest in magic never waned and as a result, in the spring of 1938, he helped charter a new magic club of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, christened "Hollywood RING 21."As fate would have it, at age 49, Caryl Fleming died on September 2, 1940 in Los Angeles while performing a card trick...just one month shy of his 50th birthday.
| Foo, Ching
Ling (1854-1922) A Chinese-born magician (real name Chee Ling Qua) who was the first true Oriental magician to achieve world fame. He is credited with inventing the Foo Can, Laundry Tickets. He studied traditional Chinese magic and became a well-known and well-respected performer there. In 1898, he brought his show to the United States to perform at the Trans-Mississippi Exhibition in Omaha, Nebraska, and continued on to New York for a very successful tour. During his performance, he seemed to breathe smoke and fire, and produced ribbons and a fifteen foot long pole from his mouth. Ching Ling Foo caused a sensation when he took an empty piece of cloth, produced a huge bowl, filled to the brim with water, and then produced a small child (photo right). While Ching Ling Foo was in New York, he offered a reward of $1,000 to anyone who could produce a bowl filled with water like he did. He did it just for the publicity, but American magician William Robinson didn't know that, took up the chal;lenge and this formed the inspiration that was to become Chung Ling Soo. |
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(1888-1960)
Born Augustus Gerald Fowler, he learned magic at the age of 18. When he was 21 years old, J.N. Maskelyne became his mentor. After one year working with Maskelyne at St.George's Hall in London, he began the act known as Gus Fowler the Watch King. Gus Fowler manipulated with clocks with ease as other magicians manipulated coins or cards. He produced clocks, let them disappear and fly around, and ended with the production of 30 ringing bells from a hat.
| Fox, Karrell (1928 - 1998 ) When he was a child, his parents operated a small restaurant in E. Rainelle, West Virginia. A customer sneaked out without paying his bill, but left behind a few small tricks. With these, Karrell began his magic career. He appeared on the "Ed Sullivan Show" at the age of 18. He later had his own TV show, performing as Milky the Clown. Invented: Bullseye Card, B.S. Miser's Dream Pail, Magical Assets, Nite-Cap, Take It and Stick It, Two Fisted Book Test, Mene-Tekel Book Test, Knifty Knot, No Not, Baffling Blow-Outs, Foxy Wrist Tie, and many more. Wrote: Clever Like a Fox (1976), Another Book by Karrell Fox (1979), Comedy A La Card, Karrell Fox’s The Legend, For My Next Trick (Illustrated by Ed Harris), My Latest Book (Illustrated by Ed Harris), Much Ado About Something (Illustrated by Ed Harris) Media: Karrell Fox, Volume 1 (DVD & VHS); |
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| Freer,
Winston (1910-1981) Winston Freer was born in St. Albans, Vermont on August 21, 1910. In 1926, at the age of 16, Winston saw Howard Thurston perform and became interested in magic. Winston went on to attend college at the University of Vermont from 1928 to 1932. After his college education he moved to the midwest and became a full time magician. In the 30's he worked for Percy Abbott at Abbott's Magic in Colon, Michigan. Winston was a full time magician first using the name Aladdin and later using the name Doc Maxam. In 1939, he wrote a booklet titled the "Alagen Rope" co-authored with U.F. Grant. He also wrote a booklet titled, "25 Rice Bowl Methods". In 1954 he wrote and compiled "The Magic of Doc Maxam". Invented: Winston Freer Tile Deal, The Aladdin Oriental Gimmick , Alagen Rope, Maxam Triple-Cut Rope, Master Muscle Rope Effect, "Tug-of-War" Rope, One-Man Suspension of a Human Being, Be-Deviled Egg, Tantalacto, Transparent Rice Bowls, Wrist Knife, Freezing Ice in the Bare Hand, Maxam Rings, Bowl-Eggs, The First Finger of Fate, Growth of a Real Tree, Half-Wit Deck. |
 Freer presents his one-man suspension to a group of magicians atop a night-club table, circa 1939. |
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Charlie Frye began life as a clown, performing alongside his father and grandfather. He got a magic set when he was 6 (ball and vase, etc.). He then joined the circus as a clown, taught himself to juggle. Inspired by Doug Henning to become a magician. Influenced by George Carl (1916 - 2000) a vaudeville style comic and clown who was also learning magic. He kidnapped a trained ballerina – his future wife, Sherry. Together they created a distinctive, original act (Charlie Frye & Company) that’s undeniably fresh, yet designed to feel classic.
Invented: Ripped & Fryed, 3 Frye Coin, Missing, Naked Deck Switch, Frye's Chips and many more.
Cover of M.U.M. December 2008 - Cover of Genii July, 2014.
Unplugged - Charlie Frye Streamed April 15, 2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49oN5uye4Fc&list=PLgvFGPgjAIowJ8wGcd8znY6e8E8bP3CWu
He has a great many videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CharlieFryeandCompany
(1918-2002)
Furst began his professional magic act in 1939 and toured the globe with the USO during World War II, always traveling noticeably with his white rabbit, Oscar. After the war, he worked in vaudeville and had a nightclub act combining magic and hypnotism.
Furst was best known to magicians as the inventor of the classic "Fresh Fish" paper tear where a strip of paper with the words "Fresh Fish Sold Here Today" is torn into pieces using a comical presentation and then restored. His biggest success however, came in the field of Hypnotism where he wrote a number of very successful books about using hypnosis for therapy.
Also invented: The Arnold Furst Blendo, The Arnold Furst Sympathetic Silks Routine, Card Stabbing Under Newspaper, Chosen, Card Impaled on Dinner Knife, Impromptu Version of The Zena Card Trick.
The magic books he wrote include: Famous Magicians of the World (1957), Magic for Monsters (aka Kid Stuff 6 – 1960), Mightier Than The Bullet (1961), Great Magic Shows (1968), How to Get Publicity in Newspaper ... and Other Media (1975), Lecture Notes of Shigeo Takagi.
| Futagawa,
Shigeo (1943 -) Born in Yokohama, Japan. He was inspired at age 15 by a TV magic show. Began performing professional close-up magic in 1972, specializing in card and coin magic. He invented several packet tricks and coin routines. He has lectured in USA. In 1983, he won the Tenkai Prize. Inventions include: 3-Rope Card Trick, Four Tell On Dice, Upon Reflection, 3D Reflection. Wrote: Introduction to Coin Magic (1978), The Lecture Notes of Shigeo Futagawa (1985). |
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(1913-1980)
Wrote more than sixty books on magic, among them Routined Manipulation (three volumes, 1951-54), Dai Vernon's Symphony of the Rings, The Dai Vernon Book of Magic (1957), Cy Endfield's Entertaining Card Magic (1959), The Magic of Slydini, Magic with Faucett Ross,The Art of Close-up Magic (1972), and The Ganson Book (1982). Co-published The Gen with Harry Stanley from 1945 until 1970.
| Garcia, Frank (1927-1993) Son of Spanish immigrants. He decided to become a magician after seeing a performance of Fu Manchu (David Bamberg). Frank Garcia was a very popular magician who was known to magicians and gamblers as "The Man With The Million Dollar Hands." One of his specialties was gambling scams and cheating. As "The Gambling Investigator", he demonstrated and exposed cheating methods at tradeshows and to law enforcement organizations throughout the United States. His best-known books about gambling include: Marked Cards and Loaded Dice (1962) which was later released as How to Detect Crooked Gambling (1977), All in a Nutshell (1974) and Don't Bet on It (1978). Garcia also wrote many other books on magic: Million Dollar Card Secrets, Super Subtle Card Miracles, The Very Best of Cups and Balls, and Encyclopedia of Sponge Ball Magic. He took Peter Kane's Watch the Ace as modified by Brother John Hamman and turned it into the effect we know today as Wild Card. |
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(1914 - 2010)
Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he began learning magic about the age of ten from his father's papers-on-knife trick. Later he learned from local Tulsa magicians, including Roy "Wabash" Hughes, Logan Waite, and Roger Montandon. He took the original Tarbell Course in magic. He lived in Chicago for 20 years, taking a BA in philosophy and meeting the magic inner circle of Dorny, Marlo, and Platt, among others. In 1947, he moved to New York City, associating with the inner circle of Vernon, Daley, Curry and others. About 1980, he moved to Hendersonville, North Carolina where he spent the remaining years of his life.
Invented Lie Speller (c1935).
Wrote: Martin Gardner's Table Magic, Encyclopedia
of Impromptu Magic, 12 Tricks with a Borrowed
Deck, After the Dessert, Die of Another
Color, Martin Gardner Presents, Mathematics,
Magic, and Mystery, Mental Magic: Surefire
Tricks to Amaze Your Friends, and many more books of
a mathematical, scientific or puzzle nature.
He has been a regular contributor to Scientific American
and is so respected by scientists, that he has had an
asteroid (2587 - Gardner) named after him. His first
non-magic and non-puzzle book, In the Name of Science
(1952), began his exposure of cults, fads, and fallacies
in the sciences. He also wrote Philosophical
Foundations of Physics (1966), and a novel, The
Flight of Peter Fromm (1973).
(1878 - 1960)
Germain, Karl (born Charles Mattmueller), began working with magic at the age of 8 years. Between 14 and 16 he learned muscle vintages, which he demonstrated however only with private appearances. At the age of 18 he began working the Lyceum Circuit as a professional magician, and demonstrated a mind reading program with his sister, Ida, as a medium. In 1906 he traveled to London, where he came to know and work with David Devant and John Neville Maskelyne.
Germain presented stage magic like the Visible Flower Growth; large illusions including levitations, appearances, and transpositions; mysterious spirit effects; and very clever mentalism. It was said that he could fool expert magicians with his close-up magic.
Invented: A Silk to Egg variation, The Expanding Card, a Visible Servante, The Mystery of Malabar, Dove to Candy, The Wizard Gardener, Witch's Hat Production., The Flower Growth, The Giant Silken Butterfly Production, The Cabinet of Cagliostro, Rabbit to Candy Tray, Magical Mocha, Tip-Up Tabletop, Bride of the Nile Illusion. The Dancing Table, The Mysterious Water Faucet, The Monkey's Paw, and many more.
(1942 - )
Magic author and inventor, performed as "Victor the Magician" from 1952 to 1964, founder of the original Wiz Kids, Inc. in 1980; co-founder of The Magic Nook with Phineas Spellbinder (Victor Grimes) in 2003. Inventor of many magic tricks and illusions including Surprise Loading Table (1957), The Utility Cabinet (1962) - a variation of Edmund Spreer's "Little Stinkhouse", Bouncy Ball & Bag (1963), The O.O.P.S! Machine (burnt shoe trick - 1975), Simplex Production Frame (1970), Where Do the Duckies Go? (1970), Switcheroo (1971), Solo Production Frame (1980), Die-A-Bolical, The Litter Vanish (with Frederick Goode), Clown Camera (1976), Clown Puppet Box (1977), Swing Topit and Stretch Topit, 1978, PLOTTO (1979), Oracle Box (1989), Paper Blendo (2006), Parallel Universe, Eisenheim's Ghost, Astro-Box (2012), Candy Tub Phone (2013), New Potato/Orange Box (2013), Houdini Coin Vanish(2013), Death and Taxes (2013), Live Long and Prosper (2013), Tarot Card Affinity (2013), Tarot Transposition (2013), Smokin' Spirit Message (2013), O.I.C.U. 1/2 E.S.P. (2013), Push-Me-Pull-You Silk Cage (2014), Die Box Combination (1964-2014 ), Flip-Over Drawer Box (2014), Pop-Open Drawer Box (2014), Clown Bus (2014), Double Tube Silk Cabby (2014) , The Candy Bucket (2014), The Impuzzleble Box(2014), The Impuzzleble Tray(2014), C-Board (1995), Teeny-Tiny Trunk (2014), String Sticks (2014), Fire-Hydrant Lota (2014), Pet Carrier Vanisher (2014), Squarcle (2014), Atta-Clown (2014), Broken & Restored Egg (2014), Spirit Envelope (2008), Colorful Cups and Balls (2015), Pseudo Cups and Balls (2017), 4C Box (1987-2015), Puff-Away Mis-Made Flag (2015), Boojum Production (2015), Anniversary Two-Step (2015), Genii In The Bottle (2015), Predictible Box (2015), King of Clubs (2015), In Their Hands C&R Rope (2015), Haunted House (2015), World Famous Four Queen Trick (2015), Hypno-Conflictus (2015), Hypno-Blanko (2015), Hypno-Spin (2015), Hypno-Hallucination (2015), Clown Phobia (2015), Color Wheel Force (2015), Jumbo Clown Clones (2015), MasterLock (2015), Adventures of Chicken Little (2015), Curse of the Vampire (2016), From Here to There (2016), Run, Princess, Run! (2016), Voo-Doo You-Do Box (2016), Boa Trix (2016), Magic Multi-Purpose Pouches (2016), Crazy Ace Matrix (2016), 21st Century Gemstones (2016), Curly-Q Silk Tube (2016), New-Velope (2016), In Their Hands Three Pigs (2016), Attractive Cards (2016), Poppets (2016), In Their Hands Hippity Hops (2016), Wizards' Production Book (2017), 6-Way Box Prediction (2017), Light Bulb Magic (2017), Rabi-Duck Surprise (2017), Red, White & Blue 3 Ball Trick (2017), Giant Soul-Mates (2017), CLEAR-Voyance Cards (2017), Rip-Rite (2017), Cardless Card Trick (2017), Flip-Flop Folders (2017), Totem Tubes (2017), Twitch Tube (2017), Swinging Sucker Blue Phantom (2017), Elf Portal (2017), Lunch Box Flea Circus (2017), Window Wonderland (2017), Matching Mittens (2017), Three Little Kittens (2017), Bingo Games (2017), Where Do the Duckies Go Up-Dated (2017), Stocks and Bonds (2017), Boxing Day (2017), Bumbling Bumbershoot (2017), Hearts & Flowers (2018), Easter Bunny Parade ( 1947 - 2018), Under the Rainbow (2018), Magic Ŕ La Carte (2018), Itty-Bitty Babies (2018), Whoop-de-Hoop (2018), Mumbo-Jumbo Monte (with Al-Quadir Marsh 2018), Follow The Leader Magic (2018), Balloon Box Levitation (2018), Marching Band Magic (2018), Barky-Bark (2018), Cubey-Doobey (2018), Chop-Chop Can-Can (2018), Bunny Transport Cage (2018), Bottle Miracle (2018), Transforming Box (1987 and revised 2018), PLOTTO/WONDER (2019), Color Visionary (2019), Coupon Clipper (2019), Double-Deck Mind-Match (2019), Dancing Clowns (2019), Card Board Cartomancy (2019), Emoji Trix (2019), Bird Brain (2019), Jack and Jill Twister (2019), Best Guess (2019), Grandma's Ghost (2019), Electro-Cardio-Gram (2019), FATE (2019), Lost & Found (2019), Jumbo Torn & Restored Card (2019), Circus Ma-Trix (2019), Sealed Envelope Prediction (2019), ForceTen Playing Cards (2019), Blind Force (2019), Cat-Nip (2019), Inflatable Christmas Arch Illusions (2019), Switcheroo(1971-2019), E Unum Pluribus (2019), Serial Killer (2019), Morgan Matrix (2019), Make Me (2019), 3-D Magic (2019), Zen-Ten (2019), New Gizmo Box (2019), Phantom Chimney (2019), Impuzzable Lite (2019), Rudolph Ribbon Penetration (2019), Goldfish Glass (2020), Balloon Twisting Magic (2020), Telediction Revisited (2020), Counter Intuitive (2020), Mouse Power (2020), Portable Rabbit Hole (2021), Cuff Linked (2021), New Rattle Box (2021), Coin/Card Routines (2021), White Board Supremacy (2021), Phantasma Revisited (2021), Mount Rushmore Magic (2021), New Way Candy Vase (2021), Critter Cabin (2021), Card Shock!(2021), Key Ring (2021), Crucifixus (2021), and many others.
Published and wrote for Oracle Quarterly from 1964 - 1999. Author of PVC Pipe Illusions for the REALLY, REALLY Cheap Illusionist! and contributed many articles to Genii Magazine and The Wizards' Journals. Also wrote Hardboard & Duct Tape Magic Show (2007), and Kid Show Magic.
(1897-1985)
Gibson, already interested in magic as a child, joined the Society of American Magicians at the age of 22. He knew a great many celebrated magicians personally,such as Thurston, Houdini, Blackstone, Dunninger, and Kreskin for whom he worked as a Ghost writer. He wrote Magic Explained (1958), The Complete Illustrated Book of Card Magic (1969), Popular Card Tricks (1972), Secrets of Magic (1973), New Magician's Manual (1975), The Book of Magic (1978), Walter Gibson's Big Book of Magic (1980), The Complete Illustrated Book of Divination and Prophecy.
More than just a magic writer, Gibson authored hundreds of other types of books and novels, including "The Shadow" (both in book form and in comic book form), novellettes about "Norgil the Magician," true crime stores for mystery and detective magazines.
Invented: Thumb Cuffs.
In 1971 The Academy of Magical Arts awarded Walter a Literary Fellowship. In 1979 he was awarded the Masters Fellowship.
(1946- )
David Ginn (pronounced like the last part of the word be-gin, not the alcoholic drink!) became interested in magic about the age of twelve. Based in Loganville, GA, David is more of an innovator than an inventor, although he does have some original magic inventions. Most of his many books on performing magic for children show professional magicians how to take standard commercial magic store tricks, combine them, rethink them, routine them and get a lot more mileage from them than even the original inventor of the props dared to imagine.
Wrote: Colorful Magic (1969), Strictly Visuals (1970), The Snake Can Book (1970), Magic with Fantasio's Canes and Candles No. 1 (1971), The Quick-Change Silk (1971), Magic That Moves Me (1971), The Magic 13 (1972), New Dove Magic (1972), Fantasio's Cane and Candle Book No.2 (1973), Strictly Visuals Two (1973), Close-Up A-Ginn (1974), Comedy Cut & Restored Neckerchief (1974), Comedy Linking Rings (July, 1974), Comedy Card on Back (1974), Comedy Warm-Ups for Children's Shows (1975), 33 Easy Magic Tricks (1975), Comedy Lunch Box (1975), Bringing Home the Laughs (1976), Professional Magic for Children (1976), Starting in Magic (1976), Matchbox Delights (1977), David Ginn's Little Black Book (1977),Creative Kid-Talk (with Sammy Smith and Steve Taylor), New Dove Magic, Children Laugh Louder (1978), Clown Magic, Comedy Card on Back, Comedy Linking Rings, Comedy Magic Textbook,Fantasio's Cane and Candle Book, Vol. 3 (1978), Sure Fire Magic (1979), Fantasio's Cane and Candle Book, Vol. 4 (1981), Fantasio's Cane and Candle Book, Vol. 5 (1982), Magic and Monsters for Kids I Love (1984), Almost Unpublished (1987), Nearly Unpublished (1989), Partly Unpublished (1993), Laughter Legacy (1998), Kids Magic Show Kompendium (2017) and many more...
Informative Web site: http://www.ginnmagic.com/
(1874-1939)
This Polish-born world-famous illusionist (real name Hyman Goldstein) was noted for his lightning-fast style. He is credited with inventing his own version of the Sawing a Woman In Two Illusion and the Buzz Saw illusion. In Goldin's "Sawing", the head, hands, and feet of his assistant were in full view throughout the operation. Later Goldin discarded the covering box, and, using a power-driven saw, performed the sawing-through and restoration in full view.
By Royal Command he played four times before King Edward VII of England, earning the name "Royal Illusionist." Goldin also appeared before the Kings of Saxony, Portugal, Sweden and Siam, and Presidents Harding and Wilson.
Invented: Mystic Papyrus Papers, the Canon Illusion (with Walter Jeans)
His autobiography is It's Fun To Be Fooled (1937).
| Goldston,Will
(1878-1948) Born in Liverpool, England as Wolf Goldstone. Inspired at the age 11 or 12 by a box of tricks, he began learning magic. He also learned from visits with Prof. Alexander in 1892, and from reading Hoffmann's Modern Magic. His first publ;ic performance was at age 20, in 1898, as 'Carl Devo' c1898-1907, initially with a Black Art show. He managed the Conjuring, Theatrical, and Entertainment Departments at Gamage's 1905-14. Founded The Magicians' Club in 1911, serving as Treasurer throughout ,but running it as a one-man self-serving club, until it passed into limbo in WW II. He was the owner-manager of Aladdin House (Will Goldston Ltd) 1914-48 in London. He compiled and edited the Magician's Annual magazine from 1908 to 1916. Wrote: Tricks of the Masters and Will Goldstons Exclusive Magical Secrets. |
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| Goode,
Frederick (1970- ) Former member of The Wiz Kids, Inc. from 1985, Wiz Kid Fred "starred" as an imitator of Michael Jackson, doing dove and candle magic as he danced to Jackson's music and in his style. Fred became an MC for the group, and at 18, was elected to the board of trustees by 1988 and finally became Director of the Non-Profit Corporation in 1991, continuing in that role at the present time. He is father to Wiz Kids Eleazar Goodenough and Wilhelmina Goodenough, and uncle to Wiz Kid Qua-Fiki. He continues to invent many of the magic effects and illusions in use by the Wiz Kids today. Notable effects include The Invisible Pen, Signed Torn and Restored Napkin, and co-creator with Jim Gerrish of The Litter Vanish Illusion. Several of his effects are published in The Wizards' Journals including Astro-Sphere Tips & techniques (2012), Smartphone Magic (2019) in "Zen-Ten" from The Wizards' Journal #41.. |
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(1997 - )
Stage name of Frederick Goode's son, who by the age of six had already invented and published his first trick "I Scry" (2003) in his grandfather's (Phineas Spellbinder) Wizards' Journal #1. Since then he has contributed many tricks to The Wizards' Journals. His first book of paper magic Tear-Able Magic was published in 2005. His second book, Hat Rings, was begun in 2007 and is currently still being written. He is a member of Wiz Kids, Inc. and continues to perform, invent and publish magic effects for his group and on his own. He changed his stage name to Ee-Gee-Fiki in 2012 in order to compete with his cousin. His little sister, Wilhelmina Goodenough, has her eye on big brother and intends to compete with him. His cousin is Wiz Kid Qua-Fiki. Most notable effects so far: Every Century Silks , The Ultimate Newspaper Tear (which includes his Tuck-it invention), Step On It (Put), and Pop-Over Silk Dye, Pop Out Hamburger, Cauldron Capers, T-Shirt Magic, Pop Corn Popper, Torn and Restored Napkin Prediction, and more. New principles: Dimensional Projection (Street Bike - 2006).
(2001 - )
Stage name of Frederick Goode's daughter and Eleazar's sister, who has just (2010) blossomed forth as a creative and inventive magician by transforming James Lucien's Skeleton in the Closet into her own Santa Blocks Effect, published in her grandfather's (Phineas Spellbinder) Wizards' Journal #19. She is not a one trick pony, but has other effects published in the same Journal and in others. Her big brother is Wiz Kid Eleazar Goodenough (aka Ee-Gee-Fiki). Her cousin is Wiz Kid Qua-Fiki. Like them, she is also a member of Wiz Kids, Inc. Inventions so far include: Appearing faces on Santa Blocks, A Vanishing Block Gift Box, and a Magic Santa's Sack effect all in 2010. Also invented: Mesh Bag Magnetic Fake-Out (2010) , Jack-O-Candle (2010), Witch Hank (2010), Easter Egg Jelly Bean Surprise!(2011), Magic Jacks (2011), Yankee Hanky (2011), Back Loading Cape (2011), Teddy Bear Houdini (2011) Piggy (2011), W.G. Double Looped Coin Gimmick (2011), Transparent Dye Tube (2011), Magnetic Wedge Gimmick (2011), Silk Snatcher (2011).
(1920-1991)
One of the best close-up magicians, a test case for perfect timing and misdirection was Goshman's routine with coins moving under a salt and pepper shaker. Best known for his work with sponge balls and his manufactured sponge products.
Wrote: Magic by Gosh
(1932 - 2019)
General Grant Murphy, Jr. was an accomplished dove magician who was known only as General (or Gen for short) Grant, whose name was often confused with U.F. Grant (also called Gen Grant) by many magicians. He is best known for his invention of the Dove to Silk vanish using formal magician's tuxedo tails. He produced a video (now on DVD) called "How To Make A Living Stealing... Doves of Course".
| Grant, U. F. (1901-1978) Ulysses Frederick Grant was a magic dealer in New York City between 1925-1939 and later in Columbus, Ohio until his death in 1978. In 1944, he was joined by magic maker R.N. Menge, who added many of his own inventions to the Grant line. Inventions to which both Grant and Menge contributed were usually labeled as being from "G. & M." such as the G & M Suspension Board, the G & M Passe Passe Bottles, and so on. They parted ways and became rivals about 1945. In the 1950's Grant began working closely with Don Tanner who wrote and edited many of Grant's books. In 1964, Grant's daughter Mary Anne married Jimmy King, who collaborated with Grant on producing his own new magic effects. King eventually took over the company, renaming it Mak Magic. Grant was a prolific inventor: The Farmer and the Witch (c 1935), Walking thru a Ribbon (c 1937), Alagen Rope (with Winston Freer c 1939), Super-X Levitation (c 1942), Temple Screen (c 1944), Slate of Mind (1947), Devil's Newspaper (c 1948), Chink Cans (c 1949), Citation (1949), Pig Turns 'round (c 1952), Bengal Net (1953), Cow Trick (c 1955), Witch Doctor Can (c.1958), Chen-Lee Water Suspension (c 1962), Strat-o-Spheres (c 1962), and Candle-Lite (c 1963). Also: Bullet Proof Girl, Mystery of the Temple Jewels, Head Dagger Chest, Any Card Called For Napkin, Atomic Vision, Ball Box (Die Box), Brillant Ring Box, Ment A Flex. Many of his silk magic inventions are described in Rice's Encyclopedia of Silk Magic and his rope magic inventions in the Encyclopedia of Rope Tricks. Wrote: Illusion Secrets - Fifteen Great
Illusions (1934), Six Modern Levitations (1943),
Tricks for Kid Shows, Victory Carton
Illusions (1955), 25 One Man Mind Reading
Secrets, Grant's Fabulous Feats of Mental Magic
by Don
Tanner (1954), Super
Magical Secrets (1928) , G&M Magic Course
(with R.N. Menge), Bodies in Orbit
(1963). Jay Leslie remembers:"The first year of production, Grant had Jim Swoger build everything. He eventually starting using Jimmy King because it was too far to go back and forth to Swogers shop. Grant lived in Ohio and Jim Swoger in Pittsburgh. |
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(1899-1984)
Glenn Gravatt became interested in magic as a child growing up in Kansas. At the age of 8 years he was already demonstrating magic for his friends and family. From Kansas, he went to California, where he worked as a newspaper reporter. He wrote " Encyclopedia of Self Working Card Tricks" (2 volumes, 1936 and 1937; later published under the byline of Jean Hugard under the title " Encyclopedia of Card Tricks." In writing the "Jap Box Tricks" in 1937, Gravatt effectively named this box for all time.
Invented: Extratour, Rope Appear, Visible Silk on Rope Appearance, Flying Silk and Ropes, Visible Rope and Ring Penetration, Rope-Silk-Bracelet Combination, Coat-Rope-Rings, No Clue Divination (1977),Five Cube Divination (1977), Psychic Spot (1976), Thimble Fantasy (1960), Card and Dagger (1956), Spooky Paper (1945), Multiple Match (1956), Magical Horse Race (1956), Percepo (1960), Close-up Cup Suspension (1958), The Antique Medallion, Color Ring Transpo, The Mystery of the Seven Veils, Super Penetration, Tube to Cigarettes, Color Riddle, 20th Century in Reverse, Ideal Solid Thru Solid, Dual Silk Production, Kondax (1921).
Compiled: Thayer Quality Magic Volumes 1-4 (1978-1981), Encyclopedia of Self-Working Card Tricks (1936-37)
Wrote: 50 Modern Card Tricks, 50 More Modern Card Tricks, Gold Mine of Magic, Jap Box Tricks (1937)
(1898-1981)
Leslie P. Guest was a magician, shadowgraphist and one time associate editor of "The Linking Ring", past president of the Society of American Magicians, and an editor of MUM.
(? - ?)
American magician who uses his real name. Inventor and magic manufacturer, specializing in trick coins. Invented (and holds patents for) Cigarette Thru Quarter and Copper, Silver, Brass.
(1895-1969)
One of the superstars of American magic, Jack (born Joseph McCloud Gwynne*) was the illusionist who created the Temple of Benares illusion as a variation of Culpitt's Doll House illusion. Jack often had to make his own props because the nearest magic dealer was 300 miles from where he lived. He also made props for other magicians, including Houdini and Thurston.
He also invented the Flipover Box, Atomic Dove Vanish, Box-Tray and Screen.
After World War I, during which Jack often entertained the troops overseas, he developed his own full evening show with several new illusions, with which he toured until 1951. Jack also rose to prominence as a magician on the new technology of television.
Video Footage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh6lIp3Fpzk
* April, 2007. Research on his real name was communicated by Joan Gwynne Tallman, his neice. It had previously been mistakenly recorded on other Internet sources as McGwynne.
(1880 - 1938)
Born in Toledo, Ohio, Robert H. Gysel started out to be a pharmacist, but quit after two years in school to become a professional "medium" by 1901. He often performed under the name Joseph Johnson. He gradually began debunking other fraudulent mediums and in 1920, joined with Houdini in his campaign to debunk all psychics.
He wrote articles for the magic magazines Sphinx and Genii, and his Spirit Tie method was published in Tarbell's Course in Magic, Volume 6.
Invented: Gysel Spirit Tie, The Gysel Slate, Gysel's Mysterious Lights, Gysel's Phanta Graphics Gimmick, Spirit Photo, Magnetic Coin Spinner, Rolling Golf Ball.
Wrote: Hypnotizing Wild and Domestic Animals, Picks and Padlocks (1936), Psychic Fakery No. 1, 2 and 3 (c.1935).