Genii Vol 01 (1936-1937) - William Larsen [PDF]

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September, 1936

1O cents

Pacific Coast Magic News

"Then, in an instant, a Genii of gigantic size stood before him, and said: "^Mhat wouldst thou? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, the slave of all those who hold that lamp in their hands; I and the other slaves of the lamp".

Official Organ for The Pacific Coast Association of Magicians

GENII WILLIAM

W.

Editor and Publisher

LARSEN

GERALD KOSKY

Assistant Editor

Assistant Editor Advertising Manager

WILLIAM TAYLOR HARRY MENDOZA

GENII is published monthly by "William "W. Larsen, P. O. Box 560, Pasadena, California. Editorial office, I' O. Box 560, Pasadena, California. Price in the United States and Canada, $1.00 per year; ten cents a copy. Elsewhere, $1.50 per year; fifteen cents a copy. While manuscripts, photographs and drawings are submitted at the owner's risk, every effort will be made to return those found unsuitable, if accompanied by first-class postage, but we cannot be responsible for any loss of such matter contributed. Contributors are advised to retain copies of their contributions and to double space all articles submitted. Printed -in the United States of America, by the Bickley Printing Company, Pasadena, California. The Genii is pulished on the 10th day of every month. All contributions and advertising matter must be received by the Editor before the first day of the month of publication.

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Vol. 1

September, 1936

•//LE

By the late T. Page Wright

Page 5

MAGIC

6

The Error Aces

6

Nothing New in Parasols

6

Felix—the Felicitious Feline 7 L. W. Stop Mystery

9

McMillan-Wright Rising Cards

9

The Last Page

12

The Unexpected Production 12 Hallowe'en Magic •

13

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

15

STAGECRAFT

17

PAGING T H E LADIES

18

CLUB REPORTS

20

BAGDAD

25

BOOK REVIEWS

27

Pour

No. 1

A LOVE POEM

IN Tl • /

EDITORIAL

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"My friends, to vary the program, A rich young man was he. I will next recite a dramatic poem. He offered many diamonds; Thinking that it might be more inter- (Produce ten of diamonds on face of esting if illustrated, at great expense deck.) I have had made up a number of en- "I'll marry you!" said she. gravings—fifty-two, to be exact—and And so 'twas they were married— some of them will serve to illustrate Ah,me! the drama as it is unfolded." Ah, me! The deck is held in the left hand, (Joker appears on face of deck!) and a series of transformations of the This experiment is a favorite of face card form a magical accompani- ours, we having written the verse ment to the recitation. Each change especially for the effect. is given, opposite the appropriate line: The precise routine of sleights may There was a fair young maiden— be left to the individual, for each ma(Show queen of hearts on face of gician will prefer to employ those deck.) changes in which he is most expert. But one move—the production from Oh, very fair to see— the air of the three jacks—requires a And she was gay and happy, note of explanation. At start, the For she had lovers three— (Right hand produces three jacks three jacks are on the face of the deck, from air, and they are placed on face covered by the queen of hearts. These four face cards are lifted away of deck.) as one, and held against the face of Had lovers one—two—three! the deck, overlapping about an inch The first one was a shy youth: (Produce ace of hearts on face of on the lower side. The left thumb then draws the face card—the queen deck.) —back flush with the deck, while the "Oh, take my heart!" said he, But she said: "I've hearts full many; right hand covers and palms the three (Ten of hearts appears on face of jacks, to produce them from the air an instant later. deck.) There is no need to use a complete They're not a thing to me! deck in this experiment, and most Go chase yourself!" said she. changes are rather more easily exSaid the second : "I'm a caveman ! ecuted if a half deck is used. With a club will I woo thee!" (Face card of deck changes to ace of Each change must be well emphasized by gesture, and the climax—the clubs.) "This rough stuff gets you nowhere; appearance of the joker as the marriage is told of—can be built up to You're act's a flop," said she. in a manner which makes it provide a "I'll call a cop!" said she. strong comedy finale. The third one was a rounder;

GENII

It is almost midnight, and the Genii speaks for the first time. That is, it speaks for the first time since Aladdin rubbed the magic lamp and caused him to appear—many Arabian nights ago. The editor would like to alibi, and tell you that case research prevented him from reaching his editorial until such an untoward hour. But, may we never lie, such is not the case. In good truth, Len Gunn left just fifteen minutes ago. So, the Genii was shunted off to a far corner while Len and I discussed the needle swallowing trick and its many ramifications. First of all, we hope never to bore vou with ponderous editorials. California sunshine will not at all improve the smooth fanning propensities of cards owned by the magician in Rhode Island, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce to the contrary, notwithstanding. Similarly, a bill may as well be found in a Florida lemon as in one grown on the outskirts of Pasadena. Thinking things over, we can't promise you much. Although we will publish the entire imprinted efforts of the late T. Page Wright and his collaborator, the editor, we can't hope to equal the excellence of Annemann's Jinx. Nor, printing costs duly considered, can we attain the literary heights of Johnson's Magic Wand. We are not a house sheet; we have nothing to sell. Long ago we gave up all that. The suave Harper's Bazaarish Sphinx—-started so Jong ago by Dr. Wilson, and may the flowers never wither on his grave— is beyond us, both in station of life pnd understanding. But, after all, you have paid your subscription, and you should receive fomething. This being the case, we shall give you that which you desire, whether it be tricks, news, gossip, club reports, grievances, advertising or good telephone numbers. Remember, this is the Genii—we rub the

lamp, and it is ours for the asking. Our sporting instincts are aroused by prospects of the forthcoming fisticuffs between Ted Annemann and Glenn Gravatt. The former, in issue Twenty Three of the Jinx promises to change the entire contour of the latter's nose. Knowing little of Ted's prowess in the resin ring, our bets go down on Gravatt. We are told he formerly taught Los Angeles policemen boxing and jui-jitsu. If the matter can be staged in Wrigley Field, we will be content with a ten per cent cut on the gate. Burling Hull will be asked to referee. Our stand on exposing shall be firm If the malcreant is Joe Doakes of the suburbs, let him be broken on the rack. If he is a Name, expunge the record. The score counted, we have never had the chance to prostitute magic. We need money—and to prostitute is to sell for money. We know we wouldn't sell out for ten dollars, nor for a hundred—but. for fifty thousand . . . . Oh! Why the Hell talk about it! In the foregoing regard, we were amused with the report of George H. Turner in the June issue of the Sphinx for the Chicago S. A. M. Assembly. (And why do Turner, Hazelhurst and all the other class A reporters come from Chicago? Perhaps the Dorny influence.) Here, we have an admitted case of the Windy City, the pot, calling New York a nocturnal hue. If Tarbell goes out, then out the window must go Cardini, Proskauer, et al. Personally, we bear no grudge. Our children were delighted with Tarbell's illusionary cut-outs, and we found few errors in Proskauer's cocktail recipes. Cardini's act was sold by a magician to magicians years ago, for a low price. And, after all our gardener uses gloves in handling the lawn mower. Not so long ago, we had the fun of dishing it out to our friend Herman Weber, of Allentown, Pennsyl-

vania. We penned wholly in response to his Linking Ring inquiry as to "Can You Take It?" As he suggested in a letter to us, we wrote for the joy of writing. Now, we find ourselves in the position of borrowing from him on his ideas regarding an ideal magic magazine. So, let that be Caesar's which is due unto Caesar. We agree with him so completely that if we do not follow him to the letter, it is only that we do not have the money or space so to do. Generally, our Genii will have the form outlined by Weber in the Linking Ring. Belatedly, somewhat, we commiserate with U. F. Grant in the loss of the mother to whom he was devoted. That Grant ranks with the grea; magical inventors of our day, nonwho is learned in our study 'will deny. That he may be accorded the force and power to carry on through his loss is wished by all of us. So, it is tomorrow, the day that, never comes. No practice yesterday, young man. None, alas, but there will be tomorrow. Thus, we waste our days, hoping against hope that if the day of judgment comes, our last year's show will still get by. There was, everything considered, plenty of time. We should have regaled you with editorial policy, prizes, awards and what not. But, a Genii who, magically, delivers gold, silver and precious stones should not become too businesslike. After all, he is but an apparition, similar to a smoky Frankenstein blended into a dragonish Lionel Barrymore, snorting and laughing awhile to hide the tears: a sort of a phantom Pagliacci. In parting, for, after all, there is a departure even if it is only until the next issue, this magazine is dedicated to the memory of A. M. Wilson, M. D., physician, surgeon, and the editor of a magazine which was truly great. That his spirit may, at occasional times, pervade these pages can only be accounted for by the fact that "he raised us." Five

GENII

four aces, one at a time. Each one, as it is turned over, is seen to be the ace of spades, and is placed in the performer's pocket. When he turns By the Late T. Page Wright over the last card in his hands, that, and William Larsen too, proves to be an ace of spades. • The magician plunges his hand into This is a comedy effect with the his pocket, and brings out the other aces, especially suitable for use as a three aces. follow-up to the regular four ace "I seem to have made some mistake. trick, as a pretended explanation. We Perhaps, I'd better let the explanation will assume that it is being used, go until some other time." though, of course, the patter is alterThis is a simple problem in pure able" to fit other circumstances of persleight of hand, using only the four formance. aces. They are shown freely, and "It is barely possible that some of then shuffled. The performer takes you do not understand how the aces care that in the shuffle the ace of were made to disappear, and reappear spades becomes second from the top. all in one packet. For the benefit of The two top aces are lifted as one, those members of the audience, I will and shown as the ace of spades. explain the working of this one trick. Then, under cover of a turn, the We take the four aces, and mix them. spade ace is permitted to drop back Now to make one of the aces dis- on those in the left hand, and so it is appear. Let us take one, whichever really one of the other aces which is on top, and see what it is. It is the goes into the pocket. The three reace of spades. Oh, but I almost for- maining aces are fanned with their got something. You will remember backs to the audience. When the top that at the start of the experiment, one is lifted off and shown, it is again one ace must be placed to one side, so the ace of spades, to the surprise of that the other aces can join it. and the spectators. The performer, apwhen I just did the experiment, the parently forgetting that he has just ace of spades was the ace placed aside. placed this ace—supposedly—in his Therefore, I will place the ace of pocket, goes through the same routine spades in my pocket, and make the again. But this time the hands are other aces vanish one at a time. brought together under cover of a Watch closely. I take any ace, which- half turn to bring his right side to ever happens to be on top, and we will the audience, and a top change is see what it is. It is the ace of spades. made, so that again one of the other Oh, but I have forgotten something. aces goes into the pocket. This leaves In this experiment, the ace of spades the magician with two cards in his is never vanished. It is placed to one left hand, the top one being the ace side, and the other aces are made to of spades. vanish and join it. Therefore, I will To prevent repetition, a different place it in my pocket. Now, I take one of the other aces, and show it to sleight is utilized for the last change. you. It is the ace of spades. That's The performer stands with his right queer. I thought I placed it aside, side to the audience, and with the left but I must have forgotten to do so. hand, on which are the cards, held Well, I will now place it in my palm upward, with the finger tips pocket. Now, to vanish an ace. We take one, and see that it is—the ace of spades! That's odd. Something seems to have gone wrong!

- THE ERROR ACES -

As accompaniment to the above patter, the performer turns over the Six

pointing directly at the spectators. The right hand grasps the upper card by the ends, between thumb and fingers, and lifts it bookwise so that it is face outwards, but with one side still touching the palm. In other words, it is stood on its side. Looking down at it, the performer shows surprise, and apparently carries it away in the right hand. Actually, it is merely folded back down onto the palm, and the other ace is gripped by the right hand in the same manner, and carried away to be placed in the pocket. This new change is very easy, and quite deceptive. Now, the remaining card can be shown to also be an ace of spades, and the feat is concluded by removing the other three aces from the pocket. No doubt, this effect could be produced without sleight of hand, by the use of duplicates or fake cards. However, the routine which we use is clean in handling, and not difficult, and the fact that it is obviously done with only four ordinary aces is what makes it convincing and amusing.

NOTHING NEW IN PARASOLS By Dale Williams • This trick is contributed not for the reason that it is new or original, for, really, it is neither one. It is offered merely for the reason that few seem to be acquainted with it, even though it is one of the oldest of the methods of doing a pODular, present-day effect, namely, the parasol trick. As much as I admire the mechanical ingenuity of the parasol and handkerchief tricks which are on the market today, and as ingenious as was the fore-runner of the mechanical parasol, the faked nat, nevertheless, 1 believe that the first version, which is never seen any more, is the best. In effect, a handkerchief is borrowed, torn into strips, and the strips

GENII placed in a bag. A parasol is shown and wrapped in a newspaper. Upon removing the parasol from the newspaper, the strips of handkerchief are lound hanging to the ribs of the parasol, the cover having vanished. In the oag, where formerly have been placed me strips 01 handkerchief, is round the cover. fciuDsequentiy, the handkerchief, fully restored, may be round according to the dictates ot the particular performer s desire. 1 shall not attempt to set forth the worKing ot the torn and restored handkerchief, inasmuch as this is known to most of the readers. It is merely a variation ot the Herrmann Mutilated Handkerchief effect which is fully described in several standard magic books. Two parasols are required for the experiment. These parasols are just a bit longer than the newspaper in which they are wrapped and just a bit shorter than the magician's table.

The magician's table, which need not be very deep, has behind it a double servante upon which two parasols may rest easily. The servante is of simple construction. At each end of the table, at the rear, is affixed a piece of wire, bent to resemble a double U. (See illustration.) At the beginning of the experiment, the parasol which has had the cover removed and upon the ribs of which have been placed strips of linen, is resting on the servante in the holder furtherest away from the table. The newspaper is on the table and on top of it is the unprepared parasol. The latter parasol is picked up, opened and then closed. It is taken

around the middle in the right hand and goes behind the newspaper while the latter is lifted up with the left hand. Under cover of the newspaper, the right hand deposits the unprepared parasol in that part of the servante nearest the table and picks up in its stead the one which has been prepared. It is the latter which is wrapped in the newspaper. Simple as is this method, it seems to have been entirely forgotten by magicians. Regardless of what you think of its value, as you see it printed here on paper, I can only ask that you try it and ascertain for yourself its value.

FELIX, THE FELICITOUS FELINE By the late T. Page Wright and William Larsen • This experiment, which is not only a favorite of ours, but which, also, never fails to delight each new audience that witnesses it, is one of which it is most difficult to convey an adequate impression in writing. Magically, it is simple in both method and effect, but the entertaining value is provided by a non-magical element. As it is hardly possible to make clear the effect without detailing the working, the two will be described together. The performer first steps forward, and offers a brief introductory speech: "For my next number, I shall present my famous trained animal act. By patience and kindness, I have taught a ferocious beast to be able to do such things as identify playing cards with almost human intelligence. That this may be demonstrated, I will shuffle this pack, and then pass down among you that a card or two may be selected, after which these cards will be discovered, not by myself, but by the educated quadruped." This short lecture is delivered with the utmost seriousness, as though the performer were about to present an actual animal act. The deck is without preparation or prearrangement. Passing among the spectators, the performer has one card taken from it. Then, turning to a

different spectator, he has this man merely look at a card. The performer secretly learns the name of this card, by means of the glimpse. He remembers its name, but makes no attempt to keep track of its location. The other cai \ is returned to the deck and instantly brought to the top by means of the pass. The performer holds the deck at arm's length while he returns to the stage, so that it is obvious that no manipulation is indulged in en route. He then gives the cards a quick shuffle, which leaves the one card still in position on top. Obviously other sleights can be substituted for those suggested, but we are describing the effect exactly as we work it. The magH'an lays the deck momentarily on a table, while he goes off stage to fetch his trained animal. The audience can hear his voice from the wings as he barks commands at some beast: "Come here! Down! Down! Behave!" and they might even hear th( -rack of a whip. Then the performer returns. In his arms, he is carrying something, but it cannot be seen what it is, until, after he has resumed his position center stage, the animal pops up his head, and proves to be a cat, of engaging and comical countenance. The "cat" is actually one of those toy dolls which fits onto the hand like a glove. The forefinger goes into the head, and 'he second finger and thumb respectively fits into the arms, enabling an infinite variety of lifelike movements to be imparted to the toy. The manipulation of this toy provides the humor of the experiment, and though we can suggest possible movements, only with the device in hand can a satisfactory routine be worked out. Neither can description suggest how amusing this "animal" can be made, when worked into a magical number, and handled in a manner to emphasize the comedy possibilities. Instead of going off stage to get the cat, it can be lifted from a big basket, or cage, masked to hide the contents. It would be very effective if such a cage were carried on by an

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GENII assistant. Regardless of where he obtains the animal, the performer must mask it with his body while it is being adjusted on the right hand, and it should be carried forward with its head buried in the crook of the left arm until the psychological moment for an effective first appearance. Throughout the experiment, the performer stands with his left side to the spectators. The animal is held in the crook of the left elbow except when it is working with the cards. At all times, the left arm and hand mask the right wrist, so that the illusion of a small animal being carried in the right hand may never be destroyed by the sight of the toy down over the hand. The magician keeps up a constant stream of comment, and instructions. This serves to point up each little action of the cat and give it meaning. Felix, when he first pops his head up, looks around at the audience, from one side to the other, and then twists his head until he can peer up inquiringly into the performer's face. Then, struck with a sudden spasm of shyness, he again buries his head in the crook of the performer's elbow. "Come, come, don't be so bashful. Bow to the audience." Felix looks up obediently, and makes a stately bow. "That's right. Now, will yqu do a card trick for us?" Felix looks around at the performer, and nods his head in excited assent. "All right. One man down there just looked at a card, and I want you to try to find out for us what it was." The performer gazes out over the audience as he says this, and so does not notice that Felix has decided to play with the handkerchief which was just peeping from the performer's breast pocket, and is pulling it out of the pocket, with a series of short tugs. He has trouble getting it out. and peers down into the pocket to make sure that nothing is holding it. Then he gives another tug, and has it almost out when the magician glances down and sees what he is doing. "Felix! Don't do that!" The performer is really angry as he pushes the handkerchief back into his pocket, and he cuffs Felix soundly on the side of the head. Felix promptly puts his face down between his paws, and starts to cry, his whole Eisrht

L

body shaking slightly with his convulsive sobs. The magician is instantly sorry, and begins stroking his pet. "I didn't mean it, Felix, really I didn't. Let me kiss you and make it well." Felix puts his face up to be kissed, and, then, in return kisses the performer's cheek, at the same time stroking his face lovingly. "And now will you do the card trick?" Felix nods again. The performer takes the pack from the table in his left hand, and with his left hand fans it out. Felix gets behind the fan, and, then, runs his face back and forth along the cards from one end of the fan to the other, searching for the one that was selected. Evidently, he is puzzled, for he stops and scratches his head in perplexity for a moment, and, then, takes up the search again. Suddenly, he turns to the performer, and with one arm beckons to him. "You want to whisper it?" Felix nods. The performer obediently puts down his head, and Felix whispers in his ear. Whatever it is that Felix is whispering, he seems to be excited about it, for he gestures constantly. As the performer listens, his face lights up with surprise, and he turns and looks Felix in the face. "It it, really?" Felix nods energetically. Felix tells me that the card the gentleman looked at was the ace of hearts. Is that right? It is! Felix is certainly clever at this sort of thing —1 have no idea how he does it!" During this speech, Felix bows to the audience. Then he again catches sight of the performer's handkerchief, and hurries back along the arm, determined to make another attempt to pull it out of the pocket. He has almost succeeded when the performer catches him. "Felix! I told you not to do that! There's still one more card you must find. Get it, or you'll get no supper!" The deck is again fanned out, and Felix repeats the business of looking along the fan, peering at the cards from all angles. The performer has fanned the deck face out, and so is enabled to slide the top ^card of the deck—the selected card—along behind the fan, with his left second and

third fingers. Thus, this card can be grasped by Felix and suddenly dragged up into view, apparently from the center of the fan. "Is that the correct card? The gentleman says that it is! Put it back in place, Felix." Felix replaces the card in the center of the fan, and pushes it down in, shoving it down, first with one paw and, then, the other. Then he starts patting his paws together, clapping. The performer sees this and again reproves him. "Felix! Don't applaud yourself! You may bow to the people!" Felix makes three bows—one to the left of the house, one to the right, and one center. These bows are very dignified and deliberate. "Throw them a kiss." Felix puts his paws to his lips, and then makes a tossing movement. "That's right. Now wave them all goodbye." The performer carries Felix off, but, until he is clear off the stage, Felix is still visible, looking over the performer's left shoulder and waving an energetic farewell to the audience. For this experiment to be successful, Felix must be given a personality all his own. The performer must almost convince himself that Felix is alive, and act accordingly. The routine is one to be run through briskly, though not rapidly, for Felix is an inquisitive and mischievous animal who is never still, but is always climbing around and peering into things, until reproved and made to behave. If Felix is made a good actor, every type of audience is delighted to accept him as an entertainer. (Editor's note: During the last several years, we have used, instead of Felix, the new and more popular Mickey Mouse hand doll. Known the world over, this Disney creation always seems tro delight his audience, regardless of the form in which he appears.)

I Practice makes perfect only when the practice is perfect. —Larsen

GENII

THE L. W. STOP MYSTERY By the late T. Page Wright and William Larsen 9

This striking effect is particularly well suited to club performance, other authors, and there is no question that his work from now on will be numbered among the first class magical liteiiiture." William W. Larsen ONLY $2.00

All Dealers or Direct HERMAN ALlBKTOWSr, L. WEBER PENNSYLVANIA

127 XORTH 17th STREET

Twenty-nine

6ENII

Light From The Lamp {Material for review in Genii should be sent to Lloyd E. Jones, 868 21th St., Oakland, California) Sancho Panza has been chased back into the obscurity of the Middle Ages where he belongs and the spirit of a genii takes his place. This one, there are more types of these fabulous beings than you can count, is called a Hatif. A Hatif is generally' the communicator of some intelligence in the way of advice, direction, or warning. Note the word, "generally." I'll try to live up to at least that in these reviews. So now, well imbued with the spirit of the spirit, we turn to this month's considerations. THE JINX, Number 24, September, 1936. Xheo Annemann, Waverly, New York. Ably supported by Genii's editor, William Larsen, your reviewer can join with him whole heartedly this issue. Miraskill, a contribution of unusual worth, will well pay you for your trouble. This card trick is one to rave about. By all means learn it before some one else shows it to you. There are also other card effects and the welcome reproduction of magician's cards. FORTY BEST CARD TRICKS by M o n t e

R. Viceroy of Los Angeles is a neatly printed booklet of material gathered from such reliable sources as Thayer, The Jinx, and The Encyclopedia of Self-Working Card Tricks. Intended for sale through the novelty-magic stores as well as the more legitimate depots, his booklets sell at a price in reach of all. Material here runs from Afghan Bands down to water-glass production. Neophytes will often be puzzled by the half-information given. For example, Viceroy suggests using Bicarbonate of Soda and Tartaric acid in the balloon trick but overlooks the all important necessity, water. Beginners will find the work a gold-mine at low price, those more advance will find some nuggets, while Thirty

the few well-advanced ones will feel tempted to tear out page 51 after encircling one of the illustrations and mailing it to Monte R. Viceroy. THESE CARD TRICKS, Will De Seive (William H. Wilson) of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, adds another to his list of worth-while publications. Cleanly mimeographed and plentifully illustrated, Wilson offers you eight ideas to put to use. Those interested in sleights will welcome the "snap" double lift and card workers in general will find a new card locater to experiment with. Wilson employs both of these in good effects. To these two we can add a Mystic Appearance as being of good quality. The other five are "not so good." E. M. c. A. MAGIC NEWS is pub-

lished monthly by Collins Pentz parading under the name of Equality Magicians Club of America. Club members get copies at half price while unfortunates must pay ten cents a copy. One issue will convince you the Genii is a good investment. Three numbers of the four published have just been received. Each printed on newspaper contains four pages, some patter, and one or two tricks not worth losing sleep over.

about early magic books. Although much space is taken up by contestants in a Silk contest, the best tricks are one on coins and a cut and restored rope idea. THE DRAGON, for August, 1936. as

official organ of the International Society of Junior Magicians brings magic intended for the younger folks. But the old timers seem to wartt to crowd them out and take up much space. Come on young fellows and fill the Dragon from cover to cover with your own stuff. VERRALL'S

MYSTERY

MONTHLY

with its August issue has now reached the supposed end of its life but interest in it leads Mr. Wass to promise another issue in December. This one sheet, besides boosting Mr. Wass' series of five magical works soon to periodically appear, gives you two tricks and a criticism of Top's reviewer which is wrong twice. THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS COmes

from Ring No. 1, of the I. M. B., to cheer me up. It is the freshest and cleverest club organ it has been my pleasure to read. The August issue was marked a "Revival" and the September issue seems to indicate the revival was a successful one. May the GOLDSTON'S MAGICAL QUARTERLY spirit long continue and the spirit in enters its third year with the appear- which it is written. No aims, no ance of the Summer issue dated June, ideals, just much humorous news, 1936. Compared to magic's great good ideas, and lots of gags for you to quarterly there seems to be a consider- steal. Consult Lenn Gunn. able lack of material in Goldston's SEAGRAM'S MAGIC CARDS distiibcurrent effort. There are only four uted by Seagram Distiller's Corpotricks in the issue, the feature one beration is hardly an item for me to reing a description of an Inexhaustible view but it furnishes opportunity for Mat by Okito. Best article is by me to offer them to you in return for Arthur Prince explaining how to aca stamped envelope. Collectors also quire proficiency in the imitation of not possessing copies of "sEEf," a animal sounds. booklet of Bausch and Lomb; "More THE TOPS, for September, 1936, Fun at Cocktail Time," by Seagram's comes from Percy Abbott, punctual also; and "Mystery of Magic Revealand informative as ever. Much of the ed," by Carl Zamlock; may have information comes from Sid Lorraine, who puts his wide store of magical them too under the same arrangeknowledge to practical use by answer- ment. Your card, photo, letterhead, ing your problems. H. Adrian Smith etc., will be appreciated for my colruns close second with more facts lection.

GENII A man driving a big, swell car saw her doing this dance and stopped. He handed my assistant his card which showed that he was a booking agent, and said, "I witnessed that original dance of yours and can sign you up for forty weeks; you really are good and have movements that are differend from any I have ever seen."—She really was stung by a bee.

"Tree of Life" atop it. Deed bowl on tripod for cigarettes. Tenkai dressed in classic Japanese costume, purple satin. E ¥ L.C. C U M H"ll~l Okinu dressed in regulation kimona, red, green and white. Both Everything gets him who waits. wear sandals. Recently, I have had about a dozen Opening—Okinu uses two squares, adverse things happen. I was wonone red, one purple, tissue, does torn dering what next? Bingo! I came and restored paper—hands same to home after watching a parade, and HARRY HOUDINI—A magic name, Tenkai—he tears same to bits and, insome bird who is slicker than a ma- if ever there was one. I honestly be- stead of restoring, produces Japanese gician had broken into my house and lieve that nine out of every ten people headdress of folding paper balls and took all my clothes, some magic and in the world recognized that name flowers, which Okinu puts on her many other things that I valued very HOUDINI and gave him credit for be- coiffure. highly. I started downtown to make ing a wonderful man. There is someAs Okinu accepts headdress from a report to the police, and believe it thing mysterious about this name: say Tenkai, she produces a package of cigor not, right in the heart of Los An- the word slowly and watch the con- arettes and a box of safety matches geles, a sea gull was banking for a tortions of your facial muscles in a from the center of same. wingover, and I had just had my car mirror. HOU-DI-NI. Your lips, teeth, Tenkai removes one cigarette, cleaned. Is there no justice? and tongue make three different places it in his mouth, strikes match Boy, Oh Boy! The first issue of movements pronounce the word. on box by throwing box in air over the Genii was a knockout. Really, Houdini died October 31, 1926, al- his shoulder and lights cigarette. a wonderful magical magazine. Here's most ten years ago, at the age of fiftyThen follows a series of combined one way you can help the Genii. two. He lived twenty-six years be- cigarette and watch productions, the When you write to a friend back fore 1900 and twenty-six years after former being thrown into the bowl East, suggest to him about subscrib- 1900. He once billed himself as and the latter hung on the tree rack. ing to the Genii and place a small ad, Kardo, not realizing that each card in One watch is apparently stretched if possible. All of this helps. Every the deck represented a year of his to an elongated oval. magician on the West Coast should active life. I had the pleasure of In all, fifteen cigarettes, all actually place a card ad. The cost is only meeting Houdini in Los Angeles in lighted, are produced and forty-eight $1.00 for three months. October, 1924, when he was per- watches, which are specially made Funny thing about month of Au- forming at the Philharmonic Audi- about half again as large as the usual gust. Usually, the dullest month in torium. This was the first and only manipulative watch, and are seen with getting engagements, but this year I time I ever talked to him, although I much greater ease from all parts of had all I could handle in August. had seen him perform many times in the house. Worked two picnics (with the audi- different parts of the country. From After the watch tree is filled, both ence all around). Had one extra nice the time I first started Magic, I was take a bow alongside of the table, take date at Del Mar Hotel at Del Mar, more interested in Houdini's style of hold of a drape at the front corners, near San Diego. Silverwood's De- magic than any other form, so I sup- walk forward, displaying the 3x8 foot partment Store, t/os Angeles, and sev pose that is one reason why I have silk of butterfly pattern—when downeral for a political organization. I always held him above all other magi- stage, they whip the silk up out of the used magic to illustrate a point show- cians. I had the childish dream of be- way and disclose two enormous metal ing why a certain bill should not be ing a second Houdini, but, when I watches in their hands, the same passed. When a politician pays for grew up, I realized the impossibility measuring about twenty-four inches of such a thing, for there could be no magic, that's something. from top to bottom. I played at a place recently that was second Houdini. We, in the magical Special musical score throughout so high class, that after tipping the fraternity, shall always treat with revwhich builds up beautifully to a grand help, I had to borrow a dollar from erence, the name and memory of a climax. No words spoken during act. great man, Harry Houdini. the manager to get gas to come home. Runs eight to eight and a half minYou can never tell what's around utes. Five bows. the corner. My assistant and I were Okinu, who is Mrs. Tenkai in prireturning from an engagement rear TENKAI and OKINU vate life, is a picture of oriental Santa Barbara. All of a sudden, she Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles, beauty, and the couple are grace, rhyjumped up in the car and let out a scream. I quickly stopped the car, California, Saturday, September 19, thym and poise personified. Many and she jumped out and did the craz- 1936. Caught second matinee show will miss their distinctive work with cards and billiard balls, but the abiest dance I have ever seen. Arms starting at 4:34 p. m. waving in the air, pulling her hair, Six vaudeville acts, with Tenkai sence of these in no way lessens the beauty of their present new act. Inciand, believe it or not, she started to and Okinu in closing star spot. disrobe. Here was the trouble. A Uses special satin, full stage set- dentally, the act is so built that it can also work night clubs. bee was inside of her clothes and ting, purple with red borders. -—Caryl S. Fleming stung her. Now, here is the unusual. Draped table center with Hindu Thirt j

-one

GENII

ANNOUNCEMENT OF CARYL S. FLEMING CONTEST OPEN TO ALL MAGICIANS EVERYWHERE

Note: For various and sundry reasons and with the full consent of those submitting manuscripts, which are already considered as entries, this contest has been extended from last season and will definitely close March 31, 1937. First Prize $25. Cash Second Prize $15. Cash Third Prize $10. Cash Additional cash prizes will be added if deemed advisable. Conditions are identical with those set forth in the original contest. Whereas, in an effort to accomplish constructive benefit to the members of the magical fraternity and to further promote the Art of Magic, the above mentioned sums have been donated by Caryl S. Fleming, President of the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians and are now on deposit

with the Secretary and Treasurer of Los Magicos, Mr. William T. Taylor, to be awarded for the best complete manuscript of a magical act submitted under the conditions set forth herein below: Manuscripts must be complete in all details, ready to be put into construction and rehearsal and to be typed or written in ink on one side of the standard 8V^xll paper, pages numbered and bound or clipped together in proper rotation. First page to contain nothing but the author's name and full address. Second page may carry the name of the act or may be left blank for the assignment of an identifying number as explained later. Third page, a complete prop list of all apparatus, gimmics, tables and properties or objects whatsoever necessary to the complete performance. (Stage lighting and music plots optional, but not essential.) The patter must be complete in all

details and the stage business, both the action seen by the audiences and the secret, or unseen, work by the magician must be cued in at their proper places. Both the effect as it appears to the audience and the modus operandi must be clearly set forth, with such written explanations or illustrated diagrams, measurements, etc.; other than familiar "standard apparatus" so that everything can be clearly understood without further explanations. The act may be of any magical classification you choose; Close-up, Club, Parlor, Stage, Illusions, Cards, Apparatus, Silks, Live-stock, etc., for any age or type of audience. Contestants will not be limited as to the number of scripts submitted and may enter as many as they desire. So as to eliminate any possibility of personal element, the page carrying the author's name will be removed Continued on page thirty-four

1

PRESIDENT

LESTER J. WILSON 2703 Evergreen St., San Diego, California

SECRETARY-TREASURER

LYLE F. LAUGHLIN 3207 J. Street, San Diego, California

Invite the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians to SAN DIEGO for the 1938 Convention ROSTER

Lanson Andrus * Franke Conde, Jr. * Cryl S. Fleming * * O. D. Ginther * Mrs. Harry Houdini * *

Thirty-two

Robert Huggins Lyle F. Laughlin * Dr. S. H. Laughton John D. Lippy, Jr. * James McCann *

Edward Saint Robert Seiben Ted Steinmann Marshall Sylvester Lester J. Wilson *

6ENII

Thru the Monocle By Dr. Edward Saint Harry Gilman, old time Eastern illusionist, later of the Great North West, expects to invade Southern California this winter with company of eight. Carl-Lyle, clever radio and stage magician, put Los Conjurares del Sur, magic and magicians in general, over in a big way, breaking, through Naomi Baker, nearly full page, with six three-column cuts in the San Diego Union, August 9. Many local and foreign magicians were mentioned in the well written article, including Edward VIII of England, who is reputed to be an amateur magi of long standing.

(Watch for an advertising campaign using this ILLUSION in store windows). Notice received from the Houdini Club of Philadelphia, that they are planning to hold their T E N T H Annual Show this fall, the date to coincide with the visit East of Mrs. Harry Houdini, their Honorary Life President. Magicians, if you take a show to Cuba, remember that as soon as you close your box office, a crowd will walk in free and be seated, DON'T try to keep them out, as it is the custom and is expected. Use blond girls on the stage as assistants if possible. Spice your program. In presenting the disappearing bird-cage, be careful what you say—as a bird is a Fairy in Cuba. Magicians lead very irregular lives, eat at all hours of the day or night, many midnight banquets, with cocktails, hard liquor and wine, served everything from beans and spaghetti to chicken and caviar; often talking and performing in smoke laden rooms and getting to their dates, regardless

Dr. U. L. di Ghilini of table-tipping, ghost-smashing renown, filled an engagement at Merced, California, with a midnight spook show Septem- of weather AND—THE SHOW MUST GO ON/ / ..Yet, we know that a ber 19. healthy magician is a better performNoticing a news stand in Los An- er. We have many members in our geles displaying magazines, I counted Pacific Coast Association who are regnearly 80 "best sellers" showing guns istered M. Ds. Would it not be an and knives on the covers and about 30 excellent idea if these gentlemen sexy nudes "in distress." If that is would take turn about writing an arwhat the public demands, maybe that ticle for the "Genii," giving the lowdown on things that would help mais a tip for the "Genii." gicians to be well and strong and, I would like to see Sawing a Wo- perhaps, KEEP THEM so. If the idea man in Half performed and, just as has merit, please write to Editor Larthe divided boxes are separated, to sen and also let us hear from the have the "head part" carried over to M. D.'s up and down the cost.

former days Mrs. Houdini wrote a short article which will appear shortly in Five Star Weekly . . . . . Arthur B. Reeve, author, wellknown crime and mystery writer, succumbed to a heart ailment at his home, 615 Greenwood Avenue, Trenton New Jersey. In conjunction with Charles A. Logue, Reeve produced the scenario for the Houdini serial, "The Master Mystery," and also several Houdini feature articles. Houdini and Reeves originated and produced the huge mechanical man, a robot, that still has appeal in many forms Mrs. Houdini, through the United and Associated Press announcing that October 31, will positively be the date for her final attempt to reach Houdini by a seance. This will mark, to the day, ten years since the Master's passing. This last attempt will close the time set in their agreement. T o quote Mrs. Houdini, "I have never had any experience or proof that would lead me to believe, so far, that Houdini or anyone could cross the grave or pierce the veil of death" Mrs. Houdini will leave New York the first week in November to spend Thanksgiving with her 88 year old mother, returning to Hollywood in the spring by way of Florida. Robert Houdin was featured in a recent cartoon by Robert Ripley. A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step—Chinese Proverb.

Here is a good tip to win a money bet and collect November 4. Roosevelt will be elected ! ! ! No, I don't care WHOM you are for, I'm thinking of collecting. Here is the lowdown. Fortune tellers MUST guess a frame and the girl placed on the right or dodge the issue. Crystal gaswing, (half lady illusion), showing Houdini Items Mrs. Harry zers and astrologists DO have the pulse that the girl really has been sawed in Houdini, founder member, at the first of the public in their own locality. half. Then back to the box, boxes annual "Close-Up" of the Associated Recently, some 3000 star-gazers asrejoined, and the restored lady steps Cinema Stars dinner dance at the sembled at an All-American Astroout. Biltmore Bowl. Mr. Harold E. logical Convention at the Stevens Ho'Swisher, managing editor of the tel, Chicago, representing ALL PARTS Several months ago European pe- Hollywood Citizen-News, introduc- of the United States, went on record, riodicals featured a story of an Invisi- ing Mr. Albert W . Hill, one time unanimously, that the stars predict ble Ray discovered by a Polish scien- stage manager for the Great Lafay- Roosevelt's re-election. Take it or tist. Again the story is revived by ette, recalling that the famous dia- leave it but it still is a good bet. Modern Mechanics, October issue. It mond bedecked dog, Beauty, was givis sold as LEGIT, claims being made en to Lafayette by Houdini Colonel Harry Day, Member of that the mysterious ray would cause Mrs. Houdini chatting with Gover- Parliament, just in from England, an object or person to disappear. nor Merriam about famous stars of is visiting Mrs. Houdini at her HollyTliirty-tliree

GENII wood home. Colonel Day was Houdini's first manager in Europe; arranged for the Scotland Yard "breakaway" and booked Houdini in England, Germany, and Russia, with engagements running months at a time. Colonel Day, riding the crest of Houdini's popularity, became himself a tremendous power in European theatricals. To quote Colonel Day, "Houdini and I were so closely connected both in business and friendship, that I feel sure had it not been for the fatal accident which unfortunately resulted in his death, I would still have retained my interest in the Variety Agency for the purpose of carefully managing his interest instead of embarking on a political career when I did." It is with deepest regret that I chronicle the passing of Mr. Mark A. Luescher, from a stroke, at Southport, Conn., September 20. Mr. Luescher v/as a power in theatricals and pressagented many of the sensational exploits of the late Harry Houdini at the New York Hippodrome and other big time theatres in the East. In a letter just received, Mr. Will Goldston writes most laudably of Mrs. Kosky who recently made a tour of Europe. Mrs. Kosky is the mother of Gerald Kosky, First VicePresident of S. A. M. Welcome home, again, Mrs. Kosky. A movement is on foot to clean up the unwholesome conditions, said to prevail among the fortune tellers of Greater Los Angeles. Under the name of Big Brothers and Sisters, a group of Spiritualists and medium1, have gathered to form the Los Angeles Society of Psychic Research, which will move forward just as soon as their papers arrive. The meeting was held September 18, at 7205 Franklin Avenue Hollywood. The purpose, as stated by their leaders, was to find some basis whereby a governing board could officially pass on the merits and honesty of the mediums and to eliminate the dishonest fortune tellers and GYPsys. Also, to have the governing board of their society recognized by law, so that their findings would be accepted. It seems now, that the Mayor or Chief of Police has no way of telling the honTMity-lom-

est fortune tellers and mediums from the dishonest ones. About 25 spiritualists and mediums were in attendance. Wanted: Information regarding connection on magic or "religion" of Professor R. D. Pease, M. D., living at 1320 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia,, Pa., and connected with Wagner's Institute, in the year 1882. The two famous I. B. M. members, Amos and Andy, had to take six spot-light bows recently at the Los Angeles Orephum. Carter the Great (Jr.) received a number of press notices in Oakland papers regarding mysterious psychic occurrences he has recently experienced. FLASH/ / ATTENTION RENO. Colonel Harry Day, J. P., M. P., will donate a beautiful trophy for the 1937 convention, sending it on from London.

Modern Psychologist, October issue, states that Dr. Alexander Cannon has invented a thought-reading machine which he expects to exhibit in America this year. This device should put fortune tellers on an honest basis. Hope Dr. CANNON does not put Len G U N N out of business.

Tip. If you KNOW Caryl S. Fleming, you can reach anything or anybody in California. Many a magician's engagement has been made through Caryl's contacts and personal knowledge of magic conditions and requirements. i SUPPOSE YOU KNOW that the first church bell ever heard was rung to keep lightning away from the church. •

NEWS ITEM Caryl S. Fleming has invited the members of the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians to be his guests at the Lido Room, Hollywood Knickerbocker Hotel on Sunday, October 11, at 8 :30 o'clock in the evening. The party is for men, but will not be a stag. Despite the fact that it is the President's birthday, only your presence and not your presents are requested.

Contest Continued from page 'thirty-two and stamped with a serial number corresponding with that of the script, so that the author's name will remain unknown, except to me. The Judges will be: Caryl S. Fleming, Chairman; Gerald Kosky, Earl Rybolt and L. O. Gunn. CONTEST STARTS NOW—ENDS

MARCH 31, 1937 Manuscripts received after that date will not be considered. All manuscripts will be acknowledged but will not be returned and are to become the private, personal property of Caryl S. Fleming, but it is agreed and understood that the said manuscripts shall not, at this or any other time, be published or used, in whole or in part, in any manner whatsoever, for benefit or profit, unless distinct and written permission is given by said author, and no part of any original effect shall be used or made public, except under the >ame conditions. However, it is distinctly understood and agreed that the author may use the said act for any purnose he may choose and that he shall own and control all rights whatsoever to any and all original matter or effects contained therein. By agreement with Mr. Caro Gig Miller, General Production Director of the P. C. A. M. and Harry L. McManus, First Vice-President, in charge of the 1937 Reno Convention, winning acts will, at the option of the author, receive consideration for production and performance on one of the programs of the shows scheduled for July 20, 21 and 22, 1937. The winner will be notified as soon after the closing date of the contest as possible, but not later than thirty days thereafter, both by letter and publication in the Genii. Mail your manuscripts, prepaid, direct to CARYL S. FLEMING, President, P. C. A. M., 924 North Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, California.

November, 1036

10 cents

Pacific Coast Magic News

HASKELL

Official Organ for The Pacific Coast Association of Magicians

GENII WILLIAM

W.

Editor and Publisher

LARSEN

GERALD KOSKY

Assistant Editor

Assistant Editor Advertising Manager Art Editor

WILLIAM TAYLOR HARRY MENDOZA CHARLES CHRISTMAN

GENII is published monthly by William W. Larsen, P. O. Box 560, Pasadena, California. Editorial office, P. O. Box 560, Pasadena, California. Price in the Unite'd States and Canada, $1.00 per year; ten cents a copy. Elsewhere, $1.50 per vear; fifteen cents a copy. While manuscripts, photographs and drawings are submitted at the owner's risk, every effort will be made to return those found unsuitable, if accompanied by first-class postage, but we cannot be responsible for any loss of such matter contributed. Contributors are advised to retain copies of their contributions and to double space all articles submitted. Printed in the United States of America, by the Bickley Printing Company, Pasadena, California. The Genii is published on the 10th day of every month. All contributions and advertising matter must be received by the Editor betore the first day of the month of publication.

•

Vol. 1

November, 1936

•

No. 3

IN THI I//LE • THE GENII SPEAKS

Page 5

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS MAGIC STAGECRAFT

20

PAGING THE LADIES

21

BAGDAD

23 •

BOOK REVIEWS

25

•

RIBBINS

26

CLUB REPORTS

27

THRU THE MONOCLE

32

•

SCATTERED SHOTS

33

THRU THE SLANTING EYE

33

Poor

HASKELL The picture on this month's cover depicts Haskell, the Los Angeles lad who is rapidly striding toward the top. Now, at Omar's Dome, classy night spot in the aforesaid metropolis, Haskell has recently played most of the top notch cafes in Southern California. And, more than that, last winter he was a featured entertainer at the most exclusive, and highest priced, hotel in Honolulu. Blessed with one of the most pleasing, captivating personalities in the business, Haskell's future is assured. In his present engagement he presents two shows nightly. Each performance takes about four minutes. But the encores last a full ten minutes! Four and five encores are the rule. Is it any wonder that he recently asked for, and received, double his former salary? Haskell runs- the gamut of magic. One moment he is talking sleight of

hand; the next he is interested in an illusion or a mental test. His skill is unquestioned, but he is not a mere juggler. He has the makings of a really great magician. At twentytwo the world is his for the taking. And this won't make him "swell headed" at all. He's just the sort of chap who probably won't believe it. Splendid as is his present show, Haskell isn't satisfied. He is constantly seeking improvements. Such a man has no egotism. We were swimming together. We do swim here late in October. As usual our talk ran to magic. We asked him what the sophisticated night club audiences liked. "Well," he replied, "most of the patrons want the magician to take a rabbit out of a hat." A rabbit from a hat? A hard thing to accomplish with tables all around and an orchestra in back. But he'll do it. Wait and see!

GENII

The magic lamp is rubbed again, and this time the Genii Gerald Kosky appears to discourse on things magical. A question that I have asfced many magicians is: "What benefits do you expect to gain by being a member of a magicians' society, and what should the society expect of you as a member?" The majority answered my question somewhat as follows: No. 1. To try out my new act and magical ideas at the meetings and have the members present give me constructive criticism on same. To have at least four lectures a year on the histqry of magic and its various phases by the members who are capable of delivering same. To have at least two "Ladies Nights" a year. And last but not least, to meet and have an enjoyable time with my brother magicians. No. 2. The magicians' society expects me to be proud of my membership. It expects me to give my undivided attention to the magicians who are kind enough to perform at the magic meetings. (Unfortunately there appears to be a wave of lack of attention, so called wisecracks, and side talk, during the performance of magicians at most of the magical societies today. It makes it very difficult and disheartening for a magician to perform at a meeting, when his brother magicians do not give give the respect and attention he rightfully deserves. It also tends to keep the newer members from performing at meetings as they are naturally frightened and timid to perform before magicians even under the best of conditions, how much more so under adverse conditions? And last, the magicians who do perform regularly at the meetings, feel that as long as the member are not paying much attention to their performance, they will do their act just any old way, which if they are not careful, has a tendency to make

them careless when giving a paid performance for a regular audience). The society expects me not to expose to the general public any vital magic secrets. It expects me to be sociable at the meetings so all members may enjoy themselves. It expects me not to play underhand club politics, but to work for the good and welfare of the society. It expects me, when elected an officer of the society or appointed on a committee, to fulfill the duties to the best of my ability. It expects me not to use other magicians' original effects in my act unless permission is granted me by said magicians to do so. It expects me never to knock or belittle other magicians, especially to the general public. And last but not least, it expects me not to say "Let George do it", when called upon to act as a member of a committee, or to help collect tickets, arrange chairs, etc., etc., when the society has an open night, Ladies night, or show. The Great Leon is without a doubt one of the cleverest inventors of magical effects and illusions today. Every time I have the pleasure of talking to him, he tells and shows me the blue prints of some illusion he has invented which is way off the beaten path, or else he will have an original pocket effect that he made up, or an improvement on a piece of apparatus that will enhance the effect one hundred percent. He invariably shows a humorous effect at the magicians meetings, and at a recent meeting, he showed a Jumbo card effect that he had just invented. I hope he will contribute it to the Genii, as it is an entertaining and mystifying effect. About a year and a half ago, just previous to his trip to Japan, Tenkai organized the Southern California Japanese Amateur Magicians Society. And he asked me to attend their meetings and instruct them in the various branches of magic that

they are little acquainted with. I had the pleasure of attending their meetings on several occasions and learned many interesting things. For instance, in order to keep the curiosity seeker from becoming a member of their society, they charge a fee to enter. Their initiation fee is at least five times that of the average magicians' society. When they see that a member is losing interest by not attending the meetings regularly he is dropped from the society. A commendable rule they have at their meetings, is that each member has a certain effect to perform and during his performance, the members give him constructive criticism. He must perform the effect over and over again at each meeting until he can perform the effect perfectly. A man to be admired is Will Goldston, because he has been an outstanding figure in magic for over forty years. And stands head and shoulders above all other magic writers as an author, compiler, inventor and publisher. For who else has written, published, or compiled such books as the Locked Books, Several Magician Annuals, Great Magicians' Tricks, Tricks That Mystify, and over thirty other books, plus having edited over a period of year, four outstanding magazines, of which the Goldston quarterly is his latest ? Men who are doing a lot of good on the Atlantic Coast for magic in general are: Royal V. Heath, Richard Du Bois, Bernard M. L. Ernst, Dr. I. R. Calkins, Al Baker, Leo Rullman and Ted Anneman. Why is it that the longer you are in magic, the more you realize that you know nothing about it at all? I remember many years ago the late Professor Lipka telling me at a magicians' meeting, "Son, you are very clever with your sleight of hand, and you know many fine tricks but, you will not be able to perform them Five

GENII five dollar prize which is awarded every fourth month. But how about the Magic Art Company contest and the Fleming Contest? The best patter for the billiard ball production •will be the winner of a fine multiplying ball set, presented and manufactured by the Magic Art Company of Portland. And look up last month's issue for details on the Fleming contest. We have another contest under way and we'd like a little encouragement. Conventions Genii will gladly publish any advance data on magicians' conventions. It is not so long until the S. A. M., the I. B. M., and the other groups will meet again. Let's get all the dope in order that our readers may be enthused over the idea of attending. Exposing We are happy to relate that Devant, Cardini, Blackstone, and their ilk have been forgiven, indeed, have been accorded complete absolution, and returned to the fold. After all, they are great—and who are we: but mere panhandlers who bask in IVI the dimes tossed into our cups by the almsgivers. It is good ANNOUNCEMENT/ self-sacrificing for magic that the black sheep have been color changed. Genii Price As to exposing, we have always Everyone tells us that we. will had our price. Perhaps it is too high. have to raise the price on Genii in But, if it is ever paid, we shall begin order to keep going. Of course we upon Blackstone's programme. No will! We're not infantile. But we item in it conflicts with ours. Then won't raise the price yet. We'll keep we shall fall back on Devant—for it at a dollar a year until everyone has such history can do the moderns no a fair chance to get in at that rate harm. Finally will come Cardini, and let us show what we can do. for whom there may be an excuse. Then, fair warning, Genii readers But we'll try to present it in such a will pay two fifty a year. However, way that youth won't be tempted to the purchaser will always receive a try juggling fans and cigarette tossmagazine replete with practical aways. tricks. We have no Harper BazaarEach of the above was paid a ish aspirations. We were raised in price. What it was, we don't know: the north of Wisconsin and wouldn't probably, coffee and cakes. But, even know Fifth Avenue from a bale of if we are hungry, we know this. We third crop alfalfa. But we do know won't betray magic for thirty pieces good magic and that is what we'll of silver. Cardini is no more a always give you—even if we have magician than is Fred Keating. Both to call on Glenn Gravatt to furnish view the art as a means to an end. us our supply. The end is money. Neither has a wholesome attitude toward magjc. It Contests We won't kid you. Our contests is, to them, but a stepping stone. seem to have all the popularity of a Devant was a magician, but, in his sheriff at a pickpockets' conclave. dotage, prefers notoriety to reputaWhat's wrong? True, enough ma- tion. Blackstone is a magician. But gicians are going out for the twenty- he is avaricious.

properly for at least another ten or fifteen years, for then you will acquire a certain knowledge that can not be taught or explained to you or anyone else. It is only thru years of performing that one begins to realize that there is more to magic than a clever routine, sleight of hand and patter". What the late Professor Lipka told me is just beginning to bear fruit, for although I perform my effects the same as I did years ago, I have acquired a certain something that puts my effects over a great deal better than ever before. What that certain something is, is difficult to explain. It may be the wisdom that comes after years, that, "Magic is an Art", and not just a bag of tricks, that makes me perform my effects subconsciously better than I have ever done before. And so I leave you, until I am once more called from the lamp to discourse on things magical.

\l M

Six

Nothing Like Being Up To Date With this issue the Genii is now in its third month. It has been met with warm welcome everywhere, and its subscription list is rapidly growing to the size 'when our worries shall ease up a bit. Reviews have appeared in the Linking Ring, Tops and other magical journals, including some foreign publications. Now comes the October Sphinx upon the pages of which, under the signature of the editor, John Mulholland, the following news ???? "Some time ago, those active, energetic clubs forming the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians announced that they were starting a new magazine. With the talent that they have on the Coast, I am certain that they can do a good job. The Sphinx hopes that this new entry W I L L SOON MAKE ITS APPEARANCE and will have a long life and one that will add to the glory of magic." (The caps are ours.) We always knew that it is a long way to New York, but we never thought it was so great a distance that our Genii would take so long to reach our contemporary editorial desks—or, maybe, we are wrong. • A magician's library should contain books on other subjects besides magic. —Herman L. Weber. ATA SUN GAI Lecturer on Chinese Magic 6411 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, California DAVID M . MISHEL 610 River Street, No. 4 El Paso, Texas MAGICIANS, CALL ME WHEN OUT MY WAY Phone Main 4420 R. E. LANGLEY 4184 Brighton Avenue Los Angeles, California VE 9355

GENII

M A G I C AAA DOWN THE ALLEY By Herman L. Weber Don't worry, the alley referred to is only a bowling alley, and the thing that goes "down the alley" or vanishes, is a full sized bowling ball, an article of enough power and realism to have its points as an object for the modern illusionist. And, unlike the ducks, it does not eat. Performer carries forward to a

on each handle or by a narrow board stuck through the two handles. Placed on the low table, the front and top of black case is opened and the "first" ball revealed, Fig. I. In this sketch ball is resting on the cart ready to be pushed over into brown case, as soon as the front of black case is closed. The cart in Fig. I l l is an integral part of the brown box. Wall "b" fits into a recessed part of the end of

half, Fig. II. Both boxes should be covered with leather or leatherette, with corners bound in brass, each with a heavy leather suitcase handle, and front fastened with suitcase catches. The black box is made to fold down flat, Fig. II. Brown box does not do so on account of containing the cart at finish. Fig. I shows the start of trick, Fig. II the finish. The table is unprepared. There is a three-inch ring of paper cut out and fastened with small dabs of magician's wax to the ball, encircling one or all of the holes. This is "Gus Ackerman's private mark which he had painted on his pet ball" to distinguish it at a glance. The paper is to look like white paint at

W A L L CUPBOARD^ SNAP X

SOCKET FOR. BALL'

low four-legged stand, two square carrying cases, one black, the other brown. Each is a case to carry around a personal bowling ball, as is the custom with expert bowlers. Accordingly the balls are shown and proved to be real solid articles. After the last ball is shown, it is bowled right off the stage. Then the first one is covered with a cloth and thrown toward the audience, only to vanish in a flash, leaving the carrying cases and the little stand unmistakably empty. The ball really is gone, but probably only because there was but one ball to start with. This ball did the work of two by transferring from one case to the other on a "cart", Fig. I l l , while the boxes stood next to each other on the little table, Fig. I. When the boxes are brought on, they are carried together, either with one hand

the brown box, while wall "a" is actually the other side of this box. When boxes stand together as in fig. I, the adjoining side of black box, on a spring hinge, folds down on the bottom, opening the side of the box. Then the cart is shoved over, side "a" opening the brown box, and side "b" closing it again after cart is pushed completely over. Since side "b" is CLOTH-j

slightly taller than "a", it will not come through opening left by "a", a device which serves to keep the boxes firmly together. Small wheels are set into the bottom of the cart. The wheels and the bottom are hidden by the hinges on front of both boxes being set up from bottom about an inch and a

a short distance, yet to be peeled off and crumpled instantly before cart moves over and ball is seen a^ain. Fig. I. The black box also contains "Ackerman's personal ball polisher" which is the cloth used to cover and vanish the ball. This should be of dull material, not silk, say dark green or dark red. It is naturally a double cloth fitted with a form. Fig. IV shows a cross section of this form folded. The dots are wire rings of varying sizes sewed to a small piece of cloth, just like a Chinese Lantern is made. A disc of metal forms the center. A long piece of flat metal hinges to under part of this disc; a ring of thin wire is fastened to the top of this disc. At bottom of the flat piece of metal is a base of sheet lead about a quarter inch thick, also hinged as shown. Stops at both hinges cause the form to stand upright and look like Fig. V, as soon as wire ring on center disc is lifted. The form stands alone and is the exact height and contour of your ball. This folding form is sewed at a Seven

GENII few points to the inside of the double "polisher" cloth in the relative position shown in Fig. VI. Wire rings on disc is the only part of form to be outside the cloth. When this wire ring is lifted, the form stands up and a ball "materializes" undei the cloth. Your hand, going under cloth to lift ball, simply supports the weighted foot of form and carries the "ball" in the most natural manner. But a toss forward and upward, followed by a good jerk from corner "A" Fig. VI causes form to fold flat again as in Fig. IV, and ball is gone. To perform, bring table forward or use two chairs side by side. Carry boxes out together, place on table, open black one. Get out ball. Also get out folded cloth and put aside on table. Tell about famous bowler and his pet, marked ball. Show

They will swear they saw the ball before you covered it as form is now standing up. The other sides of box ate now dropped, as in Fig. II. Now reach under cloth, getting hand under weight and lift "ball" with a reasonable show of effort. Bring forward, toss in air, grab corner "A", and fold up cloth again. Take applause while your assistants remove the empty boxes. Editorial note: Fred Rickard, well known magical mechanic, suggests that instead of the fake in the cloth described by Mr. Weber for the vanish that a cross shaped, celluloid affair be used. This could have an upright, to enable the performer to apparently hold the ball on the palm as in Weber's version. The ends of the celluloid would be weighted to cause the proper roundness. This idea, we believe, simplifies part of the effect and would create just as good an impression.

mark. Drop ball on floor. Replace ball, crumpling up paper ring, close front of box, push cart over, drop lid and snap it. Side of black box springs into place. Now move brown box down to other end of little table. Say this is the great bowler's substitute ball. Drop ball on floor. Demonstrate bowler's prowess by rolling ball off side at wings, or knock down some pins on dance floor. (Ten pins, tin pans or glassware may crash off stage at this point.) Brown box now placed on floor, front and top open as in Fig. II. Now offer to show the Great Gus's real technique. Open top lid of black box, which, remember is empty. Bring in how "Ackerman" always polished his own ball. Open cloth and drape it over and into box, lifting wire ring as you do so, and simultaneously dropping front of box.

HANDCUFFS FOR TWO AN IMPROVEMENT By L. O. Gunn • In the October issue of Genii, there appeared a handcuff trick, contributed by Irving Joslyn. In effect, two spectators were handcuffed to the performer, the performer's right wrist being handcuffed to one spectator's left wrist and the performer's

left wrist being handcuffed to another spectator's right wrist. Then, the performer and the spectators step behind a three-panelled screen. The performer emerged free, and the spectators are found handcuffed to each other. Mr. Joslyn suggested that two pair of handcuffs be used, one, an unprepared set of Bean cuffs and the other, a prepared set of the same kind. He further suggested that the cuffs he severed at the connecting link and each trick cuff re-fastened to a straight cuff, making two pair of handcuffs in each of which, one cuff would be prepared and the other unprepared. Of course, the prepared cuffs were placed upon the performer's wrists, and the unprepared ends upon the spectators' wrists. I think it would be simpler, and practically no more expensive, to use two sets of the prepared spirit cuffs. Mr. Joslyn, apparently, overlooked the fact that handcuffs prepared in this manned may be affixed upon a spectator's wrists so that they can only be opened by use of the key. Therefore, I would affix the ends to my own wrists in such fashion that I could readily open them, but, in locking up the spectators, would press the snap so that they could not extricate themselves, unless I unlocked the cuffs for them. Immediately upon my own release, I would snap the two loose ends of the cuffs together and again press the locking device so that these cuffs ,too, would need to be opened with the key. My other suggestion in regard to this item has to do with dispensing with the use of the screen. It occurs to me that it would only be necessary for the performer and the two spectators to turn their backs toward the audience. Instantly, the performer would release himself, lock the two spectators together, back away from them and turn toward the audience. The performer's body would form ample coverage for this move and would permit the item's being presented in places where a screen is not obtainable.

GENII

•

SPELL BOUND

v_

•

KITTY

By Franz Christensen This effect, based upon countless spelling tricks which have heretofore found their way into magical literature, will appeal both to children and adults. Unlike card tricks, it is easily comprehended by the youthful mind. Its basic mystery will mystify the elders. And, more important, it has enough flash to be usable anywhere. Two boys are enticed upon the stage and a pack of picture cards, such as those shown in the drawing, introduced. The boys should be of school age, preferably ten or eleven. This latter is important for it would be a sad day if the performer chose, as his volunteer assistants, children too young to know how to spell. The magician, questioning the value of modern teaching methods, suggests a spelling lesson. Indeed, says the magician, schooling has nothing to do with it. By merely tapping one boy on the head with his magic wand, the lad becomes a veritable spelling genius. On the other _ hand, by tapping the other boy on the head the latter boy's knowledge leaves him entirely. Such is the power of the mains, the dunce. wand and the performer pauses to wonder, aloud, of This is handed course, why this secret has been so little used by up to date the second boy educators. with the remark To demonstrate his theory, one boy — the ^ " . . . and here one who has just been given the magical wisis your favorite dom, is given the picture cards and told to spell, card". Then, with due to himself, the word "fan". The boy does, seriousness, the magician turns up the card and it shows a fan, which, again taps the boy's head then, is laid aside. He then spells with the magic wand and 'fox", successfully, and puts it aside. restores his knowledge. Then "kitty". Now the cards are Ten picture cards are handed to the lad who has had his required. My set was obtained from knowledge taken from him. He is a ten cent store book; the pictures requested to spell, silently, 'boat". being carefully cut out and pasted He attempts so to do but, upon white cards about the dimeninstead of getting the boat, sions of the Jumbo playing cards. he gets the dunce. The The corners should be rounded for dunce card is replaced on finesse in handling and, if one wishes, the backs top of the pack and the of the cards may be decorated. The latter is first boy then spells boat entirely unnecessary. We discovered that it was successfully. This fa, quite impossible to find a dunce, so, after beroutine, as it is ' coming discouraged in our search, we had a more specifically friend paint t h e set forth below, same; a friend who if followed until dabbles in art work. but one card reThe cards are arranged as follows, from bottom to top: boat - hen - zebra - dunce - fox oxen - goose - fan - lamb kitty. The boat is the bottom card; kitty, the top card. After this arrangement, the cards may be cut any number of times without destroying the layout, but it is necessary in beginning the trick that the card bearing the picture of the "kitty" be on top. Now, for the purpose of clarity, we shall call the smart boy "one" and the boy who has had his knowledge taken away "two". The spelling is as follows: One spells "fan". That card is then laid aside. One spells "fox". That card is also laid aside. One spells "kitty". The card is laid aside. FRANZ CHRISTENSEN

LAMB

FAN

GOOSE

OXEN

FOX

DILNCE

ZEBRA

BOAT

GENTI Two spells "boat". He gets the dunce. The dunce is replaced on top. One spells "boat". The card is put aside. Two spells "lamb". Gets the dunce. Replaced on top. One spells "lamb". Placed aside. Two spells "hen". Gets the dunce. Replaced on top. One spells "hen". Placed aside. One spells "goose". The card is put aside. Two spells "zebra". Gets the dunce and places on top. Two spells "oxen". The dunce, of course, and back on top. One spells "oxen". Aside it goes. Two is handed the sole, remaining card: the dunce. In presenting this effect it is only necessary to remember t.wo things: the correctly spelled card is always put aside, that is to say, discarded ; and. the dunce card is always replaced on top. Although it is better to memorize the routine, such effort is not necessary. A small card, bearing the layout and spell routine, may be tacked to the back of the table and an occasional glance is all that is necessary to refresh the memory. I have not attempted to write out the patter fully, feeling that such matters must be left to the individual taste of the performer. I have merely attempted to give a general "plot" which will amuse. The usual ideas for patter, involving two boys, such as "John meet Jim—Jim meet John", etc., are well suited to this type of presentation. However, this is vital. Don't let boy number "two" feel that you are letting him down. Make it apparent that one boy is just as smart as the other and that the magic wand is solely accountable for the apparent difference between them. In this way both boys will leave the stage "boosters" for your show. And, after all, that's what you want.

LIGHT WATER By Caryl S. Fleming A pseudo-scientific demonstration of chemical properties and reactions.

PROPERTIES. Nickeled Foo Can, Ten

round bottom preferred. Food cell cork to fit neck of same, drawer pull handle. Small clear whiskey glass and Abbott's "Squash." Gas jet, for "Human Gas Well" effect, consisting of a 4 x % inch galvanized pipe nipple with screw threads sawn from one end, and brass gas cock to fit. Small piece of silk sponge inside tube and cork to keep gasoline from evaporating until wanted for use. Lighter fluid—low test for yellow flame. Box of safety matches on stand. Rectangle of newspaper, about Vi single sheet. Small paper bag—about No. 2. Tray or magician's table.

volatile and capable of great possibilities." (Pour some water from Foo Can into whiskey glass and hold it up for display. Replace the cork as quickly as possible, to carry out the idea of volatility.) "You will note that I replaced the cork—this is necessary as 'Light Water' has a natural chemical affinity to absorb air and return to its normal state. You will note this 'Light Water' is identical in appearance with any ordinary water one might drink, and, just as the scientists did with their 'Heavy Water', I shall show you that my 'Light Water' is equally harmless to the human system." (Raise the glass to your lips and PREPARATION. Fill Foo Can drink the contents. Turn glass upwith sufficient water to fill side down to show that it is empty, feke. Saturate sponge in gas jet and set it down on table.) tube with sufficient gasoline to "One caution to be observed in make a vapor, and test same experimenting with this chemical— before closing cock and cork- it is inadvisable to .smoke or go near ing open end so that no excess to open fires for a time after drinkliquid gasoline remains. ing it, for, as I have said, it is highly volatile—for example"—(pick up gas E F F E C T & PATTER. jet—pushing cork out of open end "Ladies and Gentlemen:—Before with thumb, leaving same on tray— doing my next experiment, I should light a match with other hand—inlike to tell you an item or two con- hale deeply—open gas cock—place cerning the serious side of magic. open end of nipple to your lips—exScience has supplied us with many hale slowly and light the vapor which principles and devices that have been issues therefrom — extinguish match adapted for your entertainment and, next .extinguish gas jet by turning likewise, magic has made some few the cock closed and return same to contributions to modern science. For your table.) instance, transmission > of audible (Pick up paper and form a cone) speech by induction was used by magicians long before it was put to "Next, I shall show you how fast practical use in its present form of this little-known chemical disinthe radio, and many chemical prob- tegrates." (Remove cork from Foo lems have found their answers Can again— turn it feke side toward through experiments carried OH by the cone and apparently pour the balance of the liquid into the paper cone members of the magical fraternity. —finally showing the Foo Can to "Undoubtedly, you have recently be empty by holding it upside down, read in the newspapers of the dis- so that the audience may clearly see covery and experiments with a sub- it—finally, place it back on your stance called "Heavy Water." This table, either upside down or right consists merely of common H2 0, re- side up—it does not matter. Light duced in volume under extreme another match and carefully ignite pressure; however, it is not with the edges of the top of the paper that that I am dealing. cone. Bring the burning cone down"My demonstration concerns the stage to the footlights and, as the other extreme of the water spectrum, flame moves down around the cone, so to speak—'Light Water'—again, call attention to the change to the ordinary pure H2 0 with the pro- blue color as the flame reaches the cess reversed so that its specific grav- water. (This the flame will do by ity is many times less than when itself as it completes its own circle found in its natural state, highly around the cone.)

GENII This portion of the effect is clearlv recognizable as a different method of performing the standard "Burning a Cone of Water", and individual patter may be introduced as suits the performer. As the flame burns down close to the fingers—invert the remaining portion of the cone to show that the "Light Water" has now completely disintegrated and vanished. Drop the end of the paper and stamp the flame out with your foot. For a finish, explain as follows: "You have seen some of the properties of this new chemical, and here is one that will appeal to the ladies" — (take up the paper bag—shake it open, and show it to be empty and unprepared—turn one side downstage as you do this and get your "Squash" ball with the other hand— transfer the bag to the hand with the squash ball and bring the paper bag up around your hand with the ball held in the fingers and one finger outside the bag to support it —next, take up the whiskey glass from which you drank at the beginning of the trick.) " Undoubtedly, many of you ladies entertain and have, after a party discovered rings on your piano top or some pet piece of furniture, made by some careless guest leaving a cocktail glass on it. To avoid this, supply your guests with a paper bag and treat your glasses with 'Light Water ; after they have finished with their drink, request them to place their glasses into the bags, so—" (Place glass into bag and push the squash ball firmly into it, and. as you turn, let the ball carry the glass aivay under your coat.) "Now, after placing the glasses in the bags, all one has to do is to crush the bag into TL small ball and throw it away—thus — I thank you."

TENKAI

parently very skillful, pnd, yet, it is exceedingly easy to do. Likewise, the apparent skill in no way detracts from the mystery of the trick, for skill alone, no matter how great, would not, in itself, b- sufficient to explain the working ncthod. In effect, a book is shown and over it is placed an ordinary linen handkerchief. On top of the handkerchief are placed two tumblers or wine glasses in close proximity to each other. In fact, there is just room

between the glasses to permit the performer's placing his thumb between them in lifting up the book. Before proceeding with the trick, the end of the handkerchief which falls over the open end of the book rhould be folded between the book's pages, in order that it may not fall rnd conceal the effect during the subsequent manipulations. This done, the performer lifts the book in the following manner: His right hand picks the book up at the back. The right thumb comes between the two glasses and the fingers of the right hand come underneath the book. Now, the book is lifted from the table, turned over, and still the By Tenkai glasses do not fall. T h t entire affair is again turned right-side up, and The following is a genuine feat the glasses pre removed and passed of Japanese Magic. Its charm lies for inspection, as are also the handin the fact that it is spectacular ap- kerchief and the book.

JAPANESE GLASS LEVITATION

Before describing the actual working method of the effect, it may be well to mention that instead of a book, a square tray, or even a board may be used. However, the book is really best, for the reason given above. The secret depends merely upon a short piece of cord which has a knot in each end. The exact length of the cord must be determined by actual experimentation and depends entirely upon the width of the performer's right thumb. A fairly heavy piece of cord, such a wrapping twine, should be used and at each end is tied a large knot. These knots may best be made by tying several knots together so that each is about the size of a pea. This little device may be carried about in the pocket until the performer is ready to begin the trick. Everything else used in the experiment is unprepared, with the exception that the glasses should be small and not too heavy. Liqueur glasses, wine glasses and light tumblers are entirely satisfactory. In the beginning, the string is held behind the handkerchief and is allowed to drop on top of the book, beneath the handkerchief and unobserved by the spectators. The handkerchief is immediately dropped on top of it. One of the glasses is placed over one knot and the other glass over the other knot. Naturally, the string between the handkerchief and the glasses above it should be fairly well toward the back of the book. Now, it will be found that when the right thumb is placed down between the two glasses, a squeeze will be effected and there should be just enough space for the right thumb to come down firmly upon the cover of the book. The fact that the rims of the glasses are squeezed against the knots will enable the performer to life" the book, turn it completely over and right it again without the glasses' falling off. A reference to the diagram will probably clarify the idea of the exr.ct working method, but the performer will not and cannot xzaMzt the full effectiveness of the trick until he works it himself. No practice at all is required, and the entire secret depends upon making the little piece of string just the right length. The length of string between the Eleven

GENII knots may vary from three-fourths of an inch to an inch and a half, according to the size of the performer's thumb. Editor's note: The above trick was given by Tenkai to our associate editor, Gerald Kosky, and he and our other associate editor. William Taylor, and I have all tried the effect and know that it is good and practical. I do not hesitate to recommend it to my readers and only hope that they will stop long enough to gather together the necessary materials and try it out for themselves. Additional editorial note: Since writing the above we have experimented considerably with the above item and find that common brown wrapping twine, the stiff, waxy, kind, works perfectly and that it requires but one knot in each end. These knots, though small, are sufficient for the success of the effect. We previewed the effect to Harry Mendoza, who revels in things oriental. He uses white wrapping string and sews the string to his handkerchief. The handkerchief is the one he carries in his outside, upper coat pocket. Thus he is always ready for the effect and there is no necessity for fumbling or a "get away."

PSYSIC TAPPING By Haskell This trick is based upon several which have gone before, but, in the present version, the method of performance is better camouflaged and the effect upon the audience is the greater for the reason that no unusual objects are used. Six cards are shown, and the performer requests that a spectator shuffle them thoroughly. Then, the performer turns his back and requests a spectator to select any card, look at it, place it with the rest and then shuffle them all together again. Turning toward the spectator, the performer removes a pencil from his pocket and tells the spectator that as he, the performer, begins to tap with the pencil upon the cards, the specTwelvc

tator should begin to spell out the name of his card. For example, if the spectator chooses the ace of clubs, he should spell as the performer taps: a-c-e-c-1-u-b-s. The "of" is omitted. The spectator is also told that when he finishes spelling the name of his card, he must say, "Stop! '. The tapping and spelling begins, the spectator, of course, spelling to himself, and the performer each time tapping a card, apparently at random. When the spectator says stop, the performer turns over the card upon which the last tap has been made, and it proves to be the one selected. It is necessary for the success of this trick to use six cards, each of which spells out with a different number of letters, ranging from eight to thirteen. Let us say that the cards used are the ace of clubs, the four of clubs, the five of hearts, the seven of hearts, the five of diamonds and the Queen of diamonds. It will be seen that the ace of clubs spells out in eight letters, the four of clubs in nine letters, the five of hearts in ten letters, the seven of hearts in eleven letters, the five of diamonds in twelve letters and the Queen of diamonds in thirteen letters. Having sorted out these cards, it is necessary that each one be marked upon the back in a manner to be readily recognizable. We suggest that this be done with a sharp razor along both the top and bottom edges of the card, so that no matter which end is up, the performer will be able to see the mark. In our own case, we mark the cards by obliterating a part of the borderline in different places upon five of the cards and leaving the sixth card unmarked. The cards may also be quickly marked with a lead pencil, and, even though the markings are very bold, the pencil marks will not be noticed. Of course, any system of marking can be used, just so the performer knows which card is which, and by this we do not mean that he must know the suit and value of the cards. He must merely know which card has the fewest letters and then on up to the card which has the most letters. When the card has been selected and all six shuffled up, the spectator is requested to spread them about on the table. The tapping and count-

ing begins as set forth above. The first seven taps the performer makes upon any cards at random; however, beginning with the 8th tap, he taps the card which has the fewest letters, in this case, the act of clubs. The ninth tap is upon the card which has the next fewest letters, the tenth tap upon the card which spells out in ten letters, etc. Mathematically, it is certain that when the spectator says, "Stop", the performer's pencil will be at rest upon the selected card. The fact that the cards are shuffled and that the selection is made behind the performer's back, and then that the cards are shuffled again, throws the spectator entirely off the track. He is not apt to be able to conceive the combination of mathematics and marked cards. Therefore, the mystery is complete, and the performer has an excellent pocket trick for use upon almost any occasion.

MENTAL EFFECTS WITH CARDS The Second of a Series By the late T. Page Wright and Wi'l'am W. Larsen These are experiments to be classed as mental effects only because of the presentation best suited to them. For maximum effect, they must be executed seriously, in much the same manner as the genuine menfal experiments, with which, in practice, they can be combined with good results. This style of performance is to be recommended, not only because of its effectiveness, but because it forms excellent misdirection.

A CUT CARD DETECTION Here is a simple feat of sufficient subtlety to pass as an experiment in mindreading. It must be admitted that it is neither original nor new; it is not even new to print, yet it has never been adequately described, and seems little known and understood among magicians. A shuffled deck is placed on the table before spectator. Now he is told

GENII to cut it anywhere, observe the card at the face of the cut, and then place the cards back together, square up the deck, and cut it so that the location of the noted card will be totally lost. Yet, the magician succeeds in discovering this card! The basic principle is simple enough. The magician watches the cutting and estimates the number of cards cut off. The later cutting of the deck— which has not to our knewledge been previously suggested—throws everyone off the track, yet adds not at all to the difficulty. Before giving the deck into the hands of the spectator at the start of the experiment, the performer notes the bottom card. When he afterwards takes the cards and looks through them, he locates this former bottom card and cuts to bring it again to the bottom, so that the deck is in its original order. It would appear that the majority of magicians may have passed by this effect without trial, on reading of it, with a mental note that it is too difficult to be practical for them. Actually, it is less difficult than it would seem and worthy of practice, if only because the ability gained, to estimate the number of cards in a packet by sight, is of general utility. Ordinarily, the performer will estimate, not how many cards have been cut off, but how many cards remain on the table. This is because he gets a better look at the portion remaining on the table, which is presented side on to him and lies perfectly still, while the cards cut off are seen in motion. In practice, it is best to try to estimate how many sets of ten there are, and then about what the odd number will be. Or, if the cards are cut about at the center—as is usually the case—the comparative sizes of the packets as they are separated will show whether the number of cards left is above or below half, and by about how many cards. However, this experiment, like forcing, is one that can be properly learned in only one way, and that is by doing it. Presented among other problems as an experiment in mindreading, a failure or two will pass unnoted, and practice in actual working is the only practice worth while. Not all decks are of identical

PAGE WRIGHT

thickness, which is also affected by the age and condition of the cards. Hence, a familiar deck is easiest to work with, but this does not mean that it is impractical to employ any cards at all. Working with an unfamiliar pack, it is merely necessary to estimate the number of cards by comparing the thickness of the packet cut off with the packet left, and considerable accuracy is attainable in this mode of working. The precise revelation of the card will depend upon individual circumstances. Only general rules can be given. Even the beginner should be able to estimate within five or six the number from the bottom of the card noted. The performer counts to the number that he has calculated and then holds the cards slightly spread so that he can see the cards close by at either side of that number. Now, a little discreet "fishing" is in order to discover the card—a procedure perfectly allowable in what appears to be a mindreading feat. It is probable that of the cards exposed, one color will be in a majority. If so, the performer "gets a mental impression" of this as the color of the noted card. The odds are in favor of his being right, and the number of cards which he knows the selected card to be is considerably reduced by his guess. If he is wrong, this possible number will be reduced still more, usually to not over two or three. In

the same manner, having discovered the color, he guesses the suit, taking as his guess that which is in the majority, so that always the odds are with him. It is improbable that there will be more than two or three crrds of that suit nearby, and from then on, his task is easy. A failure at any stage is excused by: "You are not concentrating on your card enough! Form a distinct mental invgc!" When the number of cards has been reduced to two, one is slipped to the top and one to the bottom. The deck is extended face down, and the performer says: "I think I have your card. Kindly name it." This is do'ic, and it is shown, at top or bottom, as the case may be. Another way of dealing with two possible cards is to shift both to the top, and then boldly show the top one as the proper one. It is instantly top changed for the other, before the spectator has time to say whether it is right or not. If right, it is now slid into the deck without showing, but, if the performer was wrong, he can cause the card he holds to change to the right one in a most impressive fashion. If it is difficult to reduce the number of possible cards to below four, in the unlikely event of four cards of similar value and identical suit being close together, the magician may shift two to top and two to bottom, and openly drop the deck into his pocket. Then, when the card is named, he can plunge his hand into his pocket and instantly produce it. Every magician with anjr ability at card work has his own wrinkles on this routine of discovering and revealing a -noted card when all he knows is that it is one of a number. The suggestions we offer are merely meant as general hints to those without experience in such matters. As we have before suggested, the methods and principles involved in this detection are such as to deserve consideration as basis sleights, and we believe that every magician owes it to himself to be able to perform this problem. • AN L. W. MINDREADING ROUTINE This is a combination of three simple and quick, but effective, mindThirteen

GENII reading problems. Of them, only the third is in any sense original, but a brief description of the earlier portion of the routine is essential, because these experiments make possible the concluding effect. By starting with the first of these three feats, the performer is enabled to work with a borrowed, shuffled deck, which would not be otherwise possible. Take the pack in your left hand, and extend it towards a spectator with a request that he will lift the cards at the outer end and merely look at any card. Then, hand him the deck with a request to shuffle it thoroughly. In the action, you glimpse the card he noted, but you do not at once name it. Announce that you will try to find the card looked at "with the aid of mindreading." Take back the shuffled deck, and begin slowly running through the cards, with their faces turned towards yourself. While doing this, you proceed to disclose the identity of the card noted, without error, but in a halting fashion: "I get an impression of a black card— that is correct, is it not ? — all the spades seem to glisten in a luminous fashion—it must have been a spade —etc." As you do this, apparently to discover the name of the card, you are actually engaged in locating and shifting to the top or bottom of the deck four other cards, to be utilized in the last experiment. If you are quick at memorizing, you can easily pick out four cards that will suit your purposes and remember them, but to make the whole thing automatic, we always use the same four cards—the king and two of clubs, the nine of spades and the four of hearts. The basis on which these cards are selected for use in the feat will be made clear later. During the naming of the glimpsed card, you are running back and forth through the deck, shifting cards from hand to hand, and stopping dead occasionally as you announce some new discovery concerning the identity of the card; all of which forms such excellent misdirection that to run up indetectibly the few cards desired is very easy. When this first portion of the combination is completed, you anFourteei.

nounce that you will endeavor to repeat the experiment, since conditions seem favorable to mindreading, and that this time, to prove that telepath}' is the real explanation, you will permit the spectator to take four cards and then merely make a mental selection from among them, indicating to no one what that selection is, so that even if you could find out what all four cards were, you still could not know the card selected, except by mindreading. The feat with which we now proceed, we shall not stop to describe, as it is not original, and has been fully and adequately described elsewhere. It will be found in Erdnase' Expert at the Card Table, in the complete edition, under the title of A Mindreading Trick. There are several reasons why we use it to preface the original experiment which climaxes the routine. In effect, the two are almost identical: four cards are selected by a spectator, a mental selection is made from among them, the four cards are shuffled back into the deck, and then the identity of the card is revealed by the performer. But, in method, the two are absolutely opposite. In the Erdnase experiment, the four cards are freely selected, but, on their return to the deck, the magician retains control of them during the shuffle. In our experiment, the four cards are forced, and, consequently, may be later shuffled back into the deck by the spectator and need never be relocated. Consequently, the use of the two in combination — apparently, a repetition of the same effect—makes each form perfect misdirection for the other. Moreover, it requires but little extra care to see that the stock of four cards gained during the opening portion of the combination is retained intact during the shuffle in the Erdnase effect. The position of the stock in the deck will be lost, but at conclusion of this second feat, it is easy to thumb through the cards to locate the stock, and cut to bring it to the top. This inclusion, between the time the stock is run up and the time it is utilized, of an extra experiment, during which the deck is thoroughly shuffled, will prevent any suspicions that the performer was actually running up a stock during the opening feat.

We will assume that ttie Erdnase experiment has been performed, and that the stock of four is now on top of the deck. Secretly insert the left little finger under these four. With the right fingers, riffle the outer end of the deck, requesting the spectator to say "Stop!" at any point. As he says it, slide away all the cards above that point to the left, with the right hand. But the four top cards you slip onto the left hand portion. This is the usual slip force, but done with a number of cards. Due to the fact that the little finger is beneath them, and the other finger sare above, they can be clipped—and slipped—as one. Extend the left hand, and with the thumb shove off these four top cards into the hands of the spectator. This is an easy force of four cards for this, or any othe rexperiment, but, of course, any other force will do as well. Have the spectator make a mental selection from among the four cards. Offer him the deck to have him replace them and shuffle them back in. To discover which of the four known cards has been mentally selected, you must "fish." But, here the simple principle upon which the cards to be used in the experiment have been selected comes to your aid. Of the four cards, three are of one color; of these three, two are of one suit, and of these two, one is a court card, and one is a spot card. Working with a set of four cards picked upon this basis, it is impossible to make more than one error in your fishing, and one error is certainly allowable in a mindreading experiment. If you make one error, you known instantly and certainly what card was chosen. Illustration may serve to make this more clear. It will be remembered that the four cards are the two and king of clubs, the nine of spades and the four of hearts. You begin: "I get a dark impression—it seems as though your card were black." This is said with a rising inflection, like a question. Three chances out of four, you are right. If the spectator tells you that you are wrong, you interrupt him sharply: "Don't tell me! You need not speak at all. Simply concentrate upon the card. You are not concentrating strongly enough!" You then

GENII continue, haltingly, to discover the identity of the card. But, from now on, your difficulty is apparent, and not real, for you know that if the card is not black, then, it is the four of hearts. If the guess of a black card is correct, you continue : "Yes—I can see it distinctly. It is black. The shape of the pips is dim, but it looks to me as though it were a club. Is that correct ?" Again, you have two chances out of three of being right. But, if wrong, you •will make no more errors, for you will know that the card is the nine of spades. If your guess that the card was a club is also correct, you say: "I must ask you to concentrate on the value of your card. I am having difficulty. Your mind is not easy to read. Is it a court card ?" If the answer to this question is yes, you know that the card is the king of clubs, and you have succeeded without error. But, if the answer is in the negative, you know that the card is the two of clubs, and so can "discover" it without difficulty. The reason for guessing a court card, and not the spot, is that the king of clubs is decided upon far more frequently than the two. This the most inconspicuous card, is seldom selected. As soon as you discover definitely which card it is, you ask no more questions. From then on, all that remains is to work up to a dramatic clin--, as impressively as possible.

THE L. W. FIVE CARD PROBLEM This experiment in apparent mindreading has many obvious virtues. The cards used are ordinary; no sleight of hand is involved; every move is open and clean cut; the problem is deceptive, and it cannot fail. But, perhaps, we over-praise it; we would not have the reader expect too much. After all, it is still a trick, and, hence, something short of a miracle. A deck is genuinely shuffled. It is given to a spectator, and he is told to cut it and, while the performer is out of the room or has his back turned, to deal off five cards into a row on the table, lay the remainder of the

deck to one side, look at and remember any one of these five cards and then gather them up and mix them. The performer returns. He calls attention to the fact that he never looks at the face of a single card. The five card packet he places on the deck, which he cuts, burying those cards in the center. He then proceeds to genuinely shuffle the deck several times. The handling of the cards is such that it is obvious that no attempt is being made to keep track of the five cards from which the mental selection was made; in racr, the spectator might do the shuffling. Throughtout this, the performer is apparently concentrating in an effort to get a mental impression of the selected card. "I cannot seem to get any clear image," the magician declares. "I am going to show you a group of cards, and I want you to tell me if the card of which you are thinking is among them—of course, without giving me any indication as to which one it is. I believe if you see your card, it may help you to project it." A fan of cards, about ten or a dozen, is slid off the deck and exhibited to the spectator. If his card is not among them, these are discarded, and another ten cards or so are fanned before him. Finally, the spectator declares that he sees his card among those exhibited before him. The. performer lays aside the rest of the pack. He runs his fingers up and down the face-down fan, and then pulls out one card and turns it over. It is the very card of which the spectator is thinking! Magicians will recognize that this employs the principle of the very old and simple trick in which the top cards of the deck were fanned for a spectator to make a mental selection, and then the performer placed the deck behind his back and drew off the cards three at a time, actually drawing two from the bottom and one from the top, so that when he was told that the card mentally selected was among the set of three, he knew which one it was. The trick in this form is rather well known, even among laymen nor is it too difficult of solution to an astute spectator. But, we felt that if this principle could be employed in a version which would eliminate the previous weak points, a deceptive experiment

might result, and such has proved to be the case. The deck used must be one with a reversible back pattern, in which the backs have all been set in one direction. Magicians familiar with the different makes of cards will frequently find that a borrowed deck is of this nature, and the arrangement of the cards takes only a moment. Excuses are not hard to find; going into the next room with the deck while a previously forced card is being looked at, and naming the card from there, is as good as any. Obviously, such a deck may be genuinely shuffled without effect. If the performer has previously noted that the spectator always overhand shuffles, or splits the deck for a riffle shuffle in a way that does not turn either packet end for end. he may permit the shuffling to be done by the spectator, but it is doubtful if anything is gained in effect thereby, and there is always the risk of having the spectator accidentally drop a portion of the cards. The spectator is told to cut the deck, deal off five cards in a row on the table, lay aside the remainder of the pack, look at one of the five cards, and then gather them up and mix them together. No mention is made to him of returning the five cards to the rest of the deck. On the contrary, he is given the impression that the performer will simply endeavor to pick out from the five cards the one mentally decided upon. The performer comes back and places the packet of five cards on the body of the deck, but, in so doing, he turns it around so that the back patterns on these five cards are reversed with regard to the others. It is improbable that the spectator has reversed any of the five cards in handling them, but it is possible, so that it is advisable in picking them up to fan them out slightly and make sure that this has not been done. The deck is now cut, either by performer or spectator, to bury these five cards somewhere in the center. The performer then gives it a series of genuine riffle shuffles—say four. These are made rather evenly, the object being to scatter the five cards at approximately even intervals throughout the pack. Now, in accordance with the patter, he begins fanning out the cards Fifteen

GENII from the top of the pack. At the fling—is employed to get the cards same time, he keeps watching for a into position. reversed card. As soon as he sees The performer pl&ces the five one, he runs just a card or two past, cards on top of the deck. A series of and lifts off the fan. If the spec- cuts are now made, or at least, so it tator acknowledges that his card is appears. Actually, the top card is among those shown to him, the per- slid off onto the left palm, and the former knows, of course, that it is rest of the deck dropped onto it, as the reversed card and has no trouble the first movement. The result of picking it out. the maneuver is to leave the order of If the card is not in the first fan the cards as it was originally, save slid off, the fanning is continued un- that one of the set of five cards is on til another reversed card is reached, the bottom, four being on top. and the action is repeated until the In giving the shuffling routine, the card has been located. familiarity of the reader with the Even if two of the reversed cards technical terms for the processes in are close together, it does not inter- the shuffle will be assumed. fere in the least with the smooth The deck is held in the left hand working of the effect. The perform- in overhand shuffling position. Uner simply makes his split between dercut one-third of the deck with the them. Even in the unlkely case of right hand. Injog the top card of three of the reversed cards being left hand cards. Run ten cards onto close, so that one fan, in order to in- it from the right hand cards, then clude not more than one reversed outjog and shuffle off, but making card, would have to consist of only sure that the last card of the right two or three cards, the performer hand portion goes on top of the deck. has no difficulty. Instead of sliding Undercut to outjog, forming break off this small fan, he simply gives the at injog. Run five, then throw to deck an additional shuffle before pro- break, run two, injog and shuffle ceeding. Each time that the spec- off. Undercut to injog and throw on tator declares that his card is not top. Undercut one-third of the deck. among those shown him, this fan is, Injog the top card of the left hand of course, discarded. heap; run ten onto it, and then outIt will be recognized that this jog and shuffle off, but making sure feat may prove very useful as a fol- that the last card of these right hand low-up on the five card problem pre- cards goes on top of the pack. Again viously described, depending upon the undercut to outjog, forming break psychological force. It is advisable at injog. Run five, then throw to to work that first. If the psycho- break; run fifteen, injog, and shuffle logical method succeeds, then, it is off. Undercut to injog and throw best to stop. But, if that fails, the on top. performer declares that he wishes to Though it reads as involved, this try again. He does, using this meth- shuffle can be done with rapidity and od, and so on second trial he in- certainty. The important thing is falliably succeeds. to make it absolutely automatic, so It may sometimes be desirable to that there is no need for calculation work this effect, especially if using or hesitation, and so that the perit as a follow-up on the psychological former can continue to patter method, at a time when the deck at throughout the shuffle. hand is not of a reversible back patIn this working, the performer tern. Using a different method, the need not even glance at the deck as effect can be worked with any deck. he slides off the packets of cards and The working is, however, more difficult, requiring some little skill, if fans them. Six cards are taken off it is to be done with perfect smooth- at a time and fanned, and no matter which fan the noted card is in, it ness. will be third from the top of that fan. The reason is that the shuffle The effect is exactly the same, has placed the five cards at numbers save that the performer shuffles the three, nine, fifteen, twenty-one and deck with an overhand shuffle. A twenty-seven. run-up arranging shuffle—based upIn working this latter method, the on the Erdnase system of stock shuf- performer can be genuinely blindSixteen

folded, without interfering with his discovery of the card. An expert could even do the shuffling blindfolded, but there is no need for that; the effect is just as good, if the blindfold is placed on after the shuffle. With either method, the important thing is the presentation. Done with impressive pretense at clairvoyance, the feat can be made most startling.

A SIMPLIFIED FIVE CARD PROBLEM This easy little experiment in apparent mindreading makes a good follow-up, as an apparent repetition, for one of the other five card problems discussed in this series. The performer thoroughly shuffles the deck. Without even glancing at the cards, he fans off the top five and holds them behind his back, for one to be selected. The spectator is told to insert it anywhere in the deck he pleases, and then to also place the other four cards in the deck, and shuffle thoroughly. Nevertheless, the performer succeeds in discovering the card selected. The method is absurdly simple, but the misdirection is good, and the presentation may be made very effective. The magician first must learn the names of the top five cards, in order. Now, without looking at the deck, the performer fans these top five cards off into his right hand but in such a manner that each card is gripped separately. To do this, the thumb rests on the back of the top card of the five, and on the face of each of the other cards rests one of the four fingers. The fan is held face down behind the back, and the spectator is stold to take one card. Due to the way the cards are held, the performer can tell by touch which is taken, and so he at once knows the name of the card. The left hand gives the deck to the spectator behind the back, and he is told to shuffle in, first the selected card, and then the others. Nothing remains but to reveal, as effectively as possible, the name of the card chosen. • The greatest need nowadays is for good junior illusions. —Herman L. Weber.

GENII

POKER ARTISTY By Jack

McMillen

Methods of dealing flashy poker hands which would pass in a real game and with smart players are few and far between. Here, however, is a system by which any novice could win at poker from the cleverest group of sharps that ever lived, and, yet, they would be stumped as to the process. Briefly,—it is a prearrangement— although the demonstrator does actually shuffle the cards and allows them to be cut as usual, and the dealing is honest. The deck is arranged in two groups, each half being stacked in the same order and manner. Let us consider one half. •• They run, face to back, deuce, 'deuce; three, three ; four, four; five, five; six, six; seven, seven; eight, eight; nine, nine; ten, ten; Jack, Jack; Queen, Queen ; King, King; and, Ace, Ace. As before mentioned, the other half is arranged in an identical order. The deck is now assembled, the halves being separated by a crimp. Now, sit down to your poker game. Cut at the crimp and dovetail shuffle the two halves together. As the cards at the bottoms of both packets were deuces, the result of your sluufle is to draw the deuces togeth'r nt the bottom of the deck; directly above the deuces will gather the threes of the pack; and so on, tb • prjduct of your riffle shuffling be.i:~ that you have marshaled the cards into the following order (approximately), face to back: 2222, 3333, 4444, 5555, 6666, 7777, 8888, 9999, 10, 10, 10, 10; Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack; Queen, Queen, Queen, Queen; King, King, King, King; Ace, Ace, Ace, Ace. Now, it is axiomatic t hat if the dealer can draw five cards in succession from the top of the pack arranged in this order, he will be able to better any hand drawn before him, no matter how that hand filled out. This means that the expert can shuffle and have the cards cut anywhere—and deal immediately, and fairly, any number of hands called

for. He will always hold the winning cards (a full house or four of a kind), if he takes five cards in succession in the draw. Of course, it is never advisable to allow any of the other players to draw five cards in one set o rgroup; as he might cut at a point near the aces, while you might follow him and draw only four deuces or a full with three deuces. You can subtly guard against this drawing in succession by asking spectators to fill their hands, although they will usually do so voluntarily; however, if the aces are cut near the bottom, it does not matter how your opponents discard and draw their hands.

WITH CONGRESS CARDS by Chas. W. Fricke • A pack of Congress cards is removed from its case, thoroutjMy shuffled by a spectator, replaced in the case and the lid put back on the case proper. The encased pack is, at this point, given to a member of

the audience to hold. The magician, despite the shuffling which has gone on before, reveals the names of the top four or five cards. Telepathy has nowhere near as much to do with it as a hairpin! Whereas most of the cheaper cards come in a case which opens at one end, most designs of Congress cards come in a box with a lid: candy box style. The lid, of the card box, is prepared by punching four small holes therein. These holes are in the

sides, two on each side, close to the top. The holes are so placed that a ladies hairpin may be placed through the one side and emerge, at the dual points, on the other. Thus a double wire bar is formed and between this bar and the inside top of the lid several cards may be concealed. The cards are, obviously, memorized prior to presentation. In the beginning, the memorized four or five cards are concealed in the lid, held in place by the hairpin. The balance of the pack is in the lower part of the box and the lid placed over all. The lid is removed, placed aside, the pack tipped out of the box and handed out for shuffling. This done, the performer has the cards replaced in the box behind his back, and, with his back still turned, the lid is replaced. Now the performer turns momentarily toward his audience. In this brief space of time the fingers pull out the hairpin and let it drop to the floor. This action causes the memorized cards to join the rest. The box is handed to a spectator and the demonstration of telepathy begins. The writer has found that it is necessary to search about, a bit, that just the right length of pin may be found. However, the problem presents no real difficulty and hairpins of proper length will be discovered in most dry goods stores. But, and probably because of said difficulty, we have evolved another method of concealing the memorized cards in the top of the case. The four holes are punched in the lid, as before stated. Then, instead of using a hairpin, a length of thread is threaded through the holes in such fashion as to make a double thread support for the cards at the top of the case. Finally, it is merely necessary to pull out the thread—which is black—and let it drop. The action, as in the first method, causes the supported cards to join the rest.

Seventeen

GENII

NEWLY WED MATCH TRICK By William H.

McCaffrey

Patter on the Newlywed Match Trick, with Complete Directions. (I am indebted to Al Baker for the patter scheme and general idea of this trick.) "This is not so much a trick as an illustrated story, (1) — one of those stories where the X marks the spot where the body was found. (2) Now, so you won't confuse this with the old trick of turning the match, I want you to notice that I put an X on both sides (3). And this other match the same way (4). As 1 said in the beginning, this is really an illustrated story (5)—the story of a newly married couple, and the wife if of very nervous temperament. For the sake of her health, she decided it would be better to have twin beds instead of a single bed, and, for the purpose of the story, we illustrate that condition with these two matches with the X's on each side, indicating husband and •wife in their respective beds (6). She soon discovered that her plan was not working very well, because, for some unaccountable reason, he began showing a marked preference for her bed. Oh, look! He has jumped over there again (7). She was not getting the amount of rest she required, and, after thinking the matter over from all angles, she finally decided there was only one solution and that was to get a spare bed, which we illustrate with this extra match (8). Her theory was that by putting the spare bed in between the other two, he would be forced to remain in his own bed where he belonged. But, is you can see (9), even that made little difference, because he still spent most of his time in her bed. Her nervous condition began to get worse and worse; she worried because she had spent a lot of money for this spare bed and was getting absolutely no use out of it whatever. This condition prevailed for about a year, but at the end of that time, the whole thing rectified itself, because, as you can see (10), triplets were born, and Eighteen

WILLIAM H.

MCCAFFREY

they put them in the spare bed; he went back to his, she to hers, and they lived happily ever after (11)." DIRECTIONS

Preparation: Before performing the trick, a folder of paper matches must be prepared as follows: Two of the matches are bent forward, and, on the back of one, an X is made, far enough down from the head so that there is room to make a similar mark above it. The back of the other match is marked with three X's and these two are then bent back and the cover replaced. Explanation : 1. Remove matches from pocket and open top, exposing plain side of all matches; then, tear out the match with the single X on the back. 2. Hold this match between the left thumb and forefinger; .thumb on top, and, while talking, turn the match over. The thumb is so placed that after it is turned over, it hides the X. While everyone is watching, place an X above the one covered by the thumb. 3. Turn the match over and put another X on the plain side near the head in the same position as the one spectators saw placed on the opposite side; then, lay this match down with the side containing the single X uppermost. 4. Tear out an unprepared match and with a pencil mark one-half of an X (/), so everyone sees it; then,

raise the match so spectators cannot actually see the mark you place on it and merely pretend to complete the X. Then, apparently turn the match over, mark on the other side but in reality make a complete turn, which brings it back to the side where the single stroke was made. Retrace this stroke and, as this is clone, lower the match again so the spectators can see the writing you make. Then, in full view, complete the X. Apparently, they have seen you place an X on both sides of that match. Lay this match down beside the other two. 5. Pick up the two matches with the single X showing on each and place between the thumb and forefinger of the right hand, thumb uppermost. 6. Turn the matches over by turning the wrist of the right hand, but in so doing, roll the matches between the thumb and forefinger a half turn, so that the same side is visible after rolling the wrist as before. Then, reverse the move to bring thumb on top again, being sure to roll the matches the opposite way, so that only the one side is shown at any time. A perfect illusion is created of showing both sides of the matches, although in reality but one side is shown. 7. Just before saying, "Oh, look!", remove the right hand to the right slightly, as you would make any gesture while speaking, and, in doing so, roll the matches one-half turn without turning the wrist at all. The result of this move is that one match will show two X's and the other one X. The other sides of the matches are now apparently shown by turning the wrist so that the forefinger is on top, and the thumb on the bottom, at the same time rolling the matches a half turn, as explained under paragraph 6 above. Then, reverse the move, bringing the thumb to the top and the matches in the original position. 8. Pick up the third match, keeping the three X's hidden on the under side, and, after executing another fake turnover to apparently show both sides blank, place it between the two held by the right thumb and forefinger. The space between each two of these matches should be approximately the width of one match.

GENII The reason for this is that they will not touch each other when they are rolled. Practice will show the correct distance. 9. Turn the wrist and roll the three matches in exactly the same way as explained under paragraph 6 above. Note, that when performing this move, both under paragraph 6 and this paragraph, it should be done only once as that is the way you would actually show both sides of the matches, if you were really doing it. 10. With a gesture similar to that explained under paragraph 7 above, roll the matches over, which will expose the three X's on the middle match and permit the spectators to see first one X on each of the other two. Then, apparently show the other side of these three matches by turning the wrist and rolling the matches a half turn as previously explained under paragraph 6. 11. Drop the matches into the coat pocket, and, if it is desired to add a point of refinement to the trick, the performer can have three other matches in the small change pocket, prepared with a single X on each side of two of the matches and three X's on each side of the third match, which can be passed for examination, if anyone asks to see them.

POPPING THE BAG by Judson Broivn A paper bag is blown full of air and popped. Remember your younger days? Didn't you ever pop a bag? Of course you did! And that's just the way you do it now. Open the bag up, gather in the top and fill its interior with the sheer masculine force of your own lungs. Then grasp the neck, of the bag, of course, tightly in one hand and whack the bag solidly with the palm of the other. The result: a mild explosion and a ruined paper bag. The pieces are folded together. A magic pass is made. The affair is unfolded, the bag restored! Again it may be filled with air and popped! Not a complete trick—surely not. Just an in-

terlude in an effect wherein a bag is used. Need I tell you the method ? You, who have torn newspapers these many years past, and, subsequently caused them to be restored ? Well, maybe I should, anyway. Two bags are used. One is folded and stuck to the side of the other with common glue. When the latter is blown up, the folded bag remains concealed behind it and doesn't interfere with the popping in the least. Then the bursted bag, plus any parts which may be torn away, is folded and the switch over made. The first bag is unfolded and the torn pieces remain behind it. And that is all.

LAST SEANCE Mrs. Houdini and Dr. Edward Saint are seated, in the dim light, at a large, draped table. Between them is the enshrined picture of Harry Houdini; lighted, as it has been these past ten years. Gathered close to them in the circle are a half dozen magicians and newspapermen. Beyond is an audience of several hundred, most of them invitees. A trumpet, slate, bell, tablet and locked handcuffs are in the foreground. The music is playing Pomp and Circumstance. It was Houdini's last stage piece. "Manifest yourself some way, Harry. Speak through the trumpet. Lift it. Levitate the table. Ring the bell. Let its tinkle be heard around the world. We are waiting, Harry . . . . In the name of humanity and love for Beatrice show us that you can come through with the evidence. This is the last hour of the last seance. This is your night. Come to us, Harry". So pleads Dr. Saint for the manifestation that does not come. Everything is still. There is no physical sign that Houdini has heard. Dr. Saint turns to the widow. "Have you reached a decision ?" he asks. "Yes. He hasn't come. I don't believe he can ever come. My last hope is gone. I shall never try again". With that she closes the shrine and dims its light. The seance is over. Such was the scene on the rooftop of the Holfywood Knickerbocker Hotel on the evening of October 31st. It was the last attempt on the part of Magic's first lady to contact the hus-

band she has lost; the husband who promised to return, to her alone, if the return was possible. And the man who escaped every restraint in life apparently could not escape the bonds of death. I say "apparently". I wonder just how far Houdini was from Beatrice that night ? I wonder how far he has ever been from her? To use a trumpet to speak to her is quite unnecessary. He is with her a thousand times, every day. In spirit form ? Well, perhaps not. But, to use Mrs. Houdini's chosen quotation, "E}'es of memory never sleep". The last seance was particularly impressive in that everything had been done to foster any possible manifestation. Well chosen music added to the almost churchlike atmosphere of the occasion. And, throughout the seance, the sky was absolutely clear and the stars shone brightly. Even the most skeptical were ready to admit that here was a place where something might, possibly, happen. But the last seance closed without so much as a chalk-mark on the slates; without a tinkle of the bell— a complete psychic failure. Then, at the second the light was extinguished on the shrine, the clear skies poured forth rain! We wonder?

MORE MISCELLANY Arnold Furstenberg has gone in for mental effects . . . . But most of the Mystic Thirteen still like apparatus . . . . Al Baker's telephone trick was one of the best ever put out. It's one of the few items we keep right on using . . . . Dante can still keep them amused for three hours. Reports have it that he closely resembles Alexander Herrmann. Letter from the old Beer Baron, Jack Boshard, informs us that he has arrived back in Seattle, after a pleasant few days stop enroute in Oakland with his playmate and coperpetrator of inimitable magic, and is back on the job. The new dining room furniture Jack acquired while in Hollywood is doing valiant service and Jack hereby issues an open challenge to anyone to a steak chewing contest at catch weights. Nineteen

GENII

STAGECRAFT So your club is going to give a show? The third in a series of articles by Caryl S. Fleming, President of the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians. So your club is going to give a show ? While we are still in general session and have just decided upon the essential fundamentals, let's hold the meeting open a bit longer and get the balance of the chairmen and committees appointed and started upon their various duties. First of all, there is no place on any committee for those who intend taking merely a luke-warm interest. Real workers who will exert their best efforts are the only ones worth appointing for laggards cause more work and worry by their continual procrastinations and consequent necessity of checking up by those who are really willing to do the things assigned to them. So let's forget the fellows who forgot to keep their promises the last time and thpse who offer the usual various and sundry excuses to beg off, for if their reasons are legitimate no club administration could possibly want to work a hardship upon a member and if their pleas are otherwise this latter type would be an impediment rather than assistance. Equal in importance to the general stage director is the ticket committee chairman, or if you prefer, call him the business manager, for, no matter how good a show the director may stage if the box-office does not show a substantial profit the entire affair may just as well be charged up to a dress rehearsal with an audience and dress rehearsals can be conducted with just as much benefit without the added effort and expense attendant upon attracting the public to come and witness the show. It is not necessarily imperative that the business manager take up all matters of detail with the director Twentr

for their respective endeavors lie in vastly different fields; the director specializing in artistry and stagecraft while the business manager in good commercial acumen and resourcefulness, with a wide acquaintance among the potential ticket purchasers in order to effect the maximum sales both in advance as well as at the boxoffice and it is self-evident that the man in charge of the general business of the project can make or break the financial outcome. The business manager should, however, check from time to time as the work progresses with the stage director as well as all other committees so that the whole is bonded into a complete well functioning unit made up of the various components. The publicity chairman and his committee must work with all concerned as well as the newspapers and all other mediums of local advertising and publicity, for it is only through his efforts that the general public outside the sphere of personal acquaintanceship and connections of the club members can be reached. If the program is to be just a simple folder giving the bare essential details, there is little for the program committee to do outside of securing final authentic copy and ordering the printing and seeing that the programs are delivered in proper time, but, if the program is to be something more ambitious and is to carry paid advertising, as is frequently the case, that is something else and will be discussed at length in a future article. The committee on details must necessarily be the most versatile of all groups for upon them falls all of the

many non-specialized duties not included in any of the foregoing and this committee must work with everyone and anyone, giving full and energetic cooperation at all times in all matters of detail, for detail in all things is what counts and there are so many unforseen things continually cropping up during the preparations for a sho wthat without their help much time must be taken by others to the possible damage to the general outcome. Frequent round-table meetings of all the chairmen, if not entire committees should take place so that all may be appraised of the general progress and, in turn, committees should meet to discuss ways and means to the common end in view. Everyone should be given a chance to present their views and suggestions and same should be seriously considered before adopting or tabling for there is much truth in the old saying that two heads are better than one. As evidence of this, the great motion picture director C. B. DeMille used to invite the studio mechanics, scrubwomen and porters to his projection room to view his pictures during the process of cutting and editing, claiming that honest opinions from such unbiased sources were of untold value as against the personal concerns of the members of his casts whose criticisms were principally of their own appearance and performances rather than the tout ensemble. The old master, D. W. Griffith, spent much time while waiting for the camera-man and electricians to set up for the next shot chatting with extra and bit actors and gained from them many valuable ideas and suggestions which he incorporated into his productions. So—let us be tolerant and hear everyone that we may benefit thereby. See you next month! C. S. F.

GENII group of eager listeners. Mardoni there, with his charming wife. Harry Shaw explaining how to dye flags. Caryl Fleming, seeing to it that everyone had plenty to eat. Lyle Laughlin, who had to be back in San Diego the next day. Floyd Thayer, apparently enjoying every ntinute of it. Van Berkel, getting some new ideas. The Mystic Thirteen boys, looking for new acts to conquer. Frank Chapman and Harry Mendoza comparing notes. Dozens of others.' But, of course, we can't begin to remember everything. The party began to break up about one, but many didn't leave until two and after. A swell affair, Caryl, and "many happy returns of the day."

APPRECIATION My sincere heartfelt thanks— To all those who attended my recent "birthday party", especially those who came from out of town. To all the many clubs and individuals, and their number was very, very many, who wished me well and sent their congratulations by telegrams, letters and cards. To all those who so kindly volunteered their services on the program which contributed so much in making it a real party. To all those whose consideration and aforethought resulted in so many fine sentiments, expressions and gestures of real friendship. To Floyd and Jennie Thayer for the open-house party during the day which contributed greatly toward making the day a memorable one. and, to the management and staff of the Hollywood-Knickerbocker who handled much of the work so efficinetly. Sincerely, CARYL S. Fleming, President, Pacific Coast Ass'n of Magicians.

S. A. M. No. 22 The regular monthly meeting of this Assembly was held, Monday, October 19th, at Hollywood. This turned out to be a dandy meeting with many compeers and guests present. Final arrangements were made for the "Ladies Night" to be held Monday, November 2nd, at the El Mirador, Los Angeles. Mrs. Houdini Thirty

will be the guest of honor at this affair. Arrangements were also made for the "Magicians Show" to be held Friday, November 13th, at Pasadena. Following the business meeting, Harry Mendoza was appointed M. C. for the remainder of the evening, and the magic program opened with Gerald Kosky doing a Jumbo and mental card effect. Next James Conley entertained with a sucker effect. Then Harry Mendoza did a sucker card effect. Then Wm. Larsen entertained with a clever and mystifying routine of mental and card effects. Next, Edward Saint in his own inimitable way, showed and explained how he was mystified by a card trick. Then Wm. Taylor handed a deck of cards to a spectator and had him select a card, put it back in the deck, and shuffle it; after which Mr. Taylor located the card. Next Judge Fricke entertained with several very clever card effects. Then Bob Neller performed and mystified all present with a trick that he invented. The program closed with Lawrence Guerrero doing the back and front hand palm with a deck of cards. Gerald Kosky. • CARYL S. F L E M I N G VISITS RENO MAGIC CIRCLE By C. S. Leaf McManus On Thursday, September 24th, our congenial President, Carvl Fleming, paid the Reno Magic Circle an official visit for the purpose of checking the programme laid out by this organization for the 1937 Convention, scheduled for this city July 20th, 21st and 22nd. It is needless to say that the work was accomplished in excellent manner and that the programme adopted will be one of the best ever offered to the members of the Pacific Coas^ Association of Magicians. President Leaf McManus opened the meeting at 8:30 promptly, entertained a motion to dispense with local club matters and handed the chair over to Caryl forthwith, so that the convention matters could be dispensed with and got under way. And, boys, how that man Caryl can run through even the smallest detail! The program laid out by the local club was accepted as was, with several suggested items added by Caryl, and I can assure you we missed nothing that

would prove of interest to the gang. When Caryl voted it one of the best programs, then we members of Reno Magic Circle needed no further recommendation. I can assure you of enough--variety to suit the taste of everyone, from the most pious to the temperamental, artistic member who wished to study art for art's sake, especially in the nude. For the pious, there has been proposed a meeting given by our recently ordained minister of the Gospel, the Reverend Jimmy Muir, assisted by Beer Baron Boshard, and, for the second, the artistic, we will exhibit some of our models, and, for the edification of the Reverend Jimmy Muir, there will be a demonstration of the bolero, and how! 'Nough said for the present about the program. I leave you to conjure up your imaginations for just what kind of good time is in store for the gang who attend the Convention in Reno in 1937. The meeting adjourned at 10:30, Caryl doing the honor of furnishing a half hour of entertainment and instruction in magic for the boys, at the conclusion of which, our host, A. P. Johnson and his charming wife, at whose house the meeting was held, furnished us with a delicious Dutch lunch, during which Caryl got started on a string of his stories which he told far into the night.

OAKLAND MAGIC CIRCLE By Earl Wheeler On October 5th, the Oakland circle had its usual monthly meeting. Mr. Boasberg gave us a tentative report of the financial outcome of our recent show, which, incidentally, was the first money-making show Oakland has given for years. Also, we have been asked to repeat the show under the sponsorship of the Odd Fellows within a month or so. On September 20th and October 4th, Mr. Boasberg and Bert Hansen played respective dates at the Odd Fellows Homes in Gilroy and Saratoga. We know from our recent show that Bert Hansen's Vent Act is a riot of laughter, and we understand from various reports that although Boasberg didn't take up magic as a hobby until after sixty, he puts on a very nice show. Caro Miller has now been plaving

GENII at the El Prado in San Francisco for well over three months and is still going strong. At our last meeting, he demonstrated to us his collection of effects for close-up club work: consisting of various silk and card moves, solid through solid effects, and a miniature set of rice bowls which he works right under your nose. The week-end of October 14th, Tenkai and Okinu played the Roosevelt Theater in Oakland with their watch and cigarette act. October 17th, we held our annual Magic Circle Dinner Dance at the Hotel Leamington. The music, the dinner, and Ken Allen's Punch Bowl were, as usual, very good. Our guests of honor were Caryl S. Fleming, Jack Boshard, Mr. and Mrs. Mardoni and that mad gang of S.A.M. from San Francisco. Entertainment for the evening was furnished by "Alda", a neat little dancer, Charley Star and his night club act, and Mr. and Mrs. Mardoni with their mind reading. Jimmy Muir, himself, was Master of Ceremonies. Everyone had a fine time, and magic and music prevailed until the wee small hours. LOS MAGICOS ROLL CALL By Bill Taylor ASH, JERRY. Up in the Bay District on location. CHRISTENSEN, FRANZ. Stall this in your bosom, Franz has ambitions to become an M. C. He tried out at one of our meetings this month and cuffed it through like an old timer. FLEMING, CARYL. I'll let others report Caryl's P.C.A.M. Party at the Knickerbocker, it was the high-magic mark of the month. Caryl stopped the show at our last regular meeting with a penetration effect. A piece of glass the size of a playing card is placed in a frame just large enough to hold it, then a steel ball— marble size—is placed on top and slowly passes through the glass and immediately glass and frame passed for inspection. GIANNINI, BERNARD. Meet our newest member, a fine fellow and a good magician. At present on a business trip to New York City. GUNN, LEN O. Still calling his

shots and getting his share of magic dates in this parish. KOSKY, GERALD. (Cephalalgia) Performs a fine illusion of passing a rope through his neck. At our last show he was asked to do it over many times. Evidently the boys were hoping that a slip would destroy the illusion. LARSEN, WILLIAM. Bill has moved again. This month he offers to the magical fraternity his greatest mystery effect of all time,—"Find The Larsen Estate". If you must visit Bill, drive several towns east of Pasadena then put in a long distance call to him giving your location, then wait. In a few minutes Bill will drive up and guide you there. LEON, H. LEON. Occasionally knocks the gang over with some new original effect. This month it was a picture frame gag, or was it a gag. Anyway, a silhouette of a lady, a wave of the wand and she faces the opposite way. Very good for a laugh. LOOSER, R. V. DR. Gave us a good vent act the other night. He has just returned from a six-weeks' sojourn in the East. MENDOZA, HARRY. Said that Bill Larsen lives so far out that when driving there the other night he met two soldiers from the Foreign Legion and they told him they were on a 24-hour pass. Also, two arrows passed through his windshield. SAINT, EDWARD. (INVENT O R ) Has just perfected what he calls the "Psychic Eddiphone". With this instrument he is able to call up anyone in the Spirit World. He called up St. Peter at the main gate of Heaven the other night, the line became crossed and he got Hell. THAYER, FLOYD. His name has been on our records for years but not as an active member. This month Floyd has taken an active membership and LOS MAGICOS extends to him a hearty welcome. TRASK, VICTOR DR. Played host to LOS MAGICOS on September 28th. It was a fine meeting. Incidentally, Dr. Trask aside from doing excellent magic is a collector of rare firearms. One room in his home is devoted to this collection which contains every type1 of small firearm imaginable. Some of the pieces have very interesting history.

We browsed around an hour or more and could not see all of it. One Gunn was missing and than was Len who had to play a date in Santa Monica that night. RYBOLT, EARL. (EL PRESID E N T E ) Generously offered his necktie to Christensen to use in a trick. Franz cut the tie, got all balled up and couldn't put it together again. What price magic.

ODDS AND ENDS JiMae's picture appears on the front of the October 24th issue of Billboard. He looks like a real magician . . . . And, in the same issue, Paul Duke gets a swell send off. Bill McCaffrey says the Pauls are all great: Rossini, LePaul and Duke . . . . H. Adrian Smith has some nice material. Only too bad he doesn't release more of it . . . . Harper Joy tells us that the Spokane Mystic Club, under the leadership of E. Vaughn Klein, presented the Rev. Dr. Palmer with a Braille typewriter. Dr. Palmer is not blind but has done much in helping those who are without sight. More power to such magical thoughtfulness . . . . Herbert E. Anderson, Jr., of the U. S. Naval Air Station, San Diego, builds magic tables as a hobby. Why not get in touch with him ? . . . . Max Holden wishes Genii success, and vice versa . . . . Little Johnny Jones is working in Detroit at the Northwood Inn. The very name makes us lonesome for the old home town . . . . And Art Felsman is still traveling about with the rolling magic store . . . . San Diego has more magical enthusiasm per square foot than any other city in the country. Maybe all the organizations should hold a joint meeting there in 1938. A lot of the suggestions from that city are being incorporated in Genii to make it a better magazine. Seems as though all the boys have an idea or two.

Thirty-one

GENII Beatty revives the magic and glamour of the circus parade of our boy-hood, Oh! So-long ago, with a beautiful lineup of many cages of tawnv 'cats' and with 17, (count 'em) 17 bulls in line. Many, many of our biggest stars in the magic world got their start in the Kid-top of our traveling outdoor shows. Hey, Rube!

taught that my parents were always right and that my school teacher Thru could never be wrong. Early to bed, early to lise, but I never saw a milkthe man any too healthy, wealthy or too wise. I found that most of the Monocle sacred things of life have the element of MONEY hidden somewhere. At By Dr. Edward Saint ten I believed in all the illusions. At twenty I awoke and wanted to make According to my clipping bureau, over the world. At thirty 1 battled In 1910, Sphinx, the man with the iron safe, head-lined the variety Young Haskell knocked-em-over at trying to. And now . . . . we are houses in Germany and later, in San Diego's dining-dance spot, How- all so puny and insignificant, what ards on the Plaza. There is one difference does it all make? Just 1912, presented an act including magician that will be 'TOPS' some try to give a good performance and Madame De Miller at Hammer- day and you can mark that in the let it go at that. Shakespeare maybe steins, N.Y., and throughout the book. said "All the world is a stage", but East. Long retired from things he should have added that the permagical we now find our old friend Col. Harry Day, M.P., Houdini's formance was made up of a series 'Abe' Miller in his new place of business, the Antique Mart, located first European manager, is on his of antiquated illusions and with every at 7062 Hollywood Blvd., Holly- way to London for the opening of 'magician' fighting for the feature the English Parliament. spot on the bill, with Death ringing wood. down the final curtain and no Dr. U. L. diGhilini is playing a F U T U R E dates. The business of Floyd Thayer's picture appeared string of theatre dates in northern life is to unlearn a lot of so-called in colors in the Scrantonian, Scran- and central Calif, with his Mystery Truths. Now don't hop on me reton, Pa., Sept. 13. The two column and Spook show. In the money. member, IT'S YOUR R I G H T T O photo shows the interior of Thayer's When a magician is working, it's BE WRONG! Magic Studio with a close-up of the news Decapitated Princess. The 'blade box' in the Cole Bros.The Great Leon looking over Clyde Beatty Side-show turned Who is the M. D. Magi that al- news-stand. Sezhe, "Gee! I'd like to three live ones on a recent pitch at ways carries a clinical thermometer be a Spicy Detective". a git a peep. when going on a party—and why? Australian magicians seldom use Passing Parade radio program Fortune Tellers in New York rabbits in their performances. $500.00 over KFI recently had a beautiful have long complained that, to, dodge fine for making pets of rabbits. story about Houdini, Thurston and the law, they had to sell a cup of tea Carter. for 50c or a dollar and give the teaNo wonder I became a magician. cup reading 'free'. The real com- Since childhood I've come in contact At the last magic convention a plaint was that America is N O T a with illusions. First came Santa Scottish magician, caught with his tea drinking nation like England. Claus down the chimney; then the wife's false teeth in his pocket exHowever, that has been overcome to Easter rabbit eggs in all their barplained he suspicioned his wife was a great extent by the Fortune Tell- barous colors; then the stork. I was ers learning to SUCCESSFULLY a real illusionist in experience. I was eating between meals. read the dregs at the bottom of a After thousands of years the beer glass. Every hotel, cafe, res'Prophecy of the Pyramid' finally taurant or bar is now stamping L. O. G U N N terminated. September, 1936, was ground for the studios of the GYP"Master Magician" the date set by the ancient Egyptians sies. Beer suds readers are on the for the great worldly epochal demincrease, but you better belong to Box 5982 Metro Station the 'union'. (Ochie Bodif, Bodif, onstration. ('Tis said.) Lo and beLos Angeles, California Lav Mart). hold as the inches of the King's tunnel marked off the year, Father Divine appeared and with millions VINCENT T. THOMAS This page will be edited from of followers to attest that he is God. Magician points East the next few months as Maybe Cleopatra was colored as ye scribe is headed for Florida by For Your Next Program at Club, rumored. Fortune tellers and dream way of N.Y.C. starting Nov. 5. All Party or Church splitters thrived in those days too. mail to 67 Payson Ave., New York Member Society of American (Adv.) Magicians I SUPPOSE YOU K N O W that 234 North Belmont George Washington's real name was Cole Bros. Circus with Clyde Douglas 5175 Glendale, Calif. Wessyngton.

Thirty- Two

GENII

5.v L. O. Box 5982, Metro. Station Los Angeles "There is nothing, either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." —Shakespeare. Now Shake, old boy, might have thought he was right, but I am telling you a bad magic act is bad, and thinking it is good won't change the matter. Many a good magic act is called bad by those who can't perform in the same good manner. Have your own style in presenting magic and try at all times to improve; have an open mind and accept suggestions from those who know, and quit worrying about what the other fellow is doing. I know of a new act in the making; will use the cocktail bar. I also know of a certain Magician who is doing a cocktail and bar act that will throw thirteen fits when he hears about this. "You steal from me, and I steal from you" will be in vogue long after we are dead and gone. One beautiful thing about magic—there are no two Magicians alike, even though they use the same apparatus. How do you answer the following : "Well, there is one thing you Magicians don't know, and that is the secrets of Houdini." "The Magicians of India are the greatest in the world and can do tricks you Americans can't do." "I saw a Magician last week who produced over 1000 cigarettes and all were lighted, bet you don't know how he did it." "I know of a REAL mindreader who can call your name." "I saw a Magician produce three ducks from a one gallon bucket, and he is the only one in the world who can do this," etc., etc. Whenever some one says, "So you are a MUSICIAN, what instrument do you play" ? I usually answer: the piccolo. Saves lots of tiine. T r y it. Did you read the exclusive article by H. R. Knickerbocker describing the conditions of the Toledo Alcazar and the people who spent ten weeks there against the assaults of

the Rebs? He stated that an amateur theatrical performance was billed for one night under the heading of "Alcazar Circus" and among the performers was the noted Conjurer Trapellini and his sister. Eight acts were billed on the program while shells were bursting all around. I like my Magic, but I trust I shall never have to perform under such conditions even though my name is Gunn. Recently gave a show in Glendale. Asked for two boys to come up on the stage. Who should come up but Hal Curtis and Frank Whitson, so I said "Ladies and Gentlemen, two Glendale High School boys." Hal was doing Magic fifty years before I started in the game, and Whitson is no small child. We had lots oi fun, and the boys acted their parts. Did you know that Caryl Fleming was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa? Here's how Cedar Rapids came by its name. Tourists going to California in 1849 had to branch off to the right or left when they reached the Iowa line. An old German camped at the fork of the roads would explain to the tourists what sights to expect. "Go to the left and see der desert; go to the right and see der rapids." Hence, Cedar Rapids. Caryl Fleming's recent party at the Hollywood Knickerbocker Hotel was attended and enjoyed by all. Wonderful spirit on Caryl's part to get the boys together. Gatherings of this kind create a better understanding among Magicians and brings and should assist each other and raise the standard of better Magic and them closer together. We are all brothers, in one sense of the word true friendship in this great art.

THE MAGIC WAND AND MAGICAL REVIEW

A magazine submitting the best in Magical Entertaining. Published on the first of March, June, October and December (M.J.O.D.) Annual Subscription 10|6. Single Copies 218. 80 cents (not the current number) will be sent for 25 cents. GEORGE JOHNSON, The Magic Wand Office, 24 BuckingHam St., Strand, London, W. C. 2.

NEWS & STUFF: Luis Zingone is at the Stevens Hotel in Chicago. I believe I am correct in stating that Luis is the only man who has mastered every sleight in Erdnase—Wow, what a job. I wonder if Luis remembers the party at the Hollywood-Knickerbocker Hotel a few years back, some fun—Hey Kid ? This is not original: A ham ventriloquist found things very tough when Vaudeville went haywire. What to do was a problem. After hearing much about fake mediums cleaning up on the poor suckers, our friend decided that as long as he could do vent work in eight different dialects, mind you, that he too would try this racket. So, under the nom de plume of the great Moham, he established himself. Things were pretty bad, when one day an elderly lady entered and asked our friend if it would be possible for him to contact her dear, departed husband. "Why, my dear madam" said the vent. "Not only will I make a contact, but I shall also make it possible for you to hold conversation with your dear departed." Whereas our friend threw himself into a trance and presently the voice of the dead husband came through the air, and the dear old lady had quite a conversation with him. When the seance was all over, the dear old lady was tickled pink, and she said to our friend, "Oh, Moham, you have made me the happiest woman in the world today." And with that she handed the medium a fifty dollar bill. "I am coming back to see you real soon for another seance," said the little old lady. Our friend, the vent, swelled up and replied "My dear madam, when you return next time, not only will I make it possible for you to hold conversation with your dear, departed husband, but I will also drink a glass of water at the same time." I read with interest the adv. of Hoffman in the Sphinx of last month. Charlie personally is a regular fellow, but, why, oh why, after Thirty-three

GENII reaching the top of the so-called ladder, do magicians have to put on the dog, etc., etc., or what have you. In the first place, the pouring of various liquids is, I believe, original with DeRose, who presented same about two years ago at the Hollywood Cafe in New York City. Then, again, this same effect was presented long before our time, via the inexhaustible bottle. The cocktail effect that Hoffman presents was originated by Paul Fox. His rope trick was the idea of Lyle Laughlin, a truly inventive mind in magic. His cigarette routine, I believe a fellow by the name of Cardini did it a couple of times, and his card manipulations are similar to so many of the other boys who have presented this type of act for years. No, don't misunderstand me. Hoffman presents a very interesting act, and it is a pleasure to watch him work (even without music), but, Charlie, my boy, why claim originality to something that is not. And, remember, in closing, what good did priority rights mean, as far as Sawing a Woman in Half and Where Do The Ducks Go, were concerned. Next time, Charlie, my boy, spend that money to advertise Levit Liquido, instead — that's original. Magicians are, no doubt, becoming more popular in nighteries, etc. An agent told me the other day that he can book plenty of magicians but that most of them are too uncouth in presenting their acts. Remember courtesy, appearance and mannerisms are fifty per cent of your act. Practice these as much as your sleights. I remember, particularly, years ago, my friend Frazee told me of a swell performer who queered himself out of high class society dates, because, every time he made a color change with cards, he would lick his forefinger, and, of course, the audience resented it. Emily Post can help a lot of magicians. Trust you boys have been taking advantage of the excellent tricks that have been running in the Genii. I, myself, have used three which go over in a big way. This issue contains two exceptional items that one doesn't usually find in five dollar books. Compare other magical magazines with the Genii as far as good practical effects are concerned, and you Thirty-four

will see why the subscriptions have doubled inside of two months. Bill Larsen is giving you material to use that was originally intended for a book to sell for fifteen dollars.

MAGICIANS WISE WILL GENII-IZE. MUNG FAR LOW TOY SON GOO TOO SANG. Love, ATA SUN GAL

ODDS AND ENDS Lenn Gunn and I both agree that T. J. Crawford has done much for modern magic. His advice, "use your hands", has been followed, if we may judge from the many successful night-club acts of the day. Apparatus is alright in its place. But the man who can mystify with cards, coins and other small objects will uphold his art anywhere . . . . The Linking Ring, wherein Crawford's column regularly appears, is the most chummy of all magical magazines. The guiding hand of W. W. Durbin has done much to steer magic to its present enviable position in the field of entertainment. Too bad that more credit is not accorded him for his efforts in magic's behalf. Contributors have their own, uncensored, say in the Linking Ring. Witness the column, The Hall of Shame, in the September issue. Letter from Caro Gig Miller, now spending the Fall and Winter in Findlay, Ohio, with his mother, who is only ninety-two years young, informs us that the Honorable Wm. W. Durbin, President of the I.B.M. and Editor of the Linking Ring "is quite ill and unable to have visitors." Members of the P.C.A.M. and staff of the Genii extend their sincere best wishes for his speedy and complete recovery. Scotty Lang, winner of the Caryl S. Fleming Trophy at the last I. B. M. Convention for the most original effect by an amateur reports that his

honors have stood him in good stead and that he is very busy playing show dates in and around his home town, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada—and at nice money, too. Scotty sends us a copy of his new folder which is quite an artistic affair and, according to his claims, has been an excellent business getter. Haskell leaves for an engagement at a night club on the outskirts of San Francisco this week and his agents promise him a route that will take him through all the principal Pacific Coast cities to Vancouver and Victoria to follow. On the day following the Oakland Magic Circle Annual Dinner Dance, Mr. and Mrs. James M. Diamond who were recently married in Reno, Nevada, gave an "at home" at their San Francisco apartment, 601 O'Farrell St. Personal friends, business acquaintances and many members of the magical organizations of the San Francisco Bay District were invited and the number was so great that the invitations were timed in relays for groups at 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m. to prevent the walls of the apartment building from bulging too much. Cocktails, highballs, tea and hors d'oeuvres were served and some of the couples' many wedding presents were displayed to the accompaniment of hearty congratulations from all.

The Original Non-Contact Mind Reader, C. A. GEORGE NEWMANN —and his— DE LUXE MYSTERY REVUE Permanent address: Kenyon, Minn.

The Pavey's HARRY AND ZOLA 1406 Vance Ave. Corapolis, Pa.

When in Pittsburgh, call or look us up Phone, Corapolis 1177

GENII

PAGING THE LADIEX GERALDINE CCNC4D Her first impression of London TO LONDON TOWN was that it was a little town in a What shall not be, will never be; puppet play. The streets seemed to What shall be, follows painlessly : The thing your fingers grasp, will be pressing in on each other. When a child, these same streets had seemflit, ed so wide and London had seemed If Fate has Predetermined it. One week from the diary of the such a big city. But, now, the • fascinating, young wife of that So runs an old proverb and it is streets were narrow and the traffic famous amateur magician, Al Hocus. substantiated by a talk I had recently was beyond imagination. And it was with Gerald Kosky's mother, Mrs. raining! It rained constantly all of MONDAY Kosky. She has just returned from the time she was in London! It took How time flies! Here it is ala trip to London. England, itself, more than rain, however, to keep her most Thanksgiving time! The chilheld nothing new for her as she was from visiting Will Goldston many dren love the holidays. Junior, beborn, spent her childhood and re- time. He was so gracious and, al- ing six, is really able to appreciate turned five previous times to live though very busy, always had plenty them, but the baby, Lotta, is only there. "But I could never stay away of time to talk with her. It was at three and really too small to take for more than a year," she said. his office that she met many of the much interest. I met some of Al's ma"This time I called my trip a visit English magicians. Horace Golden gician friends the other day and they for the first time. I was in London gave her a pass to see his show. She said, "Why, Mrs. Hocus, we didn't ten weeks and could hardly wait to treasured the pass, and decided not even know you had any children. to use it but bring it back with her get back to America." Al has never told us of them." That Mrs. Kosky had a great longing to to show her boys (not only Gerald is just like Al! He just takes but the whole magical fraternity). go to England again. Something T H E M for granted! Now, if it seemed to be compelling her to go. She none the less went to see his had been a new trick, he'd have told Always a great believer in Fate, it show and said that it was splendid. them plenty. Al went to another seemed that it was pre-destined that She enjoyed it thoroughly and magic meeting tonite. He has been she should go. After she had start- thought the illusions were particular- working for weeks on a new trick ed, however, while en route to the ly good. to spring on the magicians. Seems East, she had a very vivid dream. In One of Mr. Goldston's best there is a contest, or something. her dream it seemed that she was on friends is Sax Rhomer, the writer. TUESDAY a great boat and on the third day out Mr. Goldston has been called on Al is happy as can be! He won the boat was filled with water. It many detective cases and he and Sax some sort of a fish pole at the club was so realistic it almost caused her Rhomer have studied mysteries and meeting last nite and today he came to change her plans and go on an- detective work together. Mr. Gold- home with a bowl of gold fish. I other boat. But, feeling that such ston is also proud of the fact that he wanted him to keep the goldfish in behavior would only be giving in to has taught King Edward VIII a our sun room, but he says they are her superstitions, she went aiiead. In good bit of magic. He tells of a not for decoration and that I am not the middle of the third night out she time when His Majesty slipped to say anything about his having was awakened by her fellow passen- away from some court party and was them. He wants to surprise our ger who told her that the engines of found many hours later at Mr. Gold- friends some night by doing a new the boat had stopped! Something ston's, learning new legerdemain. trick for them. He says he has a was radically wrong!! Hurriedly I haven't the space to tell you of "swell line of patter" with a joke: dressing, she went above and for six all the interesting people she met. something about showing his latest hours, while most of the passengers Her brother and his family live in trick to a Scotchman who died of slept peacefully, and while the sail- London and she has many friends exhaustion trying to stock up all the ors and crew worked diligently, Mrs. and relatives there so you can pet shops in town with goldfish! Kosky was on deck, realizing that imagine that she was well cared for. Maybe it's funny, or maybe I'm a her dream had materialized. The "I went to London to see people, not bit dense, but I don't understand boilers had been flooded with water places, this time," said Mrs. Kosky. what he's talking about! He says I and, while it might have been ser- "I was very happy just being with will, though, when I see the trick. ious, they were dried and pumped them and my trip was well worth WEDNESDAY out and the Normandie was on its while. However, I am happier that Had a terrible scare today—afraid way. Fate had decreed that Mrs. Fate decreed that I should safely to tell Al about it. It all started Kosky should have this trip to Eng- return H O M E again, to sunny Cali- last nite when Al did sleights with land. fornia." billiard balls for the children. Spotty,

D i a r y of a Magician's Wife

Twenty-one

GENII our dog, would sit up and beg for them. Al dropped one on the floor and Spotty pounced on it, picked it up in his mouth and proudly returned it to Al. The youngsters were delighted. They laughed and clapped their hands. But, Al scolded Spotty, because his teeth scratched t he paint off the ball. Now this morning I found one half of a hollow billiard ball W I T H TEETH MARKS ON I T but no sign of the other half. Spotty looks kind of sick—oh, dear! I just know he must have SWALLOWED the other half of the ball. I'm so worried about him! I'm going to take him to the veterinary first thing in the morning. THURSDAY

I suppose being a magician's wife I should have known better. Al says even Junior knows that there are half shells for billiard balls. Well, anyway, I didn't. So I took Spotty to the Doctor this morning and had an X-ray taken. There was no sign of a billiard ball. I finally broke down and confessed to Al tonite and how he did laugh. He explained that the half ball is really part of the trick so, of course, the dog is o.k. And here I've been upset for two days about it. FRIDAY

We had company tonite so Al decided to do his new trick with the fish pole. He brought the conversation around to magic very cleverly, and I helped him out as I knew he was just dying to do his new trick. Besides, I was really curious about it myself. Al left the room to get his fish pole but, when he arrived upstairs in his magic room, we heard a terrible commotion! The cat came scurrying down the stairs and fairly flew through the room and out the door. Al followed, simply fit to be tied! When he finally got control of himself he said he was very sorry but he coulc not do the trick as the CAT HAD EATEN U P ALL O F HIS GOLD FISH! I tried to be sympathetic and told Al that he shouldn't let that worry him because he could just produce some more gold fish with his magic fish pole. What a dirty look he gave me! I couldn't see anything wrong with that, but I must have said something wrong. Oh, dear, I Twenty-tw*

do hope that magic is not going to come between Al and me. SATURDAY

I kept Kitty out of sight all day and I think I really saved one of her nine lives by doing so. Al was looking for her and mumbling about cats and goldfish. He was in a frightful humor until the postman came with a new trick he had ordered. He just could hardly wait to open it and spent all afternoon, happily studying out the effect. I wanted him to do some gardening today, but I was so glad to have him happy again, after last nights CATastrophe, that I hadn't the heart to disturb him. SUNDAY

It just poured rain today. If Al had only planted my flowers! The funny part of it is that the trick he received yesterday was some kind of a flower production. He has been producing flowers all over the place. They really are so natural looking. Al says there is no comparison uetween these new ones and the old feather flowers of other years. Which just goes to show, as I tell Al, that it hardly pays to buy new apparatus because something newer and better is sure to come out in just a little while. But Al came right back at me with the suggestion that I needn't buy any new clothes then, because styles are bound to change and be different every year. I was thoroughly squelched. I'll have to close now, diary, as Al is just coming upstairs to bed singing, "Oh, the flowers that bloom W I T H A SPRING—tra-la—the flowers that bloom W I T H A SPRING."

Evelyn Kapp, Fred's wife, is known as a crack pistol shot. Every Sunday morning finds her shooting at the Pasadena Pistol Range. Another target expert is Carrie Trask, wife of Dr. Trask. It looks as though the Pasadena Ladies are well able to take care of themselves. Irva Ross, well known in magic circles, is at work on a new picture at Warner Brothers, starring Kay Francis. Mrs. Harry Pavey has won the title of being the champion hostess of Pittsburgh. In the last few weeks she has entertained at different

times, Charles Hoffman, Paul Rosini, Mr. and Mrs. Bill McCaffrey and many others. In this she shares her husband's magical enthusiasm. Much of Mardoni's success is due to his attractive, brunette wife. Her skill as an assistant and her ability as a telepathist wins the praise of the magician as well as the layman. •

TRICKY FASHIONS Did you ever, ever seen such tricky fashions as are out this season ? Does your husband rave about the terrible hats, the crazy new shoes and the frightfully expensive dresses? Mine does too, but, just between ourselves, aren't they ravishing? Don't you love them ? I have a new pointed hat which not only adds inches to my height but adds yards to my dignity, and even does things to my personality! Do clothes affect you that way? Heaven help you if they do, for the clothes this year are the type that make us want to go places and do things. They are not only tricky but they have a magic all their own. There is a new hat, made of velvet, like a little skull cap but with a long pointed end. You pull it on your head and then it's up to you what you do with it. You can change your hat each time you wear it if you like. Twist the end into a point, tie it in a bow or twist the end in a coil and tuck it in where you want it. It has all kinds of possibilities and to experiment with it is more fun!! Try the new real flower headdresses. The florists make them on little barretts which fasten right onto the hair and hold the flowers properly in place with no dread of their slipping. Ostrich tips and jeweled ornaments in the hair are also very chic; even lace mantillas and veils. Gloves are outstanding: little suede ones with fur cuffs, kid trimmed with feathers and beads, some with red finger nails vividly displayed and, oh, Magician's Ladies, some which we would never dare own "because our husbands would be appropriating them for tricks. Patou has a new glove with coins held in slots around the cuff—perfect for the change hunter and the coin manipulator.

A * PA CHICAGO NOTES

ton, D. C. . . . EARL ADCOCK adopted the name ? However, Marspecializes on rope tricks and has donia is successful enough so that he By George Troseth some dandy routines . . . ART FUL- can afford to ignore the subtle digs LUIS ZINGONE closed a two- LER gave his first show at a local which arise out of past grudges . . . . weeks' engagement at the Con- church recently—took him five days Jack Boshard, B.B. and Mahogany tinental Room, Hotel Stevens . . . to return the borrowed apparatus . . . Polisher, recommends beer for the We had a most enjoyable visit in his see very little of RUSS WALSH mid-day repast . . . . Bob Gunther is room between shows . . . DORNY these days, as he has been travelling playing local niteries under the name just finished a return engagement at a great deal . . . If you haven't wit- of Bob White. Take Weber's adone of Chicago's smart night clubs, nessed his act, you've missed a vice, Bob, and stick to your own The Hi Hat; this record speaks for magical treat . . . original and differ- name. It's plenty good . . . . Diitself . . . BILL SALISBURY is the ent . . . setting is a golf course, and Ghilini is still out with the spook proud papa of a baby son . . . says it's all surprise effects are accompanied show. Carries the whole outfit, his best production . . . LE PAUL, by well timed, smart patter . . . Golf cabinet, scenery, props, double turntops in card manipulation, played balls, clubs, tees and other objects of table phono outfit in a Ford Sedan. here recently . . . nobody gets any the game do some astonishing things Probably the most compact big show sleep when Le Paul is in town; what in brother Walsh's hands . . . Ye in the business . . . . Mrs. Harry with parties and everything . . . scribe has quite a few dates booked Houdini has recovered from a severe PAUL SEIGEL is now selling tires ahead, and all indications point to a attack of influenza. She was conin the state of Kansas . . . EARL busy season for entertainment. fined to bed for almost a month. In LOCKMAN back in town after November she, and Dr. Edw. Saint, MISCELLANY playing Fox Theater Corporation will leave for the East, returning Ray Gamble and Herb Scbuh, here in early spring . . . . F. E. Tuttle and affiliated civic theaters throughout Colorado . . . PAUL ROSINI both of Tacoma, have formed a com- is keeping bus}' with shows. Th~ opened at Empire Room, Palmer pany for the manufacture of wood night of Caryl's party he left his hat Hotel; smooth as silk and well liked flour for the explosive and plastic in his car and later couldn't find it. wherever he plays . . . J I MAE, ma- trade. Ray's former factory burned The secret was a simple thing. He gician, at the Blackhawk Restaurant, down late in September but we un- had mistaken another car for his own haven't seen this act yet . . . JOE derstand that he had severed hi* con- and was sitting in it. Later the BERG, busy writing a book, also nection with the plant just shortly rightful owner drove off, enriched inventing a new trick—says he won't before the fire . . . . Max Terhune with Tuttle's headpiece . . . . And give up; the only time he gives up is has purchased a ranch in the San maybe we'll have a tn'ck from the when he is seasick . . . NAGYFY, Fernando Valley. And he has a nice, Great Leon in a future issue. fire-eating act, opened at College Inn, fat contract with Republic Pictures. Charles Hoffman was in the Blue on October 9th, recently with Billy . . . Mardoni has always used the Room of the Roosevelt Hotel, New Rose's Jumbo in Ft. Worth, Texas. name Mardoni, despite the fact that Orleans. And is still trying to make . . GENE BERNSTEIN, meander- his real name is Hines. What makes others lay off the magic bar idea. ing lawyer, returned from Washing- the Sphinx think that hz "recently" Twenty-three

GENII Wish you luck, Charlie, but we were born pessimistic . . . . LePaul has been at the William Perm Hotel, Pittsburgh . . . . T h e Wizard's Club, Chicago, had an open house and ladies night at the Morrison Hotel on October 7th . . . . Paul Duke ?t the Hotel Commodore, N.Y., doing card productions, cigarettes, cigars and silks . . . . Jinx Number 25 arrives. A full act could be obtained from the one issue. T h e twentyfirst century silk effect and the book test are especially good and the issue is full of breezy news . . . . In the same mail comes a note from Annemann postmarked "Havana." H o w we envy him . . . . Mogul gets a nice send off in Billboard for October 17th. Is working the Paramount, N.Y. lobby with a mental act. Judging from the review he must be using a variety of methods in getting his questions . . . . Mentalist by the name of Gordon has been working Pasadena. Failed to catch his act . . . . Cantu has been at the Los Angeles Million Dollar and Alberto at the Hip . . . . Pierce the Magician is in Minnesota, doing right well . . . . Jarrow is acting as magic director for Bee Lillie's new production " T h e Show's O n " . . . . C. A. George Newmann has ended his successful tent season and sent us a picture of himself and his new Super Charged Auburn speedster. Must still be gold in thum' thaiNorth Dakota and Minnesota hills. Anyway, Newmann is a showman and knows how to make show business pay . . . . Frank Chapmans "For A Dime" is a good trick and I am using it. I am also using two items from "Another Six Bits." Chapman was the first magician in the world to do magic over television. Station W 3 X K in 1931, just outside Washington, D . C. Also, he was the first to do sealed letter reading over radio ; station W C A O , Maryland. Frank was personally endorsed by Houdini and one of his illusions was adopted by Thurston. In addition to all this, his present act is worth going a long way to see. It is magic as I like to see it done . . . . Van Berkel will shortly be at the local Japanese Theatre. I. B. M . Ring No. 13, Pittsburgh, gave a party October Oth . . . . T . Bradky Martin continues to get the big dates on the Continent . . . . Bill TYI enty-f our

Frazee is busy with club dates in Philadelphia and Pablo is working the Palumbo Cafe in the same city. . . . Jay and Everyl Gore recently entertrined M r . and Mrs. Benito Chavez. Jimmie and M r s . Stoppard were also at the party. Dolores Chavez does an exceptionally clever cigarette routine . . . . Harry Pavey, Genii booster, of Coraopolis, Pa., recently had a nice visit with John (Wondercar) Lippy, J r . Also with Paul Rosini . . . . Jack McMillen has given us a whole series of tricks for Genii; as have also Tenkai, Judson Brown and Caryl Fleming . . . . Thayer's Ballvgram, current issue, is devoted entirely to the needs of night club workers. Many of Haskell's items are included there; likewise some of Maldo's. If you aren't on Thayer's list, you should be. His catalog and Ballygrams, alone, will keep you a well informed magician. Herman Weber reports that Money From Magic, his nsw book, is selling very well. And it should! It does something practical for magic and magicians which, though it has been attempted, has never been satisfactorily done before. And, by the way, may we call your particular attention to his Vanishing Bowling Ball in this issue. Fred Rickard, magical mechanic par excellence, says it would build up perfectly . . . . Judge Fricke: jurist, lawyer, magician, ballistic expert, author, scientist, legal commentator, crack pistol shot, lecturer. But, of all these, we believe his first love, as an avocation, is magic . . . . Jim Conley is studying, academically, to be a magician . . . . Genii is selling well in New York, And in Minneapolis . . . . Barkann Rosinoff still remembers the old Los Angeles days. He has some tricks we hope to get for the magazine. Harry Mendoza's son is not in Stanford. He is a member of the G.A.R. and recently attended the meeting in Washington, D . C Jim Diamond seems to fatten on the married life. H e flew from Chicago to Caryl's party . . . . Hats off, again, to George Johnson for a great issue of the Magic W a n d . But every issue is great, so, perhaps, we'd just better keep our hats off . . . . W e hear that Lyle Laughlin has a neat linking ring routine. A toss catch and one arm drop are said to be particularly good . . . . At Caryl's party

the editor performed three Annemann Jinx effects. (Ted doesn't pay me for these cracks. I like the guy; I think he is doing a great work and I give credit where it is due.) Notice another magazine had a Houdini issue last month. Ah well —great minds, etc. . . . J. W . Joslyn, Pasadena Prosecuting Attorney, is a magic enthusiast. And so is Bill Smith of the D . A.'s office . . . . Ed Saint has dozens of friends in magic, all over the world. His correspondence would shame a movie star. Am anxious to have him view the Eastern gang "thru the monocle" . . . . Gali Gali. Baby chicks. Coat pockets. Skill. Fame . . . . O u r bet on a chap to really go places: Dornfield. I think he really is the original magical M . C Page W r i g h t will have been gone six years next month. T h e Great Leon, of Death Ray Gun fame and world renowned illusionist is coaching Jim Conley. And Leon has promised Genii an illusion . . . . Bill Miller has the best vanish for a sponge ball trick we have ever seen. It seemingly vanished in mid air . . . . Charlie Hoffman met Bill McCaffrey in Pittsburgh for the first time since Bill visited Los Angeles several years ago . . . . About time for Dariel Fitzkee to put out another book. A practical man, Dariel. His book on misdirection should have been written years ago, but it took Fitzkee to do it . . . . Edw. Saint, business manager for M r s . Houdini, has been busy attending to the details of the last Houdini seance. Glenn Gravatt, whose ancestry dates back to Captain Kidd, is still keeping Davenports in business. If it weren't for Glenn our knowledge of English conjuring would be practically nil . . . . Floyd Thayer has a new spirit bell, spun out of metal, that is a knock-out. W e have one and know whereof we speak. W e also have his Pagoda cabinet and can vouch for its many uses. W e use it in the old watch, handkerchief and glass routine . . . . Genii can also recommend Wobensmith's new ring release. It is based upon a Jordan principle, but in its present form is absolutely practical and baffling. If you get it you will make good use of it. Wobensmith is to be congratulated on his perfecting this item.

GENII

oor {Material for revinv in Genii should be sent to Llovd E. Jones, 21th St., Oakland, California) Now is too late for all good men to come to the aid of their party. Wise magicians however, have taken advantage of the political battles and played many dates for the aspiring candidates and their parties. All of which merely proves that there are plenty of magical dates to be had if you want to go get them—or have the material to offer so that they must come to you. With the Holiday Season already with us and the usual increase in opportunities to perform apparent, the up and coming performer will present a polished act of material appropriate for the occasion blended into a routine. The best way, is to have some one teach you, correcting your faults, bringing forth your personality. The second best way is to teach yourself, and there is no more valuable working tool than a good library. From it you can not only get tricks and patter but suggestions on how to present your magic and seek the elusive bookings. It is the aim of this column to impart to you enough information so that you can tell for yourself whether a publication is suitable for you or not. If it fails in that purpose, or at any time errs, I will be pleased to receive your criticisms. So as you raise your glass to partake of Thanksgiving spirits, whether you drink alone or in a crowd, the spirit of this Genie (Hatif) echoes your good wishes. And as you consult the lists of magical publications to buy new books permit him to be with you there too. THE

MAGIC

WAND,

October-

November, 1936, Vol. XXV. No. 171. George Johnson, London, Fngland. Allan Lambie of the Pacific Coast contributes three items, the best of

which is a slow motion knot vanish. ference does it make whether they It is also interesting to note that get their information from the pubTommy Martin, later T . Bradley lic library, from a magical dealer, a Martin, has now become Bradley magician, or a book seller? Martin. 1937 — what? Tommy's act is reviewed as well as that of T H E JINX, NO. 25, October, 1936. Dante and his magical review Sim Theo. Annemann, Waverly. New Sala Bim. Two reviewers cover York. Dante's "brilliant magical enteitainEditor Larsen feels sorry for all ment, the like of which has not been who miss the issues of the Jinx, and seen in England for many years." I sometimes do the same. ParticularManipulators will practice the card ly when some good idea crops up to sleights divulged while the non- be used. Last month's Miraskill was sleight performers will benefit by a of the type I like and this month's close reading of The Biff-Bat Mys- Numismatigic rates the same score. tery. A Buffet Mystery (storv with Others will be interested in Dick cards), and an improved Bewilder- Madden's method of repeatedly ing Breakers. The first two need bringing a card to the top, and Anonly "Americanization" to make into nemann's improvement on the 20th good program effects. Century Silks. A few will be interested in his Editrivia while all will consider the other magical items Sj TRICKS AND PATTER, by G. McAthy. L. L. Ireland, Oak Park, and Annemann's efforts to get to the bottom of The Fairplay Publishers Illinois, 1936. Well boys, McAthy's "gone and problem. done it." His book of patter though, E. M. C. A. MAGIC NEWS, Octois no rehash but fresher material. The tricks are worthy of considera- ber, 1936. Vol. 1, No. 5. Collins, tion, including several card effects. Pentz, Minneapolis, Minn. The gags will please you as will your Thirty more people join the automatic enrollment in the B.U.M. Equality Magicians Club of America and a campaign begins to cleanT H E TOPS, October, 1936, Vol. 1, up magic. Four pages, four tricks, No. 10. Percy Abbott, Colon, fourth rate. Michigan. T H E LINKING RING, September, Extra pages added to take care of reports on Abbott's get-together. 1936. Vol. XVI, No. 7. I. B. M. Such reports make one sorry he had Kcnton, Ohio. Many columnists add to \our to miss the gathering. The reviewers still rates a hideous likeness for his store of magical news. Diirbin and column heading. Eddie Clever con- Evans to your historical knov,!:dge tributes an interesting column on Magic at a minimum. Houdini and the magic in general should merit more than a casual THAYER'S MAGICAL BALLYGRAM, reading. The efforts of one Private No. 58, 1936. Thayer, Los AnF. E. Rourke who purloins magical geles, California. books from the public library is Night club material featured despicable. He should be court among Thayer specialties. Copies of martialed, or at least be told his at- new catalog still available. Have you titude is silly. No one is going to yours ? the public library for books on magic CONJURER'S CHRONICLE, Vol. 17, unless they are interested, and as long as they are interested, what dif- No. 6, March-April, 1936. Wilford Twenty-five

GENII Hutchinson, Ashton - under - Lyne, England. An original cigarette production and a card trick sandwiched in between six pages of advertisements makes this an interesting house organ. T H E DRAGON, September, 1936. Vol. 5, No. 9. Vernon Lux, Mount Morris, Illinois. Harry Opel's Memoirs now in its 11th appearance. Article by Caryl Fleming and small magic for the younger folk. The Dragon is highly recommended for all youngsters in magic. DAVENPORT'S GRAPH, Vol. 3,

D E AI O N

TELE-

Nos. 32-33, JulyL. Davenport, Lon-

August, 1936. don, England. Announcements made of new silks and cards for manipulators. No American dealer matches Davenport for variety and novelty. T H E SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS, Vol.

3,

No. 3. Ring One, I.B.M., St. Louis, Missouri; Forrest Hendricks, editor. Eight pages of delightful humor and information. As necessary for you as Raineer to Jack Boshard. As unnecessary as patter for Cardini, or hair for Len Gunn. Subscribe now and thank me later. Subscription price unknown but better send stamps, (uncancelled.)

u

B Y

C. T.

I could have gathered enough sarcastic remarks listening to political speakers for the last three months to fill this column for a \'ear or two, but remember we are gentlemen, and refuse to resort to that sort of language. Well it's all over now— and the best man won (I hope), sc let's settle down to some real mud slinging.

issue, I am wondering what I would be thinking if I were Paul Fox of Colorado Springs and had read Charley Hoffman's warning in the last issue of Sphinx. FRANK Whitson, the Great Mis-Take, is supposed to have the greatest magic act ever assembled under one roof, but who has ever seen it? A Magician who can put it out, but can't take it—Capt. Jones. W H Y is it, all the service clubs and noon luncheon clubs always expect good, high-class entertainers without cost. I saw a magician some time ago doing some very clever magic, but he was so nervous his hands were shaking. Being a great believer in present-day advertising, I asked him why he didn't smoke Camel cigarettes as they "quiet the nerves." He replied in a very trembling voice, "That' is—the—kind—I—do —smoke." W H Y is it, when a magician comes home dog tired, his wife always feels kittenish? GREAT names idealized by some Magicians I know: Uncle Sam.. Jack Boshard Houdini Edward Saint Tenkai Gerald Kosky Malini ....Charles Miller Long Tac Sam..Harry Mendoza Scarne Fred Kapp STATISTICS show that not a criminal serving a sentence in the United States has ever pursued magic as a hobby. (Advice to parents—) Let your son take up magic, and keep him at home. Fortunately, some fellows I know have magic for a hobbv.

MAGICALLY speaking — L. O. Gunn is always speaking—magically.

IN the October issue of Charley Ray's "Hollywood Digest" there was an article entitled "Is Winchell a Heel?" What right has a heel to call a heel a heel if he isn't a member of Los Magicos?

AS I write the column for this

T H I S comes to me from Oak-

Tv\ enty-six

land, California. Lloyd Jones, our bookworm, asked a fortune telling chambermaid at the Saint Mark's Hotel (Muir's Auto Court) if she ever read anything by Chambers, and the chambermaid answered, "No, only tea cups." W H Y does a good magician like Harry Mendoza insist on doing lousy Chinese magic? SORRY to have missed Fleming's birthday party, but my gossip gatherers were there. Bert Kalmar should have been there. They tell me there was a fellow present with a white coat. Arthur Valli surely did a sweet job at the piano. Gerald (Second Deal) Kosky did his famous card trick "Coincidental Chance," and by the chance the coincidence worked. The prize of the month goes to Caryl for the world's best party putter oner. DID you know that Haskell, the Magician, had the longest run, and received more money at San Diego nite spots than any single before him. From what I can find out, it is a good thing for Charles Hoffman that he plays the dates ahead of Haskell. HERE is one from away out West. Some one met Ray (elephant collecting) Gamble on the street one day, and told Ray a friend of his had a case of elephantiasis. And right away Ray wanted to know if it was for sale. DID you know there is a magician playing "Omar's Dome" in Los Angeles, who does a five-minute act and a twelve-minute encore? FRANK (six-bits) Chapman is back on the road doing magic for the Shell Oil Company. With that Maryland personality and that Chapman smile, he schould do oil right. T H R E E fellows I still don't like —Kosky, Taylor and Larsen. There seems to be some discussion as to who C.T. really is. Well, here's the dope. "It's Me." See you soon—.

GENII

CLUB REPORTS on Friday, November 13th, at the time. This was the monthly meetBal Tabarin. ing of the Wizards of the West, and By Blair F. Farrance So long. See you next month. I have just come from looking out We thought we had our last reof the window, and they are still in port in on time before the Genii went a group, discussing, I think it must to press, as we understood the deadbe magic. It was sure some night. SPOKANE MYSTIC CLUB line was the first of the month, howThis was the night for card and rope ever, it is evident that we were a The first regular monthly meetlittle late, for our article did not ing of the Spokane Mystic Club tricks, and next month, I understand, we are going to have apparatus appear. Better luck this time. since the P.C.A.M. Convention in night. Gee, we had a whale of a Our regular meeting on October Seattle was held in the Peyton Buildtime, and, believe me, I feel dry. 1st followed the 6:30 dinner, as ing, September 25th. Yes, there is a bottle over there. Yes, usual, at the Californian Hotel. The Frank Dolke was elected First I will have just one drink, and, then, highlight of the business meeting Vice-President to fill the vacancy of was the awarding of a life member- Carroll Shuff, resigned. The Club I will leave this damned mess and ship to Ed Kemp for his loyal ser- acted favorably on the proposed go off to bed. Yes, some bottle, empty, I might have known as much, vices to the society. P.C.A.M. constitutional amendment and this magic wand of mine, it After the meeting, our esteemed and elected Harper Joy as Council- won't work. How do you do these visitor, Cunning, formerly of jail- man. tricks with the empty bottle? breaking and mindreading fame, told Our beloved 'Gig' Miller was Some of the boys were asking me us of many of his experiences in the unanimously elected to Honorary days gone by when he had to travel Life Membership in this twenty-two who Lloyd Jones was. I told them, and good luck to you, Lloyd. I think by horse and buggy to make his year old club. you are doing great work, and it jumps. At present, he is not doing E. V. Klein gave a talk on the magic or any of its branches, but is value of the new official organ, the needs some spirit like that in the lecturing on "What The Cats Fight "Genii", and every one present gave magic game, so keep on going. Oh, I have got to tell you something Over." him their subscription. about our programme tonight. This Charlie Starr presented Steve It was voted to put on a charity was not a ripping trick, it was a dripShepherd with a copy of "Day Af- show for the St. Francis parish someter Tomorrow's Paper", and, believe time in October and that the 22nd ping trick. Bob Milliken just had it or not, the paper was actually annual show of the club was to be the card trick under way, just makdated Saturday, October 3rd, two moved up to February, instead of ing the pass, and something ran down the nose and dripped on the floor. days ahead of time. the usual time before the middle of I'll say it was a dripping trick. Never The "It" cards were passed out at October. The annual show for the mind, tough luck, but we'll see some the meeting, and we were able to Elks will be given in December and of Bob's card work at the next meetlocate only four out of the five. the 22nd annual stag show and the ing. Yes, I think I had better get Someone evidently had back palmed party will, as heretofore, be held the off to bed and try and figure out his card. Doug Kelly was pinch-hit- second Tuesday in January. some of these rope tricks. ting for Ed Kemp and performed After the business session was conPoko Chinko. Steve Shepherd an- cluded, R. A. Gray presented the egg swered his "It" card by showing us bag with glass of water routine, folTHE MYSTIC THIRTEEN a very clever card location. Officer lowed by a cigarette routine. By Arnold Furstenberg Lynch did not have any magic at Henry Peden, the runner-up for home, so he went down to Wool- the Gamble trophy, exhibited some Magic is in the air this month. worth's and bought himself a com- clever card routines. Besides our two regular meetings, we plete act for a dime. This act was have had our Semi-Annual Installapresented as only a master can. tion Banquet on the 2nd, and we are now looking forward to the comWoods followed with a version of WIZARDS OF THE WEST bined meeting and party which will "You do as I do". We again tried By Bill Harkness be held at Thayer's Studio of Magic to select the winner by applause, but lots had to be drawn, and the prize Report of the monthly meeting of on the 30th. (I was going to call was carried away by Compeer the Wizards of the West, held at the it a joint meeting, but the Great Woods. home of the President, Bill Hark- Leon tells me that would be insulting the Thayer's beautiful studio.) Our Auction was quite a success, ness. thanks to our old standby, Al Frank, It is twenty past three, yes, that's Mrs. Harry Houdini has invited the who furnished most of the ap- what it says on my clock. Let me "Mystic Thirteen" to be present at paratus, the money being donated to look again, yes, twenty past three. I the final "Houdini Seance" which the treasury. wish you could see my place. All will take place on Hallowe'en night. We are looking forward to our you can see is cards and pieces of I know this will be a memorable ocannual banquet which is to be held rope, and boy, did we have a good casion, and we feel honored to have

GOLDEN GATE ASSEMBLY

Twenty-seven

GENII been invited. Also, we can't ignore the great birthday party and miniature convention our honorary President, Caryl Fleming, had this month. (See full details later on.) But, to get back to our banquet, it was held at the exclusive "El Mirador" cafe, in Hollywood, where the management had advertised that night as "Mystic Thirteen Night." On the table, at each place, we found miniature high-hats with rabbits in them and small paper wands. After the supper, Lawrence Yeager told us to open the paper wands, and inside we found printed the names of the out-going and in-coming officers. Lawrence then turned his ofice over to Carl O. Stenquist, the new President, who in turn introduced Arnold Furstenberg, Secretary, Robert Gunther, Treasurer and Ernest Mickie, Custodian, who were all re-elected for another term. A standing vote of thanks was then given Lawrence Yeager for his fine work as President for the past six months. We were sorry Jack Boshard (B. B. M. P.) had not arrived in time to attend our banquet, as that was when we had planned to inform him that he had been made an honorary member of the Mystic Thirteen. However, that was postponed until the Caryl S. Fleming Birthday Party, which was held on the following Sunday, and then he re'ceived his honorary membership card at the same time Faryl Fleming was informed that he has been elected Honorary President of the "Mystic Thirteen." Robert Gunther, known professionally as "Bob White" and "Haskell" have been very busy lately playing the various night spots in Los Angeles and San Diego. At this writing, Bob is playing in San Diego where he has been held over for the third week, and "Haskell" has played one of the better downtown night spots for over two months, with offers from many local night clubs. He has just left for San Francisco, where he will probably "wow" them as he has here. His act on the Caryl Fleming Magic Show was superb, and there is no reason why he should not go very far. Now, with these ancient words, Twenty-etaht

blank, with the exception of five, which had "You're It" written on them. We had a h— of a time finding out where the "Its" were, but EVENTS OF THE SAN JOSE 13 they were finally located hiding under the tables. By Harry G. Shaw Charlie Starr wowed the boys, as Pres. Joe Garofalo had the boys usual, with his card fans and van"over to his House" for their Sep- ishes. Ken Morgan gave an advance tember meeting and while there was story of the passing of Hitler, demnot very much offered in the way onstrating his story by cutting a passof magic, there were some very fine port and retoring it. Eorgegay Olrefreshments prepared by Mrs. Garo- senray told us he was going to do falo. "just another trick" but, as usual, Fred Tuttle and Harry Shaw awed us with one of his masterpieces. visited Los Angeles on Oct. 10th- Douglas Kelly, assisted by Master 13th and attended Caryl Fleming's of Ceremonies Madden, favored us Birthday Party. Both reported a with a prediction, and then Lloyd fine time and came back singing Jones, of Oakland, had us rolling on praises for the good fellowship, skill the floor with laughter and our eyes and cleverness of the members of the bulging with his lessons in magic. clubs in the southern part of the Fitzkee showed us a color changing state. deck of cards. The prize, a book on Oct. 16th was the night that mindreading, was carried away by Doctor L. P. Moore had the Boys Jonesey. "over to his house". The Doctor is one of those rare individuals who has managed to reserve a room in SAN DIEGO MAGICIANS his household for his own exclusive Parker's Boarding House afforded use. It is a sort of a club room and rare entertainment for magicians and there was not much business trans- spectators alike Monday,' the 19th acted because it was too difficult to of September. It was a regular soget the boys away from all the back cial meeting, but it gives you a copies of the Linking Ring, Esquire, squeamish feel to see the star etc. Mrs. Moore prepared a buffet boarders watching for your gimacs supper and the Dr. who is rather a like hawks, while you are egging light eater was induced to break your neatly practised (ten minutes) training rules and join the table. trick on. Meanwhile all everybody is looking forward to is the cake and cookies. GOLDEN GATE ASSEMBLY After an hour spent exasperatingBy Blair Far ranee ly trying to arrange the programme, Laughs came between each mouth- Sidney Fleischman, M.C., magician ful at the dinner before the Septem- and janitor, started the works at ber meeting of the Golden Gate As- nine with the Billard Balls a la Tarsembly No. 2, S. A. M. There were bell. Yours truthfully (Edward many Knock-Knocks and Handies in Reese) waded thru green to red silk evidence, and the waitress should into candle tube—Scaramucci's Four have been charged an admission fee. foot Burnt and Restored strip of After the dinner, our acting presi- paper—and Crabb's "A Spirit Spots dent, Most Illustrious Charlie Mur- A S'prevaricator. Sid, by wav of inray, opened the meeting, which last- troducing Ezra Domnitz, did the ed until approximately 9 :30. D:ck gamblers stunt about Rothstein. The Madden, having resigned his position sucker Torn Napkin was allright, as scribe, a call was made for vol- but Ezra was stuck when he tried to unteers, and, after all the shouting restore the Tarbell Rope the second for the job had died down, yours time. Ho, good joke; Ezra doesn't truly had the good fortune to be ap- think so. Robert Lathrop, monolopointed. gist, did his wonderful Svengali colThe meeting was followed, of or changing deck and also giant numcourse, by magic, each member hav- ber cards. ing been handed a card when he I found two paper dixie cups in a entered the meeting, each card being back room so I asked Sid to do "Genug" and "Ah Zoy", I'll close 'til next month.

miCTfyta1'

GENII "More Water" for the audience. He did it on the spur of the moment and it came out nicely, too. Alfred Hennings gave the floor a sprinkling of rice and water with the Al Baker Rice Bowls. (I'll bet the hosts liked that trick best of them all.) Sid did the 6-card trick before he introduced Carlyle Laughlin. Lyle presented his full evening illusion show without having brought a thing. Silk production (elbow hold), wand thru silk (5 attempts), and the elusive Knot blended into cards. A vanishing ring back to finger while a spectator counted the cards for "Cards in the Pocket". Lyle staggered on with the stabbed card, top change, and the jumping card. Four coins passed from left hand to glass held full view in right.

RENO MAGIC CIRCLE By C. S. Leaf McManus The third meeting of the Reno Magic Circle got under way at 8:15, Tuesday, October the 6th, at the Chism's Ice Cream Factory, and much business was discussed and passed upon, the most important of which was the big show to be given in December, and the question of our re-registering in the S. A. M. An unanimous vote was given for the show, but the definite date for holding it was carried over to the next meeting, October the 20th, as was also the question of re-registering, due to the fact that a number of the members were out of town or unable to attend. However, since the meeting of September 24th, when Caryl Fleming visited us, much of the dissatisfaction among the Reno Megic Circle members with the S. A. M. has subsided, and, thanks to Caryl Fleming, matters which had been misunderstood were satisfactorily explained, and I feel quite certain that the Reno Magic Circle will vote to stay with the National Organization. Apparently, Caryl Fleming has been corresponding with the officers of the National Organization, with the result that I have received many letters from them, and, although they have lain on my desk unanswered, due to the fact that I was in no position to do so until the members of the Circle had definitely voiced

their opinion, I feel fairly positive that after the next meeting, our difficulties with the organization will be completely ironed out to the satisfaction of everyone concerned. For the benefit of those who have been interested in this matter, I would like to state in all fairness to the present officers of the S. A. M. that they have shown every courtesy and offered every assistance in their letters to me to iron out any misunderstanding we have had in the past. However, I also feel that we were justly dissatisfied with the conditions under which the Reno Magic Circle had been affiliated with the organization, seeing that to date we had not received our charter, nor had many of the members who were registered received their copy of the Sphinx. A charter was sent us by the late Royal Vilas which contained names which were not in our organization, and some that were misspelled. This charter was returned to Secretary DuBoise, who, up to date, has never returned the corrected charter. A letter from me to him asking for a complete list of the members paid up from this circle, remains unanswered, and, from the time of writing that letter, I have never received any further correspondence from him, nor have the members in question ever received the copy of the Sphinx. Not hearing further, we naturally concluded that there was no intention on the part of the National Organization to furnish us with what we paid for, and so we let the No. "2" matter rest at that.

it came pretty close to being a convention. Magicians attended from the entire Pacific Coast: Oakland, San Francisco, Tacoma, Seattle, San Jose, San Diego and many other distant cities being represented. So many congratulatory wires were received during the evening that undoubtedly the Western Union will declare an extra dividend this year. Individuals and clubs from all over the country adopted this method for the expression of their good will toward the man who has done so much to further magic in the West. During the evening President Fleming was presented with an engraved and hand illumed scroll bearing the club seals of all the P. C. A. M. organizations and carrying the original signatures of over one hundred officers and members of those clubs. The speech of presentation was ably made by the Hon. Judge Charles W. Fricke, President of Southern California Assembly Number 22 of the S. A. M. A varied programme lasted about two hours. Jimmie Muir, of Oakland, emceed the bill. Among those on the programme were Frank Fewins, Lloyd Enochs, Gerald Kosky, Dr. Forrestus, Harry Mendoza, Jack Boshard, Max Terhune, Vincent Thomas, Lloyd Jones, Harry G. Shaw, Lyle Laughlin, Caryl Fleming, Len Gunn, Haskell and the editor of Genii. Terhune stopped the show with his ventriloquial act. Len Gunn and Haskell were the outstanding performers of magic. Arthur Valli furnished the musical accompaniHowever, Caryl Fleming explain- men for the several acts. ed the difficulties under which the On the whole, the magic was betNational Organization and its offi- ter than that usually seen at a meetcers had been laboring since the un- ing of magicians. This was probably timely death of Royal Vilas, and w e due to the fact that there had been feel, or rather I feel, that our mem- some arrangement of the various acts bers will do the proper thing and let and that the amateurs were bolstered by-gones be by-gones and put our up by the professionals. shoulders to the wheel and help the After the show a well ordered organization rather than hinder it, mid-night supper was served, the by taking up our memberships from many magicians breaking up into now on. small groups to further discuss magic. That everyone was enjoying themselves was apparent. Jack Boshard was around with his ropes and MAGIC PARTY On October 11th., Caryl Fleming, coins. Freddie Kapp busy learning president of the P. C. A. M., enter- new card passes. Lloyd Jones actained over one hundred magicians cepting boquets for his book reviews. as his guests. It was, indeed, the Earl Rybolt leaning back contentedpresident's birthda3' party. However, ly talking magic literature to a

December, 1936

10 cents

Pacific Coast Magic News

CARYL S. FLEMING

Official Organ for The Pacific Coast Association of Magicians

GENII WILLIAM

W.

Editor and Publisher Assistant Editor Advertising Manager

LARSEN

WILLIAM TAYLOR HARRY MENDOZA

GENII is published monthly by William W. Larsen, P. O. Box 560, Pasadena, California. Editorial office, P. O. Box 560, Pasadena, California. Price in the United States and Canada, $1.00 per year; ten cents a copy. Elsewhere, $1.50 per fear; fifteen cents a copy. While manuscripts, photographs and drawings are submitted at the owner's risk, every effort will be made to return those found unsuitable, if accompanied by first-class postage, but we cannot be responsible for any loss of such matter contributed. Contributors are advised to retain copies of their contributions and to double space all articles submitted. Piinted in the United States of America, by the Bickley Printing Company, Pasadena, California. The Genii is published on the 10th day of every month. All contributions and advertising matter must be received by the Editor before the first day of the month of publication.

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Vol. 1

December, 1936

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IN T H I I/XLE • THE GENII SPEAKS

Page 5

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

6

MAGIC

7 •

RIBBINS

19 •

PAGING T H E LADIES •

20

STAGECRAFT

22 • 25

BAGDAD • CLUB REPORTS

27

THRU THE SLANTING EYE

31

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THRU THE MONOCLE

32

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BOOK REVIEWS

34

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SCATTERED SHOTS Four

37

CARYL S. FLEMING What is the spirit of Christmas? Why, giving, of course! Giving without a thought of self; without seeking return. So, why is it not appropriate that I dedicate this December issue to the man who has been the magical essence of that spirit these past years? Our craft can offer nothing to Caryl Fleming, materially, unless pleasure is a material thing. Yet he gives, unceasingly, to the cause.

had access to the private notebooks of some of the best informed conjurors. I know that he has a torn and restored paper effect which is better than anjr extant. I know of his countless private charities. But, best of all, I am sure of this: he lives for, not "off", magic. You are a magician ? Good. Then you are assured of his support. The thing is magic ? Fine. If it is magic, it is good. Seldom, if ever, have we had such a whole hearted booster. In all magic I don't suppose that From the foregoing, our readers there are two men who have given might be led to believe that Caryl is more, and received, in return, less, an arm-chair philosopher. Nuts! Go that W. W. Durbin and Caryl Flem- to the next public show. Look behind ing. Between them, they have kindled the scenes. See that guy over there and kept alive the interest of hun- with his coat off—that one who is dreds of followers of the craft in helping with the back drop. Sure! four-fifths of the territory of these That's Caryl Fleming. After he United States. This is meant, in nohooks up the public address system, way, to detract from others who have I'll introduce you to him. He won't done much. It is intended solelv to have much time to talk now, though; his act is the third on the program! give credit where it is due. Still young, a man in his forties, I suppose I know Caryl better than do most. For example, I know that we feel that Caryl is a man of defihe has an enviable collection of magic nite inagic destiny. His is the power literature of which he almost never to lead. And, after all, most of us speaks. I know that he has pet ef- are better off to follow. He has fects which he shows only to histhe disposition to help. And who is beyond need of it? closest friends. I know that he has

GENII

How long, our readers ask, can 3'ou continue to give us magic as good as that which appeared in the first three issues of Genii? Well, using Wright and Larsen material, alone, I can last a good many years. Then, when that is gone, I have material which I have evolved since Page died. Finally, I seem to be pretty lucky in getting some nice contributions. These latter I want most of all. I am not running a personal book in monthly installments; pages of Genii are open to all, and the more diversified the magic, the better it will be. Now as to price: that's the next question. I knew, when I took over the publication of this magazine, that I couldn't break even at one dollar per year. But I told the P. C. A. M. that I would keep the price at that figure until everyone in the various component clubs had a chance to subscribe. Four months have passed. Subrcribers seem to like Genii pretty well. Last month we printed a thousand copies and had to re-run five hundred more. The P. C. A. M. clubs have come in almost one hundred percent. Therefore, we announce a price raise. Henceforth, Genii will be twentyfive cents per copy; two dollars and fifty cents by the year. In foreign countries, thirty cents per copy, three dollars per year. Advertising rates will be proportionately increased. The boost will be effective January 1st, 1937. (That's what we mean by "henceforth.") Editorially, there is no use talking about our policies: we have none. We do and say pretty much as we please. Last month our associate, Gerald Kosky, wrote this page. With his views I have nothing to do; editorially or otherwise. Each of us can always write away to our heart's content. When Bill Taylor says a thing is good, Gerald and I may think it bad. When I believe something to

be lousy, Bill and Gerald may think it is swell. Our only allegiance is to magic. We are interested only in its welfare. Changes will take place in this publication from time to time, as we deem them advisable. We welcome suggestions and hope that our readers will see fit to express themselves freely. And, please, don't spare our feelings. If we do something you don't like, tell us. After all, you're not at a magic meeting: you need not pat our backs. We think Genii is good. But we know it could be better. We'd make it better if we knew how. Don't get artistic and tell us to print Genii in three colors. But, if you have a helpful criticism, send it along. You pay for the magazine, and you should get what you want. Somehow, we must hit a medium between tricks, on the one hand, and news and club reports, on the other. Most of those who have written us want tricks. What is your idea? Now, bear in mind, we are not going to curtail club reports. But, if you want more tricks we'll give them to you and curtail some of our other features. We write Bagdad ourselves, and it might well be omitted in favor of another trick or two. Our Ladies' page is getting favorable comment from all quarters. Even our enemies, to whom we wish a Merry Christmas, seem to like it. In this number, we believe, we have struck an innovation in magic magazines. But who is the magician's wife "with soul so dead" who hasn't suffered at the hands of her legerdemaniac husband ? She is the eternal

"first night". Hers is always the duty of "preview". Good, bad, or indifferent, she must see the new sleight or trick. We have had the pleasure, the past month, of seeing Dr. U. L. diGhilini present his full evening spirit seance. The act is positively amazing to a mere magician. In the first part of the seance there is included, among other phenomena, thz effect wherein cold, fresh white carnations appear from the folds of a black velvet screen. In the second part, wherein our wife acted as medium, bells rang, tambourines played, a spike was driven through a four by six, slates were written upon and other spookly doings took plac?. It may be the old Anna Eva Fay idea. Our wife won't tell us. But one thing we know. The writing on the slates was hers. We'd know it, any place. In this field, spiritualistic, diGhilini is the greatest showman we have ever seen. Tricks, yes tricks, which have been passed over by most of us as too old, or too simple, appear as veritable miracles in his hands. Even magicians, in his audience, forget their magic and watch diGhilini as they would some great scientist performing a newly discovered atomic revelation. With him a cabinet is not a piece of ?pparatus. It is a laboratory wherein certain experiments are worked upon. This issue we begin a series of sleight of hand with cards. Those who like their magic in the large doses of Lion's Bride illusions will be bored stiff. Full many a pass is, to them, born to blush unseen and waste its perfection upon nothing in particular. Rut to many, who, with the good T . J. Crawford, would "use their h?nds" such material is invaluable. The series will be long. However, this much I must tell you. Nothing therein will be found to be too difficult. If you must know it, I do all the sleights myself. And, I am not profound. Rive

GENII

SPECIAL ANNCLNCEHENT/ Rise In Price Beginning January 1st, 1937, the price of Genii will be twenty-five cents per issue. The subscription price will be two dollars and fifty cents per year. Foreign: thirty cents the issue; three dollars by the year. Advertising rates will be increased accordingly. W e are really an independent magazine for magicians. Is Genii worth the increased price ? Read the first four issues. Gentlemen, we rest our case. Genii Name Genii ? Singular or plural ? George Baxter, swell guy and photographer superb, says that the mystery of the age is"why does the Genii have two eyes?" Or, did he say "ii's" ? So far we have discovered forty-seven variations of the spelling of genii. Geni, genie, genii or what have you ? Read a bit of allegory. Or, better, read the several Arabian Nights transcriptions. Any, or all, may be used. But we like "Genii", chiefly, probably, because of the pictorial value of the double i. We thought of all these things in July; and our first issue appeared in September. Then, too, if a reader thinks too harshly of the name he may cancel his subscription. We claim, solely and alone, to give out magic. Scully Warning to magicians! At a recent public show of magic, Max Terhune, and Scully, stopped the show with an act of ventriloquism. And well deserved was the applause! But, magicians, where do you stand ? This is not the first time that a specialty act has stood out, head and shoulders, above magic. Surely, magic is good. It has always been good. But it is only as good as the performer. We rest the question: are we good enough ? Reno Do you want a divorce ? Do vou want to see the dancing girls? Do you wish to woo the Goddess of Chance upon the numbered wheel? Do you want magic ? You do! Good ! Then don't fail to attend the meeting of the P. C. A. M. at Reno next July. Of course, just attending the convention there doesn't, necessarily, mean that Six

you must separate from the frau ; nor need you heed the call of the "here 'tis" gals, if you won't want to. But good magic there'll be in abundance, and Leaf McManus, Bud Beasley, and their cohorts will guarantee a grand time in general. If the readers aie interested, other details will be furnished by McManus by Express. He tells us that the West is still wild. Editor Resigns It is with regret that I announce the resignation of Gerald Kosky from the editorial staff of Genii. Pressure of outside affairs makes this move upon his part necessary. Henceforth, the magazine will be conducted by myself, as Editor, and by Mr. William Taylor, of Los Angeles, as Assistant-Editor. Genii will carry on with its same lack of editorial policy. Prize Contests Next month we will announce the name of the winner of the first contest. Twenty-five dollars goes to the winner. Although we see the judges—Fred Rickard, Chas. Fricke and the Great Leon—frequently, we still have no idea as to the identity of the receiver of the award. But I know this much: I'm glad I don't have to judge the thing, or there would be three ties. We'll continue the Magic Art Studios contest a while longer. Few contributions have been received to date. Remember, patter for the old one to four ball trick is all that is required, and, if you win, you will receive a professional set of multiplying billiard balls turned out in superb Magic Art Company manner. The Fleming contest is coming along surely, even if slowly. But, "regard the time, young man"—a few more months, and it will be too late. Read the back issues for details on all contests. Then think. Then - - - act! Houdini Mrs. Houdini was pleased with our October issue. Her wire to us is really a sacred thing, which we will forever treasure. Whatever we said was meant, from the innermost depths of the heart. We wrote, not because of any axe to grind, not for personal benefit, but because we felt just that way. Yesterday, todav tomorrow —Houdini is to us the Great Magician. Let the name be our

roj alty. Beatrice Houdini is our Queen! If we may, we would suggest this: whenever Mrs. Houdini appears in a magical gathering, let every member there arise and remain so until she is seated. Frankly, I should not even need suggest this display of reverence. It is so obvious. Herman Weber Genii readers will note that we draw more and more upon the ideas of Herman Weber, as expressed in the worthy Linking Ring. T o be honest, he should be an associate editor of Genii, so frequently do we call upon him for advice. We see witb him, eye to eye, as to just what a magic magazine should be. As we progress, financially speaking, we shall adhere to his suggested outline as closely as possible—with one or two personal exceptions. Somehow, these magical controversies usually develop into close friendships. I now number Weber among my closest associates. I wonder if I shall become a pal of Harry Cecil's? Station Wagon I am a lawyer; not a Ford salesman. But I know that Ford, and others, are putting out a smart station wagon car which is perfect for the needs of the magician. Further, it is smart, socially recording, to drive one. The boxes and bags may be piled into the wagon with no trouble at all. It isn't a truck. Magicians would call the vehicle a "combination". If you can afford just one car, and where is the magician who can buy more than one, buy a station wagon. An author of magic need not be original; but, he should he honest.

William W. Larsen. 13

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Merry Christinas

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WILLIAM J. VAN BERKEL j MAGICIAN Entertainment for All Occasions 131 East 82nd Place Los Angeles, California X Phone PLeasant 5804 E > >.„ „ , , , ,

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The Original Non-Contact Mind Reader, C. A. GEORGE NEWMANN —and his— DE LUXE MYSTERY REVUE Permanent address: Kenyon, Minn.

GENII

TABLE TILTING as revealed to the editor By Dr. U. L. diGhilini Do you have nerve? Do you have confidence in your own ability as a showman ? If not, proceed no further. This effect, in such case, is not for you. Table tilting, corlectfy done, is a science and an art all in itself. Once mastered, it is the parlor trick supreme; one which c .11 be used as a foundation upon which to build a reputation as a mystery worker. One more thing, by way of introduction : the experiment has no place in a routine of card effects and silk tricks. It must be presented as a serious demonstration of some unseen force, or not at all. By that, we do not mean to say that table tilting must be accredited to spiritualism. Not at all. The performer merely sets the stage and lets the audience use its own judgment as to the method. Any small table ma}' be used which is supported by four legs. A card table is a trifle too flimsy; too apt to buckle. For best results the table should be square, but this is not necessary. An occasional stand, or small living room table, is about right. (Editorial note: Dr. diGhilini once used an eight hundred pound director's table in a seance at Davtona Beach, Florida. Of course, there were many sitters.) At each side of the table is a chair, thus providing seating space for four persons. The performer is seated in one of the chairs and three spectators occupy the others. The former relates what he expects to happen. The forces toward him seem the strongest, hence the table should come toward him:

the legs away from him should rise up, oft the floor. The table is invested with a personality of its own, say, Yoganandra. The sitters are asked to place their finger tips lightly upon the table top; that is all. They must not aid the table. They must not resist it. Theirs is to be a perfectly passive attitude. With hands in position, the spectators are requested to gaze steadily at the center of the table top; so steadily that a blur occurs. Yoganandra starts slowly, rises on two of its legs and tips toward the performer. During all of this time the latter is addressing it as a personality, suggesting that it tip toward him. Then, gradually, it settles back. The direction of the force changes, and the table tips in another direction, toward a sitter. This may be continued and the tipping repeated in the direction of each of the sitters. Finally, the performer leaves his place at the table, giving it over to another spectator. Now, even though the performer has no method of contact, the manifestations continue. The entire experiment is based upon the power of suggestion. As the performer lectures, he gestures — in short, he pantomimes what is to happen. By his words and actions he implants in the minds of the sitters, and other watchers, the thought of what is to happen. They, subconsciously, will aid him. This subconscious aid is all that is necessary. Even if a contrary minded person resists the table, the force of the others will nullify his efforts. The only way to determine the practicality of the effect is to attempt it, publicly. It is not a thing which may be practiced before the looking glass. Get a table and a few spectators and go to work. You won't fail, but if, for any reason you should, the spirit forces are to blame, not you. Editor-'s note: I saw Dr. diGhilini

perform the table tilting described above in my home the evening of November 6th. There were present several magicians and two or three laymen. The table used on that occasion was a four legged magic table, made for me by Thayer. The affair weighs about seven pounds. We attempted in no way to aid diGhilini ; in fact, at one point, cad that I am, I tried to keep the table from tilting but failed to do so. Later, on November 18th, Dr. diGhilini performed the same effect for me alone. Again the locale was my home. Then, in response to my request, he gave me permission to use it in Genii and showed me in detail the workings. In the short time that has elapsed since I have used it twice, successfully. But it is an item which will have an appeal solely to the practical performer who engages in this type of work. One magician of my acquaintance, after witnessing the first seance, suggested that a confederate might be used. Such an arrangement would, undoubtedly, insure success. However, unless we fail in the use of Dr. diGhilini's methods we'll keep the stooges off the payroll.

CARD TELL CARD TRICK

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By Gerald Kosky

m Performer has spectator select a card from deck, look at it and replace it back in deck, which the performer shuffles. Performer then places deck on table and asks the spectator to cut the cards. Spectator is then told to look at the top card of the deck and as many spots as are on that card, he is to count that many Seven

GENII cards off the top of the deck, and there he will find the card he selected. Secret: Have the top ten cards arranged as follows: From Ace to Ten in consecutive order, the Ace being the top-most card. Have a card selected below the top ten cards, and, when the card is replaced, cut the cards and have the card replaced on the bottom half, then overhand shuffle the top ten arranged cards, one at a time, onto the lower half of the deck, after which you shuffle off the remainder of the top half carelessly. Place the cards on the table and have the spectator cut the deck in half. The spectator, invariably, cuts within the pre-arranged cards, which indicates how far from the top their selected card is. Editor's note: I hope the readers will not be tempted to pass lightly over the above item merely because the first part of it reads like an old card trick. Gerald Kosky has had a different touch which is entirely new, to me, at least, and which makes for a real trick. I saw him perform the same at a recent meeting of the local assembly of the Society of American Magicians and can vouch for its effectiveness.

THE LANGUID CARTOONIST By T. Page Wright "My friends, feeling that vou would appreciate something a little instructive as well as entertaining, I shall offer a few hints on etiquette. Oh, not that I doubt that such a noble and intelligent appearing audience is always polite to individual friends. No doubt you are polite to people. But, are you always properly polite to things? Do you apologize to a door, if you should knock on it? Do you say, 'I beg your pardon!' to a salt cellar, if you should chance to shake it ? But, it pays! I rhall prove it. I once had a friend, an artist, who always made his first drawings on a slate, so that he could always rub out and do over lines easily; and he always treated this Eteht

slate with the utmost consideration and affection." "One day, a man came and ordered two drawings, one of a man and one of a girl and wanted to know if he could have rough sketches ready for approval by evening. The artist pledged his word that he could, so that man went and the artist set to work." The performer takes chalk and draws as befits the patter. "First, he drew the man—he gave him a head and body and arms and legs—but the drawing didn't look very good. So, he thought he had better try to draw the girl. He gave her a head and some hair and a couple of eyes, but she didn't look very good either. In fact, they both looked terrible—so much so that he covered them up, to get them out of his sight, in hopes that when he looked at them again they would look better. But, they didn't!" The drawings outlined by the performer are terrible — the worse the better, as if bad enough the drawings make good comedy. The chalk is tossed aside, and a piece of cardboard picked up, the size of the outside dimensions of the slate and held over it as cover. "So, he did nothing more, and, presently, the man came back and wanted to see the drawings. Well, the artist had pledged his word he would have them, so, he didn't want to confess he didn't, and he didn't know what to do. But, do you know what had happened ? Can you guess what had happened? Why, that slate, to repay the artist for his treatmen, had fixed up the drawings itself, and there they were, all ready." The cardboard is tossed aside, disclosing a drawing on each side of the slate, one, the girl, and the other, the man, fully completed and beautifully executed! The effect is clean-cut and unconventional — the only apparatus re-

quired is stock—a slate with flap. Cardboard is unprepared. The finished drawings are made, one on one side of the slate and one on one side of the flap. They must be good, as the climax is the display of change from the crude started drawing to the excellently finished work, and the contrast must be extreme. They are put on—after being sketched out in pencil—with white ink or similar substance, drawn with a match pointed. This will look like chalk when dry, will not blur and will last a season. Chalk is messy. The flap, drawing side in, is placed over the drawing, after which slate can be shown freely, apparently blank. Chalk is picked up, and the first drawing started, on one side of the slate—really the flap.' It turns out badly, so the slate is turned over and the other started on the other side. " Slate is now held, thumb in front, fingers in back, holding the flap in place. This drawing also proves bad. Chalk is tossed aside and cardboard picked up and shown on both sides—slate held in left hand, of course, and cardboard in right. Slate held by center of side, allowed to hang from fingers. Cardboard is placed in front of it by right hand, which holds cardboard by center lower side. Under cover of it, left fingers release flap, which is allowed to sink onto right fingers. As performer says—"hoping that when he looked at them again, they'd look better", the right hand slides the cardboard away for a moment—and, behind it and under cover of it, the flap from behind the slate. Cardboard is instantly replaced on slate, and this time the flap goes on the front on the slate, it being naturally now drawing side out. The trickery is done— when the cardboard is taken away, the two completed drawings are visible, one on each side of the slate, the incomplete bad drawing being hidden by flap. The move takes practice for smoothness. It is hard to make absolutely silent, but any small sound may be blamed on the cardboard scraping against slate frame. The method can, of course, be used for producing a spirit message on each ••de of a slate, but that standard feat is rather less effective than some more novel version such as this. If properh done, it is startling, be-

GENII cause the slate is freely shown on both sides before and after, obviously only one slate being used and it being held throughout at the fingertips, never being wrapped, or placed on a table, etc. The cardboard should be obviously innocent and can be tossed in the air and caught and, at the finish, thrown out into the audience. The fact that the slate is handled at finger tips precludes any chance of exchange. Even people who have heard about flaps on slates will be puzzled by change of drawings on both sides of one slate to which obviously another could either have been added or taken away.

INFLATED BALLOON PRODUCTION By Caryl S. Fleming, Pres.

P.CAM.

The effect is far from new and is advertised for sale by practically all dealers. In fact, I have purchased it from two, and both methods are fairly similar in that they employ dangerous corrosive acids and, for this reason, have discarded them. One night after a club meeting some months ago, I sat chatting with my pal, The Great Leon, and during the conversation happened to mention this effect and the fact that I felt it too dangerous to use generalry. Whereupon, Leon made a suggestion that solved the problem, and it is by virtue of this that I am able to give you a method that is perfectly safe in the hands of even the most inexperienced. First of all procure the following: some T O Y RUBBER BALLOONS —SIZE NO. 7, and be sure they are fresh stock; a few "1 DRAM LONG STYLE P A T E N T L I P MACHINE - MADE GLASS VIALS" (this is the trade description) ; CORKS T O F I T ; a spool of COARSE C O T T O N OR LINEN T H R E A D ; and, last but not least, the harmless magical chemical, A T U B E OF "BANGSITE" from your nearest toy shop. You may encounter difficulty in finding the type of vials I mention, as the)' are essentially indigenous to the Homepathic drug trade, but vour

regular druggist can order them easily. Use the 1 dram bottle as a measure and fill it to the neck with "Bangsite", place the neck of the balloon over the open mouth of the vial and invert it so that the "Bangsite" pours down and remains loose in the bottom of the balloon. Next fill your vial with tap water, leaving just enough of a bubble when corked so that a raise in temperature will not force the cork out by automatic pressure. Wipe the outside of the vial until it is absolutely dry, and work it end down into the balloon. Now, pull the neck of the balloon up by the reinforced ring and tie a single knot in the rubber neck and pull it tight, and finally run several turns of your coarse thread around the place between the knot and the rubber ring and tie it tightly so as to act as a stop in case some of the gas generated during the experiment seeps past the knot. Place a few balloons (I use three) in the bottom of an ordinary paper grocer's bag and fold the bag flat as though it were empty, and you are ready to perform, or, if you prefer, palm the balloons into a silk hat or into a foularde held bag-wise by its four corners. Display your production item apparently empty—reach down—work the cork out of the bottle, releasing the water, and give the balloon a little shake, giving a better mixture and quicker action. The acetylene gas thus generated bv the combination of the water and the "Bangsite," which is nothing more than finely crushed crystals of common calcium carbide, rock gas, or whatever trade name you might know it by, will inflate the balloons with remarkable rapidity and you can remove them one by one and place them on a tray or table, as you will. Naturally, the chemical reaction also generates some heat but not so much but what the balloons can be handled without discomfort. As soon as the trick is finished, I would advise that the inflated balloons be carried off stage, as they might leak and the odor of acetylene gas is particularly pungent and unpleasant to some, and would be the means of giving your trick away. Also, after a time, the gas shrinks,

and the balloons reduce considerably in size. Be careful not to place the freshly inflated balloons upon anything that might puncture them as the heat makes the rubber quite tender, and this can happen easily. Another precaution which might be observed is to inflate the balloons by mouth first to check against pinhole leaks and at the same time easing up the elasticity of the rubber, so that the gas will have less work to do when liberated. And, even if the balloons should be old stock and should burst, the chemical residue therein is of a neutral alkaline nature, will not burn or discolor your hands, face or clothing, is non-poisonous, and its worst disadvantage is its unpleasant odor. For those experimentally inclined, I might add a word to save you both labor and expense. I have discarded all corrosive acids such as sulphuric, nitric and hydrochloric, in combination with alkaline salts, such as soda bicarbonate, even though they all bring excellent results, as being too dangerous to play with; also such combinations as soda and solutions of tartaric acid, acetic acid, etc., for other reasons, principally on account of the low reactions and such effervescent proprietaries as Bromo Seltzer, Lithia Tablets, etc., do not generate enough gas in the limited combination of chemicals possible to make the proper appearance. Leon had the right answer.

MENTAL EFFECTS (The Last of a Series) By the late T. Page Wright and William W. Larsen A Thought Card Test In a series of mental effects with playing cards, a touch of variety is added by including one experiment in which no actual cards are used. This is a problem wherein a spectator merely thinks of any card, and the performer discovers its name. It must be confessed, however, that in addition to thinking of the playing card, the spectator must be induced to writes its name, "so that the ••Vine

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GENII thought may exist in some concrete form, which will radiate definite psychic impressions." The means which effect the discovery of the name are both novel and daring. It is, in fact, in the very openness of the moves that their subtlety lies. The spectator, having mentally decided upon any playing card, is handed a small, blank card and requested to write upon it the name of the card of which he is thinking. This card upon which he writes must be small. Half of a blank card, visiting card size, which has been torn in two, will serve. A duplicate of this is necessary. Consequently, it is best to have torn the card in two beforehand, so that the duplicates will resemble each other completely. While the spectator is writing on the one card, the performer gets hold of the duplicate and holds it in his left palm. Then, he places both hands behind him and holds them together, placing the back of the right hand on the left palm and so concealing the duplicate. The performer turns his back to the spectator, and asks that he place the card with the writing in his (the performer's) hand, •writing side down. This is done. Next, the magician swings around, turning to his left, and requests the spectator to keep his mind concentrated on the name of the playing card. In the swing, the performer's hands are brought momentarily out of the spectator's line of vision. In this short space of time (only a couple of seconds are necessary), the performer simply switches hands. That is, he places the right hand under the left, so that the back of the left rests on the right palm, hiding the bit of card on which is the writing, between the hands, and exposing to view the duplicate on the left palm. The performer turns back slightly, so that the hands behind his back are again in view. Now, they are separated, the left hand, with the card visible on it, being held further out from the body, while the other hand, turned so as to keep the palmed card out of sight, is allowed to drop to the side. A moment later, it is brought around in front, and the card turned over, so that the name of the playing card written upon it can be secretly read. Meanwhile, the spectator is Ten

carefully watching the duplicate, still held behind the performer's back. Suddenly, the performer nrmes the color of the playing card. Again, he owings around towards the spectator, as he asks sharply, "Isn't that right ?" In the action, his hands are again brought out of the spectator's line of vision, and they are once more brought together, the back of the right hand being placed against the left palm, so that once more the original card is brought into view as the performer again turns with his back to the spectator. Now, the suit of the playing card is named. The spectator is asked to take the piece of card with the writing on it into his own hands, and to read it to himself. The performer faces him, and succeeds in naming the value. This provides ample time for secretly disposing of the duplicate and so no traces of trickery remain. The switch of hands behind the back may seem so daring as to be unsafe, but a trial will show that it is so natural that it goes entirely unnoticed. It will be obvious that this experiment is one that can be utilized when any of the other mental tests have missed fire, and the performer has failed to get the name of some card mentally selected. It is merely necessary to object that the spectator is not thinking of the card with sufficient intensity to "project" it mentally, and to suggest that if he writes the name of it, he ma}' be able to concentrate more strongly. This time there is no failure. It will be equally obvious that names of playing cards are not the only things which can be written. A name, a number, or even a short question, could be on the card, and the test would be quite as successful, so that this test is one of general utility in any branch of mental effects. A Free Choice Location This is a card detection sufficiently out of the ordinary in its method, and its freedom from sleights, to permit effective presentation as a problem in mindreading. The feat is preferably worked with a borrowed and shuffled pack, which has been used in other experiments. It is handed to a spectator, and he is instructed that, while the performer is across the room, he is to insert his finger in the pack, draw out any card, hold it up in front of his eyes

and gaze at it intently, concentrating upon it for a few second, and then shove it back into the deck anywhere squaring it up into place. When this has been done, he hands the pack back to the performer, who riffles through the cards once or twice with his thumb and then proceeds to look into the eyes of the spectator and name the card. Like all good secrets, this is extremely simple. In his pocket, the performer carries a pencil stub, and some time during his performance, he seizes an opportunity to draw a diagonal pencil line across the end of the deck. If none offers itself, an opportunity to do this may be created very easily. The performer forces a card and turns his back while the spectator looks at it. Then, with his back still turned, he proceeds to name the card. As he still holds the deck, this gives the chance to draw the pencil line, which operation takes no more than a second. He now offers to repeat the experiment, but permitting the spectator to withdraw the card from the pack, and replace it, while he holds the cards in his own hands, The deck is handed to the spectator in such a manner that the outer end is the marked end, making it improbable that he will discover the marking. He is instructed to select the card and replace it in the manner previously described. The object in telling him to hold up the card and look at it, is to ensure that he will draw the card completely out of the pack, and not merely peek at one. Under these circumstances, there is not one chance in fifty that he will replace the card at the exact spot from which he drew it. And, if he replaces it at a different spot, because the pencil line was drawn across the end of the deck diagonally, instead of straight, the mark on the end of the drawn card will be out of line with the rest. The spectator must be given no opportunity to shuffle the deck after he has replaced the card. The performer takes the pack; since the marked end was the outer end as the spectator held it, it is now the inner end in the hands of the magician. A glance shows the selected card's location. While talking, the performer keeps riffling the end of the deck with his right thumb, tilting it up so that the faces of the cards are exposed

GENII to him, and, while doing this with apparent casualness, he has ample opportunity of discovering the identity of the card noted. If possible, an opportunity should be later created to erase the marking, when all traces are destroyed. Even if this cannot be done, though, there is little risk of later detection. A shuffle of the deck means that the line ceases to exist as such, since the marks form a line only when in exact order that they were in when the line was drawn. When the deck i.« shuffled, all that is visible is a number of marks scattered over the end of the deck, and without discoverable meaning. A Card And Spirit Mvstrr} This is not, strictly speaking, a mindreading effect, but we include it here because it involves a free mental selection of a card, and because it is best presented as semi-spiritualistic phenomena, and so may well be included in a program of mental experiments. The effect is simple and straightforward. A spectator is invited to think of any card in the deck. When he signifies that he has made a choice, the performer brings forward an envelope and a slip of paper. Both are examined and found ordinary The slip of paper is sealed in the envelope, which is then marked bv a spectator, and placed somewhere in full view. The performer now explains the effect to be produced : he intends to cause the name of the mentally selected card to appear written upon the slip of paper in the envelope. This may be presented as an example of mind force, or the intervention of disembodied spirits may be hinted at. In either case, the performer declares that to concentrate the forces upon the identity of the card, it will be necessary to place that card against the envelope while the writing takes place inside. The spectator is requested to name the card he selected. He does so, and the magician takes that card from the deck and holds it momentarily against the envelope. He then tosses it to one side and tears the end off the envelope. Advancing towards the spectators, he reaches inside the envelope and extracts the slip of paper. This is handed to a spectator. Upon it is found written the name of the card. The envelope is handed out at the same time. It may be examined, but

no clue to the secret will be found. Similar effects have been previously produced, but they have always been based on one of two principles: (1) secretly writing upon the slip, either in the pocket, behind the envelope, or in the envelope, with the aid of carbon, or (2) getting a slip with writing on it from pocket indices. Both ways of working have obvious weak points. In the method to be disclosed, there are no false moves, as of secret writing or fumbling in the pocket to locate the proper slip, and nothing is used except the properties openly used: the envelope, the slip, a pencil with which to marK the envelope and the deck. The preparation of the deck pro vides the solution to this mvsteiy. Fifty-two slips of thin paper are re quired, each two inches long by one and one-half inches wide. The slip visibly shown is, of course, identical in appearance with these. The name of a different card, is written upon each slip of paper. ^ h e ~ rest of the pack is dropped on top of these thirty-two cards. Thus the bottom, warped, card comes just above the selected card. A few cuts will not disturb this situation. It remains only to take the pack in the hands and look for the break caused by the warped key card. Discovered, take the one below it and reveal in vour favorite manner.

IMPROVED CHINESE RINGS By Barkann Rosinoff No trick has stood the test of time as well as the Chinese Rings. And no trick is more frequently massacred by ham magicians. Why not be different? Why must you use the same routine that is printed in every fifty-cent outfit, that is known by almost every audience? I shall not go into the details of my presentation but shall merely give you a few outstanding points. First, use three key-rings, one of which is a special. Second, use about a dozen rings instead of eight. My diagrams show two types of

keys I have had made. I prefer the one marked A, as A' often jams, is too difficult to open with two fingers, as is necessary for part of my routine. I had my own way of exposing the key-ring but having read Gene Laurant's method, I use it. Have one ordinary key and the locking-key behind a chair or table—wherever is convenient to you. Tap each of the LOCK-

ORDINARY KEY

other rings, explaining that the musical tone emitted proves its solidity. The broken ring gives a poor sound, so is exposed ( ?) and thrown away, while all the smart people gasp. Quickly lock the 2's and 3's so that you can pass them out for examination along with the singles. It is very convincing to have all the rings out of your possession at one time. Steal your keys at your convenience. If you have a friend in the audience, lock the special key onto a single ring, hold them on the tip of the finger for a moment, spinning them around to show they are free from deception. Then, let your stooge examine them. Upon his returning them, take them apart. Now, for the hit number. Perhaps you know the "Teardrop" or the "Waterfall." This is an improvement. Put your locking key on top of the chain of three, and your ordinary key on the bottom. Twist the rings as tightly as possible, ind "B" will assume a horizontal position. By slightly easing the pressure, it will look as though the ring is falling down. Drop off key "E" and hold up the chain by "A", caught over finger tip. Although a repeat is usually dangerous, in this case it Eleven

GENII clinches the act. Twist the chain again, incidentally turning it upside down, so that A is at the bottom. While the audience is watching the ring fall, open the key with the left hand, so that it can be released at the end. Other effects will undoubtedly present themselves once you start tinkering around with more than the ordinary number of rings.

MIND MIRROR By Jack

McMillen

Many intelligent spectators of parlor audiences appreciate mind-reading items wherein they, themselves, handle the cards or other materials utilized in the psychic miracle. When the devination is consummated with reasonable rapidity and smoothness of style, the experiment impresses the audience in a degree that no far away stage illusion can do. The conjurer empties the card case into the hands of one of his spectators and invites him to shuffle and mix the cards in any manner he pleases. The professor now leaves the room and allows the victim to give the deck an additional riffle and a cut. Next, the holder of the cards is told to deal the cards face down on the table and to stop at any point in the deal and deposit the next card face-up on the table-heap. He resumes the deal until the entire deck rests face down on the table with a known card reposing face up somewhere in it. "Now," remarks the wizard from the adjoining room, "if I were to try to find your selected card, it would be very easy; however, if you were again to reverse that face-up card back to its normal position in the pack —no human power could enable me to locate that particular card." "It is not my intention," he continues, "to trifle with any of the known methods of logic or philosophy in my attempt to ferret out what particular card you may have reversed." When he re-enters the circle, the spectators observe that his hand is covered by a silk foulard and upon his peaked fingers rests a small crysTwelve

tal. In his further discourse, the mystic explains that the crystal is a mirror of the human mind and that in the imprisoned recesses of the sphere of glass may be found the very thoughts of the people comprising his audience. Placing the crystal momentarily in the custody of the person who volunteered as his assistant, the magician receives the deck and fans it before the eyes of the spectator. "The mind mirror cannot reflect your innermost thoughts to me unless you have them fixed clearly and distinctly in your own mind. Please take another look at your card, in order that your own mental image of the card will be brightened." With a tap against his palm, the mind reader closes the fan and hands it to a near member of the audience—and taking the crystal again between his finger tips, learns magically the exact name of the chosen card. He can make the revelation more dramatic by naming its exact position down in the deck. As to method, the trick is automatic—the spectator unwittingly giving the clue to the re-reversed card by the very motions through which he goes in the process of reversing and then righting the card in the deck. Arrange your pet pack for reversibles. Of course, the shuffling and cutting will not disarrange this preparation at all. Now, go through the moves of dealing cards singly from the top of the pack face down on the table. Whenever you wish, discontinue the face down dealing and deal the next card face up on the heap of cards on the table. When you do so, notice that you automatically turn it over endwise. The natural tendency for all persons is to deal a card face up from a face down deck by grasping the top card with the thumb underneath the protruding card, and reversing it. This leaves the card with the back pattern reversed, but with the face of the card up in a face-down deck. The remaining cards are, of course, dealt face down in the original manner on top of the reversed card. If the face up card were now faced back with the rest of the cards, only this time with a sidewise or lateral motion, the back pattern of the selected card would still be reversed this being the only clue to the card's identity. The method by which the victim is led into this operation is as

simple and as certain as the "Longitudinal" handling. The performer instructs the assistant to pick up the cards, fan them face up until the reversed card is seen —then to turn that card around so that it once more faces in the same direction as the rest of the deck. We have found that when a spectator is instructed in this manner, he will invariably turn the card around laterally, which, of course, leaves the back pattern still reversed. The way the spectator handles the cards is to fan them until he sees his card, separate the cards at that point and, holding a portion in each hand, laterally rotate the altered card to conform with the rest of the deck. With the pack held in this position, it is very clumsy and awkward to attempt to turn the card around end-for-end. Thus, success is insured. The wonder-worker has merely to discover which card has its back design pointing the opposite way from the rest of the pack. This is done while fanning the cards before the victim's eyes.

DEAL DETECTION By Judson Brown

The spectator is handed a pack of cards, told to shuffle and cut as much as he pleases. This done, he is asked to think of any number between twenty-five and fifty. When he has thought of a number he is told to deal off, onto the table, as many cards as he thought of and, when he reaches the last card to look at it, place it face down on top of the others and drop the balance of the pack on the pile. He may then cut again as much as he wishes. The performer locates the card without difficulty. And, furthermore, the performer has his back turned, or may be out of the room, during the entire trick. Cheap cards, obtainable at Woolworths or Kresses, are better for use in this trick than the more expensive kind. The secret is this: when a spectator holds a pack of cards in his hand long enough to count off twenty-five, or more, the heat of the hand will warp the bottom card, thus

GENII making whatever card is in that lo- used must be heavy enough to be opaque. cation a key card. The mentally selected card is now Bear in mind that, after the =huffling and cutting, the cards are named. The performer picks up the dealt off, onto the table, face down, deck and, holding the faces of the one at a time. Let us suppose that cards to the audience, openly runs the mentally selected number i& through them to find the proper card. thirty-two. Thirty-one cards are On its back is the slip required, counted off. The next card, thirty- which is thus obtained in the most second, if looked at and placed, ia.ce f.• open and least suspicious manner posdown on the thirty-one, ^ o w . the sible. deck is taken and to the back of each Standing so that he faces to the card, along one side, is waxed the slip right, the performer holds the enbearing the name of that card. The velope in his left hand and the card slip is waxed only at one side. in his right. The card is held facing To permit any card to be readily front, with the long side to which the located, the deck is arranged. The slip in back is waxed uppermost. The suits rotate, but the red cards run card is slid down in front of the enfrom ace to king from back to front, velope. The free edge of the slip while the black cards run ace to king naturally goes behind the envelope, from front to back. Simple as this ar- and so as the card is slid down the rangement is, it is not readily ob- edge of the envelope automatically servable as the cards are run through separates the card and slip, the card to pick out the card chosen, and it being in front and the slip behind, serves to prevent any waste time in being held in place by the fingers of this portion of the experiment. That the left hand. is the only reason for stacking the The card is turned over so that it cards at all. lies against the envelope face down, The deck, so arranged, is not momentarily, and is then discarded, noticeably thicker than normal. It both sides being casually shown as it rests face up upon the table. Nearby is tossed back onto the table. are the envelope and blank slip. A The slip behind the envelope rests stub of a pencil rests in the left roat with its waxed side against it. Conpocket of the performer. sequently, a slight pressure will stick It is in the naturalness of every it to the back of the envelope. This move that the virtue of the experi- enables the performer to now handle ment lies. The performer first has the envelope at the very tips of his ? card mentally selected. He then fingers, making it clear that his hands brings forward the blank slip and the are otherwise empty. envelope and shows both freely. In tearing the end off the enHolding the envelope in front of velope, it is advisable that the left him, with the address side towards hand, which holds the envelope while the spectators, he now takes the slip the right hand does the tearing, and pretends to place it in the en- should hold the slip in place, as the velope. Actually, it goes behind it. action of tearing the envelope may The flap of the envelope is moistened, otherwise shake it loose. and the envelope is sealed. The slip The envelope is opened at the end, still remains hidden behind it, held and the right fingers are inserted. in place by the left thumb. The thumb goes down behind the "Perhaps, we had better have the envelope, and draws the slip up into envelope marked. Have you a pencil? view as the fingers are withdrawn, making it appear that the slip came Never mind; I think I have one " As this is said, the left thumb from inside. The slip can now be draws the slip off into the left palm. handed down to be read, and the enA slip of the size used is completely velope tossed out for examination. In preparing the experiment, one concealed by the palm and fingers. caution should be observed. Wax has The left hand instantly plunges into a tendency to dry. Therefore, if there the side coat pocket and comes out has been any appreciable length since with the pencil stub. Of course, the the last performance of the effect, it slip is left behind. The envelope is it advisable to rewax the papers to now marked, and placed somewhere the corresponding cards. The preparain full view. tion may seem tedious, but in magic it For obvious reasons, the envelope is the effect that counts, and this

problem may be made to produce a most astounding effect.

A PIPE DREAM By Fred Richard

The germ of the idea for this very logical combination of effects came up in one of the frequent gab sessions between the editor of the Genii and myself, about a year ago. It is one of those colorful, flashy effects, suitable to either a silent or patter act, Chinese costume or straight. The performer picks up a large folding fan and fans the other hand, when suddenly three silks (red, green and yellow for preference) ap-

JJLJIT

pear in the hand. These are draped over the edge of the table, the fan laid across them. A long, rectangular case on the table is opened, and from it a Chinese opium pipe is removed. The pipe is wrapped in a piece of paper. The wrapped pipe may be tapped on the table to show its solidity. Our preference, however, it to let it strike the case, accidentally ( ?), as it is being removed. The paper package is laid aside, and the silks picked up and rolled into a ball. The ball, held in the hand, is fanned with the fan, whereupon the silks vanish. The paper package is torn open, and the pipe has apparentThirtecn

GENII ly vanished, leaving in its stead the three silks. The case is again opened, and there, reposing in its velvetlined interior, is the previously vanished pipe. The impedimenta necessary are six silks, two red, two green, two yellow; a large folding oriental fan ('see your nearest Japanese art store) ; a Chinese opium pipe, consisting of solid tips and a paper tube barrel (Fig. 1) ; a duplicate, solid pipe; and, the case (Fig. 3). A red, a green and a yellow silk are joined together at one corner and a black shoe button attached to the joined corners. This set is secreted in a pocket at the back of the fan. (Fig. 2) with the button and the corners hanging out. The opening at the top of the pocket is held open by a piece of wire. The other set of silks is stuffed into the paper barrel of the pipe (they may be tied corner to corner.) The pipe barrels should be about 3/4 in. by 18 in. over all. The case is made as shown in the illustration. The bed on which the pipe rests is on a level with the opening of the box. This is pivoted so that it may be turned over by swinging the crank arm which extends from one end of the case. The solid pipe is held on the bed by small spring-wire clips and, at the outset of the trick, is on the under side, (Fig. 3). The fake pipe rests on top. The manipulation of the fan and silks is just a matter of a little practice and should not be found difficult.

THE FIVE SENSES V By the late T. Page Wright The basic idea of this experiment was suggested by us some years ago in the Magical Bulletin, but the feat seems worthy of a more detailed discussion, giving the precise moves of the various discoveries. The trick resolves itself into a location of five cards selected by as many members of the audience. It is invested with an air of novelty by means of the patter plot, which is as follows: "In order to be a successful magician, a man must have every Fourteen

sense abnormally alert. Every one of the five senses—sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste—must be highly developed. You may have wondered, for example, how a conjurer can locate a card which has been shurfled back into a deck. The truth is that if his senses are properly developed, by the aid of any one, the chosen card can be identified. I am not content with statements; I shall offer proof." Advancing to the spectators, the performer has five cards selected and returned and secretly passes them to the top. The precise means employed in this preliminary portion of the effect may be left to the individual, for the individual will be able to pick methods suited to his own ability. But, let us raise one point of comment. The main thing to work for, in deciding upon a routine of having the cards selected, is speed. While the performer is in the audience, only a dozen of those present can watch what he is doing. The others are forced to wait without anything to hold their interest. Too long a wait causes a drop in attention that can never be repaired. Hence, the magician should by all means eschew those involved, if clever, routines, wherein the first card is returned, passed to the top, retained there on a shuffle, passed back to the center and the second card replaced on it, etc. Something simple and quick is far to be preferred, even though it be less baffling to the few who can watch the procedure. For the magician with enough skill, the best method is probably to have five people in succession merely glance at a card by lifting a ' corner of the deck—these being brought to the top each time by the side steal. For the magician who wishes a method requiring no skill, let him fan the pack and quickly pass along the row, having each of five people withdraw one card. Then, he can square up the deck, and cut it, secretly bridging the upper half so that when replaced, a break will be formed at the inner end, so that after each card is replaced, he can throw the upper packet on top and square up the deck, and cut it, secretly bridging the upper half so that when replaced, a break will be formed at the inner end, so that after each card is replaced, he can throw the upper packet on top and square up the cards, and then cut again, presumably at random, for the next card

to be returned, the cards thus being returned on each other. Either way, the selection of the cards can be gotten through in record time, letting the magician continue with what is to the audience far more important than the ingenuity of the method— the entertaining portion of the effect. While shuffling and cutting the deck, the magician goes over what has happened. "Five cards have been selected, and mixed back into the deck. Now, to show how any sense can be used to locate a chosen card. First, the sense of sight." The riffle shuffling which the performer does, fails to disturb the five cards on top. Now, the bottom card of the deck is secretly noted, and, then, the deck is given a genuine cut, bringing the selected cards to the center with the noted card above them. To locate a card "by sight," the magician fans out the cards face up, running them from hand to hand until he sees the noted card. With an exclamation, he picks out the card below it, declaring that it looks as though it were one of the cards selected. This fact is verified, and the card is dropped onto the table. Meanwhile, the performer has casually cut at the spot from which he removed the card, thus bringing the other four selected cards back to the top, and, at the same time, he has noted the identity of the next one of them—the one now at the top of the deck. "Next, to prove that I can tell a selected card just by listening to it." The deck is held to the right ear, between both hands, and the left thumb riffles down the side of the cards while the performer listens intently. Suddenly, his expression lights up, and he separates the deck at that point. "That sounds like one of the cards chosen!" In cutting the deck, the top card is brought onto the lower portion— the left hand packet—by means of the slip sleight. The performer calls attention to it, tapping it with the right forefinger. For the moment, it remains face down. "From the sound, it should be your card"—the performer points to the next to the last person to take ?. card—"because, it sounds like the six of spades."

GENII The ear is brought down to the card, and the performer again listens intently, as during this last speech, he discovers the name of the card. It is now turned over and exhibited, and then dropped onto the table. "I shall try to detect a chosen card by my touch." The deck is given another quick shuffle, and dropped into the performer's pocket. With a pretense at searching, he reaches in and brings out the top card of the deck, which is admitted by the third selector to be his. If desired, the card can be secretly glimpsed before the deck is placed into the pocket, and its identity "read by touch" before it is brought into view. The deck is again brought out. The two remaining chosen cards are on top. "To discover a card by smell is more difficult, but I shall attempt it." The deck is held in the left hand, face to the audience and about on a level with the chin. The three top cards are slid off as one into the right hand. This is to prevent disclosure of the two selected cards. The performer raises this "card" to his nose and smells it, but without change of expression. Another card is slid off those in the left hand, going in front of the ones in the right hand, and again the right hand cards are brought up to the nose as this new card is smelled. The procedure is repeated, the cards being transferred one at a time from the top of the left hand packet to the face of the right hand packet and smelled each time. After this has been done about half a dozen times, as one card is being slid onto the face of the right hand packet, the thumbs behind the packets secretly slide the top card of the right hand packet onto the left hand packet. The move is entirely concealed from view, as both portions of the deck squarely face the spectators. Now, on the next move, this card is brought onto the face of the right hand packet. Apparently, it must have been several cards down in the deck. It is brought up to the nose, as the others have been, but, as the performer smells it, a look of recognition crosses his face. "This smells like one of the chosen cards!" The fact is admitted by the drawer thereof, and the card is dropped

onto the table. The right hand cards are replaced on those in the left hand, so that the remaining one of the selected cards is on top of the deck. "One card remains, and that I shall discover by my sense of taste!" The cards are fanned between both hands, and the fan held face to the audience. It is brought up to the mouth, and the lips are run along the edge of the fan, back and forth. Meantime, the thumbs of both hands are busily engaged in pushing the top card along behind the fan to about the center. The lips grip it, and begin drawing it upward, from behind the fan. Apparently, it is being pulled up from the center of the fan. At the same time, the card is slid actually into the fan, sideways, so that after it has been pulled up about half its length, the lips can release it and the fan turned face down so that the spectators can see that the card is really being drawn from the center of the fan as the fingers pull it out. It is again exhibited as the last drawer acknowledges it to indeed be his card. The feat is over. Magicians with a liking for comedy will realize that this can be built up into a most amusing novelty, and one which, though comparatively easy, appears to be an exhibition of remarkable skill.

THE HAUNTED HOUSE Patter for the Glass Penetration By Irving Joslyn Most magicians are familiar with the excellent effect wherein a glass rod, or stilletto, penetrates a sheet of glass, the latter being mounted in a wood frame. Clips, on either side of the glass hold two cards in place above and below the center. I believe the idea was evolved by Massey and improved upon by Frederick DeMuth. It has become so popular that it is stock apparatus with almost all dealers and comes in various sizes and styles. My effect varies little from the original. The center is first pierced and then a plain, white silk handkerchief is passed, apparently, complete-

ly through the glass. The procedure is repeated, and the silk drawn through the glass again. Then the cards are removed and everything is shown to be exactly as it was in the beginning. "This is a barred window, removed from the topmost tower of a haunted castle. That is, it was reputed that the castle was haunted for, though it was very old, and had been uninhabited by human beings for over a hundred years, at night strange things took place to befuddle the simple country folk thereabouts. Though every door was locked, and every window barred just as is this, ghosts apparently entered and departed from the castle at will. "Interested, as am I, in all manner of psychic phenomena, I procured one of the windows when the castle was recently razed, and I think I have discovered the secret of the strange occurrences. But one thing is lacking: the slatted shutters of the windows which were always partially closed. To make up for their absence I ask your indulgence while I insert cards beneath the bars. The cards, which I place both above and below the glass, we will pretend are the ancient shutters. Thus prepared, it is a fair representation of the window. "The handkerchief is the ghost. I would like to tell you that it is a piece of the very garment worn bv the same ghost that once haunted our castle. But I am an honest man and my conscience wouldn't let me go that far. Now this much I will confess: the spirit was a most felonious shade and always carried a complete set of burglar tools, among them a pick, such as this. But as a phantom night prowler, he was not at all crude. Th°re was no jimmying the sash or prving off of hinges. Instead, he'd press the pick against the glass like this and make a small hole. This done (here start the silk through the glass by aid of the pick) he would gather up his etherial skirts and pass right through the glass of the window; like this. Softly, and with no clanking of chains. Look! He will do it again. There he starts. Now he's half wav through. Here he emerges, inside. "No, it was not just an illusion. The shutters really have holes in them now. But the window is intact, just as it was before. And that's Fifteen

GENII the thing that always fooled the country folk." I recommend that, instead of using the glass rod or dagger, which are usually supplied with the trick, that the reader use an ice pick. Also, use a good sized silk, at least seventeen inches square. Don't whip the silk through; bring it through slowly— imagine that it is really a ghost.

MODERN CARD SLEIGHTS Beginning a Series By the late T. Page Wright and William W• Larsen To gather material adequate for the production of an exhaustive discussion of sleight of hand with cards, without making it a compilation of matter previously in print, has proven by no means an easy task. The exclusion of material already available to magicians at large has, of course, made entirely impossible the production of a series which could claim to be complete, but, when we call it exhaustive, we simply mean that a mastery of the sleights to be described would fulfill every requirement of the expert card manipulator, inasmuch as every basic sleight is represented herein in some form Nor, has this been achieved by deliberately setting out to devise variations upon standard moves. The technique of sleight of hand is constantly changing. The complex sleight gives way to the simple; the difficult sleight, to the subtle. Moves once considered basic have fallen practically into disuse, and the other moves, once considered of little value, have proven capable of amazing development. A few of the sleights to be described are known to some members of the magical fraternity, but, to our knowledge, they have never appeared in print, and their utility is such that they deserve to be placed upon permanent record. The majority of the ideas will be found new to all. In many cases, they represent but minor variations upon the usual procedure, but, in pure sleight of hand, the detail of handling is everything, and a Sixteen

minor variation may make the difference between a smooth and finished performance and a clumsy one. Every sleight has but one proper execution, and, if it is not to be done perfectly, it is best not done at all. The Pass This sleight, once considered the indespensible essential of the card manipulator, has fallen largely into disuse for the purpose of which it was originally most often employed— bringing a chosen card to the top of the deck—and for good reason. The move is very hard to conceal. While many boast of their invisible pass, the number of performers that can actually make one, without using, as cover, involved gymnastic swings of the body suggestive of the daily dozen, is not large. To bring a card to the top, modern performers prefer, in general, to employ one of the numerous variations of the overhand shuffle which will effect that purpose, or, if expert in sleight of hand, the sleight known as the side steal. We have, however, devised a one handed pass of our own which, under normal conditions of performance, can be successfully employed to bring the card to the top without risk of detection. In addition to this, there are times when no other sleight will serve as a substitute for the pass, for there are feats in which it is essential to secretly reverse the positions of the two halves of the deck. We have a couple of versions of the two handed pass, more or less original, which can be executed with a minimum of suspicious movement and which may prove of value in some experiments, though we seldom employ them for the simple location of selected cards. But, before we describe these, let us offer a suggestion of general utility. The wise performer will constantly vary his mode of procedure as much as possible, and, hence, a method by which any pass may be executed as an invisible pass should prove of interest. Fan the deck behind vour back for the selection of a card. Then, square up the deck and cut it for the Curd to be returned, still behind your back. Turn to face the spectator, remarking that as the card was selected and returned behind your back, you cannot possibly suspect the identity of it. While you are saying this, you bring the squared up pack around into view. The cards have been out of sight but for a sec-

ond, but, in that second and behind your back, the pass has been executed. It is obviously impossible that anyone in front of you can glimpse any suspicious movement, and to the layman, it merely appears that you have worked under more than normal difliculties in handling the cards out of sight. Any type of pass, either one handed or two handed, can be worked in this manner, and the move is impractical only when the performer is completely surrounded by spectators. Invisible Standard Pass This is a development of the regulation two handed pass, differing only in the position in which the deck rests in the hands. The handling is such that the pass, performed with moderate skill, is practically invisible. The deck rests in the left hand w,fh the barks of the cards to the palm. The left third—not little— iinjjci is inserted in the deck, separ-

ating the two packets to be reversed. The performer stands so that his left side is to the audience. The right fingers and thumb grip the cards at the ends. The pack is held, as it were, upon its side, the backs of the cards—and the back of the left hand —being to the audience. The packet nearest the left palm is gripped by its ends between the tip of the right thumb and the right second and third fingers. The other packet is gripped between the left third finger and the left second and little fingers, which rests upon the face card of the pack. The whole deck is now slid down in the left hand until the tip of the right second finger rests in the crotch of the left thumb. In this position, the cards are almost completely hidden from the view of the spectators by the left palm. The pass is made, the one packet being lifted away by

GENII the left fingers to permit the other to be raised, by the right third finger tip and thumb ,so that the positions of the packets can be reversed. The movements by which the actual reversal is accomplished are almost identical with the conventional, but the position in which the deck is held prevents the audience from seeing the usual "flash" as the packets are transposed. The fact that the pack is held so far down in the hand makes it necessary to use the left third finger between the packets, instead of the little finger, as in the usual method. The Invisible Palm Pass This is radically different in theory from any other pass which we have ever encountered, the transposition of packets taking place un-

of the cards that is so held and not the whole pack. The apparent purpose of the movement is simplv a transference of the deck to the right h?nd to permit the left to be shown, front and back. Now, the left hand is held, palm toward the audience and fingers pointing toward the f'oor, ?nd the right hand is brought over it with a downward movement, from the wrist towards the fingers. As the cards in the right palm are brought into the curve of the left fingers, they are placed therein, and, instantly, with a continuation of the downward movement, the other cards are deposited on top of them, thereby bringing about a reversal of the original positions of the packets and so completing the pass. Anyone with hands large enough to invisibly palm half a pack can execute this pass without any possibility of anything suspicious becoming visible. To all appearances, the deck is merely shifted from one hand to the other, and back, to enable the hands to be shown empty alternately. In working this move upon a stage the performer will stand with his right side slightly toward the spectators, and the back of the right hand kept toward them, but the pass can be worked in a circle of suspicious watchers, at very close range, if the right palm is kept to the floor.

der cover of a routine of natural movements. To use this pass for bringing a single card to the top would seem to involve a disproportionate amount of labor, but it is excellent for any other experiment, where a pass is the only move that will serve, as in the feat of the Jumping Jacks, which will be found given in conjunction with the method of making the pass next to be described. The deck is held in the left hand, the little finger separating the packets. The right hand is casually shown empty, both sides being shown. The light hand is then brought over the pack, and the upper packet palmed in the right hand, by the action of straightening the left fingers. The lower packet is instantly taken bv the right hand, by the thumb at one end and the first finger at the other, the cards being gripped at the extreme right corners so as to leave their whole surface exposed to view. As the back of the right hand is necessarily kept to the audience, it cannot be perceived that it is only a portion

The Kick-Out Pass This is another pass that from a front angle is absolutely invisible, regardless of how closely the hands may be watched. The deck is held by the sides in the left hand. The tip of the thumb rests against the center of one side. The tips of the first, second and third fingers rest against the other side, together, at the inner end. These fingers hold a break between the upper and lower packets of the deck. Due to the position of the fingers, the break is completely concealed from a side view. The tip of the little finger rests against the inner end of the deck. The right hand is brought over the cards so that it covers them. The right fingers are held together, with the first finger extended naturally, and the others bent down towards the palm. The first joints of the fingers are placed against the outer end of the deck. The left little finger pushes on the inner end of the lower packet, pushing it out about half an

inch at the outer end. Instantly, this projecting end is gripped by the right fingers, which clip it against the palm as an outward movement of the right hand draws this packet out from beneath the other. The right hand is again brought back over the cards in the left hand, and the former lower packet, gripped by the right hand, is deposited on the rest of the deck, reassembling it and so completing the pass. Due to the position in which the packet is clipped against the right palm, there is not the slightest risk of the spectators' catching a glimpse of it during the action of making the pass. The necessary movement' of the hands, however, are very broad, and, hence, in any experiment in which this pass is utilized, it is essential to provide apparent excuses for) these movements, that will make them seem to be natural gestures. The sleight is not especially wellsuited for bringing a card to the top of the deck, but is excellent for other experiments in which a pass is required—for example, that old yet effective one in which the red aces at top and bottom of the deck change places with the black aces which have been placed in the center. It is to be found in Professor Hoffman's Modern Magic. We execute a version of it, borrowing the patter idea from Erdnase and combining with the original feat the Leipzig four ace effect, described in Down's Art of Magic, as the Sixth Method of working the four ace experiment. The title that we use for this combination is: The Jumping Jacks "Allow me to introduce to vour notice the Foui Jumping Jacks, Acrobats de Luxe. You may not have realized that cards of the pack Seventeen

GENII could do clever tricks, without human intervention, but I assure you that at all kinds of somersaults and fancy tumbling, these cards are unbeatable, even though they are knaves." While pattering in this vein, the performer places the black jacks at top and bottom of the deck, and the two red jacks in the center. The deck is taken in the left hand, in position for the pass, with the cards face down. To impress the positions of the cards upon the memory of the spectators, the performer raises the top card of the deck at the outer end and shows again that it is one of the black jacks. Then, he brings the left hand, with the deck, across in front of his body to the right side, so that the face of the bottom card is exposed, and it is seen to be the other black jack. He swings around to the left, bringing his right side to the spectators, and, in the action, the pass is made. The action of the hands in making the pass is covered bv the greater movement, and it appears merely that the right hand has been brought over the deck to square up the cards. The right hand is again dropped to the side, and the left hand is held well out from the body, holding the deck in full view. "At command, these four acrobats will perform simultaneously. The black jack on top will perform a front flip and land in the center of the deck, and, at the same time, his dark-complexioned brother on the bottom will do a back flip and land with him, while the two red jacks in the center will do double somersaults out of the way and land at the top and bottom respectively. Watch closely! One— two—three!" The left thumb riffles the side of the deck shaiply, after which all four jacks are shown to have shifted their positions. The rather complex manner of stating what is to occur, in the patter, completely misdirects the average layman from the fact that this apparently involved transposition requires onlv a single cut to accomplish. Now, the feat is repeated, but this time with the faces of the cards towards the audience, under cover of the right hand. The same method of making the pass is used, it being handled as a color change. "They are performing very well today. Perhaps, we can get them to do some even more difficult aerobatics."

The red jacks are handed to one spectator, and the black jacks to another. I'hese black jacks are placed at top and bottom of the deck, respectively. The performer turns with the deck to the other spectator, giving the cards what appears to be a simple cut, so that the red jacks may be replaced in the center. Actually, he executes the conventional two handed pass, so that the red jacks are replaced between the others. The two portions of the deck are placed back together. In so doing, the performer allows two cards from the bottom of the upper packet to drop onto the lower and then holds a break at this point. A moment later, he does the conventional two handed pass. This brings the four jacks to the top, all together, with one indifferent card on top of them. "I am going to order these jumping jacks to all somersault right out of the deck!" The riffle is made by snapping the sides of the cards with the left thumb. Then, it is shown that the jack on top is gone, that the jack on the bottom has gone, and, by running through the cards, it is shown that the jacks which were in the center have also gone. "The jacks are bounding all around the room. If you watch, one will jump back onto the face of the pack!" The indifferent card on top is secretly disposed of after the business of showing that the jacks are gone. Then, one jack is made to appear on the face of the deck, by slapping it with the right hand — the conventional side steal color change move. "I just saw one jump into your pocket!" The next jack, palmed from the top, is produced from the pocket of a spectator. "And one jumped right under my knee!" The means of producing a card from the knee will be described in the next issue. "The last one seems to have jumped back into the deck, but, maybe, we can make it jump out again!" The fourth jack, now on top, is secretly backpalmed by the right hand. The performer stands with his left side to the spectators, and holds the deck in his left hand. The right hand is held above the deck, and a series of movements is made as though the right hand were trying to

attract a card and cause it to rise upward from the pack. On the third of these movements, just as the right hand is being brought away from the deck, the back-palmed card is brought to the finger tips. The illusion of a card having leaped from the deck into the hand held above is remarkably good. This last sleight, we believe, should be credited to Thurston. The Fan And Pass This sequence of movements is, apparently, merely to permit a card to be selected and replaced in a graceful manner, but the additional purpose is served so completely covering a one handed pass which brings the card to the top of the deck. The Page pass, see Oct. Genii, needs no such cover, though it fits perfectly into the sequence, but the Charlier pass and

others less seldom seen are almost impossible to hide, with usual handling, while this routine makes the employment of one of them perfectly practical. The performer brings forward a pack, shuffling it, and, perhaps, permits someone else to give it an additional mixing. The top half is then lifted off in the right hand and fanned—a one handed fan—and this is extended towards a spectator with a request that he will take one of the cards. As soon as he has made a selection, the fan of cards is withdrawn from him, and the packet in the left hand is extended with a request that he will place the card therein as soon as he has noted it. At the same time, these left hand cards are divided into two packets, as in the first stage of the one handed pass, so that the chosen card will be replaced on top of the undermost packet. Now, the fan of cards in the right hand is momentarily brought over the left hand cards, and under its ample cover, the one handed pass is made. Instantly, the fan is turned sideways, and struck on the left hand portion, to square the fan into a single packet, which is then slid under the left hand cards, thereby reassembling the complete deck.

GENII

BY

C.

T.

AS the Christmas season approaches, and its meaning of "Good Will Towards Men" is called to our attention, the writer is reminded of his pertinent remarks in the past. The old holiday spirit has got me— and the way I feel right now — I should apologize for all I've said, but I'll stop right now before I do. SANTA Claus doesn't only come once a year to the Magicians on the Pacific Coast; he lives there the year around. His real name is Caryl S. Fleming. IF I were Kris Kringle, I would see to it that— Judge Fricke got a box of GOOD cigars— Floyd Thayer, a new pipe— Earl Rybolt, a new necktie— Harry Mendoza, a w o n d e r screen— Frank Whitson, a bottle of Listerine— but, for all of me— Frank Fewins would not get a thimble— Dr. Trask, a gun— Ray Gamble, an elephant— Bill Taylor, a "Blue Phantom"— Billy MacHarkness, any spikes.

around waiting his call— Frank Fewins doing thimble moves before a mirror— Everybody looking for the prize stage-hand, Arnold Furstenburg, and he was sitting in the front row, as usual— Mrs. William Larsen "the beautiful lady in red" greeting friends— Max Terhune in a huddle with Harry Mendoza doping out a gag. T H R E E fellows who think they are the original "Three Wise Men" —Taylor, Kosky and Larsen. FRED Keating M.C.'d a benefit show recently. The program included a polo match and a steeple chase. Fred should have felt right at home with the horses. T H E R E is one magician on the Pacific Coast, who surely has a great following — four women, the sheriff, a Finance Company and Charlie Miller.

IF there is anything to be done, anytime or anyplace, Bill Taylor should always be Chairman of the Committee; even though he does drive a new Packard. THANKS to Archie Dollinger for the following— Al Baker still does cup and balls, and does them beautifully with straw baskets which he buys at the five and A T last! "Dr." Charles Hoffman dime. has gone professional, and now he Ben Erens is out of magic, but is thinks he is good enough to give away as good a fur salesman as he was a magical secrets in magazine articles. Read last month's Popular Mechan- card man. John Booth was in town before ics. opening his show in Scranton. Nate Leipzig looks swell with his I hope my friends find out in some hair dyed black. way that I want a vent dummy for Blackstone was in the city for a Christmas. few days, but is back on the road again. FRED Kapp writes me what he Faces you are sure to see any Sat-, saw back stage at a recent magic urday afternoon at Max Hold ens— show in Pasadena on November 13 : Sam Horowitz, Dai Vernon, Dr. L. O. Gunn de-tailing his doves— Dalv, Jean Hugard and Johnny The Great Leon giving Jim Con- Scarne. ley some last minute advice— George Baxter, stage manager, getNEWS from Reno tells me the ting things all lined up for the world's lousiest magician headquarcurtain— Dr. diGhilini rounding up all the ters there. I must meet him at the spooks for the final rehearsal— convention next year. A lot of peoGerald Kosky putting the finishing ple say I'm lousy too. touches to his make-up— I have found in my many acWilliam Larsen calmly sitting

quaintances with magicians, that a magician is a good fellow only until he begins to believe his own publicity. W H A T well-known magi from Oakland, California spent a few days in Los Angeles some time ago, and paid a $4.50 taxi fare and never rode in the cab? W H O is this fellow who calls himself "Marvel the Mystic?" From the reports I get, he should use perfume in the act. T H E R E was a stampede in one of the leading Los Angeles vaudeville houses last week. A Magician had a beautiful, scantily-attired, young lady on the stage, and he announced—(I quote) "I am going to make this girl vanish. Would any of you gentlemen care to step up and disappear with her?" (end of quote). Chris and Len will be out of the hospital in a few days. HEADLINE in a local newspaper sometime ago—FIRE PLUG FREAKS—WETS DOG. Speaking of dogs, we hope every magi who has a dog will have a Christmas tree this J U S T received a box of Christmas candy and nuts from an unknown admirer, the candy to yours truly and the nuts to all you guys— AND now — A CHRISTMAS and N E W YEAR. Cheerio.

MERRY a HAPPY

Greatness is often a state of mind.

William W. Larsev. L. O. GUNN "Master

Magician"

Box 5982 Metro Station Los Angeles, California

SEASON'S GREETINGS FRANZ H. CHRISTENSEN Nineteen

GENII

PAGING THE EADIEJ GERALDINE CONRAD some packs of rainbow pads, some envelopes, pencils and slates. These can all be purchased at the dime store. If he does card tricks, what could be better than a carton of playing cards? I heard your husband say that they should be of standard size, preferably with blue backs. It seems the blue backs are less apt to give a flash. League backs are the best reversibles. If he does cigarette manipulation, he will welcome a carton of his favorite brand of cigarettes with a few #** boxes of, apparently, lighted cigarette Merry Christmas stubs. These can be purchased at • almost any novelty store. A L E T T E R T O SANTA A subscription to a good magic Dear Santa: You are so experienced in the Art magazine is always a good idea. He of Giving, I wonder if you would be will be reminded of your gift each kind enough to give me a few sug- month as he receives it. If the budget will permit, there is gestions for Christmas gifts for Magician Husbands? We, wives, nothing he would enjoy more than a realize only too well that they can movie camera. You can take movies go down to a good Magic store and of his act, and, for once, he can see buy ready made tricks, any time, but himself as others see him! The litwe would like to do a little some- tle cine-eights are so inexpensive thing different. Can you suggest and take splendid pictures! If you anything that we could make for already have a movie camera, then them ? We want them to know that give him several rolls of film for his we are really interested in their own use. hobby, yet the family budget does I hope that you will find these not permit our spending too much suggestions helpful. You know, I am money. We would appreciate it so beginning to be quite a Magician mymuch, if you would help us. self. I am expected to make gifts Yours very truly, appear on Christmas morning, and, lots of times, I have to do some tall Gerrie Conrad. sleight-of-hand and juggling to get • the proper gifts to the right people! SANTA REPLIES Then, I am always running into myDear Gerrie: self on street corners, stores and even I shall be delighted to give vou in the homes. Sometimes I'm fat, some suggestions for a Magician's sometimes lean, sometimes short and Christmas. Of course, there are sometimes tall! Sometimes there are some things you can makei Any five or six of me!!! What a life! magician would be more than pleased I'm even becoming quite a clairvoyto receive some large colored silk ant. Just to prove it to you, I'm handkerchiefs which you have going to make a genuine prediction: hemmed yourself. These can be All the wives of All the magicians made of china silk, or some prefer the will have a Merry Christmas and a fine linen scarf or handkerchief of Happy New Year! about twenty-seven inches. With best wishes for your page's If your husband does thimble manipulation, you can get thimbles succes in the coming year, I am Your Faithful Friend, in all colors at Kresses. If he does mental effects, get him Santa Claus. i hope you find upon your tree the things you most desire. Be they magic tricks or magic words that set your heart on fire. I hope that this new year will bring success and fame, happiness, and great content, and honor to your name. *** , ,

Twenty

Diary of a Magician's Wife One week from the diary of the fascinating, young wife of that famous amateur magician, Al Hocus. Monday This is always a busy time in our family; getting ready for Christmas! Al has been working out in his work shop almost every night. He makes the cutest things for the children; really much cuter than you can buy in the stores, and so much less expensive. He is making Junior a work bench and a pounding table for little Lotta; they must be nearly finished by now. Al went to his magic meeting tonite. These Monday nights certainly do roll around in a hurry! Gives me a chance to work on one of Al's Christmas presents ; a blindfold which can be passed for examination and absolutely can't be seen through. Yet Al will be able to see through it when he wants to! It really is very ingenious, I think, especially as this particular one is my own idea. Hope he will like it. Tuesday I have never seen Al so enthusiastic about working on Christmas before. He could hardly wait to get out to the work shop tonite; just bolted his dinner, and rushed out. He wouldn't let me go; said he wanted to surprise me. I wonder if he's making me one of those clever yard chairs I've been wanting, with the cute covered wagon top? Oh, I'm so curious! I tried to pump him for information, but he just smiled with a superior air and said, "Little girls must not ask too many questions." Wednesday A new trick Al ordered arrived today. He was all excited about it and got his tables out right away to practice it. He worked for an hour getting it set up, forgetting all about the work he should be doing in the

GENII work shop. The trick included a bottle, cylinders, red and yellow checkers and some glasses. Al needed rice and oranges for the trick, but we didn't have either in the house, so he decided to try it with a box of corn flakes and an egg. I must remember to have Liza order some rice and oranges for him! Well, just as Al started to do the trick, the egg began to roll off the table and, when Al tried to grab it, he knocked over the box of corn flakes. They went "all over the floor—the egg smashed all over our best rug—what a mess —what a mess!!! Of course Al blamed me because if I'd had rice and oranges it wouldn't have happened, but I just T O L D H I M that the next time he has tricks to practice with edibles he'd better practice in the kitchen first!!! Thursday The first thing I did this morning was to have Liza order rice and oranges for Al. He came home a little early, feeling grouchy, because things hadn't gone just to suit him at the office, so I knew it would please him if I asked him to do the new trick for me. He perked up right away. In fact, he whistled a tune as he set up the tables. What was my chagrin to find that Liza had only ordered a small amount of oranges and rice and, being anxious to try out our new Magic Mixer, had made orange juice from ALL the oranges. N'ot only that but she made a delicious rice pudding from ALL the rice, thinking she'd surprise us. Al went out to the work shop without a word, and I heard him pounding away like mad until time for dinner. I felt terrible about it, and so did Liza, but how did she know he wanted it for a trick ? Al wouldn't even touch any of the pudding, though it is one of his favorites!! Oh dear, well, maybe he'll forget his magic for awhile and finish his Christmas things. After all, Christmas is almost here and the children's toys should be more important to him than tricks he can do all the year round. Friday This is the last straw . . . . Al came in just beaming tonight and told me he was about to escort me out to see his latest creation in the workshop. I was a little disappointed because I realized right away that it couldn't be a present for me, after

all, or he wouldn't show it to me before Christmas. However, I always get a big kick out of things for the children, so I hurried out to the workshop with him. Imagine my dismay . . . . my amazement . . . . my ANGER when I found that the thing that Al has been working on, night after night, day after day, was a MAGIC TRICK!! He hasn't even started the children's things yet! It seems that some fellow in the magic club gave him some blue prints for making this special trick, and he has not only spent all his time and energy on it, but he used the material for little Lotta's table and the paint for Junior's work bench!! He won't begin to have time to get more and make them before Christmas! I was so mad I wouldn't even look at his darn trick — oh dear — here I thought he was just dear old Santa Claus, himself, out there making not only things for the children but something nice for ME. . . . Saturday Al and I have not even been speak-/ ing today. I slipped out to the workshop this morning and discovered that he has put the new trick awaj' way up high on a shelf. I guess he didn't feel he could trust me around it after the way I've acted. I don't care—I think I'm pretty patient about most things—but that was going a little too far. Sunday Evidently, when Al came home from work last night, he brought more lumber and paint because he got up early this morning, said something about hoping the neighbors wouldn't mind a little pounding on Sunday and went out to the workshop. He worked steadily all day; painted Junior's work bench and got Lotta's table "well on its way toward completion. He seemed so sorry, and, when he came into dinner with a smear of paint under one eye and a sliver in one of his fingers, he looked so like a penitent little boy that I just had to forgive him. I think I'll get some colored china silk and hem him some large handkerchiefs, to use in the new trick, for Christmas. He's been wanting some for a long time. Those with the blindfold should show him that I really have his interest in magic at heart, after all, and the Hocus family should be all set for a Happy Home Holiday Season.

We have known a young lady for some time who is not a magician, but is very interested in magic; not only interested, but really does some of it herself. She has the acumen, seemingly, to be able to figure out some of the most difficult tricks and really work them. Her system may not correspond with that of the magician, but, nevertheless, she gets results. The lady is Marguerite de la Motte, former motion picture star. With as few good lady magicians as there are on the stage today, I really feel that she should work up a magic act. Why don't you try it, Midge? We were glad to see so many of the Ladies attend the Big Magic Show in Pasadena, sponsored by the Shakespeare Juniors. Among those spotted in the audience were Mrs. Floyd Thayer, Mrs. Fred Kapp, Mrs. Franz Christensen, Mrs. Gertrude Larsen, Mrs. S. A. Conrad, Miss Irva Ross, Mrs. Leon and daughter, Mrs. Kosky, Mrs. George Baxter, Mrs. Max Terhune, Mrs. Victor Trask and many others. B { With the Bes'of Holiday 1 Greetings I

RUDY

M I LLER

k 1

CHE E RIO

j

BILL TAYLOR

FOR SALE: New Amplifier, 30 watt, undistorted power, 2 G12 Rolla Speakers, 80 feet shielded cord and all cased for portabilitv. Amplifier Thorardson throughout. For details as to price, etc., address Dr. "X," Box 560, Pasadena, California.

Twenty-one

GENII

STAGECC/in So your club is going to give a show? The fourth in a series of articles by Caryl S. Fleming, President of the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians. Now that we have all the committee chairmen appointed, the suggestion is not amiss that they immediately select and appoint their own committees from among the members who are not performing, or otherwise already occupied with duties for the greater preparation and efforts, the more perfect should be the results obtained. Let us direct our attention first to the general production director. He will select his show from among the available acts; likewise, his stage manager, who will in turn, as becomes necessary acquire additional assistants. Before the director can routine his acts, or build his show, it is absolutely essential in magic, that he knows in utmost detail just what each act has to offer and proposes to use in the way of effects. Hence, the .safest way in which to accomplish this is to demand that every act submit a detailed, written routine or description of his entire act, stage space required, lighting, music, off-stage assistance, number of people used, et cetera, and thus, as an old director of mine used to say—"get down to the bones of the thing right away." If talent is in abundance, it may be necessary to check the acts for general similarity and retain only the topnotchers, for, after all, the public is paying for a performance, in every sense of the word and not in an experimental display of talents. Having tentatively decided upon the real "starters," the next item to be considered is the series of effects proposed by each and any conflicting items stricken from the lists, so that there will be no duplication, basic or incidental, and remember, almost without exception, a "cut and restored rope trick," "torn and restored paper effect" and many other Twenty-two

popular magical effects are practically all the same to a lay audience, no matter whether a scissors or knife is used to do the cutting, or whether the rope is cut into two pieces or a dozen in the first instance and, in the second case, whether accomplished with newspapers, tissue serviettes or the customary strips bearing Chinese (?) characters. Other items of common magical use, such as silks, cards, coins, flowers, live stock and so forth permit a greater latitude, but, even with these, it would hardly be well to permit acts employing similar adjuncts to appear too close to each other in the run of the show. After all, just as a club magic show is made up of a variety of acts, so should the acts be made up of a variety of apparatus and effects, so that the whole will live up to its name—variety. The director's word should be final and not subject to question. With the duplications ruled out and tricks substituted, the general rotation of the acts as they are to appear must now be considered, and the final outcome is of the utmost importance, for it is easily understood that an act which may be good in one spot may show up badly in another and not only affect the reception of the act which follows it, as well as its own success, but, also, the entire evening's entertainment. As an example of what was considered ideal there probably is no better authority to consult than the general set-ups used by Keith's Palace Theatre in New York City, the "Number One" vaudeville house of the country, where only the very best obtainable was shown. The usual bill was nine acts, in the following rotation, reasons for which will be stated as we progress: First—a "dumb act" or pantomime. Magically, a manipulative act would be ideal, just so that it makes a good impression and will not be spoiled by

the late arrivals' taking their seats and an act that does not depend, par-^ ticularly, upon the continuity of words or actions. Second—Almost any type of act, just so that it is more entertaining than the first. Technically, the purpose of the "number two act" is to settle the audience and prepare it for the show. Third—an act that could be counted upon to wake up the audience. The show has now been started and well established and must now progress from one height to another. A comedy act would be excellent in this spot or an act that has speed so as to have the audience wondering what will come next. Fourth—must be a "corker" and if possible a "name." One that will rouse the audience to expect still better things. This act should be the first real big punch in the show. Fifth—a big act, maybe another "name"—must be one of the real hits on the bill and something the audience will remember, possibly some thing of a very novel nature, or spec tacular, maybe miniature or full stage illusions. It is next to intei mission and it is vital that the audi ence have something really worth while to talk over. The second best act on the entire bill as a fitting climax to the first half. Sixth—the first act after intei mission is most difficult to select, foi it must not let down the carefully built-up tension that has been created, and, still, it must not outshine the acts that are to follow. Certainly this act must pick up the tempo of the show and accellerate interest, for the audience must again be restored to an expectantly-delighted attitude for the second half of the show would be infinitely faster than the first. Seventh—a stronger act than its predecessor, possibly comedy or anything that builds up the interest and appreciation to welcome the star act which is to follow.

GENII Eighth —the "big thrill" of the evening—the very best you have to offer—the act for which the audience has been waiting. Ninth—and now the closing act. Possibly some of the audience are in a hurry to be off to their aftertheatre supper and dance, so this act should be a big surprise "flash"—an act not depending entirely upon its lines being heard perfectly. Therefore, what is known as a "sight'' act—possibly live stock, fast productions, silks or anything showv, so as to send the audience home pleased to the very last minute. The foregoing sounds like a pretty big order, especially considering the limitations for talent among some clubs, but remember, I am citing what was considered ideal (with a few suggestions of mine thrown in), and it is only possible to work with •whatever is available and make it conform as closelv as possible. Not only will the director find himself confronted with artistic problems but, also, those of a mechanical nature. The physical demands and limitations of the stage, time necessary for "striking" one act and "setting" another practically demand that two full stage acts do not follow each other. There must be no waits. The stride, once accomplished, must not be broken. One act must follow another and be dovetailed to fit. If a master 'of ceremonies is used, as one is frequently these davs, he must temper his remarks so as to carry the show forward and not retard it. He must not stall simply for the purpose of killing time while the next act is being set. Better that he attend rehearsals, learn where he can do the most good in a given time, so that his gags and announcements accomplish the purpose for which he is placed on the bill, without the audience's realizing that the time he spends before them is for mechanical needs instead of, as they should be made to believe, purely for their entertainment and information between acts. It is readily recognized that the simplest way to avoid any possibility of stage waits would be to schedule, alternately, acts in "one" and "full stage," "striking" the previous and "setting" the next to follow, but, again, this is not always advisable or possible. Two acts in "one" following each other are not so hard to

handle, ordinarily, but two "full stage" acts following each other offer to the master of ceremonies the opportunity to pull one of his "wows" that take enough time to cover the break smoothly. It seems, in magic, that there exists either a feast or a famine in available acts, and, for this unfortunate condition, there seems to be only one sure remedy—"guest artists"—members of other clubs volunteering to help out, which spirit of willingness is exhibited more eagerly in magic than among any other fraternity with which I have yet come into contact. A highly considerate custom that has sprung into vogue with the clubs of the P.C.A.M. has been for the club giving the show to defray traveling and living expenses of visiting magicians from other cities appearing gratis on their club shows and reimbursing members of their own club for expenses incurred for transportation of crates of illusions and other necessary paraphanalia which cannot be moved or handled by the magician himself. And, another creditable consideration is that of accepting bookings for the club benefit shows from a professional or part-time professional subject to three days cancellation in event that he is lucky enough to book some dates for real money. Next month, I shall ask your indulgence for permission to digress from the original schedule to interpolate a few private observations, some tried rules for performers as to stage deportment, appearance and so forth and a few odd suggestions generally. A very merry Christmas and a happy, prosperous New Year to you all. C. S. F.

cannot invent a trick, to which the only proper reply is that they have never really tried. Then, many experienced people say that it is far better to take the tricks invented by others, practice them well, add showmanship and business ability and become a great commercial success, rather than to dub around with experiment after experiment, hoping against hope to produce a miracle. Maybe so, but there is so solid a satisfaction in producing new marvels that its appeal cannot be ignored. Recently, a young man said to me after witnessing my show, "What must I do to be able to perform the Chinese rings like you do?" The only honest reply would be to tell him that he must purchase his set of rings in 1916! And practice them, and think and eat and dream chinese rings for years, and he may be able to perform them by and by. Ching Ling Foo was not far wrong when he said that it takes forty years to make a magician. And, so, it takes years to be able to invent new magic. I am just now arriving at a point where I have some actual results to show for mv years of day-dreaming, and you mav find some food for thought as I review what actually helped me onward to this point. About the time I was writing "Namreh's Necromantic Novelties" for Dr. Wilson in the Sphinx—say about 1920—I was, of course, quite young and filled with an intense fire of magical enthusiasm. I had learned to perform the dye tube, the egg bag, the vanishing bowl, passe bottles, nest of boxes and some other classics; but, I was not satisfied. Experience before audiences told me how effective some of these items were, and I began casting about for similar tricks that were newer and better. Well, the dealers and the books had no such, so, before I knew it, I was scheming out my own. Take the vanishing bowl, for instance. It was one of my first items, and the gasps that I heard, and the open mouths that I saw when the By Herman L. Weber cloth was jerked away, and the bowl If you will forgive the many per- was gone, taught me that here was sonal allusions in what follow?, we a mystery. But, alas, comedy mamay arrive at a helpful exchange of gicians and vaudeville jugglers ruined ideas on the elusive problem of in- this effect bv turning the tray about venting new tricks. Far too many at the finish. And, anyway, the fellows in magic today say that they bowl was too small. Problem: to de-

The Joy Of Invention

Twenty- three

GENII vise a larger vanishing bowl upon a different principle. In the years that have followed, I have never ceased to think of methods of accomplishing this feat. In 1926, while employed at Montgomery Ward and Company in Chicago, a bright idea of placing the bowl on a screen-table presented the problem of disposing of the water. Before I knew it, I had hit upon the principle since known as "The Secret Panel", which you may read in the January, 1934, Sphinx. Altogether, I have planned maybe thirty ways and means of vanishing the bowl. Most of them were bad, but they cost me only the paper on which they were written. When it came to putting the best of them into practice, I found the process expensive but exhilarating. At this writing, the trick has been performed twice in my evening show with success, but, let me tell you that the first performance was equal to an opening night at a Broadway production as far as I was concerned. Would they get it? Would their thought processes follow the paths I had outlined for them? It was one of my most exciting moments and really worth the several hundred dollars and the years of planning. Today, there must be only two more rebuildings of the trick. One to get rid of the buckets and one to recast the size so all will pack snugly. For, after all, six gallons of water cannot go "up your sleeve." The shooting of borrowed rings and watches into a nest of boxes was another item I wanted to improve. When, about 1921, someone suggested in a magazine, a feat of vanishing a silk, and, by exchanging the package under a handkerchief, have a duplicate silk appear inside a light bulb, the idea began to develop that here was an effect more exciting for today's audiences than was the watch in loaf for the spectators of Signor Blitz's day. I actually have notes on this effect made while attending the theater in 1921 with a friend who objected strenuously to my preoccupation. Call it the subconscious, if you will, but I know better. It takes years of reading, observing and bludgeoning the brain until a flash will come. So that until I saw in a tubular showcase bulb the answer to my problem, I was just digging, digging. But the Tnentr-lnn

gold was finally unearthed, and you can read it in the Sphinx for September, 1933, under the title, "Electrick." And, despite the critics of my farfetched mechanics, this effect has been performed in my evening show for over a year. True, a real mechanic built it for me, but, after all, that was his job. A borrowed handkerchief is shot into a burning light bulb and taken therefrom wrapped in cellophane. A one-man effect. Has it been worth the years of effort? Hear the murmurs that accompany its performance, and you will say, "Yes." Occasionally, I found it very helpful to take old principles and make new tricks from them. For instance, I have had the sport of devising three distinctly different magical effects based upon the principle of the sand frame. At first glance, you might think the Vanishing Bowling Ball, recently explained in Genii, was based upon the idea of the Sliding Die Box. The truth is that the original inspiration for such an effect came when first I read Goldston's explanation of the Bucket and Doves Illusion, where one dove looks like a dozen. "Here is a principle," thought I, "worthv of adaptation to another vanish." For, after all, the most difficult effects are the vanishes. Try to invent one for a change! In fact, you had better spend all your thought on the vanishes, and, while you are doing that, other effects will intrude upon vou by the wayside. So, get the vam'shes first. But, as the years roll around, I find that my greatest success at reorigination has come by taking an old stand-by, not necessarily a classic, but a substantial trick and eliminating its weak points. The ten card trick, the growing rosebush, the restored rope, the linking rings, the swami, the ghost cabinet, the ink to goldfish, the flag vase, the rice bowls, the parasol, all these have been and still are amenable to improvement. But, I did not do it for fame or glory but FOR T H E SHEER JOY OF T H E DOING. The planning in itself is such fun, and the actual performance of a new idea adds a zest that I have been unable to obtain from anything else in the woild. Think, for example, of the great fun

of dyeing 27-inch silks, using a transparent celluloid sheet rolled into a tube instead of the prosaic cardboard or paper! Conceive, if you can, of the joy that is in store when, at long last, one can present say an hour's program, every item of which will be startling, new, different! Now for the sermon. Young Mr. Magic Bug, if this article engenders in you a desire to devise something new and splendid, please begin now! My own early crudities at origination were worse than yours will be, for, after all, the principles of clean magic, sans drapes, sans suspicion, have seen great modern improvements. But, do not waste your brain on trifles. Rather, take some essential, basic magical effects and work on them. Try to devise new vanishes, I repeat. Let time roll on, but keep improving your standards, and, some glorious day in 1948 or 1957, you will blossom forth as a full-fledged inventor, a real magician. But. remember, you must begin now.

NEWS

—

NEWS

Jesse A. Mueller has joined forces with Russell C. Westover, jr., and moved his office to the Hearst Building in San Francisco. Virgil and Company are back in the Northern Section of the Coast, having played through Idaho last month. Haskell, now appearing at the Bal Tabarin to continuous encores, seems muchly interested in the little blonde at the end of the line. Leo Metzner, founder of the Capitol City Magic Club of Sacramento, California, has moved to Hollywood (1365 N. Ridgewood Place) where he and wife Martha will pursue the glazed fruit business. Daughter Gloria who appeared on programs at the Oakland and Hollywood Conventions can be expected to make a place for herself in local magical performances there. Wonder if "C. T." isn't really "C. T , jr"?

AS9A9 Haskell is at the Bal Taberin in San Francisco; most exclusive night spot in that illuminated city. Tells us that he has spent a lot of time with Frank Chapman, Shell Oil Company magician, and that the latter is just as good as I proclaim him to be. Frank, by the way, sends regards to Vin Carey. Seems that all the Baltimore lads are working . . . . Al Baker continues to snare the good dates around New York. Word reaches us that Al is unsurpassed when it comes to "kid" work. However, so many of his subtleties have reached us that we know that he is fully capable before any audience . . . Annemann gives us Jinx number 26. Do you like magic? Yes? Then buy the Jinx. Genii editor finds his letter to Ted published verbatim in the current issue. However, it would be good anyway . . . . Frank Fewins has a first class club act. Seems impossible that the last time we saw Dorny was ten years ago. Soon we'll both be in the 'I remember when—" class. The lad improves, and time marches on. Remember "Trix and Chatter" ? Louis Haley contributed a good trick thereto which we have never seen performed. Look it up . . . . Haley told me that the Fairy Ribbon was effected by a "mechanical, bow-legged shears" . . . And, going still further into history, I remember when Harriet, the petite dancer, refreshed herself with a drink of water from Dr. Finkle's pitcher

just before her act at an Elk's show! The pitcher contained a strong solution of phenothalien. Then Harriet did the splits. Time marches on . . . . Jim Conley likes Grant's ghost and girl effect. We have never heard from the Mr. Larson, of New York, who owns so much magic apparatus. Maybe because we spell our name Larsen. The former is Norwegian and Swede. The latter is Danish. But I am really Norwegian, Mr. Larson. May I go to Europe with you on your next trip abroad? The wife and boys? Surely, we'll have to take them too . . . . Harry Cecil tells me that Uncle Jim Barton gave him the Afghan Band patter. And I have offered him all the space he wants to tell his full side of the story . . . . Will someone tell me what happened to Domzalski, Detroit's Lawyer-Magician ? The magazines used to be gurgling over with his ice box . . . . Regards, Fi anz Massopust, and if you read this, please write. Eugene Laurant should rank with the greatest magicians of all time. His ring routine was much too good for the Tarbell Course, excellent as was the latter. Laurant's linking at anv point baffled me for years. Then too, who but that suave deceiver, would show a split ring, demonstrate its audible lack of soliditv, toss it away, and go right back to another of the same kind ? . . . . Joe Walter, magician and insurance man of Osh-

kosh, will agree with me . . . . Len Gunn puts his three doves in the dove pan just a second or two before his show. If the M. C. takes up too much time in announcements, Len raises the lid a time or two to insure the doves' supply of air. Too manv of us forget the well being of the little animals we use in our performances. Len loves every pet in his act. He actually feels indebted to them for their part in his performance. And the S. P. C. A. will get you, if you don't watch out . . . . And Caryl Fleming worries more about the guinea pigs and rabbits than he does about the sleights and apparatus . . . . I suspect any man who doesn't like dogs and who doesn't eat apples. All the good folk I know have a mania for both. ( Miaco's picture on the front of the Billboard. More power to him . . . . John Mulholland uses clean, pressed silk handkerchiefs. That, alone, should install him in the magical hall of fame . . . . And Milton Bridges, Park Avenue M. D. compliments Genii. I must get an Eastern correspondent. Tired, 'am I, stealing my copy from Billboard. ~ Wild Bill McCaffrey, Bill Frazee, Jack Hazelhurst, Frank Lane, U. F. Grant, Ben Badley and the rest please give us some news. This is Genii, not the Western Wizard's Woes. Just a word from Green Bay, Wisconsin, and I'd publish the secret of Leon's Twenty-five

GENII Death Ray Gun; willy-nilly • • • • surance business . . . . We want to Though Leon told me I could do it, see Paul Duke . . . . And why should anytime . . . . This guy C. T . is get- one not subscribe to the Jinx? Do ting me down. The last column bore illusions if you want to, but it is the post mark of Boise, Idaho. Just still a great sheet. It has a freshas I was thinking it was Talbot. But ness all its own; one which no magawhy should Talbot be in Miami one zine can attempt to duplicate. Annemann is one of the truly great writers month and Boise the next? Thayer puts out the best rarebit of the present magic era. Not so many weeks ago we had pan. All spun. This new idea for a dove production, a crystal box, is the pleasure of talking to a pupil of the McCoy too. I have dealt with the late Clinton Burgess. Burgess Thayer for over sixteen years, both must have been many years ahead of in person and by mail. Everything his time. Sleights known to him in has been just one hundred percent 1916 are just becoming popular o.k. . . . Up to date I will stand back among the fraternity now . . . . of everything advertised for sale in Twenty years is a long time . . . . Genii. If Thayer, The Magic Art Harry Mendoza is upset, no end, Studios, Joe Berg or any other has about his son. He says he last saw sold you a lemon I will refund your the lad in Singapore in 1904 . . . . money upon receipt of an honest Hundreds of clippings have been re"squawk." I could use advertising, ceived by Mrs. Houdini regarding but I have already turned down one the recent seance . . . . E. A. Dearn dealer. I know he is not reliable. has been in poor health but now is If you buy from a Genii ad you buy gradually improving. Residing in Shanghai, China, he has one of the with a guarantee. largest magic libraries in the world. Mardoni, and his gorgeous wife, are in the north, working dates at His services, as a magician, are ever big money. Mardoni can do so much in demand in the English speaking magic in five minutes as to make colonies . . . . Reno will stage its anHorace Golden a slow-poke. He uses nual Fall magic show in the Civic a verbal code in his telepathy act. Auditorium on December 5th. Leaf This, like his other magic, is fast. A McManus is in charge and reports kind old lady, at the San Diego Fair, that the tickets are selling well . . . . reprimanded him, "Young man, if Gig Miller and Al Saal paid a visit you wouldn't jabber so much that to Percy Abbott's place recently. Gig' young lady would have a much says that "Mom" is quite well again, easier time answering the questions." which is good news to all of us . Sic transit, etc. . . . The Magician, Ray Gamble and Herb Schuh have monthly, is in its thirty-third year . . . been having plenty of trouble because of the labor strike. However, that Time marches on! didn't stop Ray from adding twentyAnd, wherefore, Baffles Brush ? three more miniature elephants to his We saw his picture, many years ago, collection during the month of Noas a lad. Later, we had occasion to vember. His prize is a myopic view a kodak: and Baffles had aged pachyderm made of shell granite. It seventy years. Come, Baffles, where- comes from Austria. fore art thou? Genii will pay for a The Shell Oil Company has four present day, authentic, photo. You, who hide your light in the bushel, complete magic units on the road. are all that is left of Dr. Wilson's The magicians are headed by Jack Sphinx . . . . It, Sphinx, was a great Keyes, formerly the president of Ring paper when Alexander was running 59, Seattle. Keyes is now connected three page ads and Doc was fighting with the advertising department of with Burling Hull . . . . And how the Shell Oil Company, at the headmany know the true identity of Dr. quarters in San Francisco. The bodies Q. ? . . . . Alexander? No, you're of the trucks let down to form a stage, replete, at this season, with wrong. The election a surprise? Not to Christmas decorations. Even sound us. We'd read Dr. Saint's prediction equipment has been installed. The in our first issue. After all, three magicians work in full dress and each thousand mediums can't be wrong . . . has a stooge in the form of a clown. Commander Slayton is one of the Sympathetic silks, cut and restored best informed in magic circles. Now rope, umbrella vanish, die box, rabretired, he devotes his time to the in- bit production and the changing of Twenty-six

the clown into a Santa Claus comprises fifteen minute programme. R. G. Landis, formerly in vaudeville, wrote and directs the shows. It is good to see a big company fostering, rather than exposing, magic. Better buy a tank of Shell today. Joe Rukus, R. M. Jamison and Orville Meyer are three of the best creators of magic in the field today . . . . Caryl Fleming is an honorary member of the Magician's Club of London. I believe he is one of the very, very few Americans to have this honor. The membership was bestowed upon him in recognition of the good he has done for magic . . . . It was Caryl, by the way, who gave me the cocktail shaker trick with which I shall now bait Charlie Hoffmann . . . . Harry Pavey continues to induce his friends to buy Genii. Every few days a couple of orders, attributable directly to his good efforts, are received. Russ Walsh expects to make a trip West after the first of the year. We'll be looking for you, Russ . . . . How many tried the trick by Tenkai which appeared in the November issue? Already we've had a lot of swell comment regarding it . . . . And has anyone ever done the wagon wheel illusion that appeared in an old issue of the Magic Wand? We always thought it would be practical and very spectacular. It's worth looking up. ATA SUN GAI Lecturer on Chinese Magic 6411 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, California DAVID M. MISHEL 610 River Street, No. 4 El Paso, Texas MAGICIANS, CALL ME WHEN OUT MY WAY Phone Main 4420

R. E. LANGLEY 4184 Brighton Avenue Los Angeles, California VE 9355

GENII

CLUB REPORTS respected by every one. This is the membership in the Shakespeare Club first real loss the club has had. that we played the date. Harper Joy and Warren Anthony MENDOZA, HARRY M. C'd. are knocking them over with their at our "LADIES' N I G H T " and By E. V. Klein, Secretary also the big show. We liked that particular talents, some of the best. "crack" about, "The crowd sitting Many of the members of the • up in the mouldings," also, the imiSpokane Mystic Club have received a LOS MAGICOS ROLL CALL tation of Max Terhune doing the great many invitations during the FOR NOVEMBER echo trick. LEON, L. Whenever past four or five weeks to entertain at different social and community Members of LOS MAGICOS we put on special entertainment in functions. President C. W . Talbot wish all READERS O F " T H E the magic line, we take our tickets and Lee Hoagland recently appeared GENII" a MERRY CHRIST- first to Leon. He is sure to bring at Colville, Washington, at a big MAS and a PROSPEROUS N E W his relatives and friends, and we are assured of an audience. Does he grain meeting. YEAR. . . . know people? And, they are all inThe club has been invited to put The high-magic mark for Novem- terested in magic. EL PRESIon a show some time in December for ber came on the 2nd of the month D E N T E EARL RYBOLT. Missed the benefit of the North Hill Cath- with our "LADIES' N I G H T " at the show because of illness. Better olic church. The club has also been the El Mirador Cafe and, again, on health next time, Earl. Our GUEST invited to tie up with the MenFriday the 13th when S. A. M. PERFORMERS were Max TERdelssohn Music Club and help them ASSEMBLY No. 22 and LOS HUNE, Dr. diGhilini, James Conput on a show the latter part of Janley of the Mystic 13 and Frank uary. Klein and Burke have ap- MAGICOS staged a magic show Fewins of the Los Angeles Society peared before many of the commer- for the Shakespeare Juniors of Pasa- of Magicians. MAX entertained cial organizations and clubs during dena. Thumbing down our Roster, with "Skully" and his imitations, for we will pick out the ones who con- which he is famous. We all had the the last month. The 23rd annual banquet and stag tributed their talents to make these pleasure of meeting Mrs. Max Terhune back stage. DR. D I G H I party of the Spokane Mvstic Club affairs a success. BAXTER, GEO. Stage-managed LINI very generously supplied the will be held on the second Tuesdav in January, at which banquet a show the Magic Show and made a good second part of our show by presentwill be staged by the members and job of it. C H R I S T E N S E N, ing his SPIRIT ACT. Sixtv minone hundred and fifty business men, FRANZ. "* Made good use of his utes of spirit manifestations and mafriends of the members, will be the colloquial talents both nights. When terializations. Mrs. Wm. Larsen Franz is quiet you can hear a pin assisted him in the Cabinet work. guests. drop at any of our meetings. That is, Securely bound by a committee from During the past few weeks L. E. if someone had a pin and dropped it. the audience, we think she must have Swallow, Vice President of Omaha FLEMING, CARYL. Yes, Caryl been aided by disembodied souls. No. 7 S.A.M. has been showing in was present, as usual, and rendered Music for the entire performance was and around Spokane under the name valuable service, opening the show provided through Dr. diGhilini's of "Erando." They are booked by with his accustomed felicity of Public Address System. James Conthe National School of Assembly. language and introducing the M.C. ley presented "The Death Ray," They recently gave a show at Fair- GUNN, LEN O. You have all demonstrating its many peculiarities. field, Washington, which was at- seen Gunn's act. He shoots a high Frank Fewins opened the show with tended by several members of the score and rates among the "Tops" his expert manipulations, using lightclub after which all returned to Spo- with entertainment. No wonder he ed cigarettes and, later, his thimbles. kane and spent the rest of the eve- gets the dates. KALMAR, BERT. Los Magicos' guests this past month ning at a stag party at Doctor Tal- You should see Bert and Harry Men- were, Charles Jay Davis of New bot's home. Needless to say, the doza do their new mindreading act. York City, Wm. J. Herbert of Vicparty lasted until the wee small hours KOSKY, GERALD. Put on his toria, B. C., Frank Gregory of Pasaof the morning. It reminded me of new act at the Shakespeare Club and dena, Robert Neller of Long Beach Caryl's birthday party. As you know, put it over. LARSEN, W M . Full and Mr. and Mrs. Mardoni. The Doctor Talbot has a little theatre in stage, two assistants—Bill's younger latter presented their expert mindhis home which he built himself. brother, Bud, and the ever present— reading act on our floor show at the The members of the club are ex- "Fatima." "Bill" had to be good, El Mirador. Robert Neller entertremely sad over the loss of one of for it was through Mrs. Larsen's tained on the same program with his ventriloquial act. Bob is young in their members, Joseph E. Gray, who vears, but he puts over his vent work passed away under operation and was like an old timer, and he knows all interred last Tuesday morning. Mr. the tricks. Gray has been a member of the club almost since its inception and was a "So What"? member who cooperated with all the Bill Taylor. doings of the club and one who was

NEWS OF THE SPOKANE MYSTIC CLUB FOR THE DECEMBER ISSUE

Twenty-seven

GENII lustrated lecture on Oriental Magic, outstanding for the Tenkai Glass By George Troseth The Chicago Magicians were sad- Levitation. Next came Ezra Domdened by a telegram telling of the initz with a torn and restored nappassing of NICOLA'S mother on kin, a rope trick, and a slate preNov. 12th. at Monmouth, 111. . . . diction. The rope trick was successPAUL ROSINI held over at Pal- ful this time—hooray. Then, with mer House . . . . LESLIE H U N T bated breath Alfred Hennings the on opening bill at the newly decor- M.C. announced—Sidney Fleishman ated Colosimos . . . . Alert eyed —The Boy Wonder, who did "RothA DRIAN SMITH in town; hats stein, the Gambler"—thanks, Caryl off to his profound knowledge of —and The Elusive Rainbow. Rothmagic and magical principles . . . . stein failed twice, but we got the idea, anyway. Next, myself, with a J I M McGILL performs only a few routine of mental problems, which, tricks, but, possessing a keen sense of thanks to the Genii, was received dramatic values, does them con- very well. Of course, one failed, vincingly; incidentally, he's getting but four out of five in a mental younger looking every day . . . . routine is considered good—I hope. J O H N N Y P L A T T playing night Next, Lyle Laughlin, "The Man clubs and featuring the cocktail With a Thousand Butts" and his trick . . . . J O H N N Y G W Y N N E Card and Cigarette production stopped off for three days while en- routine. All he needs is a top hat route to fulfill dates in St. Louis; he and tails. Then, Robert Lathrop. was forced to turn down ten weeks Alfred Hennings then proceeded to in Texas and ten weeks in Mexico keep the audience in convulsions for City on account of conflicting dates ten minutes of hilarious magic. That . . . . too bad, Jack . . . .Speaking of poor hat! Last, our musician, Philip Mexico City though, BILL BAIRD Vanderhourk and his musical thimble. has just returned after completing This was quite a novelty and was six weeks at the Alamada Theater well received. A line then formed . . . . BILL is a personable chap and on the right, and we ate. Nuf said. opens in the Walnut Room of the Hotel Bismarck on Nov. 27th . . . . this is a manipulative act using cards and balls . . . . Our own W . C. VAN BERKEL IN MAGIC PROGRAM AT JAPANESE DORNFIELD, "DORNY" is doTEMPLE ing a full page for Christmas number of Billboard; every magician By Arthur Valli should read it as the conclusions On Sunday, November 15th, we drawn by the author are based on practical knowledge. "DORNY" had the pleasure of witnessing an knows thousands of magicians and unique show in the Japanese Buddhist really lives in an atmosphere of Temple, Los Angeles, where William magic . . . . H Y HARRIS and his J. Van Berkel, Vice President of the charming wife blew in today from L. A. S. M., invited us as guests, Minneapolis to vacation in Chicago with Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Thayer. after a busy season . . . . they will do This being the second night of his the night spots so this will be a sort engagement, a change of program was given. On entering the darkenof a postman's holiday . . . . NICOLI ed auditorium, which was packed to building a theater in Monmouth; capacity, a Japanese picture was in formal opening will be next spring progress. As we were led to our and the gang are already poring over reserved seats, it was apparent from road maps. the laughter that this was not to be • taken seriously, despite the fact that SAN DIEGO MAGICIANS it appeared to be a funeral procession headed for somewhere, and, as the CLUB story unfolded, Frank Fewins and I By Frederick Shields The monthly Social Meeting was found ourselves more and more in the held at the home of Alfred Hen- dark, notwithstanding our efforts to nings, and the arrangement of living understand it. As the picture conroom, dining room and music room cluded, the stage and auditorium afforded excellent place for a ma- lights flashed on, and for the first gicians' show. First on our program time we had an opportunity to study was Edward Reese, with an il- our neighbors, who proved to be all

CHICAGO NOTES

Twent>-eis:Iit

Japanese. We four now felt as conspicuous as a chromium plated thumb tip. After a lengthy oration by a Japanese gentleman in front of the microphone, who did not manage to enlighten us any further, the music played, the curtains opened and, to the strains of Japanese music, Van Berkel made his bow, and flourishing a foulard produced a large fish bowl as his opening effect. Then followed Thayer's new glass of milk and cabinet, then the Tokio tube, youngster called up and production of rabbit from tube and presented to youngster. Small wooden school house next, production of two doves, held now by boy within two straw hats. At shot, doves appear in cage, hats taken apart, revealing rabbit, which is then presented to boy. A neat effect with a number of oranges came next. Placed in box, oranges vanish, leaving in their place canary cage completely filling box, with two live canaries. Next, the Phantom Tube for production of handkerchiefs to be used in parasol and handkerchiefs. Lady in red enters to strains of the same song, carrying red parasol, handkerchiefs change to cover and vice versa. Lady exits with parasol. Very effective. By play with lota bowl injected here, followed with collapsible chair, which garnered a lot of laughs. Large phantom tube next, production of large silks and a line full of laundry, lingerie, etc., followed by large rabbit production. Thayer's flying bells were next, after which came the nest of boxes, in which a good effect was obtained during an altercation with a couple of Japanese who reluctantly lent one of the rings — all ending well when missing ring was produced from bottle attached to guinea pig's neck. A small flower production next from small basket, changing to pagoda, from which streamed colored paper coils completely filling tub from which two large ducks and a rooster were produced, followed by the production of a large Japanese flag to the accompaniment of the Japanese National Anthem, followed by the "Stars and Stripes" for the Finale. The applause throughout Van Berkel's performance was evidence of the popularity of Magic among the Japanese. His stage setting and dressing was very effective. His wife, Verna, assisting throughout, was a decided acquisition, making three

GENFI changes of costume, all of which were in elegant taste. Her work as assistant kept her continually busy^ yet she gave the impression of being cool and collected throughout. Incidentally, the music furnished was handled very creditably by a little Japanese actress—Yoshimura—a recent arrival from Japan. The rest of the show being entirely Japanese we did not wait for the finish, but as we drove off with the Thayers through the narrow darkened streets of the Japanese quarter, we came to the conclusion that we had all spent a decidedly unique and interesting evening in an Oriental atmosphere.

LOS ANGELES SOCIETY OF MAGICIANS

thinning out enough to call it a day. And now to "Winchell" things up a bit on ramblings here and there for the past month . . . . Cantu, the old Maestro, has shaken the dust of our beautiful city, leaving last week on a nice contract for several months at one of the leading cafes in Juarez. Cantu whispers that if plans work out he will go right on to Mexico City . . . . and a brief visit from our old friend, Dr. Cunning, whom I roped in for a spook night for Fanchon & Marco, and Dr. Ralph Smith, of the Showmen's Club, for whom I ^.C.'d a political shindig with a little magic on the side, and, while on 'he subject of medicos—another visitor of the past month—Dr. Forestus . . . . and a card from another L. A. S. M. member with the wanderlust, who left in September for a convention of something or other in Chicago, Al Williams—from there he heads for Canada, circling round and back to where he started . . . . a novelty I must not pass up here is a hat with a secret pocket, put out by the Taylor Hat & Cap Co., the secret pocket is so cleverly concealed, it almost defies detection, as the ad writers like to tell you—it makes an ideal hiding place for money, valuables, etc., and no magician's dome should be without one . . . . a sweet young thing tells me that she thinks magicians' gags are not nearly as funny as they were ten years ago. That's strange, most of them are using the same old gags . . . . Fred Keating, in describing the actor's life in Hollywood, sajs: "He spends money he hasn't got, on things he doesn't want, to impress people he doesn't like." Ho hum! . . . . Best radio thrill of the month, the March of Time re-enactment of the Houdini seance—I sat through this, breathless, on the Hollywood Knickerbocker Roof . . . . and if you think there's no humor in Frank Fewins—conscious or otherwise—ask him where he reads his Sunday comics — and how? . . . . Bumping into a brother mystic recently, carrying a cigar box l.nder his^ arm, I inquired, "Been buying cigars?" "No," was his reply, "I am moving"—and we thought the depression was over . . . . After having a card stunt pulled on me recently, I think I have seen this year's smallest gimic—it's a tinv thumb nail gadget from the House of Thayer

By Arthur Valli 1:00 a.m. and the last of the mystics have departed. I glance around at the magical odds and ends, scraps of paper, cards, and what not, scattered around. There is no sound but the clink of crockery and debris being cleared away, and I sit down and meditate on this fascinating business in which we are all interested— Magic. I find myself trying over a stunt that stumped us at the meeting, but the faculties are not working so very well and the hour is late—and so to bed. It was a nice little group and a nice little party which followed the October meeting; some really clever stunts kept us all interested and absorbed until the odor of percolating coffee called a halt. Frank Fewins was there with his thimbles and Cantu with his cards. Goulden, a new member, also presented a few nifties with the paste boards, and Harry Snider followed suit. Frank Greatrex regaled us with an account of his trip to San Diego in the role of an escape artist for the County Fair; while L. B. Yeager, after displaying rubber checks and levitating a candle, scattered umbrellas around the floor just to prove he kept nothing up his sleeve. Van Berkel, arriving late from an engagement, with his wife and assistant, brought in an armful of apparatus. Bob Gunther twiddled with thimbles, cards, etc. ; while your humble scribe squeezed in an occasional trick once in awhile to help hoke things up generally. Following refreshments, there were . . . and a missive from Vantine more stunts until the crowd began horn Bakersfield, where he played

two weeks at the Mandarin Cafe; Francisco, he writes, has-, been doing some kind of a magical ^advertising stunt for the chain stores . . . . Leo Metzner, of the Oakland Magic Circle, by the way, has taken up his abode here . . . . and, lest I forget to mention it, the song, "I Can Pull a Rabbit out of my Hat, but I can't Manage to Do a Thing With You," seems to have inspired another, through a song writing friend of mine, I learn there is a new one in the offing, in which magic is the theme . . . . and if you want a good laugh, get Van Berkel to tell you the i ad story of the young boastful amateur who tried card tricks on him at a party with dire results. For sweet revenge, with a strong raspberry flavor, it can't be beat—quoting from (he Mikado, "The punishment fits the crime." . . . . Steve Shepard (Juhasz to you—I never could pronounce it) is all agog over his Hindu Rope Trick; seeing my skepticism, Steve brought forth a column or so clipped from the San Francisco News, in which he avers he will soon be doing the rope trick on any stage, in full view of the audience, or at night on any open space. Thurston, you know, posted a bond agreeing to pay 35,000.00 to anyone who could show him the rope trick, but always returned from a tour of India with his money intact. Steve insists he's serious, and this is not just a gag . . . Oh well! . . . . and after five years of concocting crazy magical programs for the youngsters with my old side kick, Bozo, at the May Company, I find myself this year sandwiched in between half a dozen trick ponies, a tight wire mademoiselle, and a couple oi nice roaring lions. Recent visitors between shows on the Roof Garden w ere Harry Lang, Yacobi and our oid f'riend, Max Terhune; so if the crcu c atmosphere and the smell of sav/dust intrigue you, come up and ste me some time . . . . and before signing off, I want to add—Orniihorincus is not a magic word, it is iiist another queer duck who hails from \ustralia, like myself . . . . and Piplev was right . . . . we call him the Duck Billed Platypus. •

MAGIC SHOW The evening of Friday, November 13th, Los Magicos and assembly number 22 of the S. A. M. sought to improve the luck of the day b\ presenting a show at the Shakespeare T>\ent>-nine

GENII Club House, Pasadena. The entertainment was sponsored by the Shakespeare Juniors. The auditorium holds nine hundred people and has a fully equipped stage; that is, it's fully equipped wtith the exception that there is no provision for a set in one. However, to offset that, there was a delightful, wide run-down. Music was provided via a public address system owned by Dr. U. L. diGhilini and operated by his brother, Dr. Leo diGhilini. Appropriate recordings for the first half of the performance were supplied by Caryl Fleming, president of the P. C. A. M. The handling of the music deserves praise and, in our minds, was an improvement on the average small orchestra. It was cued in perfectly by a man who knows the needs of magicians. The programme was opened by a few words from Caryl Fleming who, in turn, introduced Harry Mendoza as M. C. The acts were as follows: 1. Frank Fewins: thimbles; cigarettes; table to cane and hat. 2. Jim Conley: razor blade swallowing and the shadow illusion. 3. Gerald Kosky: torn newspaper; silk production from paper; cards; vanishing glass in the manner of Tenkai. 4. William Larsen: cane and handkerchief manipulation; Pagoda and Gwynne box combination ; Here, There or Where. 5. Max Terhune and Scully. The vent act stopped the show. 6. Len Gunn: Magic with a Bang. Tricks with ropes, silks, clocks, bags, boxes, doves, handcuffs and a lot more. Plenty of humor. 7. Intermission. 8. Dr. U. L. diGhilini: cabinet seance with show of hands and flowers from grave; box seance with bells, tambourines and slates; table lifting; slate writings; witch powder manifestation; cabinet seance with nail pounding, etc., and the manhandling of a spectator from the audience. Microphone used through for talking parts. George Baxter acted as stage director with Fred Rickard assisting. Smooth handling throughout with the exception of the lighting on the shadow illusion. This was the fault of the authorities who objected to Thirty

the throwing of one of the master switches. 1 icket sales were off due to competition of a big football game at the Rose Bowl; one of the night games which are getting a big local play. Newspapers did what they could but the call of the pigskin proved too much. However, both the Shakespeare Juniors and the magic clubs were well represented.

PORTLAND SOCIETY OF MAGICIANS By D. W. Kelly Members of the Portland Society will present annual Magic show at the Veterans Hospital, December 2. Virgil playing dates in Idaho. Bob Staver at Stanford University; Bill Walker, Tom Prideaux and Chan Stevens at University of Oregon. Chuck Seavey made a flying trip from Klamath Falls. Sorry to hear of the Sardi "burn up"; we remember some pleasant times during the Hollywood Convention. Ken Ames, well known in magic circles, opened the N E W AMES theater October 29th, one of the finest suburban theaters on the coast. The writer packed his grip and a few magic effects and was the guest of Gen. Manager Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway on private car 99 for a week, making tour of inspection ; while in Spokane, had a pleasant visit with Dr. Talbott, also Vaughn Klein; have you seen Vaughn Klein's knotty handkerchief? Played a program at the Multnomah Hotel for Fuller Glass Company representatives; glass penetration effect was the featured trick. If you have not seen the new improved glass penetration effect manufactured by the Magic Art Studio of this city, you have missed something; it is a beautiful piece of work, and, when this effect can be passed out for inspection, it means something; it is an idea piece of magic which can be worked at clubs and floor shows. Last Sunday evening at Jimmy Stoppards, Jay and Everyl Gore also there, reading the last issue of Genii and talking Magic, nice lunch and early (2:00 a.m.) to bed. New Magi in the city and expects to remain here — W E I T Z E I . —

from Atlantic Coast, specializes in Thimbleology. What part of the Northern Wisconsin woods are you from, Bill? I'm from them thar parts, also. From a standpoint of diverting one's thoughts from the cares and activities of the day, there is nothing that quite compares with a hobby, occasionally these hobbies are developed to a degree of perfection that brings local and, sometimes national, recognition—I can think of no hobby as interesting to me as MAGIC!

"THE MYSTIC THIRTEEN" Nov. 20th was old time magic night. Each member was required to bring down to the meeting the first trick he ever did. In practically all cases, these effects were very amusing. Perhaps it was due to the manner in which they were presented. However, when anything went wrong, the performer always assured us that was exactly the way he had performed the trick for the first time. Most of the members came down prepared to give as an encore some new or original effect, so we saw some mystifying as well as some amusing magic. Among the highlights of the evening was a burlesque of Dr. diGhilini's table tilting by Jim Conley and the "three cone trick" performed by Carl Stenquist. In this effect a button is hidden under one of three cones and the magician then locates the button. However, Lawrence Yeager, who came up to assist Carl, thought the small hair glued to the button unnecessary, so he pulled it off. Carl swears the same thing happened the first time he did the trick. Among the serious effects were "Par-optic Vision", presented by Arnold Furstenberg and Wobensmith's "Rope and Ring trick" performed by Clyde Day. This month we have had as guests, Charles Davis of New York and Paris, France, and Dr. U. L. diGhilini, one of the world's greatest mentalists. We were also fortunate to have in attendance, his Honor, the Honorary President, Caryl S. Fleming. After the meeting we went to the "Carl's" restaurant nearby where we had a midnight supper as the guests of Charles Davis. Jack Boshard, newly elected honor-

GENII ary member, recently presented the club library with a complete file of Stanyon's "Magazine of Magic." That was certainly very generous of the Baron and we find ourselves completely at a loss to express our thanks and appreciation. Incidentally, the Baron wishes it known that contrary to any ads in the Sphinx, he has the first bar act performed in America, and he has definitely established priority rights. More news from the "Mystic Thirteen" next month. Arnold Furstenberg.

RENO MAGIC CIRCLE NEWS The Reno Magic Circle, at a meeting held at the home of Secretary Hoyt Martin, voted unanimously to hold their Second Annual Show Saturday, December 5th. President McManus was authorized to make the necessary arrangements and to obtain the services of Secretary Claude Burke of the Oakland Magic Circle, who has understudied "Gig" Miller in the production end for the past few years, to take over the production end and handle the show, if possible. President McManus called Claude on long distance and put the proposition to him, and, as usual, he cheerfully agreed to tackle the job. With Claude at the helm, we are assured of a good program, and, although we will all miss our old friend, "Gig" Miller, we know he will be heart and soul behind his protege and will be glad to know that Claude Burke is doing the job in his place. It has not been definitely set as to where the show will be staged—most of the members present expressed the wish to see it go on at the Granada Theatre, as the seating and stage equipment is much better than at the Civic Auditorium, where the show was staged last year, and, if possible, the Granada Theatre will be used. However, failing this, eithei the Civic Auditorium or the High School Auditorium will be used, Of course, it is needless to say that an open invitation is extended to every member of the P. C. A. M. to attend the annual affair. You can bet your life that you will not regret the trip; you will probably regret it, should you miss it. The show will be staged as it was last year, the program being made up

of guest artists from all points of the Pacific Coast.

SOCIETY OF AMERICAN MAGICIANS NO. 22 The regular monthly meeting of this assembly was held Monday, November 16th, at Hollywood, California. The most important business o fthe evening was the voting in of two new members, namely: Charles Davis and Robert Neller. Following the business meeting, a program was arranged with Harry Mendoza actting as M.C. Harry Mendoza opened the program by doing his billiard ball routine. Next, Judge Fricke performed a coincidental card effect. Then James Conley performed a billiard ball effect and exposed Kosky's certain something. Next, Gerald Kosky did several card and billiard ball effects. Then, Caryl Fleming performed a liquid effect. Next. Dr. diGhilini performed a sealed message reading effect. Then, Max Terhune showed several clever card effects. Next, Bert Kalmar performed his billiard ball routine. Then William Smith performed a Hindu version of the ring on the pencil effect. There being no further effects shown, and, as writing up these effects affects me, I shall close this write-up until next month. Gerald Kosky.

« " E V HAKRV

HEWDOZA'••in

Hallowe'en certainly started the season off in great style for magicians of the West Coast. Am positive that every magi from the age of 6 to 60 had a show that night, and, after all, what night could be more appropriate for the magical season to start off with a oang? (Apologies to L. O. Gunn.) Hallowe'en also marked one of the greatest events of all times that has ever taken place in Hollywood, as it was the night that Mrs. Harry Houdini made her final attempt to contact Houdini through spiritual channels. Great credit must be given to Edw. Saint of (otchie Bothie) fame, who conducted all details at the above . . .

He's a showman, and what I mean. The farewell party to Mrs. Houdini, held at the El Mirador Cafe in Hollywood, was a gala event, and one that will not be forgotten for a long while. This grand little lady is leaving us for a time to make a trip east—Bon Voyage and hurry back—we will all miss you. Who's the bird in TOPS—I think the name is ZANDER, who condemns magicians for using titles that are remindful of hell, devils, etc., etc. ? Maybe, the old masters such as Herrmann, Keller and even Thurston were wrong in using imps and devils whispering in their ears on their one sheets, but, believe you me, it sure was BOX OFFICE, and. after all, that means something. We mention one HARRY BERNARD, who called himself the "DEVIL'S FRIEND." I know Bernard well and think that this was a great title, etc., etc. He really procured more club and theater work several years ago in his vicinity that any other of the Magi's around—I am sure Bernard would not have made out so well if he had used a title such as T H E GOOD FAIRY! Here's some Eastern boys I would like to hear from — if you're still alive and kicking—Drflinger, Horowitz, Dresbach (and was he clever), Gavin and Marty Frank. Where's Mrs. Hornmann, I often wonder—a lovely lady who was a great inspiration to young fellows years ago who were trying to get started. I remember when buying my tricks every Satturday she would always slip in an extra trick or two—when O T T O wasn't looking. Those were days when it was a pleasure and a real joy and hard work and plenty tough to learn magic— but, boy, oh boy, it was worth it. The young magician of today really has it easy, compared to the fellows who started then. In those days, it seems that really good, practical effects were not given out as easily, and one had to be IN, if you know what I mean, to learn real magic. ^TJT, I T WAS GRAND to learn the art that way, and I wouldn't trade anything for that experience. This is a broad statement, but in Los Angeles, there is a group of young magicians who call themselves ^he MYSTIC 13. Their ages are from 16 to 19. They are, without a doubt, the cleverest bunch of boys Thirty-one

GENII C. A. M. convention will be held in Reno. Reno Magic Club must have divorced themselves from the P. C. A. M., for they say so little about the coming convention. Toot your horn, Reno, and tell the world what a Big little City you are and what the fellows can expect by attending the convention. T o be plain, Reno, wake up! Harry Mendoza hit the nail on the head in his column last month about the boys who invented this or that trick. I am announcing to the world through this article that I (L. O. Gunn) invented the trick where a white rabbit is produced from a derby hat, so, lay off, you copy cats. There is another trick where a black rabbit is produced from a soft hat. I know nothing of this effect, so lay no claim to this particular version. Silly, isn't it? Many people get in touch with me by mail and phone and ask my price for a show. After writing and quoting, they usually say, "We will get in touch with you later on." I hate to lose the shows, but I still believe I am saving money by not taking them. You know what I mean, five dollars, top. Some of the finest stages in the United States are in the new schools of Southern California. Since the earthquake of 1933, most of the schools have been re-built. Most theatres in this country have NF,VER had a general cleaning back stage. Dust, dirt and trash is usually hit by soft lights and darkness. Theater managers never go out of the way to make things easier for the actor. Soap and warm water is just one little item that comes in handy back stage. Fred Keating got in the Movies and now doesn't know his fellow Magicians. Max Terhune got in the Movies. Max has a smile and good word for everyone, and I honestly believe a million dollar salary wouldn't make any difference. I am trying to find a word to fit the situation—I believe Character would be appropriate in this case. P. O. Box 5982, Metro. Station I love magic, like Magicians and Los Angeles enjoy attending all magical meetings, "Last of the Magicians," a picture but I do get darned tired of seeing I saw advertised, showed mostly In- so many card tricks. Some Magicians dress neatly and dian actors. I bet lots of people would like to see the last of some others don't make so much money. Magicians, including the writer. Oh, Rolland Hamblen is one of the neatest Magicians I have ever seen, on well. For your information, the next P. and off stage. He is the tvpe that

I have seen in many a moon. To get back to the statement—I openly challenge any group in the entire world of the same ages to compete with these boys in all around magic, for presentation, showmanship and skill, /hen I want to learn something new and good, I attend one of their meetings. If there are any groups who will accept this challenge, if they will pay their way to Los Angeles, I'll be happy to put up a trophy for the competition. BIG HEARTED CHINAMAN. HASKELL is one of the boys from this group-—• he'll be EAST soon, watch for him and, then, you will agree with me on the above statement. IN T H E M A I L : A letter from Gysel, "The Toledo Burglar", who seems to know his escapes from A to Z. Understand he can make you the finest handcuffs obtainable. He thinks the Genii is great, and so do thousands of others. A letter from Sedrick Hoyt, who proved to be an old friend from Baltimore, but, in those days, I knew him under another name—I guess, Sedrick, old man, the same goes for you—say no more! He'll offer a surprise to the magicians who like cocktail tricks, within the next few months. HOFFMAN, be careful, now, you may be able to sue very shortly. Oh, Yeah! Want to thank all you fellows who have been kind enough to send me news items. Keep up the good work, and let's hear from more of you. 1 Veil, must be getting ready for Chinese Xmas, which, I believe, comes on the Fourth of July. Goom Bye Please. Hatchi Bori Singy Gar Fow Ching. Slantingly yours, ATA SUN GAL

Thirtv-two

can work on a dirty car and still have clean hands. That's Magic! Played Santa Barbara, recently, and, after the show, spent an hour with Maldo at his home. He has a wonderful collection of Magic and puts it to use for he has no competition in his home town. Maldo owns a Spanish-type cafe and has wonderful Magic paintings on the walls. These paintings stand out so clearly that they seem to be objects you can reach over and pick up. This artist is certainly a Magician in his line. Maldo is a Gentleman of the first degree and appreciates any traveling Magician stopping by to see him. Again I say, tell your friends back East about Genii. Ask them to subscribe, or, better still, send them a paid up subscription for a Christmas present. Some people can't pronounce the word "Genii" right, so I suggest changing it to "Gunii"!

Thru the Monocle R) Dr. Edward Saint Strange, is it not? that of tht myriads who Before us pass'd the door of Darkness through, Not one returns to tell us of the Road, Which to discover, we must travel too.—Omar Khayyam. Hollywood — New York — 3200 miles. Arizona Indians by the roadside selling 'Indian' baskets and pottery manufactured by a 'white' corporation for distribution throughout the state on percentage. At Apache Junction, Arizona, picked up a beautiful specimen of a pipe piece which was a piece of a pipe of peace. At El Paso, Texas, met Mr. David M. Mishel, (El Paso's Own

GENII Magician) an early I.B.Mer. Mishel, who enjoys an income from a candy and news shop, called our attention to the Houdini picture and story in Time magazine. Wishes to be quoted that he will see all the boys at the Reno Convention.

opened it and only crumpled newspapers fell out. The ventriloquist gave further demonstrations of his magic and passed the hat.

It tt ua r DR. J. E. GRAY

Dr. Joseph E. Gray, forty-seven, of Spokane, Washington, passed away New York. Museum on 42nd Street. Colored Magi presents the November 16th. He was well known old Headless Chinaman illusion in magic circles, and his death came At Midland, Texas, passed the using a girl . . . a mechanical grunt as a shock to his many friends, alfamous Tom Mix bus. It was . . . flashing lights, intriguing the though he had been in poor health crowd to mount the steps at a git a for some little time. Dr. Gray had joggling along at a mere '50'. peep . . . . Tricky vocalabrist making resided in Spokane for twei;ty-fivc Two days at the Dallas Fair. End a magic pitch on Broadway with the years, was active in the Kiwanis Demonstrates Club and, also, in Boy Scout work. of the season . . . cold weather . . . ' I M P BOTTLE'. the squeeze on the flask and pitches He was Scout Master in charge of crowds small . . . Biz likewise. Mr. A. L. Vollmann, in charge of special the tiny celluloid dolls at a git" a Troop 46. Dr. Gray also was a events, placing the Houdini party in throw. With two shills and a cop member of the Elks Lodge, Number 228. In addition to his widow, the No. 1 box for Cavalcade. Spec- lookout—doing good business. there survive a son and daughter, tacular in presentation and magniEugene and Margery; two sisters tude and a revelation in sound. Mr. Astrology gets a kick in the and two brothers. Magicians join Lew Dufour, owner of several shows, pantaloons in an Associated Press including Warden Lawes' Crime Ex- dispatch, quoting Wm. F. Peterson with them in their sorrow at his hibition, was a most genial host, keep- of the University of Illinois College passing. ing the Houdini party in good of Medicine at the National 'spirits'. Dallas dailies front paged Academy of Sciences, in which he WILLIAM J. (BILL) HILLIAR photos and stories of Madame Hou- pointed out that weather and date of Came to the end of the road on the dini. Dallas Fair planning to re- conception and N O T date of birth, 14th of November, at the age of open next year, and Ft. Worth may affects the lives of men. Medical sixty. Bill was the founder of the follow suit. The Adolphus WAS studies showed the effect of the Sphinx magazine and later did pubthe hotel some years back, but tight weather on the unborn as most pro- licity for Barnum and Bailey. Sublipped effeminacy in a hotel clerk nounced in the early stages of sequently, he was with Rubin and does not go well with Old Timers. Embryonic development. Cherry and other carnivals. I enjoyed my stay at the Adolphus— In death, we sometimes find a surbut—Quoth the Raven—. W I L L I A M J. HILLIAR, Brit- cease from toil and trouble. It is a ish magician who made the U. S. his dreamless sleep; exceedingly peaceful. One editorial, one photo and story home. His untimely passing in Cin- God bless you, Bill. You were brave. in Little Rock, Ark. cinnati was a shock to me. I knew Bill for many years, and he was tops In the hills of Tennessee. 18 in many things. I helped to arrange J. ERNEST ARNOLD (count them) 18 roadway stands his visit with Thomas A. Edison in J. Ernest Arnold, father of selling 'local caught' and dressed fox Fort Myers, Florida, and Bill arTheodore H. Arnold, well known furs for ladies. Must be tough on ranged my visits with Senators in magician, died October 19, 1936. the rabbits in that locality. Washington. In all his many lines Somewhat belatedly, we extend our of work, he always tied magic into Motorist sign in Virginia—Chil- it some way,. I wish to record a sympathy to Mr. Arnold in the loss of his father and hope that time may dren should be seen and not hurt. strange thing. In going through the dull the grief of his loss. Houdini Files at Payson Avenue, I Washington, D. C. . . . A non- ran across letters from Hilliar's • • • • H Dolitical observation . . . Coughlin, Al father in England written to Hou- H Smith, Townsend, they all had the dini. I laid those letters to one side | The "Perfect Fool-er" moon in their grasp, but they reach- and told Mrs. Houdini I was going GERALD KOSKY ed for the sun. to send them to Bill who would Wishes All a treasure them. The next morning I Philadelphia, Pa. Theatre crowds learned of Bill's death at his own VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR \ standing in line. The Quaker city hand. I've placed those letters back is spending plenty of money and in the file. A showman knows when looks prosperous. Prosperity seems to an act is finished. It takes nerve to have cut the corner. ring down one's own curtain, but I El" .•a

KNOW BILL HILLIAR WAS A

Newark, New Jersey. Mob follow- SHOWMAN. ing an old colored man. I join in the crowd. Cries of help eminating from bag on his back. Sounds like a tiny I SUPPOSE YOU K N O W we child. At the psychological moment, have taken better care of the idiot and the colored man dropped the bag, the criminal that we have the genius.

SEASON'S BEST F R E D

K A P P B Thirty-three

GENII

contest rates half a dozen entries of improved quality and one with liquids is promised. Best column is H. Adrian Smith's on Professor Hoffman and his "Modern Magic." T H E LINKING RING, October, 1936, Vol. XVI, No. 8, I. B. M. Kenton, Ohio. $2.50 a year. Smiling face of Len Gunn greets us from the front cover. New series on Magical Routines is begun by Caryl Fleming. Usual interesting columnistic reports, but magic is hard to find. T H E J I N X , November, 1936. No. 26. Theo Annemann, Waverly, New York. 25c a copy, five for $1.00. Anneman takes half the issue with his views and ideas, best of which is one you'll probably use at your next party, if you have an electric refrigerator. And, if you don't mind destroying cards, there is an exchange of punched cards pinned on the lapel that merits attention. William Larsen closes the issue by outlining the routine of Jinx effects he performed at the recent Fleming Birthday Party. T H E DRAGON, October, 1936, Vol. 5, No. 10. Vernon Lux, Mount Morris, Illinois. $1.00 a year. Good cut of Houdini on cover and a short biography inside. Thimble moves seem the rage among the youngsters, and Harry Opel continues to be the main-stay columnist. T H E SPIRIT O F ST. LOUIS, Vol. 3, No. 4. Forrest Hendricks, St. Louis, Mo. "Ah, the Spirit. Aincha glad? Dribs of drivel, hosts of hooey, and tons of tripe." Yes, we're glad, but sorry that regularity may be dropped. THE TOPS, November, 1936, Many laughs from these two sheets Vol. 1, No. 11. Percy Abbott, Colon, for all and the reprint of Jack HerbMichigan. $1.00 a year. ert's poem that should be hanging in Leslie Guest takes over the edi- every magic society's meeting place. torial page to express what is a comDAVENPORT'S DEMON mon practice at Magician's gather- ^ E L E G R A P H , Vol. 3, Nos. 34 & ings—too many acts—duplication of 35. Sept. and October, 1936. Diseffects—elimination of appearance of tributed to customers. L. Davenport, performers asked to perform. Silk England. By Lloyd E. Jones Material for review in T H E GENII should be sent to the above at 868 27th Street, Oakland, California. That was a gorge-us dinner at Lucca's last night. So was the company dinner at the Lido Monday and the S.. A. M. Banquet on Friday. As I contemplate another big dinner on Thanksgiving, more excellent food on the December Reno trip, etc., is it any wonder I waddled as I approached this desk to irritate the typewriter ? Yet, as I consider my own wellbeing, the fact seems to become too evident that review material this month is at the "starvation point." In fact, my good friend Douglas Kelley said that being a book reviewer, I should at least review some books. And, here I am, a book reviewer with no books to review; seems somewhat of a paradox in these busy days. But, there is nothing to be done about it, except to promise, and I mean it, that the New Year will bring many books to this columnist for review. The little genie (Hatif) has been put to work, and there will be books here next month, even if I . . . I almost said, even if I have to write them myself. But I won't, so relax, read what there is to offer this month, and look forward to bigger and better things in this column for the New Year. May Santa Claus bring you what you expect and the New Year what you deserve is my wish, as I contemplate exercising to remove about six inches of my present abdominal corpulency.

Thirty-four

A number of watch tricks advertised at half-prices. New books announced, a few new tricks and an ad for the GENII, "highly recommended," by our English friend. YOUNGSTOWN MAGIC CLUB BULLETIN, November, 1936. Club bulletin. Neyhart will enjoy his "outdoing" in cartoon in this issue. Club news and information to members. MAGIE, November, 1936, Vol. 19, No. 11. Helmut Schreiber, Berlin, Germany. An excellent issue, reviewing the recent World Congress of Magicians. America poorly represented. Photographs exceptionally good. An historical number worthy of every effort to obtain and preserve. The Mephisto Novelty Company of Los Angeles is now distributing a circular of MARVELLITE luminous and ultra-violet light effects worth having. Magical possibilities are fully discussed, and there is much information to be absorbed. T H E SOCIETY O F AMERICAN MAGICIANS has finally placed in members' hands copies of their Constitution and By-Laws (January, 1936) and an Official List of Assemblies and Members (March, 1936.)

VINCENT T. THOMAS Magician For Your Next Program at Club, Party or Church Member Society of American Magicians 234 North Belmont Douglas 5175 Glendale, Calif.

Pacific Coast Magic News

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STARTING SUNDAY—FOR 4 DAYS I , , . ! . ' 111,1 IIUMIIUI Ul ill 111, ,l,u>, ,11,11, l-ll , - , , , | , , l p l l L , ,1 a m i ,,,1,1,11,1 Ml »>U], \ i _ nuii-K i u, ituKtl q \\ Ink tlu nl | , i , ,1 Minn il, - 111 , , is i |>li niuiifl, ui gu p.m., sharp, with William Aistrana oi the Oakland Magic Circle putting on an act which opened the show with a bang, bud Beasley of Reno, this year's i^.C.A.M. Secretary, followed with small magic, making his first stage appearance as a magician, and did he surprise-—watch him, he's got what it takes. Burt Hansen set the house in the aisles with his vent act and left them wanting more. Burt hails from the U. M. C. A musical act followed with two youngsters, aged six and ten years, which stopped the house. 1 hey were Lydia and Albert Scudellan from Jack Osterberg's Studios. Jack is a Reno member. .Next came James Conley of the Mystic 13 of Los Angeles, with his .Phantom Ray. Jimmie demonstrated that the walking away from your shadow illusion can really be built into something interesting. Bob Stull opened the second half of the show, presenting Doug Kelley in escapes—• his barrel escape is a real masterpiece, and Doug did a tine bit of showmanship, while Stull acted as ring master. Both these boys are from Golden Gate S. A. M. No. 2. Caryl Fleming was next, introduced as Professor Ahlwette, with Arnold Furstenberg of L.A.S.M. stooging. Now, if you want to see our amiable president in his best role, watch him do comedy. He can get more laughs from nothing than anyone 1 know. Charles Starr, that clever manipulator from Golden Gate S.A.M. No. 2, followed with a beautiful act— his cards, cigarettes, silks and rope work brought well earned applause. Youres truly, assisted by Bob Jenkins and Hoyt Martin, closed the show —Bob Jenkins and Hoyt Martin both making their first appearance as magicians, did themselves proud, Bob with his knife throwing illusion, caused many thrills among the spectators, while Hoyt showed his prowess doing Milady's Parasol. After the show, the gang hied themselves to the celebrated, divorce hangout, "The Town House", and were treated to a very enjoyable coldplate supper by The Reno Circle. Several of the boys did their stuff for the customers, and, although they did some excellent work, they were completely outdone by Bill Alstrand, who put on his famous "spirit" act,

"Stinky", which earned him the name oi atinKy Aistrana." i nis cercainly nas to De seen to De really appreciated. 1 here was too much of a variety to be described here. Highlights, however, in the performance, were his interpretation of Daniel Boone, done in costume—fur coat, hat and honestto-goodness 1//U style gun, 'n everything, and his BucKing Bronco exhibition with its mixture of the Alah Alan movement from tiie waist up and the "umpster" movement from the waist down. His final exit, on tne shoulders of Jimmie Muir, ended his night's performance, as Jimmie adjourned him to Room j l / , Golden Hotel. Before we call "curtain", allow me to thank each and every performer for his wonderful cooperation in putting over a grand and profitable shovv. Also, those who traveled to Reno tor the visit, we hope you had as good a time as you anticipated, and, with a wish for a Prosperous and Happy New Year to everyone, I say —Au Revoir. •

Howard Gerlach, and Arnold Furstenberg also presented some small effects. After the show, we went to "Carl's" Restaurant, where we enjoyed a splendid midnight lunch as the guests of Charles Davis. Carjd S. Fleming, James Conley and Arnold Furstenberg have just returned from a trip to Reno, Oakland, and San Francisco. While in Reno, they appeared on the Annual show of the "Reno Magic Circle." On Dec. 17th, they played a benefit at the Elk's Temple for some orphans being fathered by the local "Big Brothers" organization. Magical interest is very much alive here during the Christmas season. Len Gunn, Harry Mendoza, and Robert Gunther have been working steadily giving magic shows at various clubs and lodges. With best wishes from "The Mystic Thirteen" for a very happy New Year for all the Magicians everywhere, I'll close till next month.

ROUCLERE ASSEMBLY No. 25 Patterson, N. J. By Arnold Furstenberg S. A. M . By Conrad C. Bush In view of the approaching holiThe regular monthly meeting was days, "The Mystic Thirteen" dedicated their meeting, held on Dec. 18, held on December 11th at the Sangerto the yuletide season. Magical gifts bund Restaurant, Paterson, New Jerwere exchanged among the members sey. The Show committee reported a amidst much laughter and merriment. Ernest Mickie, winner of the net profit of over $150.00 on our club prize for the best all-around per- show which was held on November former, played Santa Claus and gave 20th. We have decided to meet each member a package containing regularly at the Sangerbund Ressome candy, a cigarette lighter, and taurant on the second Friday of each month and invite all magicians to ata magic trick. Clyde Day, our local G-Man, was tend. emcee on the program that followed This being "Silk Night", most of the meeting. Past-President, Law- the members presented an effect rence Yeager, caused a picture of using silks. Mystic Craig presented Arnold Furstenberg to appear in an Mr. and Mrs. Green, followed by empty frame, together with a picture all the little Greens. Frank Goldman of a card Arnold had previously showed a small tube empty, and then selected. proceeded to produce silks therefrom. Ernest Mickie presented a clever Silks again placed in tube and vancard trick, using "Otto, The Auto- ished. Andrew Siska told a cute maton Duck," who ducked into a story about King Edward and Mrs. little box and discovered the three Simpson, using a glass and silk. Fred Elwood next with the Demon Box. chosen cards. Robert Gunther came next with Dominick Fiorilla with a transposisome clever patter and an original tion of silk from one tube to another. picture transformation effect. Mart Martin Klein with a pretty acquitSabransky, our billiard ball expert, ment on the color changing tube. showed the club some of his latest Conrad C. Bush, after getting moves with a ball and a silk. Harry tangled up in his silks, managed to Snyder, Jim Conley, Clyde Day, finish up with a color change. Also,

MYSTIC THIRTEEN

Thirty-three

GENII a cigarette penetration thru a handkerchief and a lighted cigarette penetration through a handkerchief and paper. (Without destroying the handkerchief). President Whitford produced a red, white and blue silk, and then an American Flag. Francis Walsh a transposition of three silks. Our visitor, James Bains produced several silks after showing both hands empty. The balance of the evening was spent in vanishing eats and drinks and a general discussion of tricks and ideas.

A few nights ago, I attended a farewell party given in honor of the old man with a scythe, and did I have a swell time. (In fact the swelling hasn't gone away yet.) This is the season of the year when many columnists and writers prognosticate for the coming year; many make resolutions to quit drinking, smoking, or some fool thing, but here and now I vow to try and make life miserable for a lot of magicians. SOME of my acquaintances from whom I have yet to receive .Christmas greetings—Mrs. Wallis Simpson, George Bernard Shaw and William Larsen. N O W I am sure the Genii will be a colossal success. Gerald Kosky has resigned as Assistant Editor. HERE is my idea of 1936's royal flush: ACE—Charles N. Smith KING—Dr. Talbot QUEEN—Mrs. Harry Houdini JACK—Jimmy Muir TEN—Doug Kelly J U S T because an act smells badly, it is no sign that'some one in the audience lit a firecracker. I still contend a good comedy act will click, but it would have to be funny, not slapstick. T H E March of Time's broadcast

of the last Houdini Seance was excellent, but whoever told "Time" Ed Saint's voice sounded like that. VAN Berkel tells me a bird in the hand is worth two from the audience. A brother magi and I went to visit a sick magician, and boy—was he run down. But what can you expect of a heel! W H A T well-known magician from the Bay District in California, who has written several books on magic, can out grunt any heavy weight wrestler? TRY this o n e Write down your weight. Multiply it by 2. Add 5. Multiply by 50. Add your age. Subtract 365. Add 115. The first three figures of the result will be your weight, and the last two will be your age. (That is, they will, if the printer doesn't gum up this copy and make a sucker out of me.) FLASH! From Hollywood, California. A member of Los Magicos in good standing is Reno-vatjng, and the Convention isn't until July. NO wonder Bert Kalmar is so much in demand at the studios for his clever gags. His nine-year-old daughter, Peggy, supplies most of his material. LYLE Laughlin is in Los Angeles doing well at the popular night spots. Clever entertainer; too bad he has to be from San Diego. C. O. Sten, the washing machine salesman, certainly is a good washing machine salesman. T H E drinks are on Hoffman, but the magicians are off Hoffman. BERNARD Ginnanini CBernardini) the newest member of Los Magicos certainly does spearmint well at the meetings. J U S T a few small words taken from a Magician's handbill: cognostromantheum, cataclysm, conjurations, ambidexterous and inexplicable. Now ain't them thirtyfive cent ones for ya.

W H O can tell me— What's become of Joe Cook of Brigham City, Utah? Why do they call them dealers, and not stealers? SO Dr. Ralph C. Flowers is going to make me out a liar and go to jail for ten years for actually robbing a dental supply house. Well, anyway he will have a lot of time to practice his hobby. DID you know— Frederick Shields and Edward Reis refuse to be hypnotized by Professor Fate any longer. I just learned they have resigned from the San Diego Magician's Club. D O N ' T worry because a rival imitates you. As long as he follows in your tracks he can't pass you. GEORGE Postle tells me he can get to Bill Larsen's on horse-back, but he has to have a boat to get to Earl Rybolt's. ALL a-board: The P.C.A.M. deportation ark for all undesirables is leaving real soon, and the passenger list includes the following — Capt. Jones, Dalian, Prince Van Tine, Frank Whitson, Bernard the Magician, Charles Hoffman and Fred Keating. HAD a note from Ed. Saint, and he told me all about his trip. He says he attended a fortune teller's convention enroute—and was his palm read. SO John Lippy spoke at a dinner in Baltimore. I am told when he was out on the coast he never stopped speaking. ' DEALERS attention: I didn't get a Vent dummy for Christmas, so I guess I'll have to buy one myself. But for the life of me I don't know where. I looked through the advertisements in last month's Genii, and not one dummy for sale. T H E Editor is going to run my picture some time soon. Watch for it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

GENII

LIGHT FROM THE LAMP By Lloyd E. Jones Material for review in GENII should be sent to the above at 868 27th Street, Oakland, California. The little genie (Hatif) did his work well this last month, and the books I promised have and will materialize. None can be more pleased than I. It starts the New Year off auspiciously for this column and marks the first time a determined effort has been made to bring "publicly" printed works to the attention of magicians. Yet, name any choice list of magic books you wish, and you will find an overwhelming percentage of them to be "publicly" printed. Next month will also bring an innovation to you. I would be very ungrateful if I closed without thanking those of you who remembered me with cards at Christmastime. Part of the joy of the holidays lies in this receiving of cards from unexpected sources. Thanks again, and may you, too, make the best use of your magic.

judiced. It is surprising, then, to find that Mr. Garland, after forty years of witnessing phenomena, has still an open mind. Magicians will find him conscious of the obvious trickery and will benefit by reading the final chapter in which he collects his evidence and draws his conclusions. During these forty years, Mr. Garland has met much that defies explanations by our present knowledge. The recounting of these experiments is very interesting, and you will enjoy matching your wits with Mr. Garland, in an effort to explain how, despite precautions made to prevent trickery, incidents occur that hint of trickery. This work will prove more interesting than many of fiction. It's advantage lies in the fact that when you have laid it aside, you have acquired something of value.

GOOD CONJURING, in practice and theory, by S. H. Sharpe. George Johnson, London, 1936, 40 p. heavy paper cover, ill., 2/6 (85c.) Mr. Sharpe's theory is gaining wide attention and bringing him LIVE MAGIC, by W. O. TUR- many readers. His advice is sound and NER. Abbott's Magic Novelty Com- worthy of your closest attention. The pany, Colon, Michigan, 1936. 22 p. magic, however, is somewhat difficult, requiring much skill in building ill. paper cover. $1.00. Live Magic should be greeted with or preparation. Two items with miropen arms by those semi-pros who like rors would make fine material for to build their own apparatus. Here stage presentation, while the advenare ten tricks, easily made, that in- tures of Alice in Conjureland will volve the use of rabbits, guinea pigs surely find its place in the program and doves, or other such small ani- of performers preferring children. mals. The Guinea Pig goes to Heaven, last number in the booklet, SERMONS IN MAGIC, by involves a disappearance and surpris- Rev. Charles T . Grant. The Evangel ing finish you will like. Instead of Press, Portsmouth, Ohio, 1936. 68 p. telling you how good this booklet is, paper cover, ill. 50c. let me say that only two of them Mr. Grant offers members of the didn't appeal to me—and the chances clergy an opportunity of adding varare those two will to you. iety to their sermons by cloaking them with lessons taught bv magic. FORTY YEARS OF PSYCHIC The magic is elementary and obtainRESEARCH, by Hamlin Garland. able at low price. Such a work should Macmillan, New York, 1936. 394 ha^ e wide sale, as it encourages use p. ill. wrapper. $3.00. of magic in an interesting way. If Capable researchers in psychical such is the case, future items are matters are few and, usually, pre- promised.

I N T E R E S T I N G TRICKS, by Wm. G. Stickland. Wessex, England-* 1936. 53 p. heavy paper covers, ill. ($1.50.) These ARE interesting tricks. Interesting because half of them concern a neglected field, the entertaining of children. For adults, we have a non-apparatus silk production of merit, inasmuch as it requires little skill, coupled with six other items for club performers. THE N E W MAGICIAN'S MANUAL, by Walter B. Gibson, David Kemp, New York, 1936. 143 p. ill., cloth wrapper, material in envelope in front. The prices at which this volume and its predecessor are being sold should result in both of their being in every magician's library. The first book is, without a doubt, the best obtainable for a beginner, while this new one is just a step behind. Mr. Gibson has a magical mind, which means he can take even an alreadyknown trick and make an interesting variation of it. The six chapters deal with Impromptu magic, table, card, oriental and mental magic. As before, there is a valuable chapter of programs and a section of "additional" items, mostly impromptu. These total around a hundred items. HYLER'S S T U N T BULLETIN, by Oscar Hyler. Danville, Virginia, 1936. 4 p. ill. mimeo. 10c. Mr. Hyler calls this Number One and hopes for future issues. I do, too, not so much because of what this first one contains but for the apparent need of material in this field. Masters of Ceremonies, etc., can always use this material. With Mr. Hyler as the head, a valuable exchange bureau of ideas can be created. What do you think? SIX BITS and A N O T H E R SIX BITS, by Frank Chapman. 8 p. photolitho. The two booklets have been alThirty-flve

GENII most as popular as the author, and, with a new one promised for this month, it is best to catch up with their appearance. Six Bits is already old enough to have some of its material reprinted, yet new enough to fool most card meiit or all spectators interested in card tricks. Another Six Bits -gives a new method of locating a selected envelope, worth the price of both the booklets.

GIANT CARD MAGIC, (Ripley Routine, No. 1), Sherman Ripley (Mazdah), Mt. Vernon, N.Y. 8 p. paper, $1.00. The possibilities of entertaining with giant cards are great. Mr. Ripley introduces you to methods of controlling cards and of producing them. The few hints he gives suggest greater uses for these novel pasteboards.

THE JINX, No. 27, December, 1936. Theo. Annemann, Waverly, New York. 6 p. ill. photolith. 25c a copy, 5 for $1.00. Containing an index of Nos. 1 to 26 and the Extras, this issue will be much consulted. An examination of this index discloses that in the space of its existence, the Jinx has contained over sixty card tricks, fifty mental effects, up to a half-dozen each of cigarette, coin, handkerchief, number, slate, publicity and spirit effects. Strange it is, that there has been only one each of ball and thimble articles. In all, a marvelous collection to possess, study and use. Current issue also features a new twist on a mental effect, a slate trick by Sig Krumgold and a you-do-as-I-do by Jean Hugard, using two spectators. T H E G I M M I C , published for The Hanky Panky Club by Loop Magic Shop, Minneapolis, Minnesota, The Gimmic, distributed free to callers, is a breezy fourteen page mimeographed magazine, containing many laughs, gags, cartoons and information. T H E MAGIC WAND, December, 1936. George Johnson, London, England. 2/6 (80c) 212 p. ill. If all publications were like the Wand, my life would be one of eeees. Exceptional, Excellent, Entertaining, Extra-good, Etc. For children, we have a Mickey Mouse Parade, a Thirty-aix

Mask and Faces idea, a comedy ball vanish, and a tranferance of a doll; for manipulation, one finds card moves and a coin trick; for mechanically minded people, we have an easy Chinese lantern production box, a simple clock hand and so on; one is always finding something new each time he reads through. T H E TOPS, Percy Abbott, Colon, Michigan. 64 p.$1.00 a year. December, 1936. So endeth the first year. T H E T O P S deserves much praise for an open editorial policy and willingness to comply with its readers' wishes. Too, Percy Abbott must be a real magician to produce Tops at the low price asked. Interesting items include the wind-up of the Silks contest, Smith's Five Footshelf of Hoff-

FREE!^

man Books and a reprint of Lu Brent's pipe production from the now out of print and very rare first issue.

THE DRAGON, Vol. 5, No. 11, November, 1936. Vernon Lux, Mt. iviorris, Illinois, $1.00 a year. W. F. Van Zandt contributes some unpublished secrets of his own, and the youngsters set a good pace for him. T H E LINKING RING, Vol. XVI, No. 9, November, 1936. I. B. M. Kenton, Ohio. Much news and historical information, little magic. MAGIE, December, 1936. Helmut Schreiber, Berlin, Germany. Full of interesting items for readers of German or lovers of magic.

100ft

fREE!

SANTA IS A LITTLE LATE OWING TO OLD AGE BUT HERE HE IS ANYHOW To present you with one year's subscription to THE TOPS, absolutely free, That big sensational magic magazine of the hour. Don't miss this big opportunity. HERE'S H O W ! Any kind of magic apparatus or books on magic that you are going to get for the new season, we have it. All you do to receive this gift is give us an order for five dollars or more, and we will send you, absolutely free, with this order, a one year's subscription to The Tops, that great magic magazine. Please do not forget this order may include any magic apparatus or books that are on the market. We have it in stock for you over the holidays. You don't have to think twice on this, as you are getting one of the best magic magazines on the market. Don't forget you may order any trick or group of tricks or book that is on the market. We have them all. j You don't get an offer like this often, boys, so let's all go to town 100% on this one.

DON'T OVERLOOK Jaysee Cards to Match Box De Luxe—50c Hello Sucker (by Jack Chanin)—$1.00. Jaysee Color Change Supreme—$1.00. Chanin's Chinese Newspaper, per set of 18—$1.00.

CHANIN'S TRICK SHOP 1804 MARKET STREET Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Pacific Coast Magic News

In This Issue . . An Appreciation of W. W. Durbin By Caryl S. Fleming

Prize Winning Card Trick of jP. C. A. M. Convention By Gerald Kosky, V. Pres. S.A.M.

A New Column By Frank Chapman

Ribbins Jack McMillen's Card Stock Magic and News By U. F. Grant

A New Amateur Department Conducted by Arthur C. Spratt

Lloyd Jones Book Reviews Mrs. Hocus Speaks Again Club Reports

GERALD KOSKY

A New Trick by Dr. Ervin

OFFICIAL ORGAN February, 193? ,

Vol.1, No, 6

Price Twenty-five Cents

GENII WILLIAM

W.

Editor and Publisher Assistant Editor

LARSEN

WILLIAM TAYLOR

FRANZ CHRISTENSEN

Advertising

Manager

GENII is published monthly by William W. Lai sen, P O Box 560, Pasadena, California. Editorial office, P. O. Box o(>0 Pasadena, California Price in the United States and Canada, $2 50 per vear, twenty-five cents a copy Elsewhere, $3.00 per year, thirty cents a copy While manuscripts, photographs and drawings are submitted at the owner's risk, every effort will be made to return those found 'insuitable, if accompanied by first-class postage, but we cannot be responsible for any loss of such matter contributed Contributors are advised to retain copies of their contributions and to double space all articles submitted. Printed in the United States of America, by the Bickley Printing- Company, Pasadena, California. The Genii is published on the 10th day takably empty, a length of colored ribbon appears between the hands. It appears in a flash. An envelope, and a calling card are next introduced. Envelope shown empty. Performer pierces the center of envelope with a pencil, and through the resulting hold, threads the ribbon. Same is passed along ribbon back and forth to show it is securely threaded on same. A spectator is then asked to hold the ends of the ribbon. Calling card is next shown to be intact, and is placed in the envelope, and evelope sealed. After mystic passes, envelope is torn away and card is seen securely threaded on ribbon, and may be examined. Card is then removed and given to assisting spectator as a souvenir of this very sus-picious occasion. Ribbon is then cut and restored several times. This makes a very pleasing combination and is very mystifying. PROPOSED: You need a length of colored ribbon about three feet in length or so. A false finger: such as used for handkerchief production etc. Two calling cards alike, and or not too heavy stock. Pencil or something for making hole in envelope. Two envelopes used as pay envelopes, with opening and flap at the end. Glmmics for your favorite cut and restored ribbon effect. PREPARATION: Have ribbon loaded in false finger and kept in convenient pocket that it may be secured when needed. Calling card and envelope on table. Pencil In pocket or on table. Envelope is prepared by taking the face and flap 3f one envelope and pasting same at edges on the face side of other envelope: the flap of the whole envelope is cut off, and between the front of same and the false front insert one of the

'calling cards You are now ready to returned to the deck, as you will. Performer now presents the same go to work. spectator, or any other person who PRESENTATION: At the proper time secure the false may be designated, with a pencil and finger and get same into place. Show piece of paper, instructs him to take hands unmistakably empty; then make same to the performer's assistant and sort of a flash production of the rib- say nothing. The assistant accepts the paper bon. The faster the production is made the better, (this is of course one and pencil, writes something on the paper, folds it and gives it back to man's opinion, and you may prefer a the person with the pencil, who reslow motion production) Go to table enters the room. to pick up envelope and card, at same Performer asks the person to pick time disposing of false finger. Throw up the chosen card and then read what ribbon over arm, and show envelope is written on the paper which says empty. Pierce it through center, en- "You are holding the nine of spades velope and unknown to audience, the (or whatever card was selected) which concealed card. Thread the ribbon was the card chosen. through and ask some young lady to The trick is practically all presenhold the ends. Exhibit other card, and tation and the performer builds up insert it in the end of envelope, which the mystery by asking for complete pushes the ribbon down with it. Seal silence after the card had been deup envelope, make your magical in- termined and so forth. The performer cantations, and tear open the lower simply gets a glimpse of the card as or bottom end of envelope, and tear it is shown around the audience and from this end up to hole in center, re- conveys the information to his assistmove threaded card from this end, ant by making nicks with his thumbwad up envelope and card and place on nail on the pencil. The pencil must be the ordinary table. Pass ribbon with card threaded on it for inspection if desired, or just wooden variety with a printed name, show it, and give the card to young trade mark and number on it. Count lady as a souvenir. Proceed with your up the number of letters from the favorite cut and restored ribbon ef- point as per the chosen card and make fect, such as Al Baker's, or any other an indentation with your thumbnail. good method, and you will find this For the suit, use the well-known rotation CHSD (CHaSeD) and make your litle routine will make a hit with your second nick starting with the letter audience "N" of the letters and figures indicatNOTE: ing the grade of lead i. e. "No. 2." For This is rather hard to describe, es- the nine of spades make a nick at the pecially the way the envelope must be ninth leter of the name and then torn off the ribbon, but try it out and another at the figure 2 and, in the experience will give you the best case of diamonds, either make no nick or place one between the figure 2 ana method for this. the metal eraser ferrule. For an encore, or repeat, simply have an additional supply of duplicate pencils in your inside pocket and switch to a new one each time. Try this sometime and build up the "mental telepathy" angle and you will be surprised how well such a simple By Capt. Charles C. Howard effect is received

Card Telepathy

Betore anything whatsoever is said or done, the performer asks his assistant to go to another room, or to a corner and remain facing the wall. Next a spectator is requested to select any card from either his own dock, a borrowed deck or the performers, as it makes no difference. The selected card is shown to the audience and placed face down on the table or

We have been offered two dollars per copy for the September issue of Genii, and have none to offer. Better get ready and auction off yours. Magic, and its performer's personality, have a fundamental similarity. WILLIAM W. LARSEN. Eleven

GENII

L. W. MAGIC •by-

T. Page Wright and William Larsen break below the noted card. Having the card to be forced well down in the deck will be found distinctly an advantage. Now, start to run the cards slowly from the left hand to the right. The actual force, as has been pointed out, The Fourth of a Series is a matter of timing; the card to be By the late T. Page Wright and forced is not exposed more than the William W. Larsen others, nor is it pushed into the fin• gers of the drawer, but it is brought to the finger tips at the precise secTHE FORCE ond that his fingers close upon a card. The conventional spread force is It is not necessary to watch the cards. the one sleight of which the average amateur—not to speak of some pro- Look into the eyes of the drawer. You fessionals—is afraid. It is not to be will find that the cards are still in denied that some excellent substi- your range of vision, and you can tutes exist; we shall in a moment de- guage the movements better by watchscribe some which are certain, easy ing his eyes than his hand. You can and hitherto unknown. But the regu- affect the timing of his movements by lation force is worthy of being master- your speech. If you continue to talk ed, if only because it can be worked about the experiment, he will delay up into an entertaining impromptu the choice; then, if you say, sharply, "Please take a card!", he will make effect. his selection in a couple of seconds, The sleight is feared, because there is only one way that it can ever be just as the proper card arrives. If the proper card has been selectpracticed, and that is by working it. The only way to learn tO| do it is to do ed, the deck is given to the drawer it. There is, morover, a prevailing— with a request that he will push his and false—impression that it is a card back among the others, and shufdifficult sleight. We will grant that fle it in The card can then be revealed to force a card upon a magician is a in any manner desired. If a different card is taken, howdifficult task, but the average layman in selecting a card follows the line of ever, it is immaterial to the success least resistance, and if the performer of the experiment. Unless the peravoids any person who is likely to de- former is very far off, the card taken liberately attempt to trap him, there will not be more than one or two reis no reason why he need ever fear moved from the noted card. failure. Then, the spectator is invited to Often as the force has been de- note the name of his card, and replace scribed, two things lead us to review it at the same spot from which it was the sleight: first, we wish to show taken. He squares up the pack and how this sleight may, by effective pre- gives it a couple of cuts. The persentation, be built into a striking ex- former runs out the cards face up, reperiment; and, second, we wish to questing that the selector think bring out certain features of the ac- "Stop!" at the moment that he sees his card. Invariably, the magician lotion which seem to be little known. Note the bottom card of the pack cates it, apparently by thought readon a shuffle and deliberately cut the ing. As he knows its position in the deck, taking about a quarter of it from pack in relation to the card glimpsed the top. This brings the noted card for the force, it is discovered with about three quarters of the way down ease. in the deck. In placing the packets Only the rawest of beginners could together, the little finger holds the miss the force by more than two or

Modern Card Sleights

three cards, but, even if this were done, it would not prejudice the result of the experiment. If he took a card about a dozen above the glimpsed card, the performer would continue to run until he came to the break, stopping at that point for the return of the card. If, on the other hand, the break were passed, the performer would simply shift back to the left packet all the cards below the break, so that in either case the selected card would be returned next to the card known. If a key card of some sort is used, it is unnecessary for the performer to see the faces of the cards, to locate the one selected. The pack may be held about eye level and run with the faces of the cards to the selector, in which case the performer sees only the backs of the cards. The device of a key card is one not properly appreciated by many magicians. It does not necessarily imply a card previously prepared. For example, if a deck with a reversible back pattern is used, and they are turned one way, save for one card, that makes a perfect key. The use of a key card is most valuable, because least suspected, with a borrowed deck which is not too new, the performer will frequently notice some card with a distinguishing mark of some sort, and he can use that for a key. If the magician carries a small stub of a pencil, he will usually find opportunity during an evening to secretly make a mark with it at each of the diagonally opposite non-index corners of one card. Afterwards, these marks can be erased by pressure of the ball of the thumb. Most subtle of all, a line can be drawn across the card at each of these corners with a pencil eraser, making a dull streak when the cards are held so that the backs reflect the light; a mark visible to the performer, but absolutely invisible, save by accident, to anyone else, even though he examine the card carefully. For the performer who has mas-

GENII tcirri this sleight, an effective variation of the above presentation is \\. rkeri by permitting someone to select a card and shuffle it back into the pack themselves, and then to spread the shuttled pack for another selection, when they find to their surprise that they have again selected the fame card. In this case, a key card of some sort is essential. It is forced, and then shuffled into the pack. The performer takes back the pack and begins to run the shuffled cards from one hand to the other, keeping the pack close in to his body and well away from the spectator, ano at the same time talking, about the thoroughness with which the spectator shuffled the cards, to keep him from making a selection too soon. As he runs the cards, he watches them. The key card will make itself visible several cards before he reaches it, as the cards are spread by the left thumb. As soon as the conjurer sees the key card, be begins running the cards more slowly and extends them to the spectator in invitation for the selection, so that the key card is being run just at the proper moment for tne spectator to take it once more. The use of a key card, of a type to be distinguished by touch, such as a short card, can also be made to add a touch of subtlety to any experiment which involves a force. The performer can toss out a deck to be shuffled, and then, taking it back, instantly proceed with the selection of a card. To the layman, the preliminary shuffle must make it impossible to force the selection of any particular card, and so. when this card later appears in a cigarette or orange, the spectators will feel that the idea of duplicates appears even less plausible as an explanation than is usually the case. The One Hand Riffle Force. The force by the slip move is standard, but this one handed variation gives the smoothest and most natural handling. Hold the deck in the left hand, thumb at one side and fingers at the ether, save for the first finger, which projects beyond the end. The card to be forced is on top. The thumb riffles the cards, releasing them one at a time. The spectator has previously been requested to say "Stop!" at any point. When he does, the thumb re-

tains the break and the hand is turned over, the upper half of the deck— the cards above the break—being dropped face up onto the right palm. The pressure of the left fingers retains the top card of the deck in place as the intervening cards slip out, so ihat it becomes the top card of the left hand portion, and appears to be the card at which the spectator requested the riffle stopped. He takes it, and it is subsequently dealt with as the particular feat requires. This move has the advantage of being invisible from any angle. It can even be worked successfully while seated at a card table, which should make it particularly valuable to the drawing room performer. Also, if desired, it can be worked entirely single handed, the uppermost cards being slid off onto the hand of the spectator instead of the performer's own hand. At start, the deck is held in normal dealing position, and the whole proceeding appears so natural that even suspicion of trickery is unlikely. The One Hand Fan Force This very pretty sleight is the creation of Judson Brown. The card to be forced is on the bottom ot the pack. The cards are held in the right hand, between fingers and thumb and fanned by the one hand, as the performer extends them toward the spectator with a re-1 quest that he will point to any spot in the fan. This done, the left hand grasps the cards below, in the fan. from the outer edge of the fan, while the right hand breaks the fan at this point, lifting off all the cards above and squaring them up into a packet by tapping their edges on the body of the fan. The spectator is then requested to note the bottom card of this packet. This is the card forced. Anyone who can fan cards nicely with one hand will have no difficulty with the sleight. As the pack is held fanned, the right first and second fingers naturally are on the face of the bottom card—the one to be forced. Thus, when the left hand supports the lower portion of the fan. the bottom card can be slid along underneath the fan by the right first and second fingers and drawn away with the upper portion of the fan, no matter where it has been broken, thus becoming the bottom card of this upper portion.

In practice, the performer does not wait until he has had a spot to break the fan indicated before he slides out the bottom card beneath the fan; but, as soon as he has made the tan, he supports the left portion sufficiently with his left hand to enable him to slide out this bottom card along the fan, so that when the spot to break the fan has been given, he can get this bottom card squarely in position at this point before separating the packets. Thus, it appears to have come from that point in the fan, which would not be true if it were out of line with the rest. Though identical in principle, the whole handling of the sleight is much neater than in the old force of sliding the bottom card along beneath the fan with two hands. When working for the fellow magician, or a "wise guy", an added variation gives an extra touch of subtlety. "For this feat," begins the magican, "we will have to use card of this pack." He turns over the deck and exposes the bottom card, calling it by name. "The six of clubs—that won't do." The top card is also shown, ' The Queen of hearts—that won't do either. Perhaps, we had better have a card taken at random. Just some spot in the fan, sir." The fact that the card chosen was clearly not either at top or bottom beforehand, completely throws off the track those familiar with conventional forces. The card to be forced was actually second from the bottom. The fan is made as in the usual working of the sleight. The left hand supports the lower half of the fan, and the left first finger, brought under the fan, slides out the card second from the botom to where it is free underneath the fan of cards to be grasped by the right first and second fingers and slid along to the spot where the fan is to be broken. This variation is little more difficult than the usual form of the sleight, and top and bottom cards may be shown both before and after the force. The handling is so radically different from the usual that even those familiar with the principle of sliding a card along under the fan to force it will be thrown completely off the scent.

GENII

BAGDAD ^ And what of Bert Kalmar? Think lie should live in Georgia. He suggested to the Atlanta magicians that they should subscribe to Genii. Forthwith they did; one hundred percent. Seems as though Bert might be Senatorial timber in the Southern state Bert is a song writer by profession and a magician by avocation. Wonder if he is the chap who wrote the song dedicated to cooks? "Oh How I Miss You Tonight". • . . And look! Our columnist has written a book. I'll wager Al Hocus gets good and tired of looking at puppets . . . . Bill Crowell McNutt writes that the Philaciciphia Houdini Club was not founded by Mr. Edward Brown, but was sired by William Mantai and Mr. McNutt. What say, Tom Collins?. . . . A newsy letter to hand from W. A Heisel. Says he'll have Domzalski get in touch with me. And that the Detroit organization is not open to all. They prefer quality to quantity. . . Mr. Heisel also relates that Al Saal has been at the Detroit Commodore with cards and cigarettes. Heisel's wife saw Al give a show when Al was thirteen years old. The show was at a church. And Al does shadowgraphs . . . . Claude Burke writes to compliment "Paging The Ladies-" Come, come, Lila, let's have a contribution. The girl reporter would love it. Bill Smith, local District Attorney and magical enthusiast, figures he can beat the races. He's a good lawyer . . . . But as for horses. . . . Charlie Miller is still the best sleight of hand man . . . Bob Nellar was born in Appleton, Wisconsin. And, of all things, his wife was raised in Green Bay. Bob met Max Terhune at the Green Bay fair. . . . The Green Bay Press Gazette gave me a swell send-off last month. The "home-town boy makes good'' business. Think it was Franz Massopust influence. But, as I've said before, Green Bay is still home to me. And always will be. . . . I like lilacs and lilies of the valley. . . "Who, besides myself, has ever eaten ground Fourteen

cherries. . . . Lay off, Mendoza! Thus is serious. Sometimes I am glad that famous visitors go home. Maybe now I'll attend meetings again. . . . Understand that C. T. was here tor a while. No wonder I didn't like him . . . And who is the magician who gets out thiee Mondays, a month by telling his mistress that he has to see his wife? (He really goes to meetings of the Mystic 27). . . Sig Krumgold's mother has been vi-iting him. . . . Mrs. Houdini is back again. Magic begins upon her return. . . . 1 hope the farm is just a fantasy. She wouldn't like it Charlie Smith, of Uncle Feelix fame, passed through, but 1 missed him. He is a real Genii booster. Maybe, if enough readers would write him at 3118 Lakewood Avenue. Seattle, Wash., we'd again have an "Uncle Feelix" column. . . And there's a new magic club in San Diego: "The Mephisto Club. Member^: Alfred Hennings. Ezra Dominitz, Sidney Fleishman and Fred Shields. All swell boys . . . . Professor Fait may as well bury himself. He's through . . And the Civil War is also ended. . . . History is a swell study. And that is so even though there have been some very feeble generals. The best magicians on the Coast are Len Gunn, Frank Chapman. Haskell and Rolland Hamblen Each has a style peculiar to himself. Personally, I couldn't choose between them . . . . And not one of them knows how good he is . . . . May I hear from the Mardonis? . . . Caryl Fleming has one of the most complete collections of magical apparatus in the world. Seme one of these (lays Hack and I will get that trick from him yet . . . . And there's only one . . . Gosh, how Caryl worries about it . . . It is getting late. Freddie Sutherland, divorce law\er, complains that he has received but two issues of (ienii . . Will check it . . . . And my aunt, than whom there is no tiner woman, and who has no interest in magic at all. reads

Genii tro.ii cover to cover every month . . . And so cUes mother . . . . Mother lemombers one of my first tricks: the organ pipes. 1 produced a full dinner, a la Hoffmann. Three months later 1 duplicated the peiforniance The poik chops, were green with mildew! I su.->poct that Mother has never liked magic since. Mo:nlight and Roses was the best cf all music for a billiard ball etc . . . Good magic! A magician friend playing a biibstantial part in "No More Ladies" as produced by the Pa-adena Shakespeare Club Juniors. He pe= fenned no magic, but trod the boards in professional manner as the substantial father of the gloiious Mary West . . . . And his avocado case is still on; after four nn nths. The name is Fueller . . . . And, speaking of lawyers, Judge Frank Collier is still fooled by t'.e Il-in Ping Chien coin trick As peifcnmed by Charlie Miller. Charlie King, Pasadena Post reporter knows us well. He bet on a horse named sleight cf hand. Down at the pawn t-hop he remarked. " the horse should have been named 'slide ot foot' " . . . But are we men or are we mice . . . . Mice, probably . . . . Howard Van Brunt is returning from the monastary . . . . And Max Holden steadily going forward . . . . Max is one hundred percent honest . . . .And Al Baker continues in the money. Wish I could meet him. An evening with him would do mo lots of good— though it might bore Al . . . Those who have original Roterherg apparatus can get big prices for the stuff . . . . But probably won't part with it . . Keith Jensen can do the jumping rubber band trick better than anyone I ever taw . . . Ask the bail brokers. Davenports are fully recovered from the fire . . . . All orders are being promptly filled . . And 1 hope C. F. Grant does well in his new location . . . . Dr. Wilson was the greatest editor of magic the fraternity has ever known . . . .

GENII

PAGING THE LADIEf GERALD1NE GGNRAD

Diary of a Magician*s Wife Monday.

Dear Diary; I barely have the heart to write tonight! Yes, I've pulled another boner! As soon as Al had finished dinner he started fooling around with a deck of cards, as usual. He finally got out a card table and kept running through the deck, picking out cards here and there, and replacing them s omewhere else. It looked silly to me but he seemed very serious about it. I went upstairs to put the children to bed and, when I came down, Al was at the phone. I knew that he would just about have time to get ready for the magic meeting (Tom ffib picking him up at seven) so I gathered up all the cards and put them away, along with the table. What a mistake that was! Al came in and, when he saw that the table was gone, he looked like a thundercloud! He had just figured out a card sequence of some sort which would have surprised and baffled the magicians at the meeting tonite. Of course, he didn't have time to start over again. I'm always doing something! Tuesday

Al was his usual self this morning. It seems that there was some famous magician from the East at the meeting last night so Al wouldn't have had a chance to do his trick anyway. He likes to show off to the local boys, but is scared to death of a celebrity. I TOLD HIM that if he'd just tell me a little more about tricks, instead of being so darned SECRETIVE, I might not make so many mistakes. Wednesday. I went to bridge club this afternoon and won the first prize. I love contract! Al simply refuses to play but I don't mind because I get to play al! I want in the afternoons and that leaves our evenings free to do other things. The reason Al gives ror not

went shopping. When I came home, the first thing I noticed, was the smell of smoke in the living room and t started to look about for something burning. Al looked very unconcerned; said it was probably just the cigarette he was smoking. Instead of helping mo look about, he just stood there in one spot smoking. It made me kind of mad because there was no doubt that something had just been burned. When Al didn't move I became suspicious Thursday and pulled him aside. Sure enough! Sanci had today off. so I puttered Right under his foot was a newly about most of the day getting up a grand dinner for Al tonite. It really burned hole in our living room rug! was good, despite the fact that Sanci He'd been practicing producing cigarhad changed things about in the cup- ettes like the magician we saw last boards and I could hardly find any- nite, and had dropped the lighed cigthing with which to work, I had pur- arette instead of the dummy, and chased an inexpensive cut of beef at hadn't noticed it until he smelled the the market when I took Junior to smoke! He claims our insurance will school. I placed this to soak, as soon cover the damage. I've been wanting ns I came home, in two cans of to- a new living room rug for a long time. Sunday mato soup. I left it there until four o'clock when 1 drained off the soup Al worked out the card sequence and browned the meat in my bakertrick again this afternoon while I I added a little onion, salt, pepper and took the children over to Mothers, He water and let it simmer for an hour said he didn't dare try the cigarettes! and a half. I put in a little water I told him to go right ahead if he now and then, but just enough to keep wanted to because I felt that now it from burning. About fifteen min- that he had burned the rug he'd be utes before serving, I poured the to- more careful. But it seems that he mato soup back over it and let it not only burned the rug, but most simmer until time to serve. It was as all of his fingers too! So he thinks tender as could be and had a marvel- he'll stick to cards. Darn it! I had ous flavor. Al raved about it, so I visions of a new davenport to go with was well repaid for my effort. the new rug! Well, time will tell. It Friday might be arranged, at that! ! • Al and 1 went with some friends of ours to a new, little night club which MRS. HOUDINI'S RECIPE, has opened out near us. I knew why Thoroughly wash a grape-fruit, A! had insisted we go to this par- halve it. loosen meat, remove seeds ticular place as soon as the floor show and fiber. Cover with sugar. Place began. The star act was a magxlan. in baking-pan, partly filled with waAnd was he clever? He was marvel- ter. Bake well until top of fruit is ous. He did a cigarette routine, pro- well browned. Serve piping hot, prefducing at least twenty lighted cigar- erably in a close fitting bowl. ettes from the air. We had a grand The glass or so of remaining panevening. water, containing the oil of the grapefruit, to be chilled and drank later. A Saturday Al gets home at noon on Saturdays, regular course of the latter has been so he looked after the kiddies while I proven an excellent skin beautifier. liking biidgc is this: if he has grand cards, an'/' vins the prize, then our friends s.-.y, "No wonder Al wins— the things he can do with cards! !" If he has terrible cards, or is even just mediocre, they say, "Al must be kind of dumb. The way he can handle cards, and yet can't seem to win at bridge!" Of course, this isn't EXACTLY true, but I understand how he feels about it.

Fifteen

GENII

CLUE CEPCCTS P.C. A.M. CONVENTION NEWS

Announcing the Fifth Annual Convention of the P.C.A.M at Reno, Nevada (The Biggest Little City in the World) under the auspices of the Reno Magic Circle, S. A. M. No. 2S, P. C.A. M. Member Club official host. Dates have been selected which, according to the consensus of opinion, will permit the greatest number to attend, and allow traveling time to and from the convention, all within one week. TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY—JULY 20th, 21st and 22nd, 1937.

Luncheon and Round table discussion frr tho purpose of general unofficial suggestions and business relative to the good, weltare and tuturo ot the organization. Open only to the P. C. A. M. Officers, Board of Governors and Council of Representatives, all ot whom are urged to be present. Dinner whei e you will, and then at S P. M an Intormal Night before party to which all are invited. Entertainment ty everyone ad lib.

C o n v e n t i on—1st day—Tuesday, July 20th—Registrations—D e a l e r ' s Displays and demonstrations—SightPre-convention and post-conven- seeing trips—Convention photos—Contion entertainment is also being plan- vention Show (foimeiiy known as ned and you are invited to come early Magician's Only Show), under the diand stay late Informal attire will be rection of Past-President Lloyd E. the order of the day and special plans Jones. Cabarets Night Clubs and visare being perfected for the entertain- its to the Gambling Salons as you ment of the ladies. So, be sure to will. bring the family with you. Convention—2nd Day—Wednesday, Reno has many excellent hotels J-uly 21st—Annual P.C.A.M Official where arrangements have been made Business Meeting—Selection of the for your accommodation trom less 1938 Convention City—Kleetion of ofthan one dollar per day, for the lesser ficers and all other important busipretentious rooms, to as high as you ness. Dealers booths may be open at any want to go for de luxe suites in exclusive hostelries catering to the elite and all times except during the busicf the famous divorce colony.' All that ness meeting from the beginning until is necessary is to address all communi- the end of the convention at the discations relative to hotel reservations cretion of all concerned. 1st session of the Magical Contests to Mr. Bud L. Beasley, telling him what you will require and how much under the directorship of Capt. Charles you wish to spend and the Reno Magic C Howard of Victoria, B. C. and his Circle Housing Committee will do the associated committee of judges. Sirest. But. a word of warning, write multaneously with the prize contests as early as possible, giving full details, there will be a special event for the and thus insure getting the choicest entertainment of the ladies. Big Public Show to be produced accommodations within your price range. Do not wait until the last min- under the personal direction of Claude ute and then expect miracles, for such I. Burke, of the Oakland Magic Circle, things are to been seen only on the Assistant Gen'l. Production Director in charge. More convention photos— bills of the show and on the stage of more visits to Night spots, etc., as you the magical contests. will. All officers, members of the Board Convention—3rd and last day— of Governors and members of the Council of representatives are urged to Thursday, July 22nd—Forenoon will be present no later than the forenoon be free for shopping, sightseeing of Monday, July 19th to participate in catching up on your gambling or what the unofficial, but highly important have you Dealers booths will lie open and at your service Finals of the Pro-Convention activities. The schedule for the official pro- Magical Prize Contest and another special event for the ladies. Dinner gram stands as follows: Dance and entertainment and, probPre-Convention—Monday, July Prize awards. 19th—Noon—Informal Dutch Treat ably, more photos. Sixteen

Pcs iMy a C w short appreciation- but no speech J. Fo K i . ; tho Dinner Dance you are on join " and you will not be lonesome or b, led, lor Reno is a twentytour hour town and something 's doing eveiy ; linuto. For your Post-Conventu n ' njoymuit, the members of your host club will be at your service to assist you in your plan- for as long as you want to stay over Reno has been called the Monte Carlo ot the West where the "sky is the limit," and it rightfully deserves the title for it has legal gambling supervised closely by the state authorities. Every known gambling device will be found running wide oiiea and any ,-tak^s may be wagered. And it's Night Clubs range from the highest type of exclusive place where full dress is the rule down to the typical Honky Tonks of the old days of the '19 gold rush. The .surrounding country is rich in history embracing government Indian leservations, Ghost mining towns, picturesque Virginia City, the scene of the famous Comstock mine from which over seven hundred millions in gold have been taken and many more places of interest too numerous to mention. Close by are beautiful Lake Tahoe, enchanting Pyramind Lake, where big lish are the rule and prizes are given for the smallest fish caught instead of the usual reverse of conditions. Sports of all descriptions annually attract thousands for there is fishing, boating, swimming, golf, horse-back liding, hunting in season, roundups and rodeos. The country abounds in mineral '•pnngs, hot and cold water geysers and many other unusual natural phenomena, and a few attractions we cannot describe here but about which ail} one who has visited the place can set you right on Entries Cor the Magical Prize Conte-ts will be booked at the time of legislation and will embrace the following: Ten beautiful trophies—100 prizes —The Ray Gamble Perpetual Trophy tor the best card trick The Caryl S.

GENII Fleming Aztec Trophy for the best comedy. The Wm. W. Larsen-T. Page Wright Memorial Trophy for the best act. Special "District" Trophies for the best acts from each district. To be awarded for the best effects performed

during

the

convention.

Brush up on your pet effects and compete.

Open to all registrants.

ENTRIES FOR THE FOLLOWING CLASSES WILL BE CONSIDERED: Card trick (manipulative). Card trick (set-up deck). Card trick (stage effect). Card trick (club or parlor effect). Silk or flag effect. Rope trick. Thimbles. Coins. Mental or Spiritualistic. Pocket tricks. Billiard balls. Cigarettes. Most original, novel or humorous presentation of standard effect. Live stock effect. Liquid effect. Ventriloquial act. Wand and cane tricks. Paper trick. Production effect. Best effect with thumb tip. Egg and fruit tricks. Impromptu or After Dinner effect. Nite Club effect (such as may be performed with the audience on all four sides). Stage effect. Escape act. Illusion. Miscellaneous effect not coming under any of the foregoing classifications. Better get busy at once on those effects you want to enter in the contests and have them all set so that you will bring home a prize. And, incidently the committee already report the receipt of some very worthy prizes and will cheerfully accept any donations you might care to send in. However, they reserve the right to reject and return any items considered unsuitable at their discretion. Wm, W. Larsen, Editor and Publisher of the Genii intimates that there will be a reduced subscription rate on the Genii available to all who register but this will be good for the duration of the Reno Convention only and the offer will not be repeated elsewhere during the year. This is 'one magical convention you cannot afford to miss for no other city in the entire country can offer such varied attractions coupled with the magical program planned. So make up your mind right now that you will be there and sit down and write Bud L. Beasley, Secretary of the P. C. A. M., 939 Lake St., Reno, Nevada. Give him full information of your desires for reservations, ask for any other data and you will receive a reply by

an early mail with everything taken care of. SO DON'T PUT IT O F F DO IT NOW. And—"I'll be lookin' for you." Caryl S. Fleming, President P. C. A. M. P. S.—To become a member of the P. C. A. M. all you have to do is to put in an appearance at the convention and pay the regular registration tree. Open to all persons interested in magic or any of it's branches. Other than the foregoing there are no obligations. • OAKLAND MAGIC CIRCLE NEWS By Earl Wheeler

So many things have been happening around Oakland in the last month that to describe the programs of the various functions would tax the memory of a newspaper reporter. However, on January 29th, the Circle had a get-together at the Golden West Brewery in Oakland and what an affair. Many from the S. A. M. in San Francisco, as well as other guests attended. High Lights of the evening were, "Alstrands" supermentality, "Hamblins" card in pocketbook, and "Slighters" cigarette routine. All the performer's standbys, but the above mentioned effects really stopped them. February 2nd was the regular monthly meeting of the Circle at the Hotel St. Marks. Only a small crowl was present, but perhaps for the better since the meeting took on an informal aspect which was both instructive and entertaining Most of the evening was taken up with "Have You Seen This", or "How do you like this idea", etc. February 13th Monthly social evening of O. M. C. at the home of W. "Dixon" AT strand in Berkley, and Oh what a crowd. The evening started off with a rice shower for Murray Rosenthai and his wife, the newlyweds. Then followed a knockout program with Jimmy Muir as M. C. Highlights in the program were, a novelty gag by President Miller and Jimmy Muir, Rosenthal and Gross in a mental act, Alstrands production of everything but the Kitchen Sink, and Dr. Enis's beautiful Card Pans. John Busk, Earl Wheeler, Ben Balyinson, Bert Hansen, Claude Burke, Fitzkee, and others also performed.

LOS ANGELES SOCIETY OF MAGICIANS By Arthur Valli

With sleeves rolled up and nothing to deceive, the election of Officers for the L.A.S.M. on January 26th was carried on with much magical gusto, and, should one be interested in such things as Presidential elections, then by these presents ye shall know them. Lord High Prestissimo Frank Fewins President Grand Exalted Conjurokos W. J. Van Bekerl Vice--Pres. Grand Scribe and Wizard of Finance Arthur Valli Sec'y.-Treas. The January Pow-Wow was one of those intimate impromptu affairs in which everyone was the life of the party. Van Berkel started the magical ball rolling by dispensing drinks for all per medium of an obliging cocktail shaker. The red ribbon and holy deck was next, with the Afghan bands to follow, accompanied by the Fat Lady story at the circus. Tony Gonzales, a new-comer, with most everybody working in his cataleptic stunts except the cat, inspired Al Williams to rise and shine, so next came Al's masterpiece of modern magic, the hats and balls. Amos and Andy—pardon me, Gerald Kosky and Bill Taylor, both gave some fine examples of their prowess with the pasteboards, so good in fact, that during one cf the latters demonstrations, a skeptical whisper of frameup and plant could be heard, but this dear reader I can vouch for, Mr. Taylor, artist that he is, can work with anyone. Wendal Gibson, nephew of Walter B., was a visitor to the January meeting. Wendal, ne/e -rom Philadelphia, with a picture of sunshine and flowers in mind on his first trip to California, arrived to :;im us swathed in overcoats, with smoky breaths and icicles on our chins. I gave the old alibi, however . . . unusual. Frank Fewins, feeling the irrestible urge to do something big. manipulated a couple of coins, his most pretentious effect however was the imblethay—you see 1 know my Latin. Frank Greatrex, with most everybody working in his levitation stunt demonstrated the way to get a raise—through the "laying on of hands", and the ease with which some of the members were elevated started similar stunts on the way. Bill Taylor's effort, though Seventeen

GENII President, L. H. Leon; Vice-President, Mr. Taylor. S. A. M. Assembly 22, Secretary, Gerald Kosky. Of the L. A S. M. President, Frank Fewens; Vice-President, Arthur Vali; Secretary, Mr. Van Burke], Guests other than officers of Magic were Mr. and Mrs. Hi Harris, Mr. and Mrs. Max Terhune, Mr. Melroy, Chester Morris, Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon, Mr. and Mrs. Tenkai, Mr. D. E. Postle, father of our President, Mark Sebranski, Dick Warner, George Gunther, Mr. Ferrentz and M. Michey. There were twenty-five acts scheduled for the evening show, but due to lack of time we were able only to put • on fourteen of them. Nearly everyRE: MYSTIC 27 body has seen the Tenkai act, and On Saturday evening, February G, these two Japanese members of the the Mystic 27 held its Annual Ladies Magical Fraternity gave us a very Night party at the home of Mr. and act with cards, cigarettes and silks. Mrs. Hal Curtis in Glendale. We were Again we were entertained by Hi and fortunate in having as our guests Mr. Mrs. Harris and Max Terhune. and Mrs. Hi Harris. Hi is exception• ally talented in the manipulation of ROUCLERE ASSEMBLY No. 25, the abdominal piano, (piano accordion PATERSON, NEW JERSEY. to you), and his wife, Evelyn, is a mean tap dancer. The combination Another month gone and tins being proved to be very interesting enter- one of our "Ladies Nights" we didn't tainment. spend much of our time with business Dick Warner, another guest, gave a procedure, outside of voting in our new pretty version of the disappearing member, Mr. Hall. The main event wand, varying it with the reproduction of the evening took place first and that of a ribbon, finding said ribbon where was a steak dinner which vanished in record time. Boy! Can we magicians the wand used to be. The high spot of the show, how- put away the eats? I'm beginning to ever, was the famous Max Terhune think magacians are the hungriest and his ventriloquist act accompanied people alive. Soon after dinner was over the fun by "Skully", his very educated dummy. The members of the club who par- began. Yours truly started the Show ticipated in the show were Fred and with a transposition of a knot tied in Walter Roberts, Hal Curtis, Walt the center of a silk held in the left Westcott, George Postle, The Clauser hand, to the center of a silk held in Twins, Frank Whitson, Ray Whitten, right hand. The die and frame was next and I wound up with the visible and Ray Frazier. Our master of vanish of milk from a bottle to a ceremonies was George Baxter. On Thursday evening, February 18, tumbler directly beneath, but sepawe met at Thayer's Studio and had as rated by a hank and plate. Connie Bush was next, with a rope our guest among others, the officers of the Magic Clubs of Los Angeles and act. He started with a twelve inch vicinity. The Club officers present piece, stretched it to twelve feet, did were Caryl Fleming, well known Pres- several versions of cut and restored ident of the P. C. A. M.; Gerald Kosky, rope, Chefalo knots, knots that won't National Vice-President of the S. A. M. stay tied; in fact, everything that can Of the Los Angeles Japanese Amateur be done with rope and finally wound Clubs were President, Dr. T. Mura- up with the original twelve inch piece. kami; Vive-President, Mr. T. Miya- A finished performance if I ever saw mato; Secretary, Mr. George Kamei- one. shi; and Treasurer, Mr. S. Nako. Of Freddie Elwood presented a charthe Mystic 13, Secretary, Mr. Arnold acter act entitled, "Dr. Schnozzola": Furstenberg. Of the Los Magico-,, Vanishing Wand, Fire Bowl that is there appeared to be none, swept them off their feet. He used a broom, and certainly cleaned up. Mr. Kosky, now feeling the spirit urge, with three of the faithful sitting in, held a table tipping seance. We waited . . . but you know how these spirits are . . . . the spirits were scotch evidently, for there was nary a tip . . . so we'll take that up at our next meeting. An effort by your Scribe to inject a little humor into the proceedings here, by offering "magnificent" pieces magical apparatus as swaps, failed dismally, so a recess was called for refreshments.

Eltthteep

worth seeing, and is a beautiful piece of work, and Bhrama Rice bowls with his own special finish, wherein the water is poured into a glass, same covered, water made to vanish, rice found in glass and water back in bowls. Our president, Edward Witford, presented "The Delayed Light" a golf ball routine and a cigarette. James Baines was the ventriloquist for the evening. That was a surprise as we did not know he was one. Mildred Rouclere Jr., the only woman member cf the society did the "Cat and Canary" a three card monte effect using large painted pictures of a cat and canary in different cages and an empty cage. Charlie Diestel now started producing handkerchiefs, s t u f f i n g them in a paper tube and dyeing them, shooting a hank into in an empty glass, tamborine production and finally the production of large flag on staff. Marty Klein did his own version of the needle trick, his mouth being examined with a flash light before and after the effect. Jean Irving our guest performer of the evening acquitted himself in the Jean Irving manner. Coins from the air when dropped into a hat changed to saucer sized coins- A string of large sized flags next came from the hat followed by the largest guinea pig I ever saw. He finished with cut and restored turban. Shapiro the escape artist and our other guest performer did a straight jacket escape in record time. La Violette was next with his wand from pocket book, Ribbon paper tearing, his Prohibition Flag, his vanishing tumbler of water which is a real piece of magic. Vic expects to put it, on the market soon so watch for it or write him. Vanishing guinea pig from sucker box and torn and restored card in borrowed cigarette finished Vic up right. The bright spot of the program now began to shine. Anything is a bright spot to me when good drinks are being served. That's what happened when Schreivogel and Mystic Craig presented their original "Magic Bar." Any drink called for was immediately served from a transparent crystal decanter containing only water which was tasted before being poured for drinks. All drinks are genuine. I know, because I

GENII Gerald Kosky acting as emcee. Maasked for Bacardi Rum after fifteen best effect to be used in a night club drinks had already been served and act was one of the highlights cf the gicians who performed are as folI know what Bacardi tastes like. All evening. The donors Hy Harris, Mel lows: Gerald Kosky opened by performing a mental card effect that was glasses are clear crystal and drinks Roy, Bert Kalmar and Sylvan Wolf are poured by the foot lights way in acted as judges. First prize went to half a flop. Next, Arnold Furstenberg front of Bar. Their act was rounded Ernest Mickey of the Mystic 13, sec- showed a few mental card effects. out with production box, a sucker rab- ond prize to Gerald Kosky and third Then Harry Mendoza with the aid of a bit vanish, production of two ducks a prize to Dick Wilcox. A special prize mirror named every card as he dealt la pigeon easel. Schreivogel did the for personality in presentation was di- them from top of the deck. Next, passe passe bottle with a sucker effect. vided between Len Gunn and Bob Mark Sebransky performed with coins. Gunther. Then Howard Gerlach showed a huThis just about wound up everything Guests of the evening Frank Few- morous card force. Next, Jim Conley for the evening. ens, Max Terhune and Hy Harris. showed a few handkerchief effects. So until next month, Henry Downs, and Bob Neller enter- Then Waldron Scott did some clever Cherrio, juggling. Next Hi Harris performed tined between acts of the contestants DOMINICK FIORILLA. Ten Kai closed the show with the in his masterful way, a knockout men• smoothest magic these jaded eyes have tal card effect. Then judge Fricke fooled the boys with a clever mental ever seen. GAYLORD HOST TO MAGICIANS Members of the Midwest Magical The meeting of February 22, 1937 match routine. Next, Franz Christensociety met Sunday afternoon at was held at the home of Bert Kalmar sen fooled himself with a card effect. Then Mey Roy mystified all presCopple's California Service station, at Encino (Al Jolson is the new mayor at Chapman, with Roscoe L. Gaylord, of Encino or did you know). Just ent with a clever card and coin menof Grand Island, as host. Eleven mem- a few guests Mel Roy, Max Terhune, tal trick. Next, Bob Neller illusbers of the organization were present W. H. Sheldon and L. Leon Jr. were trated a story with a deck of cards. for the business meeting, and guests present. The host was unanimously Then Caryl Fleming closed the bill of the society more than doubled the awarded a prize for a production with with a clever card prediction effect. GERALD KOSKY business meeting. the greatest EFFECT. Bert left the room for a moment and presto one of • Members of the society and dinner guests yesterday included the follow- the walls passed up thru the ceiling TWIN CITY NEWS. and there was our genial host ening: Mr. and Mrs. Paul Curtiss, of Magic is coming back to this part Geneva; Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Over- trenched behind a perfectly appointed of the country as evidenced by the bar and did he have customers With street and Mr. and Mrs. C L. Lafler, such an inspiration members and demand of magic acts. Theatres and of Benedict; Dr. H. V. Nothomb, of Nite Clubs are all looking for magic guests presented an excellent bill of Aurora; and Jess Blodgett, Mrs. Caracts around here. The following is rie Thompson and son, Emmett, Mr. entertainment. Caryl Fleming introproof. and Mrs. Chas. Hartley, Ervin Ball, duced a new effect with the use of a Bob Lee recently played the Palace Frances Marin, Ralph Eaton, Sally magnet as a locater. A swell place, Theatre and Lindy's Nite Club doing Franckoviak, and Roscoe Gaylord, all a swell gang, a swell evening. Fred A. Kapp, Sec. a comedy magic act. Also the Lyceum of Grand Island. © Theatre at St. Paul. The next meeting of the Midwest The regular monthly meeting o£ Henry Gordien played the Palace Magical society will be held Sunday, March 21, with Jess Blodgett, of Grand S. A. M. assembly No. 22, was held Theatre and Curley's Bar Nite Club Monday, February 15th at the Holly- the third return engagement. Island, as host. wood Knickerbocker hotel. All atHarry Blackstone played the Or• tending this meeting said they had a pheum'Theatre not long ago. uOS MAGICOS REPORT FOR GENII very enjoyable time. Our guests for Don White, formerly with Olsen The night of February S, 1937 saw the evening were: Mel Roy, Max Terthe members of Los Magicos and hune, Hi Harris, Henry Dangremond and Johnson's show played the Palace guests gathered at the home of Caryl and several others A vote of thanks Theatre, and a show at the AuditoFleming. Guests of the evening were was given to Caryl Fleming for the rium. Billie Baird played the Palace TneJudge Fricke, Hy Harris, Mel Roy, splendid party he gave the Magicians atre and Lindys Nite Club. Sure is a Harold Gerlack, Martin Sabaransky, at his beautiful Beverly Hills home Ernest Mickey, Frank Fewens, Dr. February 8th. A vote of thanks was clever boy and does he manipulate Langley, James Conley, Clyde Day, also given to Hi Harris, Bert Kalmar, cards and balls. The Great Raymond is now at the Fred Ricker, Bob Neller, Max Ter- Mel Roy, and Sylvan Wolf for their hune, Jack Kosky, Sylvan Wolf, Gil joint donation of $35.00 in cash as Commodore Hotel in St. Paul. He has Vail, Lawrence Yeager, Arnold Fur- prize money for the best Night Club been there several weeks. He was a stenberg, Bob Gunther, C. W. Ney- effects shown at Fleming's party guest of the Hanky Panky Club in Dehart, Judson Brown, and members of February 8th. All present voted to cember. He told of his trips and visits the Amateur Japanese Magic Society, have a "Ladies Night" the latter part in foreign countries. Ten Kai, Tsuneo Minakawi, George W. of March at the "Swank" Biltmore Other magicians who have recently Kameishi, T. Miyamato, S. Naco, and Bowl. played here include: Leslie Hunt, LorHenry Downs. Following the business meeting, a ing Campbell, Hi Harris, Jimma, fash prizes totaling $35.00 for the magic program was arranged with Dorny Dornfield and next week Harry

GENII aways in his Ballygram. Our hats are off to you Floyd for saving us much labor, time and money. A vote ot thanks was also tendered Caryl Fleming for his untiring help and to Claude Burke and Lloyd Jones, of Oakland Magic Circle, who has so willingly accepted the thankless job of directing the Public Show and Convention show (Magicians only) respectively. A report from the Chairman of the Convention Housing Committee, Fred Hodge, showed fine progress with Hotel reservations and that we are ready to book reservations any time. Dr. H. Cafferata has the dinner dance well in hand. The Century Club has been engaged for meetings and Convention shows and the Theatre contract will e be closed in a few days. The Ladies EXTRA!—LAST MINUTE NEWS Doc. Nixon "Chundu" played the Auxilliary Committee has things in Palace Theatre, Feb. 20th & 21st. hand for the ladies entertainment and Curly's Bar Nite Club the week of the have a fine program. The meeting closed with several of 19th. The following week at Lindy's Nite Club and Lyceum Theatre. Third the New Junior Members being introweek he will be at Palace Theatre. duced and several did magic on the Has a flashy show with lots of color program which was featured by Mr. and flash to it. And is using his Young, a visiting Magi from Utica, "where do the ducks go," Duck vanish. New York. Refreshments were served Very pretty and very well done. But and all in all a good night was spent Doc. Nixon needs no introduction as by all. every magi knows him and his type of • entertainment. THE CINCINNATI MAGICIANS Magi Randolph Merriman is now .CLUB. assistant manager of the Palace TheBy W. S. Berger atre here and promises to book a lot At the regular meeting of The Cinof magi's. A prince of a fellow and a cinnati Magicians Club, held at The good worker of magic, dancing, com- Cuvier Club, resolutions were adopted edy, and a wonderful Emsee. on the passing of W W. Durbin to the That's all for now, Thanks for lis- "Great Beyond." tening. The election of officers for the en• suing year were as follows: Bjorklund. And according to the enclosed ad I worked three weeks here. Lindy's Nite Club and Curly's Bar Nite Club is the two most popular Nite Clubs here and where most magi's appear. Hanky-Panky Club held its last meeting at the King Cole Hotel here on Friday, January 29th and a wonderful time was had by all. R. D. Peck put on one act that lasted over 30 minutes. Art Brown worked a half hour showing a lot of new magic. Both did a wonderful show and worked mighty hard to make those who came glad they didn't miss it. Don White opened the show with a clever short act and acted as Emsee.

RENO MAGIC CIRCLE NEWS

Geo.

W. Stock

-President.

Two very profitable and enioyable Sam Mayer— Vice.-Pres. meetings were held Tuesday, FebruW. S. Berger Secretary. ary 2nd and Tuesday, February 16th. Chas. T. Brooke .Treasurer. Much convention business was accomSam Ward Sergent-at-arms. plished. Oficers were elected for the J. H. Berner - - - Chairman of encoming year. C. S. Leaf McManus tertainment. was re-elected President, Edward W. Brother Stock starts his 29th term Chism, First Vice-President, A. P. as President of the organization and Johnson, Second Vice-President, Fred Hodge, Secretary, Leo F. Schmitt, Treasurer. Committee reports revealed that everyone has been working hard on the 1937 Convention and that everything was up-to-the minute. Another month should see Reno ready to go. A vote of thanks was given Floyd Thayer for his generous cooperation in mailing Convention throwTwenty

has the remarkable record of never missing a meeting of the club. The club is noted for its warm hospitality and the acts which follow the business meetings are as mystifying. WEEK OF FEBRUARY 15th, 1937. By Lu-Brent

The show of shows is over when I speak of the Annual Soiree' Magique and Dance held at the Hotel Stephen Girard in Phila., Pa. According to all reports the show was a complete sell out Yours truly dissappointed the audience by non-appearance due to other engagement and could not make it on time. However the congenial Edison of Magic Burling Hull showed up and performed a very entertaining act with his Magic Bar Act in the writers place. WILLISTON of N. Y. C. also failed in appearance and the show had to do without him. All the others mentioned in program appeared and each of them gave a marvelous exhibition of their magical wares. AL BAKER < HUMEROUS and witty thru-out as M. C. also DENNIS the other half of AL. ELWOOD AND RIPEL, Vent, and Punch always entertaining these two. . . . . from all reports TOM OSBORNE'S act stood out like a lonely star in the skies (please refer to other acts on program enclosed for further information, other reports may come in to your desk shortly from someoneelse who actually witnessed this affair.). "LE PAUL" - - - - playing the well-known spot "BENNY'S PALACE" and doing great at this place - - - first magician to play this spot since it's opening. "PABLO" Playing the NIXON GRAND THEATRE in Philly. "TUNG PIN SOO" (Al Wheatley) playing in a revue at the FAYS THEATRE, also another comedy Magician on same show, forget his name at this writing. "MARSHALL MONTGOMERY" a well-known Vent Act playing Palumbo's Cafe. "YOURS TRULY" (Lu-Brent) playing the CLUB CHATEAU. That's all

GENII

STAGECCAfT So your club is going to give a show? The sixth of a series of articles by Caryl S. Fleming, President or the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians. EXPLOITATION, PUBLICITY AND ADVERTISING. Three highly essential factors which practically determine the difference between your show being a financial success or a box office flop Advertising alone brings the least of results as paid announcements in your local papers are frequently lost, unless they occupy important space, and prove almost totally futile unless coupled with publicity stories in the news columns to build up interest in the event. Hence, when presenting ad copy full value can be received only when coupled with attractive, interest creating stories to appear in the news columns. Window cards and billboard displays are excellent, and most magical dealers carry attractive stock items of this sort with blank spaces for details. Such lithos are not very expensive, and, the judieous installation and displays of paper in store windows and advertising stands, will bring good results with a minimum outlay of cash and effort. However, a word of caution: do not misrepresent by word, intimation, or illustration, the acts on your bill, for there will be another show next year and it will surely feel the effects of any promises, tacit or otherwise, that ai e not kept. In other words, use care and discretion in the choice of your stock paper. Get those with illustrations most typical of the type of show you offer. Lithos showing large stage illusions should not be used unless you are really going to have them in your show. And the same for spook stuff. Keep away from such designs unless you have a spook act.

If you are lucky enough to have at your command big things, by all means make the fact known. But I can imagine nothing that would send an audience away from a show feeling more disappointed than to lead them to expect things from your advance publicity which were not delivered when the time came. Past experience has proved that magic is rather a difficult thing to portray pictorially. Many tricks that completely mystify an audience during their performance wouW not photograph with any indication of mystery whatsoever. A picture of a performer with a handfull of billiard balls, cigarettes or card fans does not necessarily indicate magic, for the magical production, appearance or multiplication which is the basis cf much tricks does not register. Objects suspended in mid air are always good as are unusual changes or alterations in ordinary appearance, so before making a f'tvi choice of action for publicity stills be sure that they register magic. Printed throwaways distributed, with authorative permission of course, outside of schools, theatres, public functions and during ballyhoo stunts bring excellent results. Street ballyhoos for both your show and the business firms, who assist in or sponsor such stunts and, invariably, draw crowds and present a psychological moment for the distribution of hand bills advertising your show. For instance, the old sure-fire packing box escape can be worked at little or no expense by issuing the usual challenge via the newspapers, then finding a suitable firm who will accept it and will build the box at their own expense. At the appointed time the escape artist is securely confined in the box Then, before the performance is continued, your hand bills are passed out to the accompan-

iment of a short talk by one of your members, and, finally, the escape effected as a climax. Likewise, some object can be hidden at a stated location to attract a ciowd tor the finale of your blindfold drive and there, again, in between the t'me your blindfold driver arrives at the designated spot, and the beginning of his search for the hidden item, is your time to pass out your hand bills. At the P.C.A.M. Oakland Convention, Murray Rosenthal escaped from r.n assortment of handcuffs, chains, co'lars and manacles on the steps of the Court House. In Hollywood, L. O. Gunn and Charles, Hoffman staged a blindfold drive race down Hollywood Boulevard in two autos covered with advertising banners, to the accompaniment of screaming sirens of the motorcycle police escorts. Gunn also performed a straight jacket escape while suspended head down at the end of a rope three stories above the street in front of the official hotel which was plastered with advertising banners. Charles Smith, of Seattle, director of publicity for our recent convention ran a magical contest for children which was sponsored by Mrs. Harry Houdini and held at one of the big department stores. The winners were presented with tickets to the public show. The next day was staged a blindfold drive with John Stabelien driving through crowded traffic and locating a written order for a barrel of beer presented by the local brewery for consumption at one of the conventicn soirees and upon returning to the theatre with the order was greeted by a crowd already assembled to witness Win. Harkness' specatcular escape from a steel tank into which he had been welded by one of the local auto repair plants. Not a thing particularly new in the entire list, but each and every stunt Twenty-one

GENII returned telling box office results that boosted the ticket sale materially; which was the primary object in all cases. Radio will bring many more ticket sales and can play an important part in your publicity. Smilin' Frankie Gordon, one of our Hollywood members, donated part of the time of each of his "spot announcements" on one of the principal stations in Southern California for an entire week prior to the date of our public show and gave us over forty announcements, which helped us hang up the old S.R.O. sign long before the overture. Mental effects, numerical tricks and pseudo mind-reading, such as telephone directory or newspaper want ad tests can be broadcast and any number of different ideas worked out that will bring in a "commercial" for the show. Some items of this sort can be found in both the columns of last years files of the P.CM. News and the Linking Ring in case you are interested. And, your favorite magic dealer can probably supply you with any one of several books containing ballyhoo and publicity stunts that can easily be adapted to your local needs. Another sure-fire method of getting newspaper stories is to have a few of your members present a free show to the inmates of childrens hospitals, orphanages and other public institutions, service luncheon clubs, and so forth, too numerous to mention here. And, although I am very much against giving free shows before any but bonafide charity organizations, or public institutions, I am willing to admit that a free act or two at a service club luncheon in exchange for the privilege of selling tickets right then and there to their members might hold sufficient repayment possibilities to influence me to change my o therwise inflexible rule. In closing, let me remind you that the more people you reach with your message the greater are your potential ticket sales so map out your campaign carefully, make it as intensive as possible and do not overlook any bets for they all mean cash. CARYL S. FLEMING. Twentj-lwo

right, and I agree with him thoroughly, in what he stated in his letter to his American friends. SO Barkham Rosinoff presented Fleming's rope trick. Hope he does it better than I do. WELL! here I am back home again in Baggypants, South Dakota. Met a fine bunch of magicians. Had a grand time, and hope to return soon. Hollywood is a queer place. Men dress and act like women, and vice versa. Made a few shorts while there, and they are now on sale at Daley's Emporium at twenty-nine cents the pair. FLOOD Benefits are a wonderful thing for ham actors and magicians, but more of them should just come on and take a bow. WHILE ribbing has been my forte, let it never be said that W. W. Durbin was ever included in my efforts. HAD the extreme pleasure of meeting Frankie Gordon while on my Western tour. Spent one Sunday afternoon listening to his "Help Thy Neighbor" broadcast You can catch it over KHJ at 3:30 P. M. A great idea and just goes to porve what a good fellow Frankie Gordon really is. HOWARD Van Brunt is about to be numbered with the boys again. Abbott's squash will be done at every meeting from now on. I always did contend that actors are born, but actresses are made. SO many magicians when they get up to perform invariably present a LITTLE effect. Wouldn't it be a change if some one would present a big one once in a while. A year ago Gerald Kosky sent a certain magical magazine a clever trick. Last month they printed it. Oh well! just wait and see. THE contest recently held at Caryl Fleming's home surely brought out some lousy boresome magic. The prize contributors were gypped, if all reports are true. L.

DAVENPORT

is

absolutely

MY Reno correspondent tells me a certain traveling magician with his fleet of one Ford truck appeared at a meeting there. He did a couple of tricks, and then sold a book to his brother magis for one buck. Later he did a show for the Kiwanis Club of that city, and sold the same book for four bits. Just another reason why the deportation ark with its many passengers should soon set sail. CAN you say fish with your mouth open? Bob Nellar of Long Beach can do it. Better watch out, Bob, my dummy arrived last week. The only club report without a By line in last month's Genii, confirms what I've always said about San Diego. SO Frank Chapman says I can't take it. What about that certain evening, at a certain beer-joint in Glendale, when a certain piano player was certain he was the best honky-tonk pianist. Did you know that Fred Rickard is an expert on snuff. (Norwegian condition powder). Hy Harris is about to open his great show in Minneapolis. Good luck, Hy. Prince Van Tine is still at it. Carl W. Jones, publisher of the Minneapolis Journal is going to publish a book on Hillard's magic Johnny Platt can, and does, outwinchell Winchell. There is a magician playing in a Hollywood night club who was a ballet dancer three years ago. Harry M. C. (much chatter) Mendoza does better as a magician than he does as a Master of Ceremonies. Haskell again breaks a record, and stays six weeks at the Mark Hopkins; then opens at the Fairmont just across the street. (Attaboy Hack!). Doc Levi tells the funniest stories. Clayton Sharpe, considered one of the best by those who know, is also an admirer of mine.

GENII DO THEY OFFER ONLY DESTRUCTIVE CRITICISM, NOR ATTACK THE DEAD OR DEFENSELESS. A Criticism By Caryl Fleming & Wm. W. Larsen But—Mr. Jarrett, we wonder if you That is to say—Jarrett chooses to all American stage directors for big could possibly understand this. And, by the way, if you do "write term it a "book" and thereby evidently productions, and many others, including some of our best known magical another book"—may we suggest that relieves himself, to some degree, of what seems to be an exaggerated cass equipment dealers, according to Jar- you take a few doses of soda bicarbonof inflated ego, coupled with an ap- rett, were in total ignorance of magic ate and, if you don't mind—when you and it's principles and mechanics, belch, or otherwise relieve yourself of parently long aggravated case of accumulations of the gas you seem to chronic mental flatulence undoubtedly showmanship, stagecraft and good superinduced by many years spent in business judgement. He quarrels with generate so prolificly, would you be the workshops of theatrical property, them all. However, it is astounding kind enough to do it in some other (?) that all these men, despite the manner than through the medium of manufacturing studios with their customary attendant vile odors of decom- lack of Jarrett's guidance managed, your printed pages? posing fish glue, cheap disinfectants somehow, to get enough money to buy Thanks! and sour scenic paints—for—his their three meals a day and an occaAnd—if you have writen your pressional smoke and so forth. "book" reeks of just that. ent volume under a subterfuge to gain We wonder why he did not call the The self-proclaimed M e n t o r , persona! publicity for yourself, which io what we suspect, may we tip you off "hand chewed" job he has foisted threatens to burn all unsold copies of upon the magical fraternity by the his "masterwork" on or after a cer- such things frequently act as a remore suitable name, according to his tain date, and we hasten to add the coil, and act in just the opposite manclaims, "THE ORACLE OP MAGIC sincere hope that his bonfire will be ner. So, what? SPEAKS", or something similar, for, large and bright. by his own words he admits that he is In closing—a word to Mr. Jarrett INDIAN MAGICIAN VOL. 5 (1936) all-informed, all-powerful. and all of his ilk—it is an acknowlFor example, on the first page of edged axiom that MEX, and the word Bound in book form is ready for his remarkable "effort", he states is given in it's literal sense for everysale at P s. 2/3 or 3s. 2d. or69c. (verbatim quotation)—"I have spoken thing it means and represents. DO 847 Sadshiir-peth P onca-city. India. personally to every magician in Amer- NOT STRIKE IN THE DARK, NOR ica, offering to make him the "World's FROM BEHIND ONE'S BACK, NOR Only Magician", and there is not a single one with the desire or ambition JUST OFF THE PRESS—1937 ILLUSTRATED, MAGICAL BROADto become great, or famous, or to earn SIDE—Yours for six cents in stamps real money, or to have a secure future, being in constant demand by the public, for his show. Not a single one has guts, or ideas, or imagination, to be anything but just a "doll house illusionist". At five "bux", to one seeking pracMagician's tical magical information, Jarrett's GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA book is a almost a total loss for the 107 EAST CHESTNUT little constructive magic it contains seems to be quite subsidiary to the mass of scoldings and destructive criticism of men who have more or less of a success in magic, despite their rejections of Jarrett's offers to sell them his brainstorms at top prices. For it seems that those in By GERALDINE F. CONRAD | particular who refused to buy from | him immediately became classified in I Complete dialogue and instructions for a puppet play, adapt| his own strong opinions as "drug 1 able to children's groups as well as puppets; an interesting § store magi", "a bunch of clowns", | story book for the children—jjn Ideal Easter Gift. | "furniture salesmen", incompetents | Autographed iopies sent postpaid—?1.00 | and thieves. 1 Address orders to § Such figures as Thurston, Houdini, Goldin, Goldstone, and R. H. Burnside, who for many years, to our personal | Box 223, Sierra Mad re, California j knowledge, was considered the ace of niiiiiii niiiiiii nimiiniiiinii iiiaim niiini niniiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiio iiiiiniiimiiiiiiniiiinniitiniiMiiiiiiioiiiimiiiiuB

Mister Jarrett Writes A Book

apparatus

1

A New B o o k . . . by a New Author

j

I

AT EASTER TIME

j

|

Geraldine Conrad

§

Twenty-three

GENII

By Lloyd E. Jones Material for review in THE GENII should be sent to the above at S6S 27th Street, Oakland, California. Deaths are very upsetting things. Not only to immediate families and friends but also to wide-spread acquaintances and in the case of celebrities to lesser known people who had hoped some day to meet and know personally these celebrities- Will Blyth died January 7, and W. W. Durbin passed on a short month later taking with them whatever chance I ever had to meet and benefit by contacting these two great men of magic. My personal loss is large to me but tremendously insignificant when compared to the loss by the magical fraternity as a whole. Magic will recover and move forward as before but lovers of the art will often wish that Will Blyth and Bill Durbin were still with us to instruct, direct, and offer wise counsel. Deaths are very upsetting things. L:fe patterns and plans are shattered nncl routines upset. The Genii is now r^ore than two weeks late being held up to pay homage to W. W. Durbin. Deadline for copy is two days away and your reviewer confronted with some seventeen hundred pages of literature feels handicapped as only a reviewer with seventeen hundred pages of material can feel. Little Hatif worn out by his journeys across continent and water to stand invisible by the biers of our lamented friends sits on the desk a shadow of his real self and urges haste. We hasten; deaths are upsetting things, but deadlines wait for no one. Not even reviewers with hundreds of pages. MORE TIPS AND GAGS, by Grant, New York City, 1937. mimeo. heavy cover, $1.00. CARD SYSTEM DELUXE, by an Smith. Abbott Magic Novelty Twenty-four

V. F. S p. AdriCom-

pany, Colon, Michigan, 1937. 20 p. $2.50. Each time Abbott's press stops rolling he has produced a better printed work than the last. This one is truly beautiful being on enameled paper and sporting a velour cover. Abbott highly recommends the working system and I was amazed to see a hardened mentalist who had thrown book after book and one mental stunt after another aside. Reach for a pencil and lose all interest in other events. It will take work to master the system but what good trick doesn't? One of the year's first best books. FASCINATING TRICKS W I T H GHOSTLITE LUMINOUS PAINT, by S. W. Reilly, Columbus, Ohio. 1936. S p. mimeo., paper cover. I have seen many tricks with luminous paint and read of many others but Reilly discloses some new ones that greatly pleased this reviewer. The tricks and ideas, mostly practical, coupled with the brief information given will aid all interested in dabbling with unusual effects at home or on the stage. THE MAGIC OF THE HANDS, by Edward Victor. Waddilove & Co., Ltd., England, 1937. 119 p. cloth, $2.00. Arriving from Davenport this book immediately restored what prestige English magical publications had lost through other recent publications. Assuredly this will ranks among the year's best books and lead many to enthuse over it. Worth the price as a piece of printing art it is a bargain for the magic it contains. Victor, and oldtime professional runs the gamut of the divisions of sleight-of-hand and explains his favorite tricks or moves. Though none too plentiful they are good for either the amateur or specialist. Best sections are those on cigars and cigarettes, thimbles, and billiard balls. The rope trick and slate improvements will delight many for novelty and cleaness of presentation.

SIX BITS MORE, by Chapman, Glendale, California, 1937. S p. photolith. Haskell and Roland Hamblen contribute items to make this the best in Chapman's series. These six bits require no especial skill to create stunning effects. Card workers will like the contributions of the two gentlemen mentioned and may find the necessary bit of "difference" in the others. THE JINX, February, 1937, No. 29. Theo Annemann, Waverly, New York. 6 p. photolith. 25c a copy. Featured are a variety ot mental effects and a novel card location that Annemann calls a "freak." MAGIC UNMASKED, D. C. Thomson & Co., London, England. 26 p. ill. Our British brothers have expose worries as this very good booklet will show. Given free with a boy's paper at 4d one finds variety from simple tricks to illusions and all of the better sort. Surprising is the reproduction of an illusion of Okito contained in Goldston's Magical Quarterly reviewed below. Goldston's black-art is also mentioned, exposed, and praised. THE TOPS, February, 1937, vol. 2, No. 2. Percy Abbott, Colon, Michigan. 48 p. $1.00 a year. Abbott's record of never being late an issue is unique and commendable. Surprising too is his publication of such a magazine at so low a price. Issue contains controversial matters, excellent columns, and magic that seems to take. A local club staged a Tops night and presented more magic from its dozen issues than from a contemporary of dozen's of years that had been similarly honored the month previous. THE DRAGON, Vol. 6, No. 1., January, 1937. Vernon Lux, Mount Morris, Illinois, $1.00 a year, 18 p. How time does fly! Volume 6. New cut appears on heading and a good start is made with magic better than many more expensive and older contemporaries.

GENII tionnaire for new members they ask them what GREAT Magicians they have teen perform On one of the applications was Gunn and Fleming— when Fleming and I came to. the meeting was over. Why wouldn't it be a good idea tor XVrthem and Southern California Magicians to have a pre-convention O C U N N BY meeting some Saturday night in Fresno? Wouldn't be a long drive for Box 59S2, Metro. Station either section, and we would have lots Los Angeles. of fun. Jimmy Muir might help us on Bj this time, you, who plan on go- the Hotel rates and we could double ing to Reno, should have half of your up m the cars. expenses saved up. All plans have Every Saturday afternoon we Los been made at this early date to as- xVngeles Magi gather at Thayer's sure a successful convention. Studio. Nice meeting place: real fire— 1 have taken a slam at booking Fleming always has a new story and agents, from time to time, but, the the card sharks show us some new and best looking agents in Los Angeles are original moves, if you haven't seen Floyd Thayer and Caryl Fleming. They them before. do more to get bookings for Magicians When a man has a high forehead than an\ one else in Los Angeles, and everyone thinks he is getting bald. they keep the price up for the boys! I La\ off you long haired birds. owe (hem both plenty of commissions. Tiling.-, that possess a sense of Frederic Elmore, who is now dead, mystery to me: tunnels, caves, cellars, told me in Kenton in 1932 that it I nndeiground cafes and narrow alleys. came to Florida he would get me some I like to eat in cafes underground and bookings What greater thing could would lather have an underground cl

Announcement of Name of Winner of Second GENII Contest Excerpts from.... PAGE WRIGHT'S DIARY Lloyd Jones' Prize Winning Card Tricl 1926 Seattle Comention

PRICKS

COLUMNS

SOCIETY NEWS

LLOYD E. JONES

LADIES' PAGE and a dozen other Features

OFFICIAL ORGAN May, 1937

Vol. 1, No. 9

Pri««e Tw ertiHern.

effect. Best effect with thumb tip. Egg and fruit tricks. Impromptu or After Dinner effect. Nite Club effect (such as may be performed with the audience on all four sides). Stage effect. Escape act. Illusion. Miscellaneous effect not coming under any of the foregoing classifications).

T. Page Wright (Continued from page 14) long, and then I have to blow my nose. My eye itches and I rub it, leaving an effect that would be superb for an auto mechanic after a hard day but that is practically useless to represent a southern gentleman officiating at a duel. The reflectors hurt my eyes. They watered, giving at least a sympathetic touch to my character. I did not like to look at the ^camera. It was just an ordinary camera, designed for utility rather than beauty, perhaps, but hardly deserving the epithet of unlovely, and certainly it was nothing of which to be afraid merely because it was going. When no scene was being taken it was easy to look at it. During a scene I simply could not bear to look out front. I gazed at the ground like an amateur naturalist who has just discovered an ant heap; I gazed up at the sky as one who sights a flock of airplanes, which, as the period was that of the Civil War, was a slight anachronism. I would not look out in front. In fact, as an accor, I failed to hand the movies much of a dent." Everywhere the diary is punctuated with bits of philosophy like this one: "To refuse to bow to the sillier common concepts of mankind gives us a feeling of magnificent superiority, but we rob ourselves of what pleasure even the silliest conventions may serve to gratify. Many years ago a theatre—a foolish little picture house—placed in front, as a part cf its lobby-display, a box with a sign on it—DO NOT LOOK INTO THIS BOX. And, of course, everyone who passed by on the street looked into the box. But not I. I said to myself that it was an obvious trap for fools, and I would not look. And I did not. But for six years I have wondered what was in that box. Because once in my youth I would prove myself superior, I shall go burdened always with a curiosity that may never be satisfied."

I will gladly pay $1.00 for a copy of October and December "Genii." Write me at: 2, Derby Terrace, Rawtensatall, Rossendale, Lancashire, ENGLAND. HARRY HOWARTH.

Twenty-one

GENII

CLUB REPORTS trunk escape and the piece de resist- ficers for the past year and to celeance, a lovely interlude of graceful brate the installation of their new magical sleights, productions and president Lawrence A. Daughters, transpositions presented by MUR- the Seattle I. B. M. Ring No. 59 preAKAMI and MRS. NAKO attired sented their Seventh Annual Ladies' By Caryl S. Fleming in gorgeous kimonos, obis, headdress- Evening on Saturday, April 17th at Would that I possessed the vocabu- es and full costume accessories. They the Trinity Parish House, Seattle, lary of 'superlative adjectives of an were grace personified and their de- Washington. high power movie press agent to bet- mure beauty contrasted distinctively Charles N. Smith presided as toastter and more truthfully describe this with the immaculate dinner clothes master and Fred Durant Emmsted and s'port outfits worn by the men. recent epochal event which after conthe show following dinner. siderable time has elapsed still r e Members not appearing on the bill, Acts appearing on the program mains the prime topic of conversation FUJIOKA, KARIYA, NAGAMORI and were as follows: W. L. Stroud, Deamong the magi of our vicinity, for USAMI, played important parts backceptionist—Viet lour A. MacKenziei, mere words of praise such as I am stage in handling the music, public "Solid Thru Solid"—Charles N. able to command do mild justice to address system, props and scenery Smith, a Spiritual Phantasy and " ? " the 'subject in hand. with the usual efficiency that went to —Ray Gamble, magis of the moment Four long experienced American make up the tout ensemble of a per- —-Carroll Shuff "Pixillated Pastemagi of reputation appeared upon the fectly running program. boards"—Jack B. B. Boshard, "Have bill—Gerald Kosky, Max Terhune, Al Sincere congratulations to you— One On Me."—Garth Dickens, "Here Marron and Frank Allen, and while Tenkai, Dr. Murakami and the offi- There and Everywhere"-—Blalock & their individual performances were cers and members of the Soutnern Gilham, "Junior Magical Frolics"— excellent, the Japanese performers California Japanese Amateur Magi- James T. Stoppard, "Magic With a equalled them in every instance ana cians Society for you have given us Smile"—Harry Miller "Douine"— easily topped them in some cases. all something, not only to remember "King of Koins"—Carroll Wood, with extreme pleasure, but to con- "Carstell", Modern mysteries—HerProsiac as the following resume of effects may read, rest assured that tinue to marvel at for the manner bert Sehuh, "You Wouldn't Believe not one was such that it could even in which you distinguished your- It"—0. H. Montgomery, vocal eccenyou like it"—E. E. Wicker, "The be classed as ordinary for the man- selves. ner of handling each effect was indiI congratulate you from the bottom Renton Fooler"—Raymond Dailey, "A Riot of Color" and Lawrence Daughvidual and enjoyable in the extreme. ot my heart. ters, 'Wit and Wizardry." Caryl S. Fleming, President The show was opened by Tenkai Pacific Coast Association of Maas Master of Ceremonies who introThe stage was handled by the old gicians. duced Dr. Murakami, president, and reliable Dick Swansen assisted by after a short address of welcome the O Harry Miller. club officers appeared before the curA capacity attendance is reported RENO MAGIC CIRCLE tain and bowed in introductory acRegular meetings were held on with many guests from Tacoma, knowledgement. Then, without furPortland, Spokane and Canadian ther ado, the curtain parted for the March 2nd, 16th and April 6th. The cities. first act; NAKO and IBARAKI, business portion of these meetings Congratulations, Seattle! Looks Thimble manipulations and produc- were largely discussions of the com- like you are hitting your old stride tions, Bird Cage and comedy trans- ing Convention, but after each meet- again and headed for your old repuposition and restoration of a torn ing classes on fundamentals of mag- tation of the biggest in the Northborrowed dollar bill with the aid of ic were held. The members are sur- West. Oriental candles and chop sticks for prising themselves with what can be See you all in Reno. wands1—INOSE, rope and handker- accomplished after learning the rudi• chief routines—GERALD KOSKY, ments of the art. Several of the members are stepTorn and Restored Newspaper, Silk PORTLAND SOCIETY OF Production, An original glass routine ping ion demonstrations. Compeers MAGICIANS by Tenkai and a new version of the Jenkins and Hodge furnishing the enBy D. W. Kelly tertainment for the Diamond Jubilee ten card trick—NOZAWA, HandkerSeattle boys are staging a magic chief and egg routines—SHIROTA, Celebration of F. & A. M., Carson manipulations that were different— No. 1, in Carson City; Compeer show and get together April 17th. MAX TERHUNE, assisted by his Beasley entertaining in Gardenville Jas Stoppard and the writer will be vent dummy Skully in a laughable for a combined meeting of Lions and headed that way early the morning dialogue and imitations for encores Kiwanis and also showing before the of the 17th. ATTENTION: A Caro Miller— —KAMEISHI, Sympathetic Silks and Carson City Kiwanis Club. Compeers a Burned and Restored Chosen Card Martin, Wilson, McManus, and Hodge, What about the snap shots you took effect—JACK MARRON, Hat Pro- ably assisted by Compeer langberg, at Kelso last summtr, or were they ductions and an original live stock put on a full evening's entertainment lost i n the mail, would appreciate effect—MIYAMOTO, original silk for the 50-50 Club of the Federated one, just to see if your camera is transpositions, vanishes and produc- Church in Reno. Compeer McManus really as good as you say it is. We had some pleasant meetings tions employing two large paper cones entertained at the Lion's Club banin glass vases at either side of the quet in honor of the State Backet- with Virgil and Julie here and also enjoyed a fine Magic show as only stage—DR. T. MURAKAMI, Magic ball Champion team of Carson City. squares, mathematical and mental efTuesday, May 4th will be Ladies' Virgil can do it, don't stay away too fects—NOBUTO, watch in nest of night and a dinner and entertainment long Virgil. boxes—MARUSE, comedy impersona- appropriate for the o ccasion is being Magi English playing dates in and tion of an itinerant Chinese juggler planned. around Portland, Vancouver and St. assisted by NAKO in the guise of a Johns. e Korean interpreter struggling to make Would appreciate some notes from his Japanese auditors understand— SEATTLE NEWS any one giving me some of your acFRANK ALLEN & CO., Substitution As a tribute to their retiring pres- tivities in Magic to be incorporated ident, Dr. Frank E. Parsley and of- each month for Genii—What about it FIRST ANNUAL SHOW OF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA JAPANESE AMATEUR MAGICIANS SOCIETY

Supiiort fienii

advertisers.

GENII Chandler the Great Bob Staver at Stanford and Bill Walker at Eugene, Oh yes I almost forgot Purdue also in college: Where does Tom Connors keep himself, also Bert Waring, we miss you guys at the meetings. The writer played an engagement at the home of Raymond B. Wilcox on Portland Heights recently, Mr. Wilcox has a cozy little place of 22 rooms and is very much interested in Magic. The Magic Art Studios hold meetings twice a month for the younger set of amateur magicians and those interested in magic, a member of the Portland Society is responsible for the lead off program, some very pleasant times are had at these meetings. •

it is done seriously and do they eat it up. They would still be applauding if Durant hadn't had to announce the next act. It was Garth Dickens, also of Tacoma, who worked a very humerous routine with the Wandering Bottles with Geo Todd stooging. He finished with a Rope Release, using two men from the audience, who were unable 'HOW IT LOOKED FROM THE to 'get it' even at close range. He is FRONT' a youngster and a 'commer.' an analysis of Blaylock and Gilham, members of SEATTLE'S 1937 MAGICAL the new Seattle Junior Circle were REVIEW then introduced and offered a splenBy Carl Satan did 'Second Sight' stunt. Bloylock Howdy, folks, this is a blow-by- working down in the audience, and blow report from ringside, at one ot Gi ham on the stage They have a the most enjoyable Magical Enter- code that is positively indetectable tainments that I have ever attended. for the layman, and plenty puzzling Promptly at 8:20 P. M., the Over- to many magi. ture started, and at 8:25, Charles N. Carroll Shutf, who Hew over from Smith introduced Fred Durant as Spokane then appeared. His excellent SPEAKING FOR THE BOYS Master of Ceremonies. act "The Pixalated Pasteboards or By Henry B. Valleau Durant did a really fine job, doing a Watch the Cards go By" was a disSPEAKING FOR THE BOYS— whole magic show piecemeal in front tinct wow. Carro.i was the first amathey want you to know that the magi of the curtain when he covered the teur in this region to use white evein and abound Spokane are preparing stage during changes and announcening dress (white hat and gloves for several public shows in order to ments, he worked some 23 min, by also) then suddenly in the midst of raise funds to send a delegation to mtual timing, and there wasn't a things, he makes a quick turn, and Reno. So far they have booked sev- 'dead' wait all evening. Much credit there he stands in all black with grey eral small towns in addition to the for his splendid handling of such a gloves—some transition. He worked Big Show in Spokane proper. The f'ock of acts, should go to 'Joey the cards and all, with gloves on up to ever energetic Frank Dalke has Clown who worked with him. Under this point, and shortly after discards charge. E. Vaughn Klein, Howard 1he red wig and grotesque make up, them to go into a routine with the Poge, and Walter Burk have been and filling the Bell Hop costume with Linking Rings (Giant size) that is busy deceiving those at various and graceful surves, was Mrs. Fred Dur- very, very well presented. He has a ant—congrats, young lady, it was snapper finish—his center or main sundry gatherings. SPEAKING FOR MAGIC—we all fine. table suddenly becomes a suit-case Stroud had the tough spot of open- and off he walks. An excellent act went down to see young Philip F>oxwell, Northwest School Assemblies ing, and offered a smooth routine well presented and well received. magi do his stuff at one of the lo- with cards that was well received. Jimmy Stoppard of Portland folcal high schools Comes from IndiMacKenzie followed doing the with typical Stoppard attenana and I think I would pay his fare pierced card and glass frame. Mac lowed tion to detail. His Billiard Ball and from there to see him again. Posses- get's a lot out of this effect—he takes handkerchief transposition with the ability to handle children. Nothing it slow and easy, and it was a splen- Glass is excellent, and his combinanew in his repatoire—but he puts did presentation. tion ci Hankys, Bran Vase and everything over in a grand manner. Charles N. Smith came next with Changing Bag is keen—he pours the Told me he was headed for Frisco— the 'Ghost of Katy King,' his delight- bran o ut of the Changing Bag and hope the boys will look him up. Nb ful and original version of the Danc- finds the hankys in the Bran Vase. magician should miss Walt Disney's ing Handkerchief (Donald Holmes Clever eh what? And did they enlatest cartoon "Mickey the Magician" used it with full credit to Smith, in joy his lecture on the 4th Dimension It is a swell boost for magic but I 'The Magis Art' published in 1920. the Chinese Blocks and the Die am afraid that some people will be Piere 134) since that time Smith has using Box Ye= he did a few other quick disappointed when you can't dupliadded a climax that is a wow. He boy is good. cate some of Mickey's feats. places the hanky in an examined Harry Miller, 'Louine' to you, then SPEAKING FOR MYSELF—I had Glass Gallon Jug, pushes in an ex- walked on,—the slicker—and I say amined cork, and the hanky conjust received a letter from W. W. without fear of contradiction, that Durbin when I picked up the paper tinues to dance inside the glass jug. Harry without question the cleverand noticed that he had passed away. He picks up the jug, walks all over est of is all active Coin Men of today. A strange coincidence. Don't tell me the stage while it is dancing therein, There is no need of me telling what that "Poogey-Poogey" Allstrand has then sets it on a chair from which he did—you have to see Harry work a new act? Don't go m'odern on us it finally liberates itself by knocking to believe it—again I report a wonBill, the old act was swell. And why and bumping the cork from below, derful act till it is forced out and the hanky is it 'that every magician looks upon the Linking Rings with scorn? I think then squeezes and crawls out, to conFay and Fay then were announced, that it is still a swell trick and I tinue it's dance on the floor. The and presented the Thumb Tie and the know that it fools them. Now that Glass Jug climax, is also an original Shooting Thru, a Woman, using a Francisco is 'o ut on the road—who creation of Smith's. Then as a snap- marked bullet. It was a snappy, well is playing Frisco and O a k l a n d per finish, he produced a rabbit from organized act with a grand climax and schools? For three years I found it the coat of the loaner of the hanky wow finish that every one likes. to be a good territory. It is nice to when he returned it. William Harkness—from Victoria, see that Eddie Bergen has gone to Then came Ray Gamble, with the B. C. then came on, and showering the top—he certainly deserves it. Miracle Steel Ball thru' Glass—(Sny- 'Aiches' (H's) all over the place with How about producing a guinea pig der make) Ray uses 3 people from his exagerated dialect, was a knockor a small rabbit from the napkin the audience, on the stage, and gives about working the Torn and Restored a pseudo scientific 'build-up' lecture out. His dry comedy spread all his act, from his starting trick? I liaye found that it is a fit- regarding 'breaking down the atom', cthrough igarette production r o u t i n e o n Patronize Genii advertisers, Twenty-three ting climax. Have heard that in Seattle many of the b'oys did not feel welcome at the recent convention. I hope that all of you bury your petty jealousies before you migrate to Reno. And yours truly is currently playing Magot's Little Club and booking in vaude shows around town. •

GENII through his card fans and manipulations to his Billiard Balls, climaxing with that utterly idiotic vest pocket watch production, ha rolls 'em in he aisles. George Todd was next, and used 4 of his 6 min. waiting for the laughter to subside. George is a natural comedian, and plus that he picked a plump girl (no stooge) to assist. Her attempt along with George, to tear the card into such fine pieces that there would be nothing left but powder, was a classic—but at last she fired the gun and the fun finished— the card was there in the balloon to fit the missing piece held by the young assistant. Gongrats George you did a nice job. A surprise then followed, out popped Fred Durant with the message that he had had so many requests for Charlie Smith's "Minister's Mistake" that it had got him down, and would Charlie Smith please come up again and do his stuff. This was absolutely 'legit', both Smith and Durant told me afterwards. Smith sure got a hand from that crowd. And now comes Ray Daily who presented a very colorful act. He opened with a production of two large bououets followed by a fine blending of handkerchiefs and fire-eating The new President L a w r e n c e Daughters, closed the show, with a well organized Floating Light routine. He climaxes his effect by smashing and handing the light globe for examination. A nifty finale. As a show, this 1937 Magical Review was really remarkable—I have never seen so much Magic packed into a single evening before—there was a 'snap' about it that was good to behold and I say as the entire audience did—I was very much surprised when Fred Durant announced the finish—it seemed like half an hour—yet it was a full 2 1-4 hour show. It was the best Ladies' Night I have ever seen. Curtains, lights, music and all backstage stuff seemed to go along with a smoothness that indicated that Stage Manager Dick Swanson, knows his stuff. Yep, it was a great show. MYSTIC THIRTEEN NEWS By Arnold Furstenberg

With our "standing room only" sign put up early in the evening, and a profit surpassing all previous years, our fifth annual show which we presented this month, was a huge success. 'We are especially proud of the many great magicians who attended the show. Among the notables were Mrs. Harry Houdini, life honorary member, Dr. Edward Saint, her manager, and Caryl S. Fleming, our honorary president, who helped us greatly in every way imaginable, even taking tickets, setting up chairs, and seating the honored guests. We are certainly fortunate to have so many

fine people associated with our society. Len Gunn was M. C. and also presented his club act. Lawrence Yeager opened the show with a series of productions, solid thru solid and a production of a rabbit. Carl Sten, past-president came next with a smooth going act which included the linking Rings, the Rice Bowls using Pretzels and beer, his coin in a ball cf wool routine, the king Felton thumb tie and a magazine paper tear with a sucker finish. Jim Conley, the Idaho Illusionist who is the newly elected club secretary, closed the first half of the show with the vanishing bird cage, an original adaption of the Razor Blade trick, an illusion where a spectator from the audience shot thru him, and the 1 Walking away from your sha'dow illusion" as perfected by The Great Leon. Your correspondent opened the second half with a production of silks from an Opera hat, then changed a few silks into a live rabbit. After vanishing the rabbit I did a care! spelling routine with Caryl S. Fleming as my assistant from the audience (No! he was not a stooge.) Next was Blendo and a production of two parasols ending with a production of a bowl of Goldfish. Robert Gunther, club treasurer appeared in tails and did a manipulative act. His effects included the Sterling Egg trick, a cigarette routine, thimbles, and the Vanishing cane. Another highlight of the month was a reception and party Mrs. Harry Houdini gave for the officers of the Mystic Thirteen at her home in Hollywood. At that time she gave the club seme valuable posters of Houdini, and presented the club library with a copy of ''Elliots Last Legacy." That was truly one of the most enjoyable evenings of my life. Bill McCaffery of Pittsburgh is in town and we were fortunate in having him attend both our meetings this month. Ernest Mickey was Master of Ceremonies on the show which followed our meeting of April 23. The first matter taken up was a presentation of a pipe to Mr. Gunn for his fine work on our annual show. This was followed by a standing vote of thanks. After Ed SEutz did his version cf the four ace trick, Lenn Gunn manipulated his toy funnel and offered to do an escape act if some one had a pair of handcluffs in his pocket. This is an old gag he has been pulling for many years, but this time Jim Conley called his bluff, and withdrew from his pocket a pair of Mattatuck handcuffs, one of the most difficult handcuffs to escape from, which he had purchased for this occasion. Len Gunns' look of amazement was nothing compared to our amazed looks when he returned free from the cuffs in two minutes. It was the most startling extemporan. June lOtlt, 17th, u»a 18tji.

eous magical demonstration I ever witnessed. Caryl S. Fleming did a humorous trick proving that 7 times 13 is 28. He then introduced Bill McCaffery who performed part of his wonderful mental act. Bill is a great magician, hypnotist, mindreader, showman, and above all an actor. It is truly fun watching him perform. 0 GOLDEN GATE ASSEMBLY No. 2, SOCIETY AMERICAN MAGICIANS

Yep. here we are. Still located in San Francisco where the visiting Magi can still meet us at the Hotel Californian, O'Farrell and Taylor Streets on the First Thursday of each month. Our regular meeting wah held on our usual dis-organized schedule on the evening of April First. While most of the Compeers expected to be fooled we fooled them by not trying to fool them. Or sumpin. The meeting was rushed in order that we might get down to the most importan item of the Assembly's year. The ''Magical Fooleries of 1937" Jesse Mueller, as direcor of this year's sh ow has promised a real up to the minute, (and might I steal a Hollywood expression) colossal extravaganza. The greatest array of magical talent ever assembled under one roof will trod the boards, on the evening of May 15th. The meeting as usual was followed by as little magic as the boys could assemble into the vest pocket. However the ever present raspberry squad was out in full force and if ever the well known fuit can be dished out, these boys can do it. However we consider it ail fun, and each of the members takes his share. And closing, the above show will take place at the Community Playhouse, 609 Sutter St., San Francisco, and if you are in town, drop in and we'll sell you a ticket. CHAS. L. MURRAY. O THE MYSTIC THIRTEEN OF SAN JOSE held a meeting on April 16th at the home of Jess Waterman and decided to invite the Pacific Coast Magician's Assn. to San Jose for the 1938 Convention. This was not a thought of the moment but has been in the minds of several of the members for the past year. We believe that San Jose offers certain advantages for holding a convention for our organization. Our Club is small but active and we believe that we can handle a convention and make it attractive to visiting magicians and one that they will remember with pleasure. We have approached our local Chamber of Commerce and they have assured us of their whole-hearted support and promised to do certain things that will be very helpful. We have adequate places to hold our various show and events. We have

GENII good and adequate and reasonable hotel accommodations. We have the famed Winchester House on the outskirts of San Jose. This House is well known among Magicians as one of the buildings where Houdini made an unsuccessful effort to communicate with departed spirits. We promise to do everything that is considered as part of our regular customary events and in addition we have a few ideas that should be of inteest to magicians which we cannot divulge at this time. The Hotel we have in mind to arrange to make the official headquarters has excellent places to accommodate Dealers displays and demonstrations. They also have a large assembly hall that would be an excellent place to hold the Magicians Only Show and the Dinner Dance and banquet. There are several places available to hold a Public Show and we can be assured of sufficient publicity to attract outside paid admsisions to cover this expense. And last but by no means least, we have the assurance of sufficient wives of the members to help us entertain the wives of the visiting magicians so that they too can count on enjoyment of a visit to a Magicians Convention. We have also arranged with the weather man to forecast comfortable weather in July. What more could one ask? We expect to have good representation at Reno and will be glad to tell you more about our attractions. For the benefit of those who may not know of the exact geographical location of San Jose, we advise that it is about 50 miles south of San Francisco and Oakland. It is about a 90 minute auto run to either City. HARRY SHAW 0 TWIN CITY TELESPATCH (C. A. G. Newmann) . . . La Clair, Warnecke, Manchester, Schreiber, Spencer, Gordien and other local magi report a busy and successful winter season which also brought outside noteables to Minneapolis and St. Paul . . . Raymond wintered here and created considerable interest by his two shows at a church auditorium . . . Bjorklund, clever magician and cartoonist Is doing well with a commercial tie-up . . . Nixon played several weeks in theaters and niteries of the Twin Cities, Duluth and Winnipeg . . . spectator's comment showing that the duck vanish, bamboo frames and other big tricks were regarded as a welcome relief from the manipulative routines so long current in the niteries . . . Gordien will soon take to the bush with his perfected Television Act . . Jay Osey, personable local youth is in his third month at Minneapolis swankiest hotel, the Radisson, and continues to please with his close-up effects , , , Paul Rosini at the Or-

pheum sold the old reliable b. b., Baker's umbrella trick and the Ten Ichi thumb tie in a masterly manner . . . Don White, recently with Oleson and Johnson, has signed up with the Interstate circuit . . . Lee Ching, Jap danseuse, opened with a cig production followed by a very frank and sexy strip number, both of which were loudly, applauded by local burlesque patrons . . . Ernie Anderson opined that she should have used Conrad's Big Cig for an encore . . . Myhre, Scandinavian magish has opened in Northern Minn. . . . the writer considers him one of the personalities in magic . . . Old timers who were delighted by T. Roy Barnes, comedy magician, when vaudeville was more than an empty name, greatly regret his recent passing in Hollywood . . . A notable personal hit was recently scored by Ming, slever Oriental Mystifier from Frisco . . the rice bowls were a joy to see . . . the simultaneous evanishment of seven lighted cigarettes was sensational, (Ling Foo) was the crowning feature . . . . the nimble tongue and nimbler fingers of this suave Celestial won several weeks of re-enumerative dates for him in the four leading cities . . . his genial personality will be pleasantly remembered for some time to come

LEE PHILLIPS, with clever fans . . SILENT GENE, principally cigarettes . . . MATT SCHULIEN with cards and a demonstration of his interlocking grip and proper etiquette of eating live goldfish. . , .a neat ventriloquist offering by SID PAGE and 'Willie' . . . the honor spot was justly g;ven to our coast visitor, HASKELL whj scored a big hit. Much has been written about HASKELL, but words cannot describe the polished appearance, suave manner and superb technical skill, which, we venture to predict, will soon command international recognition . . the closing act was BUNIN'S MARIONETTES, which were well done and garnered many laughs by their timely witticisms . . The Chicago Assembly, S. A. M. received scads of publicity in connection with our combination Ghost and Magic Show on Tues Apr. 20th . VIC TORSBERG, M. C. was ably supported by DOUGLAS McKAR and his foating ball . . . BERT GUSTAFSON was next with his act, Barnyard Follies . . . GENE BERNSTEIN, who lawyers by day. presented Hypnotism and Phychic Phenomena as only GENE can da it . . . following an intermission BOB LOTZ did his regular cigarette and watch act, which is p'enty good . . . JOSEFFY introduced his famous skull, Balsamo, which answered all questions while placed on e a sheet of plate glass held by four volunteers from the audience . . . . CHICAGO NOTES closing the grand bill of advanced By George Troseth was EUGENE LAURANT and Lots of magic news this month . . l-agicwith several trunks of effects and CARL ROSINI in Blue Fountain CO. a stage full of live stock . . . ever Room of The Hotel La Salle, doing step think that drape model clothes very nicely and contract extended are ato"natural" for magicians, their . . . RUSSELL SWANN back from roominess and folds assisting maLondon triumphs and firTnly in- terially the proper concealment of trenched in Empire Room of the "leads" . . . JOHN BROWN COOK Palmer House since Apr. 9th . . . left New Rork on April 14th via The also fresh from a successful continen- Normandie for an extended vacation tal tour in TOMMY MARTIN who re. . . itinery includes Italy, Gercently presented his smart new act c'broad and France which he expects to at The Chicago Theater . . . MRS. many via bicycle . . . MARTIN SUNMARTIN, an accomplished dancer, do SHINE still in Chicago in a deep was also on the bill . . . ED RICK- state of coma. ARD, of a famous family of migicians, the Bambergs, played a week at the • College Inn . . . my alcoholic playPENN-JERSEY NEWS mate, LAURIE IRELAND, back from a business-vacation trip to New York By Lu-Brent . . . on the occasion of his birthday JONTAY who is better known to the gang got together and pulled a of us as Johnny Taylor branchsurprise party on him; this was en- most out with a brand new club act engineered by his charming assistant, ed titled. "A Story in Silk." Johnny FRANCES, and it was loads of fun certainly an abundance of new and also some very good magic . . and novel has along the silk line (he WIZARD CLUB of Chicago,'un- and knows effects plenty about knot tying. der the experienced leadership of its We wish h'm success, incipopular President, JOE BERG, pre- dently Johnny isevery a new comer in sented an Evening of Magic on April the magic game, not toured once 7th. WM. MOYER acted as M. C. and for several years having as chief assistant opened the show with CHARLIE, the to George Laffolette (Rush Ling Chinese Magician . . . IRVING DOR- Toy.) and not so long ago as ENFIELD, night club magi, followed chief demonstrator for Al acted Baker's . . . next was FRANK FRANKINI, store. who just closed an eight weeks enTOM OSBORNE formerly of Baltigagement at the Continental Room of The Hotel Stevens . . . his feature more, Md., is making quite a reputawas the razor blade trick . . . other tion for himself in and around Phila. talent making a very fine bill was as one of the best all around magical performers, It's a treat to watch Twenty-five Tell your friends about Genii

GENII Tommy work close-up-effects with original twists that are strictly his own. GUS BOHN is one of those tellows you seldom hear ahout but he sure grabs off the cream of bookings anci is always kept busy with private engagements, there's a reason and it's a pleasure to watch GUS work. ARNO & ZOLA formerly of Phila. and now miking their home in the BIG CITY recently played the Allegheny Theatre presenting "Fantasy in Smoke" - - - a cute idea in a cut and restored rope effect that I am afraid will be lifted was the high light of the act, however let it not be said that ARNO doesn't know his cards and lighted cigarette work, it's a marvelous act throughout. BLACKSTONE the great, exposing magic daily in one of Phillies leading newspapers, several good cards effects were on the menu as well as other stuff that you and I would like to have seen kept a secret, It's to bad but what of it - - - I always knew (hat the GREATS could get away with it. HARDBBN brother of the late HOUDINI played several local Theatres in and around Philly, incidently Jimmy Collins who acts as chief assistant dropped in to Ranter's Magic Shop and showed the writer a watch that was presented to him by the late Houdini for loyal service and I am sure that Jim prizes this very highly amongst his personal effects. LA VAL here is a chap who will be heard of shortly and in a BIG BIG way regardless of reports to the contrary. I have watched his short tut very rapid climb to magical popularity. At this writing he is featured at one of the nite clubs' in Trenton, N. J. ALBENICE playing the Silver Lake Inn on the Blackhorse Pike which leads towards Atlantic City. He is presenting a Magical Bar Act and from all reports this is the best yet. Le Roy and Pearl - - - are kept on the jump around these parts, they have an act that is different, and MAGICAL performers are hard to find that really differ from the rest. PABLO and Mrs. are making their home in Philly prior to their sailing to the other side of the pond where they are booked for the entire summer season. They will sail about the second week in June and we wish them a pleasant journey and a safe return to our folds after their engagement is completed. JACK CHANIN the other magic dealer in Phila is readying a surprise you. by way of literature for you, you and you. Jack is full of surprises for the coming convention of the I B. M. which will be held at High Point, N. C. Most of the Philly Boys are preparing for this gala event and are reserving a special car to take us Twenty-six

all by rail - - - this idea belongs to Joe Smith, and why shouldn't it, he's a conductor on this line, do not fail to look up SMITTY at High Point, a regular fellow and full of MAGIC. ©

Magic of the East By Max

Holden

N. Y. C still talking about the wonderful act of David Bamberg (Fu Manchu). David has signed with Max Gordon. Max Gordon is the leading producer here and so far has never had a failure in any theatical venture, so he must see great possibilities in the Fu Manchu magic show. A route is being laid out and may possibly go over the old route of Thurston. David is meanwhile reconstructing show into English. Patter that suits a Spanish audience has to be entirely rewritten for American theatregoers. The high lights of the show seem to be the Pendelum illusion in which a high executioner's knife slowly swings back and forth, and lower, until it finally severs the body cf a girl on a table) The Substitution Trunk is about the fastest on record. The Sand trick is built up into a masterpiece. Silk Productions has everyone guessing. Hands shown empty fingers apart. Hands brought together and silk is seen to spring out at the finger tips. This silk is pulled through the hand and it changes color; but different from the usual methods Two silks are vanished trom between the hands and appear under a brass Chinese plate. A rope trick as performed by David has revived the rope industry. The finest magic show to ever hit N. Y. and a great future is predicted as David Bamberg will revive magic on a large scale iust as Cardini is responsible tor the popularity of Cigarette and Card magic. Jack Gwynn played the Roxy Theatre. And now Ade Duval is at the Music Hall Radio City with the show specially written around him. A special drop with the picture of a magician in a dress suit with his sleeves rolled up and huge hands outstretched. In the center of the drcp is a double door. Duval enters, followed by his assistant. Duval in full dress, the assistant in Tuxedo. Mrs. Duval from the opposite side of stage. The parasol trick for an opening, with a clever story of an old silk merchant in Bombay. At the finish, a few passes with a billiard ball and the double door opens, displaying a huge cage and inside the cage about twelve members of the Music Hall Glee Club. Next the Phantom tube is shown and yards and yards cf silk produced and seemingly filling the entire stage with colored silks. Following this eight girls do a It pays to adtertise in Genii,

ballet number with silks and streamers. One huge piece of silk about 25 feet square, has the eight girls dancing and each holding the silk and forming a balloon and with the lights on the silk a beautiful effect is formed. A change of scene with two huge faces one on each side of the stage. Duval is there and with a snap of his fingers a cigarette holder with cigarette appears in the mouth of the faces, a bang and a colored dancer makes his appearance (out or the Dark) and into a clever dance. Next the Duval Silk Blowing act in which silks are pushed into a paper tube and blown through only to make their appearance in different colors. Duval is handed an opera hat and he produces the Demon rabbit silk and then a large white bunny. "Out of a Hat" is the next scene where a drop showing an assortment of hats and the hats opening out and from each hat a girl emerges and into a neat dance with forty girls in line dressed with bunny headgear and tails. A clever finish for a spectacular show of Magic and Dancing in modern dress. Johnny Scarne and Dr. Daley explaining the pass and deploring the fact that some books urge the use of the third finger instead of the little finger in execution. Scarne performing the pass and not a move is seen. Watching carefully and just a flicker is seen, but no move. Francis Caryle showing a trick in which he deals seconds. Governor Harold Hoffman of the State of New Jersey walking in and talking magic with Audley Walsh, Johnny Scarne and Carlyle. Carlyle that night was entertaining the Governor and on the same bill was Joan Brandell a clever Miss who does a bar act and cigarettes. Mystic Craig leaving for Boston to show and demonstrate his wonderful "Any Drink Called for Act." Dr. Calkins buying the first set after tasting. Carlyle and Albenice now using it in their act. At Washington this week, Secretary of the Treasury Morganthau admiring a trick by Julian Proskauer and his promise to attend the S. A. M. Banquet in N. Y. From indications it looks like Gerald Kosky for the next National President of the S. A. M. Doc Mifflin in and Joe Smith and he talking about Reno, as also Dorothy Wolff of the Sphinx. High Point promises to be the big event of the year Henry Haviland in town at Leon and Eddies with a clever act—Paper Magic. Sorry to report the sickness of Dean Powell who has just been rushed to a hospital in New Haven. Oswald Williams who just died in London is a sad loss to magic. Williams always had ideas and developed them just a little bit different. Williams played America under the Wm. Morris banner about 1906. By his passing magic loses one of its most conscientious exponents,

GENII

PAGING THE LADIEJ GERALDINE CCNCAD

D i a r y of a Magician's Wife One week fiom the diary of that fascinating, young wife cf the amateur magician, Al Hocus. O Monday

I am really learning to become a magician. It is such fun, although a lot of work too. Al has been very patient with me. Lots of husbands would give up when their wives couldn't seem to master a simple little feat of magic after they have been shown over and over again how it should be done; but not Al. He says he's going to teach me magic or bust. Lots of magicians have to practice WEEKS on one single trick before they can really master it! Some practice YEARS!! I never realized how much there was to learn. It all looked so simple when Al did it. Tuesday I have been practicing a new trick today but have had disastrous results so far. I run the cards up my arm then say one, two, three and at three I toss the cards into the air and catch them with the other hand. That is, I am SUPPOSED to catch them. I did it perfectly the very first time, but haven't been able to do it since. My back just aches tonight from stooping over so many times picking them up off the floor. Al just laughs at me and refuses to help. He says it's a good reducing exercise and if I keep on I'll have my girlish figure back. He'd better start in himself. What with strawberry shortcake every night, he needs a little extra exercise. Wednesday

I happened to look through one of Al's magic magizines this morning and saw an advertisement for a new kind of deck of cards, called an "electric Pack." It absolutely guarantees that you will not drop a single card when you toss them into the air as I have been doing. The secret is that you CAN'T because the cards are all threaded together and although they will separate they will not come apart. I went down to Thayden's Magic Shop and got one. I didn't tell Al, I want to surprise him. Thursday I was practicing with the new elec-

tric pack in the magic room today and I had an accident. I knocked a new trick of Als off the table! Some kind of a little music box all decorated up with cards on both sides of it. It is so cute. Has a little key to wind it up and make it play. It wouldn't play though. I must have broken it when I knocked it off the table. I dashed right down to the jewelers with it and told him it was a valuable music box and for him to fix it no matter if he had to put in a whole new insides. He promised to have it for me by Saturday. I do hope Al doesn't miss it. That isn't all that happened today! Of course, Thursday is Sanci's day off and I have to be cook. Al is very fond of omelets so I planned to have a nice ham omelet for dinner tonight. When I started to get dinner I had plenty of time, so I thought I would try doing a billiard ball routine with eggs. I really have been able to do the billiard balls very well, so Al says. Well, darn it, those eggs just wouldn't behave. I dropped two in succession and, of course, they broke all over the floor. I wiped those up and started with two more. After I wiped those up I decided I'd better stick to billiard balls. They are not nearly so messy. Besides, it was time to get dinner. However, when I returned to make my omelet I discovered that we had no more eggs!! I didn't want to admit to Al what I had done so I hurriedly cleared everything up; dressed both kiddies in their best and when Al came home he tcok us all out to dinner. Friday Tonight we had a group of friends drop in unexpectedly and after Al had done a few card tricks for them I suggested that I would do a new trick for them. When Al saw me start to run the cards up my arm, he groaned and said "Get a basket." He didn't know that I was using an electrick pack. To everyones' amazement, including Al's, I didn't drop a card. I did it again and caught every single one. They all clapped and clapped and Al told them that it was a very difficult trick and required a lot of practice and he was really very proud of the way I did it. Reaching over he took the deck out of my hands and started walking away with It. I tried to stop him but he said, "Oh, no, you've had your turn, now it's MY turn to perform." Before I could stop him, he asked Henry to take a

card and, of course, Henry took the card alright but he also pulled all the rest along with it. They could see why I hadn't dropped any of the cards. I was so embarrassed but Al said that, although he had no idea I was using an electric pack, it just served me right because I had exposed so many of his tricks for him. Now I knew how it felt! And how! Saturday Thank Goodness, the jeweler delivered the music box this morning and Al had not missed it. The jeweler said that he could not make head ncr tail of the works so he had put in a whole new insides. He couldn't find what tune had been used in the other one but he had put in a cute variation of Yankee Doodle. I don't think Al knew what song was in there because I never heard him play it. We are staying home tonight and going to bed early, for a change, because we are having a crowd in for Sunday night supper tomorrow night and the party will probably go on and on. Sunday Such a day! We had a crowd all right. Everyone had a grand time. Several of Al's magician friends were among the guests and one would try to outdo the other in doing impossible tricks which made it very exciting. I saw Al bring in the music box and was so glad to know that I had had it fixed. He had a card chosen by one of the audience and then instead of announcing that the music box would play he told them to watch closely and they would see their card rise out of the box. Imagine his amazement when instead of a card rising out of the box a little tinkly tune started playing, "Yankee Doodle Keep It Up." How the guests did laugh. So did Al, but he was really seething inside. I could tell that he was furious. It seems that he had gone to a great deal of time and expense to work out this particular trick and I had ruined the whole thing. It cost me plenty too!! Oh, dear, anyhow I think it is much cuter as a music box and I'm going to figure rut a trick with it yet!! I'll show him! THINGS I ENJOYED LAST MONTH

A grand dinner at Mrs. Houdini's. A surprise party on Evelyn Kapp, Fred's wife, in honor of her birthday. Bill MacAffrey's visit, LADIES NIGHT at the Biltmore Bowl. Twenty-seven

GENII

SECOND CONTEST After reading, checking, and rechecking all the excellent effects in the last four issues of "The Genii", which were eligible for your contest, we have reached our decision. "The G-Man Performs" by Judge Charles W. Fricke, which appeared in the January issue, is to our minds, the effect most deserving of the $25 prize. Perhaps, you p/gree with us for after all, we had an advantage over many of the readers of the Genii. We saw Judge Fricke first perform his trick at an S. A. M. meeting. We remember how completely fooled we were then and after reading the effect, we were all the more pleased by the beautiful simplicity of the trick. Because the trick is very entertaining and interesting to watch, and mystifying, we unhesitatingly give it our vote. Many different ways of presenting the trick are possible, making it suitable for almost any occasion and any type of performer. Judges—Arnold Furstenberg, Earl Rybolt, Max Terhune.

was ever in a PAY toilet. HASKELL informs me of a magician who gave up magic, and began selling tickets with a circus. Practice your coin moves—you might be able to utilize them yourself some day. DON'T miss any of the Conventions. The S. A. M. Conclave is scheduled for May 27-28-29 in Albany, New York; I. B. M. meets at High Point, North Carolina on June 16-1718, and, best of all P. C. A. M. at Reno, Nevada on July 20-21-22, the greatest get-together of magicians anywhere. SINCE I asked who originated "Cagliostro," I have received a great number of letters telling me all about it, and next month will appear the whole story. Watch for it! THE Lindhurst version of the Russ Walsh cane is not so hot, they tell me. In fact, it isn't hot at all. CAPT. Jones' show at the Los Angeles Hippodrome brought him a contract, which takes him to Australia? So he thinks. The P. C. A. M. deportation ark works like that. You are on it before you know it. HAVE any of you readers observed the remarkable change from ordinary style to pedanty of a certain other

column. Looks like a certain musical literary poseur. IF Chanman would write me, I would contribute a card trick for his new book "Card Stars of the IT. S. A." But—he must write me. BOB Gunther's new act, with tables by Haskell, is not bad. Why should it be? I see Mencken made the April 26th issue of "Life." Do you suppose I'll ever make the grade? The chalk talks by Dr. Edward Saint, D. D. are inspiring, or do I mean perspiring? WHAT'S become of Mendoanhoff, the mystic? Was it the decrease in the birth rate that caused his disappearance? WHISPERS reach me, via the grapevine, that a SURPRISE MYSTERY ACT for the Reno Convention is rehearsing ten hours a day. MY pan mail is increasing daily. MYSTERIOUS Smith take notice. Remember a little nosey kid back in South Dakota who used to clean rabbit and duck cages for you. Well! that's me. Have you heard of the Hollywood Mexican, who stands on the corner with his tamale wagon?

Owing to III Health....

THE GREAT LEON ...Is Forced to Retire

PITTSBURGH'S leading ambassador of magic, Bill McCaffrey, is sojourning in Los Angeles, and the boys in that vicinity are being given a great treat. Those of us who have ever witnessed his superlative performances envy those fellows out there. Bill fools them all. WHO remembers the kid who used to demonstrate "three" inch linking rings in the Grand Central Station Novelty Shop? "Today he is a man," and can he do magic. THERE is still one fellow I don't like, the one who donates a big one dollar prize for the convention, and then expects $50.00 worth of publicity. A report reaches me of the Mystic 13 Show held in Los Angeles recently, but there are certain words I will not use in this column. WHO is Ghost writing "Thru the Slanting Eye?" It couldn't be the ten new members of the Mystic 27, or could it? LAST month Lloyd Jones said something about C. T. and a pay toilet. I don't believe Lloyd Jones knows C. T., and I don't think Jonesy Twenty-eight

ALL HIS MAGICAL APPARATUS ILLUSIONS AND SCENERY COSTING OVER #30,000 to produce will be sold for #1,000 Three tons of beautiful show packed in good trunks and crates Four sets of scenery and drapes FOUR COMPLETE VAUDEVILLE which he received a weekly salary of #1,000 to #2,000 for each act More than enough material to run two complete two hour shows The following is a partial list: THE DEATH RAY GUN Complete with patents for same A lady actually shot out of a cannon through a sheet of steel. This act includes: ONE LARGE CANNON, LARGE SHEET OF STEEL MOUNTED ON A BEAUTIFUL STAND, TRAPOLIN TO CATCH THE LADY and a beautiful ELECTRIC SWITCH BOARD ELETCRIC TUBE MYSTERY (36 lighted electric tubes penetrate a lady ) WALKING AWAY FROM A SHADOW A YARD OF STEEL SHOT THROUGH A LADY. STAGE DRAPES, PATTER AND MUSIC FIRE AND WATER ACT, COMPLETE. A LADY BURNED ON ONE SIDE OF THE STAGE AND RE-APPEARS IN A SEALED GLASS TANK FILLED WITH WATER SUSPENDED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STAGE THIS ACT INCLUDES, GLASS TANK, NICKLE PLATED UPRIGHTS, FIRE TABLE AND SCREEN, ASBESTOS SHEET TORCH AND PLUSHES FOR CABINET ELEPHANT HEAD LEGS FOR ALL THE ILLUSION TABLES. TEDDY 8C THE TIGER. (Transformation) Performer dresses as a tiger and steps into cage Assistant fires revolver at the cage. Performer disappears and lady is in the cage in his place The assistant that fired the gun shows himself as the performer. BIG RED BOX ILLUSION (Vanish). VANISHING TRUNK ILLUSION. (Girl in trunk suspended. Trunk and girl disappear The girl to re-appear in the audience ) EXPANDING DICE (A four inch dice expands to a large one inside of which a etrl appears ) MUMMY BOX {For the appearance of performer and one assistant ) DANCING DOLL (Girl dandes on table, disappears, and a miniature of'her appears dancing in her place ) (DOUBLE BOXES ) APPEARANCT OF GIRL SPIRIT ACT. Spirit house built before the audience Spirit appears at the window and all other spirit manifestations. SPIRIT HAND which writes on a black board in full light Several other spirit tricks PIGEON CATCHING. (Net and baskets) BROKEN PLATE ILLUSION VANISHING LAMP. DISAPPEARANCE OF FIVE GLASSES OF WATER DUCK VANISH DUCK APPEARANCE TWO CAGES FOR PIGEON VANISH AND REAP PEARANCE Many other effects and tricks too numerous to mention here All apparatus is the best money could buy, made by the best mechanics in the world Some of the illusions have never been seen here as they were made in Europe This show is stored in New York THE GREAT LEON, No 10718 ACAMA ST. NORTH HOLLYWOOD CALIF Write your fa^ orite columnists.

GENII Buddah Money mystery, at any rate bourne Christopher . . . And Haskell they are sure fire and you can't go . . . . But is it luck? . . . Perhaps it wrong. is only . . . That an ounce o f preserdown to Ace . . . Mixed su't- . . . verance . . . Is -worth a pound . . . . Have, for example, Nine of Chubs as Of cleverness. fourteenth card . . . False shuffl" . It pays to be nice . . . To stage Say, "Have you ever noticed how hands . . . As witness: By Frank Chapman cards run in pairs? Each cai.l has- a Stage Hand: "Is that magician mate in the same color." . . Lojk double-jointed?" Manager: "No. Why?" through deck and pick out Ni.u* of © S. H.: "Then I just broke his leg." Spades . . . Place it in spec'i- breast Mystery You can tell it your own way . . . pocket—back out—but protruding1 . . What is this mystery that men call Have him name a small IIIU.JJLI — 1 And it may be a bit "off color" . . . death? to 13 . . . Have him count down to it But I still think . . . It's a good story My friend before me lies; in all save . . . (Example -5. Card will be a !)) . . . This one . . . About the magician breath . . . Then have him count nine • u'ds and the ventriloqufet . . . Walking He seems the same as yesterday. His more . . . He arrives at the "forced" along the road to town . . . Because face the show . . . Had "closed" . . . card . . . (Example—Nine of Clubs) So Like to life, so calm, bears not a . . . Lays it, face up, on table . . . And a farmer came along . . . With a wagon . . . Loaded with dung trace Have him take card from pocket and Of that great change which all of us lay it, also, on table . . . Cards And they asked him . . . For a lift . . . And he said . . . "Sure! But I so dread "mate." I gaze on him and say: He is not Mental dissolution . . . That con- ain't got room up front. You'll have dead, dition . . . Where you are perfectly to sit back on the load." . . . Which But sleeps; and soon he will arise satisfied . . . With your tricks—rout- they did . . . And as they bumped along . . . The farmer passed a and take ine—and patter. . . . Who called . . . "What Me by the hand. I know he will Sydney Smith . . . Says, "A great friend 'ya got, Si?" . . . And he replied . . . awake deal of talent is lost . . . For want "Dung n' actors" . . . And later on And smile on me as he did yesterday; of a little courage" . . . And con- . . . The same thing happened . . . And he will have some gentle word to tjinues, "Every day sends to their And then again . . . And, finally, say, graves . . . Obscure men , . . Whom Some kindly deed to do; for loving timidity prevented from making . . . the magician . . . Climbed up close to the farmer . . . And shouted in his thought A first effort; . . . Who, if they could Was warp and woof of which his life have been induced to begin . . Would ear . . . "My good main . . . If you meet another friend . . . Would was wrought. have gone great lengths . . . In the He is not dead. Such souls forever career of fame" . . . Courage . . . Is you mind giving us . . . the top billing." live a magigcal talisman . . . Before which In boundless measure of the love they . . . . Difficulties seem to disappear And I'm half convinced . . . That give. . . . And obstacles vanish . . . I, so C. T. . . . Might be a nice fellow . . . —Jerome B. Bell often, hear . . . About the "luck" If it were not for . . . C. T. The man who has known . . . An . . . Of Tommy Martin . . . And MilDo you agree? . . . Wonder—is inideal friendship . . . And then had it voluntary praise. slip from his grasp . . . Before being touched . . . By the breath of selfish-

CIHAPS

IHSS . .

i • mar •• d iiy lasunder

standing . . . Has caiiP,.H a glimpse Of Divine happiness . . . And recollections . . . O£ the virtues o£ his friend . . . Tends to perpr-tiuite those very virtues . . . In the hvart of him . . , Who meditates them. Such a friendship . . . Was that of Bill Larsen . . . And Pa!;e Wright. Of T. Page Wright . . . And how many know . . . That his love tor Bill . . . Was the gen:lf- breeze . That fanned the fires . . Of Magical interest . . . For Page Do you remember? . . . Alexander! . . . . Master of psycholTgy . . . Now out of the game . . . To my mind . . . He had an "aura" of mystery about him . . . . Second to none . . . Save Thurston. Quick Trick . . . Out of the scrapbook . . . Can't say to whoii- credit is due . . . Have cards arranged, on top deck, King, Queen, and so on should be presented. Only one bad act on the bill—Allen was the name, and one of the first presentations of the substitution trunk mystery I have ever seen—I wonder what Mrs. Houdini thought as she 'sat there watching the slaughter—she and Houdinl were masterful with this illusion. Allen should work the dove pan and the

•a

LOYD'S Liquor Extracts (par excellent) Now offering the exact Liquor Extracts being used by seven well known night club and vaudeville performers These are the finest Liquor Extracts to be obtained Concentrated to the highest possible degree. ONLY REQUIRES TWO AND THREE DROPS FOR ANY DRINK. Each set contains valuable information covering their use Pour genuine drinks with a punch that will be enjoyed even by a connoisseur of 1 quori> Pour them from a plain pitcher or bottle, lota bowl, magic funnel, cocktail shakers, dove bottle or any other liquid producing apparatus Eight flavors that will indivdually or in combination produce any popular drink or cocktail. RYE, SCOTCH, CREME DE MENTHE, BRANDY, GIN, CREME DE CACAO, GRENADINE, BOURBON and RUM Price £5 25, postpaid and insured {Do not be mislead to spend your money for cheap imitations as they will not do the work. The genuine cannot be sold cheap

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apparatus GLENDALE, CALIF.

Twenty-nine

GENII was miraculous. Imagine my surprise several weeks ago, when I had to consult a gentleman in the same line ot business I am in and find this guy to be n.one other than Gene him'self. He has been out of magic for a long while, but it wasn't before long that our conversation turned to cards and damnit he still foiols me. I think that a tour round bout between he and BY H A R R Y M E N DOZA Oharhe Miller and using 16-ounce BOASTS FOR MAGIC: On the Lotus back cards, would be somepin. Incidentally, Charlie Miller opened ether last month Alexander Woolmonth for the M. C. A. at Tucson, cotts story of John Mulholland; And last Ariziona. I still think Charlie taps when Bert Kalmar well-known song- them all for all around sleight of writer was interviewed on the air re- hand. The music for Charlies act was cently, when asked what he would arranged by Sigmund Krumgold and rather do than be on the air, Bert re- Tom Satterfield, the latter is one of the foremost arrangers in the world. plied "I'd rather pull rabbits from You'd be surprised how the detail of hats." music builds up an act. Max Terhune a great hit in RepubIf you want to laff—see the picture lics new feature 'HIT PARADE.' Be LADIES IN LOVE—Allan Mowbray, sure and see this when it comes your way. Chester Morris attending quite portrays a goofy magician and its a few magic meetings lately. Swell mighty swell too. Lots of magic and picture of LePaul on the Sphinx no exposing. The technical director on this picture sure knew his magic cover for March. Earl Rybolt a man and magicians. who says little, but knows much. Well, Winchell and Allen aren't the Gerald Kosky picking off choice soonly ones who have started feuds— ciety dates in this area and he should I'm starting one right now with C. T. change his name, however, to FANI am going to .organize a vigilante NY. society against this guy and am hopWhy doesn't C. T. do a little magic ing that Tom Bowyer, Lloyd Jones, once in a while, if he doesn't pretty Frank Chapman and others will join soon I'll tell all. Where is Zingone— up with me in order to rid the magic we're waiting for you, Luis. Malini is fiaternity (of this pest. in Shanghai, probably visiting my rel1 figure that C. T. must mean atives by now. Why doesn't Jean Hugard write a book on Chinese Mag- CAN'T TAKIT, otherwise he would ic, he knows more about this branch sign his right name. Below are some of conjuring than any man in this of my answers to his last months country—what a gorgeous act lie pre- column and also some opinions. 1. C. T's crack about the Tarbell sented at Luna Park Coney Island Alumni—I wonder if he ever read the years ago. course—it would do him good. If I were running a school for ma2. If C. T. played his first ?3.00 gicians I would appoint Lloyd as the show he was over-paid by $2.70, beinstructor—he knows how tricks cause his agent would have to get should be presented. Judson Cole 10 percent. I presume his agent only would be the English teacher and books animal acts, at that. patter advisor and C T would be the 3. C. T. if you want information reJANITOR. garding the inventor of CAGLIOSYou know the old saying "Like a TRO please refer to Thayers catalog, fish took to water" Well, that seems Page No. 215, effect No. 1311. But to be the case of Rex Taylor screen then again C. T. maybe you have nevwriter who recently became interest- er looked thru a magic catalog—if you ed in the art. Rex has been learning haven't it may be a good thing for under the guidance of Sig Krumyou—purchase a few effects—work gold. Taylor has been at it tor only them— then maybe someday you will three months and today lie presents a be classed as a magician—then people fifteen minute act that is really up would never doubt if you invented an to standard. Shows you what praceffect—but as it is n,ow maybe they tice will do. doubt if you-ve ever performed one. Attended the first public show of 4. Why should Chapman lay off of the Japanese Magical Society of you—when he is assured of my help Southern California last month. This and probably a thousand others—beorganization .only in existence a short sides Chapman and I are both from time, really do magic as it should be "My Maryland." done—WHY—because each and every NOTE TO EDITOR: If any of the effect presented was dramatized—in above is blue penciled—my column other words they were actors present- goes to Dr. Pierces Magic World, next ing magic and thats the way magic month. Many years ago I was accquainted I'd challenge C. T. to a duel, but he with Eugene Glaser who at the time is probably the kind of guy in chooswas one of the outstanding SLEIGHT ing his weapons who'd select either a men of magic. Gene was known but handkerchief, gun o r a card sword. to a few of the boys and his work ATA SUN GAI. Thirty

Max and Skully

A FEW INTERESTING SIGHTS ALONG MAGIC'S MEMORY LANE Traveled by Max Terhune and Skully ALLEN SHAW doing Miser's dream in Denver. SILENT MORA doing Billiard Ball act in Eugene, Oregon. GREAT LESTER—Vent act in Orpheum, San Francisco PAUL ROSINI doing close up table work, Steven's Hotel, in Chi. JACK LEE doing vent act in Lyric Theatre, Indianapolis. TOMMY DOWNS doing a private presentation of his famous Miser's dream in his home at Marshalltown, Iowa, for me. LEROY—Vanishing bird cage—Majestic Chi. and TALMA doing coin manipulations in the same act. CARDINI using rhinestone thimbles at Keith's-Indianapolis. DAVE COLEMAN and his Dr. Hokum act. TENKAI catching 35 watches from cigarette smoke in Chicago. HUGH JOHNSTON —manipulative act at Sacramento, Calif. BILL BAIRD—Billiard ball- routine on road show in Iowa. JIMMY TRIMBLE doing rag pictures. USHERS—mindreading act in Seattle, Wash. LRELAND fooling himself with cups and balls. RUFUS STEELE working with stacked deck. An interview with H O W A R D THURSTON over WLS Chi HOUDINI'S Hindu needle trick in Keith's, Detroit. Stooging for LePAUL at Bismarck Hotel in Chicago. RUSS WALSH doing his golf act. AL SAAL and his " last word" manipulations backstage in Toledo. HASKELL performing at Caryl Fleming's birthday party in Hollywood. CHARLIE MILLER dealing seconds. FRED ROBISON doing all characters of one act play in Lima, O. R. W. HULL demonstrating Neyhart Card Riser at Lima Convention. MANUEL dealing poker hands from shuffled deck in Los Angeles. OENICK doing expert card table with use of inverted mirror enabling spectators to see. JOHN MULHOLLAND doing closeup pocket tricks backstage in St. Louis. Jack of Spades LATHROP doing his card act at Kenton, O. EUGENE LAURANT and GENE GORDON entertaining kids. DORNY M. C.-ing a show and sandwiching magic between acts. BERT GUSTAFSEN doing reversed card with Joe eBrgs deck. GOODLETTE DODSON doing more with fans than Sally Rand.

GENII

Seems to be some fightin' and t'eudin' in my pages. This here C. T., Harry Mendoza and Prank Chapman are carrying on a three way battle. I'll just let them run off another month or two, then I'll larrup the whole nest of 'em . . . Speaking of Harry: he and Caryl Fleming had a real set to regarding the Jarrett book at the last S. A. M. meeting. Caryl won, hands down. Harry only knew by hearsay. Caryl had read the book . . . Mendoza and Annemann think Jarrett a great guy. He probably is, in the "beeries". But as a magician he would make a swell window decorator at Gimbels' at Christmas . . . Our favorite correspondent, Ed Reese, of San Diego, tells us that B. Hubbard presented an escape act in the border city which went over nicely. And if Ed says so it must be true. He also writes that he and Al Hennings gave a show at a spot where they had to present magic with people eating on the stage. They had to stand on the waiters' backs in order to perform their tricks. Such is the life of a club perfome . . . Fred Shields, of the same town, is the fly in Professor Fait's ointment. Shields, of the same town, is the fly in Professor Fait's ointment Ben Badley, of St. Louis, recently saw Le Paul and Bill Baird. Guess Ben spent plenty of the early hours discussing magic . . . And I like Ben's letter-head . . . Good comment comes to us infrequently. But our valued contributor, John Goodrum, writes that he likes the L. W. series. John is busy with his school work, but, withal, finds time to be one of magic's best boosters . . . T. J. Crawford sends me a copy of the Nashville Banner for March 21st. A fine article regarding numerology, by T. J. himself, appears therein. It is the kind of thing which boosts magic . . . And Loring Campbell is out with a new show. Loring is one of my first acquaintances in magic. When I lived in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and we both were still in high school, we used to correspond. We didn't meet until 1932 . . . Campbell and McDonald Birch perform the kind of magic I like . . . Last winter Loring played Green Bay. Hope he met Franz Massopust and Doc Finkle . . . Al Saal writes, and sends ample proof, that he performed Haskell's light tricks way back in 1927. But Hack thought it was original, Al, I know . . .And Ben Badley says "Haskell just fooled the Hell out of the local magis. The

boys say 'I know what he is doing, but I can't follow him'—Haskell will be a Name to conjure with in the very near future" . . . And how about those St. Louis notes, Ben? Ezra Domnitz is using "Bank Night," a trick from Genii . . . Also Kosky's "A Trophy Winner" . . . Readers likes Bailey's tricks, which appeared in the April issue of Genii. Charles Hoffman keeps right on with the good work. I hear that the act gets better all the time. Charlie's latest printed publicity is one of the finest demonstraions of the typographical arts I have ever seen . . A letter from Carl Schopohl, late of Germany, and now of St. Louis, is worth quoting in part: "Received the March Genii. However, it smelled so rotten I had to read it in the yard. It was soaked with some terrible smelling grease; some sort of rotten fish oil. I became so sick of smelling Genii that I finally threw it in the fire. I never knew a Genii could smell so bad. Please send another march copy" . . . It seems that all copies going into Missouri suffered the same fate: fish oil . . . Contemporaries may be pleased to quote Mr. Schopohl's remark: "The Genii smells." Mrs. Houdini entertained the Japanese magicians the last week in April . . . G. Hashamauri Kosky was among those present . . . Carl Sten is really good with the linking rings. No back slapping, Carl; I mean it . . . L. O. Gunn keeps right on playing to good money. His hair growing stunt is always good for laughs . . . Just prior to Bill McCaffrey's visit, Russ Walsh came to town. Only sorry that he and Bill coudn't have been here at the same time. Russ tells me that the vanishing canes are still selling . . . . Russ gave me a lot of first-hand news regarding the Chicago bunch. Only wish we could have spent more time together . . . Am preparing more Gysel material for future issues. Bob cetainly knows his padlocks . . .Wish I could attend the I. B. M. Convention at High Point, N. C, on June 16th . . . I hope it will be everything that the late Bill Durbin would have wished for it . . . And it will be, I feel sure . . . However, it will seem strange to a lot of the regulars not to have "Uncle Bill" about . . . How about some news from Atlanta, and other southern points? Abbott's new catalog just arrived and it is a beauty . . . The magic supply houses will soon be making Sears-Roebuck look to its laurels . ,

Best dinner I've had in a long time was at Mrs. Houdini's a few Sundays ago . . . And if you haven't seen Ed Saint's scrap books you've missed a lot; the biggest and most complete I ever saw . . . Loring Campbell worked sixteen shows in sixteen different towns in one week . . . Wouldn't blame him if he took a vacation . . . Would like to hear from Eugene Laurant . . . Claude Burke is getting up a first class public show for Reno . And Art Valli got a splendid write up on a show worked in Altadena . . Art keeps busy all the time . . . . A. Caro Miller cracks the whip as O. M. C president in Oakland . . . Has been some mistake on Portland copy. My fault. Forgive me, will you Kelly? . . . I must get some sort of order in running Genii. I have the habit of stuffing copy in my pockets and then sending the suits to the cleaners . . . Copy coming from Jimmie Muir needs it. John Snyder, Jr., is one of the best mechanics in the business . . . Bill Frazee is always interesting . . . Wish he would someday write a book and title it "Squawks." It's sale would rank with the best . . . Bill could tell plenty . . . I have never gone wrong on a Jean Hugard hook. He really knows magic . . . C. A. George Newmann sends me a handbill, advertising his show, printed entirely in Norweigan . . . And I can't read it. After all my bragging . . . Newmann's is a mystery show. He really sells it . . . Is it disputed that his magic library is the largest in this country? I hope the S. A. M. Conference In Albany will have a good attendance, the dates are May 27th, 28, and 29th . . . Someday I'll manage to attend all the conventions . . . Haskell has gone in for a candid camera. And practically ruined his hotel room trying to develop the film . . . Gig Miller, and "Mom," had to go to New York regarding the estate of the late Marilyn Miller . . . Two names in magic first to impress me, long years ago: Dr. Talbot and E. Vaughn Klein. And both are still hard workers for the cause . . . Lawrence Daughters and Dr. Frank Parsley rated a swell picture in the Seattle Daily Times, date of April 16th . . . Thanks, Ring 59, for the Souvenir Menu and Program of the seventh anual ladies' evening. Hope the phatom roast beef proved to be more sustaining than the name would tend to imply . . . Thirty-one

GENII

ball routine a presentation of good magic for a short five minutes. A Material for review in THE GENII stand-out method made available to should be sent to the above at S6S all by simplified explanation and 27th Street, Oakland, California. three pages of illustrations. Brevity is the soul of wit the old Part Three deals with the Linking saying goes, so this month we are Rings and uses a standard set though going to be real witty and really re- an extra ring will be found an aid. view books in a' nutshell. That Routine is of great spectator-interpleases Little Hatif as he has been est, shows many originalities and grumbling much lately about the improvements and is a good buy even errors in the column due to lack of for those already possessing a "good space and items being crowded out. routine." In self-defense, as always I will gladCATALOG NO. 4. Abbott Magic ly extend any remarks if frequented Novelty Company, Colon, Michigan. by those interested. 320 pages. Sent free. THE STRANGE INVENTIONS OP Those who have wondered how AbDOCTOR ERVIN, by Dariel Pitzkee, bott can produce a magazine like San Francisco, $2.50. 80 p. TOPS at so low a price will be struck Assorted magic and ideas from a dumb when they see this beautiful leading experimenter. Useful gim- catalog offered free. Now read that micks and gadgets clearly explained over again. Your supply of superlain Pitzkee's most attractive book to- tives will be sorely taxed, you'll date. thank me for telling you about it, TRICKS & FAKES, by Ventor, F. and most important you will have Molz, 352 Springvale Road, Sheffield, definite proof that magic is far from England. 2/6 (75c). being dead or dying. SEND NOW! Sold only direct this is an unat- What a catalog! And free! tractive mimeographed booklet of THE JINX, April, 1937, No. 31. seven mouldy items. Collectors will Theo Annemann, Waverly, New Yorlc. be interested, performers will prefer 25c. simpler methods. More items for Editor Larsen to THE MAGIC SHOW BOOK, by add to his program including a coded Alexande, the magician. Macmillan telegram that I bet he's performing before now. Other good magic, news Company, 145 p. $1.50. A good text for beginners of 10-14. about Bamberg's new show and reLittle originality to appeal to magi- production of three controversial arcians but considerable workable mag- ticles you shouldn't miss. ic and novelty for beginners and THE IMP, February, 1937. Sydney, youngsters. Well recommended. Australia. Australia has a news Imps Club MAGIC FOR MODERNS, by Eric composed of the old Imps and the C. Lewis, Northampton, England, 40 Australian Magicians Club. Details p. $1.00. Sixteen items, six of which com- here and news. bine to form a cigarette act using gimimieked apparatus. Other ten DAVENPORT'S DEMON TELEitems concern club apparatus tricks GRAPH, Vol. 4, No. 38, Feb.-Mar., worth making and using. Lewis 1937. shows improvement on earlier publiGet a faint idea of what that new cations and booklet is reasonably sensational Rabbit Silk looks like. priced. TOPS, Vol. 2, No. 3, March, 1937. SILKEN SORCERY, by Jean Hu- Abbott, Colon, Michigan. gard. Max Holden, New York, $1.60, A neat ghost illusion, Newmann's 83 p. claim to the largest and first magical Sure to be a best-seller. Hugard library, a thimble routine, more liquid contributions (one o u t s t a n d i n g ) , covers field briefly yet informatively. Smith's record of Dick and FitzA mine of valuable silk information gerald's publications, are the most of worth to all. IRELAND'S MANIPULATIVE SE- noteworthy items of a good issue. RIES, in three parts. $2.00 each. IreTHE LINKING RING, March, 1937, land, Oak Park, Illinois. vol. xvii, No. 1. I. B. M., Kenton, iPart One is explanation of Ire- Ohio. $2.50 a year. land's bottom and second dealing Frank Laine furnishes me a few coupled with a false count and meth- laughs, Durbin and Evans more hisods of use. Well illustrated. torical information, and the usual Part Two covers Ireland's cup and surplus of news and columnists and By Lloyd E. Jones, 868 27th Street, Oakland, Calif.

paucity of magic. E. M. C. A. MAGIC NEWS, Vol. 1, No. 10, March, 1937. Pentz, Minneapolis. 50c a year. Up and at 'em. Kill the magical parasites aided by Collins Pentz. WILFORD HUTCHINSON'S CONJURERS CHRONICLE, Vol. 18, No. 4, Jan.-Feb., 1937. Free to customers. Two to be expected good tricks, brief notes and ads. THE DRAGON, Vol. 6, No. 3, March, 1937. Vernon Lux, Mount Morris, Illinois, $1.00 a year. New review column started by Bob Parrish. Magic by Weigle Jr. and Nickolas best in a dozen or so items.

TRICK REVIEWS By the

Editor

GRANT'S COCKTAIL CUP. For sale by U. F. Grant. Thoroughly practical and effective, even though the load is not large. Useful in liquid combinations or as a separate trick. Highly recommended MIRACLE CUPS AND BALLS. (Rosini and Sherman) For sale by all dealers. Practical. Gives a new finish to the cup and ball trick. Handle very nicely. Only too bad that they will be too popular. Price about $10.25. Recommended. THALER'S BELL ON WAND. Price about twelve dollars, but write to make sure. The best item of this kind I have ever seen. Open to a great variety of uses. Bell is made of spun metal and is unbreakable. Mechanism in wand is perfect. Can't be too highly recommended to all types of performer. For sale by Thayer Studios of Magic. SPECIAL OFFER Many have tried to get a copy of Volume 1, No. 1. Genii. We have been offered as high as $2.00 per copy for one but have had none to sell. HOWEVER we have been able to get hold of a number of good, clean copies and we are offering one Volume 1, No. 1, Genii FREE to the first persons sending in a new subscription to Genii. WHILE THEY LAST We can supply Jan., Feb., March and April numbers only in back issues.

Don't forget the Magical Convention in Reno.

Pacific Ccia^t Magic Mews

In This Issue S.A.M. I B . M. P. C. A. M. Convention News Pditidl List ot Contnbutois

Frank Chapman Judson Brown Caryl S. Fleming Orville Meyer Sig Krumgold John McCormick

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Glenn Gravatt Barkann Rosinoff Max Holden

MR. AND MRS. LORING CAMPBELL

ORGAN June, 1937

Vol. 1, No. 10

Max Terhune

P* C*A*M* Price Twenty-live Cents

GENII -WILLIAM

W. LARSEN

Editor and Publisher

W I L L I A M TAYLOR

Assistant Editor

FRANZ CHRISTENSEN MRS. W M . LARSEN

Advertising Manager .

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Business Manager

GENII is published monthly by William W Lai sen, P. O Bot 560. Pasadena. California. Ed'tonnl office, I'. O. Box 5B0, Pasadena, California Price in the United States ana Canada, $2 SO pel year; twentv-tivo cents a copy. Jilsewhere, $3 00 per year, thirty cents a c >p.v. While manuseiipts, photographs and drawings are submitted at the owner's risk, everv efCoit will be made to return those found 'insuitable, if accompanied by first-class postage, but we cannot be i esponsihlo for any loss of such matter contributed Contribir ors are advised to retain copies of their contributions and to double space all articles submitted Punted in the United States of America, by the Bickley Printing Company, Pasadena, California. All contributions and advertising matter niusi be received b> the Kditoi by the 25th of the month piecfding" publication

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Vol. 1

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• N TUIJ IXXUE GENII SPEAKS

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SMALL MAGIC

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L. W. MAGIC

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AMATEUR DEPT.

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STAGECRAFT

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PAGING THE LADIES OUTSIDER'S VIEW OF MAGIC • CONVENTION NEWS . • CLUB REPORTS

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IDEAS OF LlT BRENT • RIBBINS

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MAGIC OF THE EAST

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C. T. TR.

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CHAPS CORNER

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THRU THE SLANTING EYE • MAX & SKULLY

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SCATTERED SHOTS

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LORING CAMPBELL Loring Campbell was born in date, looks like a cross section of Oklahoma, March 19. 190S. Ac- show business. He has played vatulecording to calculations that makes \ ille, fair,-,, outdoor attractions. Unit him just two months and nineteen shows, clubs and hotels. He has days younger than the Editor of pla\ed o^ er six thousand separate enGenii. However, Loring and I can gagements, has co\ered all of the truthfully chum an old time friend- fom-eight .states se\cral times and ship. We started to correspond with has presented his magic in Canada each other at the ripe old age of and in Mexico. fourteen. At that earh date I was He is assisted in his performance impressed with him and he was im- by Mrs. Campbell, to whom he has pressed with me. The 5 ears pass, been married the past six years. Her and I am still impressed with Loring pleasing personality,, grace and charm Campbell. have made her a ven definite part of When Loring was twelve \ ears ] Loring's success. Loring estimates old, he began the stud\ of magic in th.-'t up to the present time she has earnest. I remember that lv gave had h'T head chopped off in the his first pa\ show when he was fif- guillotine about three thousand times. teen and after that he worked at I Nevertheless, and magically enough magic rather regularly as a profes- she lives to do him credit. sional. Four years later he made a Loring is booked solid for the twenty week tour of the Redpath winter of 1937-38. In fact, the only Lyceum Circuit. T o make a long worry he ever has is as to when and story short, he has been booked solid how he can get a vacation. In his ever since. case we have definite proof that magThe career of Loring Campbell to ic, well presented, is far from dead.

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THRU THE MONOCLE •

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BOOK REVIEWS

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BAGDAD

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Four

Are you a regular subscriber to Genii i

GENII

By the time this issue reaches the readers, the S. A. M. Convention will be over, the I. B. M. Convention close at hand, and the P. C. A. M. meeting at Reno just a few weeks awr.y. Although I was not able to attend the first, and will not be able to get to the second, I, nevertheless, was in both places in spirit and only hope that the day may come when I may take in all of the gatherings of this sort every year. I know of no pleasure greater than that of being able to meet together with those who embrace the hobby I love. Since my youth, my dearest moments have been tho^e which have been spent magically: seeing magic and talking it with others who have the same interest. I don't know when magic conventions started, or who first thought of them. However, I firmly believe that these national gatherings have been the single biggest boon that magic has had in the present century, and this is speaking both from the standpoint of the professional and the amateur. It cannot help but benefit everyone that magicians from all over the country gather together yearlv and exchange their views. The mapical convention is its true bulwark against the attacks of the exposers. As long as magicians are interested enough in their art to travel miles to be together, and as long as they ?re interested enough to work up new tricks and to write new books, magic has nothing to fear at the hands of those who would seek to destroy it by making public its secrets. Of course, I have never been one who has been greatly afraid of magical exposure, in and by itself. It has been my experience that very few

people pay any attention to them, a still smaller proportion understand them, if they do pay attention, and most of those who understand forget very rapidly. Talking this matter over with Harry Mendoza just a few nights ago, he asked me if I had not frequently had the experience of Iriving to re-read the details of a new trick if I wanted to work it sometime after first reading it. Truelv, this has been my experience, and I know that it has happened to many others. Human memory is a frail thing. If we, who are deeply interested in magic, forget the workings of individual tricks, it seems certain that those who are not greatlv interested, the merely curious, will forget even more readily. Still, I wish there w^rc no ccposers. I should like to see the secrets of tricks remain vested only in those who can appreciate them. I dislike even the remote chance that someone in my audience may know how one or more of my tricks is done. Perhaps, this is a selfish thing; it is probably illogical. It is born not of good reason, but from a love of magic itself. Sometimes, I am amazed at the number of new tricks and new books which are offered to magicians every year. I am frequently tempted to join with those who say, "There are too many tricks existing now." But I never do. Somehow, I take comfort in the thought that many of these new tricks are good and that in the books there are still more which are new and practical. It comforts me to know that even if all existing magic became known that magicians would go right ahead and invent new tricks with which to baffle future audiences. This is one of the reasons why maeic, as a form of entertainment, will never die. So much for that. May I again Write your favorite columnists,

remind Genii readers that, altho we are the official organ for the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians, nevertheless it is our utmost desire to interest readers nationally, and even, internationally. We have trie *pace, and shall be glad at all times, to publish news, society reports and interesting comments regarding magicians in all parts of the world. However, this cannot be unless we receive copy from those who are sufficiently interested to \\ rite such copy for us. Therefore, we appeal to you, especialh it jou are a distant reader, to send us such information as m,;3' be \ours regarding magical activity in your \ lcmitj. The Editor, as I call mjself in my more spacious moments, has little time to devote to the actual making up of Genii pages. Hence, 1 would suggest that all news reports, club reports and similar data be enrroscd in an envelope and designated as such, and, further, addressed to Mrs. William Larson, Business Manager, Postoffice box, 560, Pasadena, Calif. Likewise, it is important that such reports be as brief as possible, unless the circumstances warrant detail, and that the\ reach us before the 25th da\ of the month preceding publication. In such fashion we will be pleased, and able, to publish news from all parts of the world.

SPECIAL NOTICE Attention of the readers is called to the section de\oted to the P. C. A. M. Notes, and, particularly, to that portion which deals with the making of reservations in advance. This is an important matter and should be attended to right away by everyone intending to be present at Reno in July,

GENII

/MALL Flick By Frank Chapman

EFFECT: An examined length of ribbon is held by two spectators. A bone ring, also examined, is threaded on the ribbon. A third spectator, in full view, snips the ribbon in half and removes the ring. Performer ties the severed ends of the ribbon together— spectators, never letting go. Then very deliberately, right hand closes around the knot—ring is dropped into closed h a n d , and—FLICK!—ribbon restored with ring upon it. Hands actually empty and everything immediately left for close inspection, without switch. Right now, before I disclose my method of handling "Flick", I'd like to ask a question. Would you be disappointed to discover that I use a thumb tip? I hope not. If so, you are adopting an attitude which will cut you off from the true Art of Magic in its highest form. By that, I mean that you are "passing judgment" before you have all the facts. You are confusing your values. You are placing "equipment" above "knowledge." And magic—today more than ever before—is largely a matter of "knowledge." Knowledge of PRESENTATION; knowledge of ROUTINE; knowledge of SHOWMANSHIP. The EFFECT upon your audience is the most important factor. And the more "natural," the more "direct" the method the better the effect. The smartest, most successful men in the business recognize these facts and build their work right along these lines. The days of mere "hanky panky" are gone. Just "pressing the button" won't get you very far. When I say that this very effect (FLICK) has proven to be a powerful piece of mystery on many of my private programs, that is just what I mean. It LOOKS like magic. So far as the spectators are concerned, it IS magic. Entertaining magic. And -that is the magic of today. If it "mystifies" it "entertains"; and the "entertaining" angle of magic is the ONLY angle— in the eyes of your audience. At the risk of being labeled "preacher," I have offered these few thoughts. Some will profit by them. Others will not. I wish, sincerely, that I could be right there beside you as you learn this effect. To clear up any doubts in Six

MAGIC

your mind? To help you to "put it ring, tho ribbon and the scissors. over" in the proper style. No one Furthermore, it gets them "used to" realizes any more than I, the inadethe move of drawing ribbon up quacy of "words on paper." I believe through fist. Hand scissors to third I have made everything clear in the' spectator. Now—with left thumb (has following description. Covered every tip on it) and first finger, pick up vital point. However, if there is any- r'ng as before and draw it up through thing you do not understand I will bo right f s t . (Spectators have seen this happy to have you drap me a line in hand empty) But—what actually hapcare of The Genii. Now—let's get into pens is this: you retain original ring the routine. in right fist and draw ring out of tip. PREPARATION: Loop of quarter at same time asking for "more slack." inch, red ribbon (a piece about eigh- This is a simple operation. Mere'y teen inches long) is glued to inside pull thumb up out of tip, bringing walls cf thumb tip. On this loop is ring with it, and let first finger grasp a small, bone ring, (procurable at Dry it also. Then pull right on out and Goods counter of any Department let it drop down over back of f s t a? Store; ten cents a dozen) I use Du- before. (Crumpled condition of loop will not be noticed if you allow origpont's Cement. Handy tube quick inal ribbon to get a bit mussed in drying, holds fast. Allow couple minutes to dry thoroughly, then fold rib- pocket) Have spectator cut through :>T bon into tip, ring going in last. Place loop. Remove ring and hand to h t. Then tie a knot in cut ends. T/>ke tip in lower, left, vest pocket. Tiny "Wand" in same pocket. (The "Wand" ring back and drop it into right fist (really into tip) and immediately is simply a wooden match—painted black with white tips. A much better push cut loop back into tip wi'h Irft gag than the time-worn "wcofle thumb. Come away with tip, very dedust") Small pair scissors in upper, liberately, and go to lower left vest left, vest pocket. Ribbon (about three pocket for tiny "Wand"—'eaving tip yards of it) and extra ring in right in pocket. Say, "This being just a coat pocket. (I keep several "loaded" simple little mystery, I use a very small wand." Audience accepts this as tips on hand. Always ready) a "gag." Wave wpnd over fis>t and PRESENTATION: "A little mys- replace in vest pocket. Have spectatery with a length of ribbon and a tors take up slack. R'lb right fingers tiny ring. Nothing unusual about the together as though "restoring" ribribbon; but the ring, you will notice, bon, then run fist bick and for'h has been carved out of human bone. along ribbon—ring still inside. SudCarved from the skeleton of an old denly raise fist, still holding ribbon. East Indian Magician. Little souven- Then release. Ribbon, with ring on irs, such as this, are quite common in it, "pops down" in straight line—REIndia—believe it or not. I've seen ear- STORED. Hands empty. Let 'em look rings, bracelets, pins, etc. carved it all over. And they will look it from the same material. Supposed to over. Simplicity! But remember—it act as good luck charms, have cer- is s m o o t h PRESENTATION that tain curative powers and so forth. Ex- counts. amine it carefully—interesting, isn't it?—then slip it on the ribbon." Having had ring placed on center of ribbon, you request two spectators to step up and each hold an end. Have them stand well apart and give you a bit of slack. With left thumb and first finger, take hold of ring and draw it up (about a foot) through left fist. Let go, allowing it to hang down over back of right fist, toward audience. Ask another spectator to By Judson Brown step up and cut the ribbon. At this © point, let ribbon drop from right fist and reach fcr scissors in left, vest Magician enters room, places two pocket. At same time, left thumb decks of cards on the table and patslips into lower left pocket and gets ters as follows: tip on. The business of drawing rib"Most of you are no doubt familiar bon up through fist, and then drop- with the phrase "Like Father Like ping it to reach for scissors, is a Son," and are perhaps equ-illy aware "natural" way of telling your audience that you have nothing in your of its many implications. Because of hands—that you use nothing but the 'the well-defined laws of heredity it no longer seems remarkable that

Like Father Like Son

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GENII children should resemble their parents in both thought and act. On (he other hand, if one possessed the power to artificially develop a similir relationship between individuals of different families, that would indeed be remarkable. For a mag'cian, such things are not beyond the realm of possibility, as I shall demonstrate •this evening. "Now will one of you gentlemen volunteer to be my 'son' for a few moments? You really don't need to look like me in order to make the thing work. Thank you son! (Spectator comes forward. If possib'e, magician should secure an assistant who is much older than himself). How did you get along at school today? (Patting spectator on the shoulder). That's splendid. No! You can't go for a swim until we finish this demonsfation. Please be reasonable, Junior. "Inasmuch as you are now my son you must do everything just exactly as I do it. Take the deck of red cards and shuffle them as I do. (Magician picks up blue deck and performs a very fancy shuff'e which spectator can't possibly duplicate). Well, maybe that's too hard, we'll shuffle them an easier way." The Magician trades decks with spectator and continues: "Spread your cards out on the itable like this (cards are spread from left to right). Now I take a card from this end of my deck and you must do the same. (To audience) You can see that he takes after me already. Now look at your card, remember it. and replace it at the other end of the deck as I do, then gather up the cards and shuffle them." Magician and spectator now trade decks, and each removes his own selected card from the deck he holds. The cards are found fco be identical. So far it will be apparent that the trick being described is in effect nothing but the familiar "you do as I do." The method of working is a bit different however. At the start of the demonstration the magician brings out two decks, a red and a biue. On the bottom of the blue deck the spades have been arranged from Ace to King. When the -spectator comes up he is given the red deck, tne conjurer keeping the blue one and holdin? a bottom stock of the thirteen spades during the preliminary shuffles. The decks are then exchanged. Now when both decks are spread cut on the table it is quite easy to maneuver the spectator so that he will draw one of the spades. In most cases it is possible to tell exactly which spade, by counting me cards lying below the one removed by the spectator. If such be the case, the trick is finished without exenanging decks a second time, for one can simply withdraw the correct card from one's own deck. If the caras are not spread out sufficiently, it may be impossible to count up to the loca-

tion of the selected spade. Nothing is lost, however, for the spectator can replace his card at the other end of the deck, give the cards a riffle shuffle, and one can still find the selected card by noting which spade is out of soquence. In rare cases the victim will not pick one of the spades at all, but will insist on drawing one from the middle. If this occurs, have him replace the card on top or bottom and cut. Then trade decks and look for the card below the ace o£ spades which was on the bottom. You can't lose anyway you take it. The experiment is concluded by stating that although magician and subject are quite unrelated, that yet through some strange circumstance, they have chosen identical cards— Like father, Like son! 0

The 52-Card Trick By Orville Meyer

e Prefatory note: Due to inadvertence on the part of both the Editor and the printer a major portion of the following triclc was omitted from the May issue. I believe it will be easier for the readers to gain a clear impression of the effect if I reprint it in its entirety. To do otherwise would necessitate a rereading of the last issue. I apologize to Mr. Meyer and to Genii readers for this glaring mistake and shall attempt to see that it is not repeated. Although I have seen this errect in similar form, I believe this particular presentation is new. It is an elaboration of the 27 card trick, in Hoffmann's "More Magic." In effect, a full deck of 52 cards is divided into four face down heaps, of thirteen cards each. A spectator freely selects any pile, and then mentally chooses any card in that pile. Now he is asked to shuffle the pile of thirteen, so that even he himself does not know the exact position of the card. Now he names any number between one and fifty-two. Performer takes the 52 cards and deals them into four face down piles, one card at a time, repeating this deal twice. After the last deal, the spectator is handed the deck and is asked to count down to the number he selected. Strange to say, his mentally chosen card is there. The only other method approaching this necessitates deals with cards face up and some may think that somehow, by watching the faces of the cards, performer is able to learn what the card is and to keep track of it. In my routine, from beginning to end, the performer NEVER SEES THE PACE OP A SINGLE CARD AND NEVER KNOWS WHAT THE

CARD IS, and until the very last, never knows its position. The following table should be memorized, or may be copied and placed where visible to performer only: 1. 4-1-1 7. 2-4-3 2. 3-2-4 S. 1-1-2 3. 2-3-4 9. 4-3-2 4. 1-4-4 10. 3-4-2 5. 4-2-3 11. 2-1-1 6. 3-3-3 12. 1-2-1 13. 4-4-1 This table designates the order in which the packet containing the chosen card should be placed in relation to the other packets, before each deal. Following this table will bring the desired card to any number from 1 to 13. Suppose, for example, 5 is chosen, on the table are the four heaps of 13 each, one heap containing the chosen card. In pickup, see that this heap is placed in fourth position (bottom). Heaps could De picked up—chosen heap first, then the other three on top, which, as can be seen, places it in fourth position. Now deal, face down, one card at a time, dealing the pack into four more piles of 13 each. After the deal, each pile is fanned faces toward spectator and he indicates which pile contains his card. Be careful not. to disturb the order of the cards in this pile. After he tells you which pile contains his card, you pick up the piles again, this time placing his pile second from the top. Again deal into four heaps. Again fan the heaps and have spectator designate in which pile he sees his card. This heap now is placed in THIRD position. Deal into four piles. Now, when spectator, for the last time, tells you in which pile he sees his card, it will be fifth down in that pile. Reassemble deck, placing selected heap on top, and hand to him for counting. For numbers higher than 13, it is only necessary to vary the final pickup, after the final deal. Instead of placing the selected heap on top, it may be placed 2nd, 3rd or 4th, which procedure adds 13 cards in each instance to the original number. Thus, if 29 is chosen, you would deal as for 3, (29 minus 13 minus 13 equals 3), dealing 2-3-4, and then, finally, reassemble with the pile containing the selected card (in third place) to third position, which would put 26 cards above it, making the card 2\i sown. Again, 45 would be dealt as for 6, (45 minus 3 x 13 or 6) or 3-3-3. After these deals, pick up the packets with the one containing the selected card in fourth position, or bottom, and hand for counting. Hope this all is clear. To my knowledge this is the first time this trick has been possible with a full deck of cards, making all deals face down, so that performer never sees the face of a single card. Orville W. Meyer Denver, Colorado.

Remember the P. C. A. M. convention In Reno in July.

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GENII

Climax Card Trick By Sigmund Krumgold •

Five cards are freely selected by various members of the audience. The person selecting the last, fifth, card is asked to mark it in any way he desires; by writing something across its face, by placing his initials thereon or by making any other mark. The cards are replaced in the pack and the deck apparently shuffled. A spectator is invited to assist the performer and the latter hands mm his wallet, which is encircled with rubber bands, and which the performer states contains a forfeit in the event of the failure of the experiment. The performer turns his back and the 'spectator is requested to shift the cards from place to place, in accord with certain definite instructions which are given him. This done, the performer states that if lie has been successful the first selected card should be atop the first heap. This proves to be the case. Likewise, the second card is on top of the second heap. The third card is on the third heap. With growing confidence the performer shows that the fourth card has reached the top of the fourth heap. With unbounded enthusiasm the performer prepares for 100% success. He states that the fifth selected card will beyond doubt be found atop the fifth pile. He looks, but the card is not there. Failure! Apparently chagrined and disgruntled he states "I have never failed in this experiment before." He indicates the wallet and tells the spectator to claim and take his forfeit. The spectator removes the elastics, and inside the pocketbook, between two metal plates which are likewise encircled with rubber bands, is round the missing marked, fifth se:ected card.

The method of getting the cards tion which nevertheless causes some to the top is based upon the cutting crmment. routine learned from the very clever, Effect: The magician starts to do Rolland Hamblen. After the cards are the coin roll with a quarter at the replaced they are brought to the top same time remarking that it is supby any methcd which you may pre- posed to be done with a half dollar fer. I personally use the Hindu shufbut being a imgician he rarely has fule described in Hugard's first card one. But suddenly the spectators nomanipulation book. The cards are tice that the magician is rolling a brought to the top in such order that half do'lar instead of a quarter. the first selected card will De fifth Method: Necd'ess to say the magifrom the top and the fifth selected cian has a half dollar, which is concard on the top. This fifth card is cealed up his right sleeve. After rollsecretly introduced into the pocket ing the quarter over the back of the book, which latter is then hanaed to hind and the front (so the spectators the spectator. The performer now will see that the hand is otherwise requests that the spectator cut the empty) he rolls the coin from the balance of the back into five neaps as back of his right into his left hand. follows: the whole deck is cut into At the same time drop the coin into halves. The halves are divided into the right hand (the half dollar conquarters. Then one half of trie third cealed up your sleeve). Hold the half pile is divided to make the fifth pile. dollar in the right palm by means of At this point the selected cards are on the edge palm. Placing the quarter top of pile number four. One half of on the back of your right hand you the second pile is transferred to the will find that you can do the roll third pile. One half of the fourth with the other coin palmed altnough pile is transferred to the first pile. not as fast as before. When the Now the selected cards are mi wp of quarter slips through the thira and pile number one. One card is trans- fourth fingers you hold on to it with ferred from the top of pile four to those two fingers and bring the half pile five; one from three to four, one dollar up on to the top of your hand. from two to three; one from o:.e to At the same time you bring forth the two; ;one from three to four; one formerly concealed coin, raise the from one to three; one—and this is right hand and let the quarter drop the subtle move—from two to four; down your s'eeve. and finally, one from pile one to two. From then en you go in to any coin The cards are now on top of their sleight with the half dollar and if you respective heaps. That is, card numwant, change the half back into a ber one is on top of pile one; card quarter by any of the other wellnumber two is on top of pile two, and so forth. Card number five is in the known methods. wallet. The foregoing is purely a drawing rcom trick. But it has been my experience that it is one which audiences remember and talk about for months after they have seen it. Editor's Note: This is one of the tricks which I have really gone out of my way in attempting to get for Genii readers. I personally know it to be very effective. The reader undoubtedly knows and has one or more of the well known wallet tricks. Al Baker sold a good one. An excellent version is described in one of Chapman's books. Thayer, Abbott and Lloyd all have pocket book tricks for ?ale at different prices. Although I naturally have a personal preference, it is up to the reader to decide which one he wants to use. All are good, and practical.

It will be noted that there is a slow but sure ascending climax. Cards one, two, three, and four are found successfully. The performer enjoys his success and appears to become more and more confident as each card is revealed. It becomes a crescendo of invincible mysticism until he comes to heap number five. Why shouldn't he be confident? Four times he has been successful. Then comes what should be the climax, but which is apparent failure. However, finally the performer reaches a greater climax than there would have been had the same card been discovered on the top of the fifth pile. By John McCormick As for method, there is nothing difficult about the entire experiment. • The various methods of producing I have found that I haven't much cards in pocket books are too well- use for the coin roll as it is merely a known to need explanation. Further, form of jugglery and looks too much it would be unsportsmanliKf) to re- like "showing off." Thus the reason

Magic Coin Roll

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for the following non-subtle applicaSupport Genii advertisers,

The Mad Hatter By Irving Joslyn

e "The other day I chanced to drop into the haberdashery to make some purchases. Inside, though it was beautifully finished, I saw a huge rabbit. On the counter in front of him was a hat, something like this. But, otherwise, the store was quite empty. 'Hello', I said. 'Hello' he answered. "Are you the March Hare?" 'Indeed not' said he, 'I am the Mad Hatter. I will sell you a hat.' 'But' I cried, "I didn't crme here to buy a hat. I came to buy some silk scarves. And I see you have none." 'That's where you were wrong' quoth the rabbit, 'I have dozens of them in all colors, heie in the hat.' 'But' said I, 'I also wanted some ties.' 'I have those too—in the hat' replied the hatter. 'That is all very nice' I told him, 'but what I really wanted, most of all, i's a pair of red sox to wear at my mother-in-laws formal dinner dance.' 'I have those, too' said he. 'Now' I said, 'I must run along. I must pick up some sausage at the

butchers for dinner.' 'Don't trouble

GENII yourself with the butcher' replied the Hatter, 'here are sausages right in the hat.' Will you 'sell the hat'? I asked him. 'No, but I will give it to you.' And give it to me he did, stoutly refusing my money. Such a hat. It had supplied all my wants. In fact, there was so much that I lacking the Mad Hatter's ability, couldn't even get u all back into the hat. Look. When I arrived home I showed these things to my wife, and told her of the hat. 'But, Irving' she said, 'did you think to stop and pick up the silk for my new dress?' 'And' queried Junior 'did you bring the rabbit you piomised me?' Alas, I had forgotten. Cut, just then I happened to look into the hat, and there was just the right number of yards of silk for my wife's dress and, best of all, nestled under it was the rabbit for Junior." The foregoing is merely patter for the hat production. Secure the first load of silks, ties, red sox and spring sausages in your favorite manner. Then, in showing that the bulk of the things produced will not go back into the hat, load in the silks and the rabbit, in a rabbit bag.

Toilet Tissue Trickery By Glenn G. Gravatt

The fondness of those in the field of magic for alliteration, i. e., the repetition of the same initial letter in words directly following each other, is well known. Thus we have had matchstick magic, water wizardry, silk sorcery, pipe prestigiation, candle conjuring, and the like. Having just got back to shore after a successful tour beneath the skull and crossbones on the high seas aboard my good old pirate boat, I now enter an entirely new magical field with practically unlimited possibilities; I bring you now the only lemaining untouched branch of magic —Toilet Tissue Trickery. For your apparatus and supplies you need not go beyond your bathroom, that is, cf course, unless your stock has run low. Then for the nominal sum of five cents plus the effort expended to make a trip to your neighborhood grocery, you are prepared to put on a complete evening's show for the enjoyment and edification of your friends.

Herewith are a few ideas in brief: Number One: The Production Act. Prom a borrowed hat reams and reams of toilet paper are produced. What could be more effective? Method of loading is left to your own ingenuity. Number Two: Torn and Restored Toilet Paper. Much more natural than the torn and restored napkin because the average household doesn't use paper napkins any more. But the other! Well, again we leave >uu to your favorite method. Number Three: Color Changing Toilet Paper. Since the gay and gaudy bathrooms have come into vogue, with the manufacturers issuing green and orchid rolls to match, what could be more beautiful than changing the color of a piece of paper? Use either the small tube feke for changing through the hanti, or large dying tube for bigger and better changes. Number Four: Drumhead and P h a n t o m Tubes: Experimentation will prove that toilet paper is the best tissue for capping drumnead or phantom tubes and is noiseless in the case of insertion of the double load or torpedo cartridge. Number Five: Cardboard Core. Here we find a very useful, all-purpose accessory. A two-inch piece cut off the cardboard core left hand and put it into the right pocket the same way you did the first. As you withdraw the right hand, bring a part of the red silk in the hottom of the pocket, out. So that a small part of it can be seen, now walk over to some one on your left and have them grasp the visiole portion of the silk and pull it very slowly out of the pocket, as he is doing this and everyone's attention is on him, it is an easy matter to place vour left hand in your rear pocket and get the color change silk and place it in the left front pocket, the spectator finds that the knot has vanished. You can now pull out the right pocket and show it empty. Now you roll the red silk into a ball and place it in the left pocket and as the hand goes into the pocket, the thumb pushes it up into the top of the pocket. Now request some one to blow upon the left pocket and have him reach in and hring out the silk which they find to be hlue, the red having vanished: You pass the hand over the silk and it visibly changes back to red. Once more you roll it up into a ball and place it in your handkerchief vanisher, and the red disappears for good. You may have to bend the ring on the color change to get it into the pull. I hope you like this trick and get as much out of i t as I have. As I said before, the various ideas have been put into a very good routine, so give it a trial, won't you?

for the success of the Reno Convention and all 1937 Magicians' Conventions

SPOKANE MYSTIC CLUB Spokane, Washington C. W . Talbot, President E. V. Klein, Secretary

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Thirteen

GENII

So your club is going to give a show? The tenth of a series of articles by Caryl S. Fleming, president of the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians. THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE Of equal importance with the stage presentation is that portion of your theatre which houses he audience, familiarly known as "the front of the house." This t e r m generally embraces everything from the marquee over the entrance clown to the orchestra pit so let us take things in rotation as they will be met. First of all, if there is a marquee with stock illuminated letters this can be set up at little or no extra cost to apprise the passersby of the fact that you are giving a show. Lobby displays can be made up of photos of some of the members on the program, preferably in action poses with props or apparatus, and appropriate lettering giving credits, date, time and prices. Alongside your box office window there should be a card with the scale of prices, plus tax and totals. While inside your box office the remaining stock of tickets should be distributed in a rack or on a shelf so that tickets for seats in whatever portion of the house is desired may be reached for with minimum of time and effort. Paid reservations should be placed in envelopes and arranged in an alphabetical pile secured by a rubber band and likewise, reservations to be called for and paid upon receipt should be in another stack. Such unpaid reservations should be held only up to say 7:30 P. M. of the evening of the performance and then racked up to be sold with the balance of the seats. Incidently, it might be well to remember that many people will not attend a theatre unless they can secure seats to their liking (I am one) and for this reason it is only good business to keep some choice locations for sale to the general public when distributing your blocks of tickets for advance sale by members. From $20 to $50 in small bills and change, not forgetting at least $2 in pennies, in these days of taxes and odd figures should complete your box office supplies with the possible exception of pencils, note pads and the telephone.

Your doorman w pl need, some sort

of a box in which to drop his half of the tickets and a table upon which to stand same. After the performance, your ticket stubs should be counted with the unsold tickets to check against the total caish taken in and members who have not turned their unsold allotments in to your box office treasurer in time for him to try and dispose of same before the performance should be charged for same just as if they had been sold, as I have mentioned in a previous article. If you plan upon merely a general admission and first come first served seating arrangement, all t i c k e t s should be numbered consecutively so that a proper check up can be made against the sales and in this latter case there will probably be no great need for ushers except someone to hand out your printed programs, if you have them. However, it is my belief that it is far more satisfactory to have all seats reserved for, if nothing else it invariably helps the advance sale greatly. The head usher should really have charge of the ushers, inspect patrons seat checks and direct them to their proper aisles and could present each with programs if need be. Ushers should be required to familiarize themselves with all details of the seating arrangements so as to seat patrons with the least amount of effort and to avoid confusion and, in many states, the laws require that ushers be posted at stated emergency exits during the performance, intermissions and until the house is cleared after the final curtain. It is hardly necessary for me to say that the wives, sweethearts and brothers and sisters of the club members can usually be counted upon to assist in the duties of the front of the house, but if there are not a sufficient number of these willing to volunteer, school and college societies and boy scout troops can generally be counted upon to act for a small fee along with seeing the show Tree of charge. All persons engaged in handling patrons should be properly attired, gentlemen preferably in dinner clothes and ladies in gowns not too extreme, for the impression your house staff

makes carries great influence toward Support Genii advertisers,

putting your audience in the proper frame of mind to expect and receive something really worth while. Lights over all emergency exits should be checked. Retiring rooms should be properly stocked with necessaries. Heating or cooling and ventilating apparatus put to work in plentiy of time so that the audience will enter into a comfortable temperature and atmosphere. Doors should be opened on the minute of the scheduled time and everyone and everything should be in place and position to carry out their duties with as little effort and as much efficiency as could be expected. All seats should be turned up so as to assist the usher in indicating locations to the patrons. The dimming of the house lights should be rehearsed by the electrician in charge and a proper interval of a period of partially subdued lighting should be scheduled before and during the orchestral overture to seat late comers before the curtain actually rises on the performance. Likewise a cue and time sheet should be made out and handed to the electrician covering the before the play period, intermissions and final exit so that he can handle this lmponant part of the lighing as intelligently as he will those for the acts during the progress of the entertainment. Fire regulations should be observed by nil especially as to smoking and ushers should be stationed at the heads of all aisles and in the foyer to enforce the "smoking in the lobby" rule. After the final curtain and the "house is cleared" it is an excellent idea for the ushers to go through all the rows checking up on any articles that may have been accidently left by the audience so that such may be turned in to the box office and claimed by their owners, and, while going through the rows, the seats should again be turned up in readiness for the next performance and greater ease in cleaning. One thing I did not mention is a certain rather unfamiliar sign to hang in your box office window so here's hoping you will need one It says— SOLD OUT!

P. S. F,

GENII

PAGING THE LADIEX GERALDINE GGNCAD

Diary of a Magician^s Wife One week from the diary of the fascinating, young wife of that famous amateur magician, Al Hocus.

my clothes in condition for the convention. Al says you would think I was going to Europe instead of Reno but I just TOLD HIM that this convention was going to be a bigger thrill than the Coronation itself. From all reports there will be plenty for the ladies to do so I hope most of the wives will go with their husbands. We'll have a grand time what with bridge parties, trips, snows, dances, etc. I'm taking plenty of cool sport clothes as I imagine it will be plenty warm. Oh, I can hardly wait. Friday I practiced the dial trick all day today because we were having friends in tonite and wanted to try it out on them. I went over and over the numbers. I thought I knew them frontwards and backwards. Apparently that was too true, because tonight, when we did the trick, I set them backwards instead. Oh dear, r aori-c see why they didn't take those cards anyway. I'm going to practice tomorrow and I know I will never make that mistake again. Saturday I practiced all afternoon, while Al took the kiddies to the Zoo, and yet I pulled another boner tonight! We had my folks over to surprise them with my ability as a Magician's Assistant and this time I had all the numberdown pat BUT I started the dial spinning before Al had the card chosen and the dial stopped at the number BEFORE the number was selected! So I was one jump ahead of Al all the way through. I didn't realize it because I held the dial in front of me and didn't see it's face. And Al didn't notice it at first because he was so busy having cards selected. Well . . . I guess we're going to eliminate that trick from our repertoire. At least, Al thinks we had better forget it. Sunday I asked Al what trick he thought we could do in place of the dial trick and he looked kind of mad and said that he was seriously considering doing some illusions. He thought either sawing a woman in half or SHOOTING THROUGH A WOMAN! I wonder if that was a nasty crack, or if he is really serious about it?

Monday Now I AM busy. Here it is June, already, and I am trying to get things in order so that we can get away for the convention next month. Mother and Dad are coming here to stay with the children: little Lotta and Junior. We have never left them for more than a day before, but I really think it will do us all good. Be a sort of second honeymoon for us, and a great vacation with their grandparents for the kiddies. Tuesday Al has been practicing every day. He is going to be on the show at the convention, and he is letting me assist him. I don't know whether he'll let me really do it on the big mgnt or not, but I'm trying hard to do well so he'll want me to. I always have wanted to get an actress-view of a show but, so far, the nearest I've ever been to a stage has been the orchestra seats. Wednesday Al brought home a new trick for us to try for OUR act. It is a large round dial with numbers en it. The idea is that Al passes through the audience with a pack of cards and has several cards FREELY selected. I stay tip on the stage with tne dial. He asks the dial to tell him the first card and I put the arrow-nke hand on the dial, give it a spin and it goes round and round and stops at the number of the selected card, it really is mystifying, though my part of it is very simple. I just have to set a little gadget to the right number on the hand and it automatically stops at that number. What I can't see, though, is how Al knows that they are going to take those cards? 1 have to memorize several cards and do them in rotation because I am up on the stage and cannot possibly see what one they choose We tried it tonight and it worked just grand. Little Junior was So smart! He tooK the LADIES TAKE NOTICE right card every time! By C. F. McManus Thursday Several very excellent suggestions Today was Sanci's day otf so I have been sent to U's by the "Ladies stayed home and did the housework of Magic" for their entertainment.

and a lot of sewing, I'm trying to get We more than welcome them as we Write your favorite columnists.

want your suggestions. We find that some want this and some want that but we want you to know that we have plenty of both. Some ladies have even voiced their disapproval of recent programs stating mat they were left too much "out of the picture" and that the reason why more ladies did not attend the conventions wan due to this. Right you are "me hearties. ' That's iust what your committee wants, real constructive suggestions, and believe you me the Reno Magic Circle will cater to the Ladies First, Last and Always. SO sit down, fair damsels and write us your suggestions pronto so that there will be uu cause to complain when you visit this fair city. We want you to be absolutely pleased, so shoot the works. Send your suggestions to: C. S. Leaf McManus, Mapes Building, Reno, Nevada, and I will personally -see to it that you get what you want. NEW RECIPE

Just to show you that the men read "Paging the Ladies" I am giving you a new recipe sent in by Edward Reese ot San Diego. He says that Beltran Hubbard showed it to the boys down there and they not only have it at their meetings but prepare it themselves. They christened it— The Genii Dish. Start sufficient rice steaming in an air-tight pan. One-fourth cup rice is put in for every person present. Cut up a strip of bacon in small pieces, cook in a large frying pan. When there is plenty of grease start frying ground round steak (1-5 lb. to each person). Chop it up fine with a spatula as it cooks. Add one onion chopped up, three stalks of celery cut up, and 1-4 of a green pepper chopped up. Now put in Jan-U-wine bean sprouts (1-3 can to each person) and into this mixture put a tablespoon of Jan-U-wine Soy sauce. If you have timed it right both rice and meat should now be done. This recipe is for a magician's appetite so fill a regular size plate with rice and put about an equal portion of the meat sauce over it. The final heap should be three inches in height by nine inches diameter. Serve with chop sticks (a fork will do for quick work but for TRICKY work—use chop sticks). The idea now is to mix the rice and the meat evenly. At least five minutes should be spent in mixing so as to create a tremendous appetite, Use Soy sauce sparingly. Fifteen

GENII

An Outsider's View of Magic By Horace Leaf, F. FS. G. S.

With due respect to Webster's Dictionary, magic cannot be accurately defined by set terms. It means something very different to the grown person from what it means to the child. The boy may believe that the mysterious disappearance and reappearance of birds, cards and flowers is supernatural, but the grown man knows that it is the result of legerdemain. He may know that to make the illusion successful little more than dexterity and misdirection are required. The latter is easy because most people are inquisitive enough to want to know exactly what the conjurer is doing, and therefore follows the most obvious movements of his hands. Take away that common tendency and you will have an audience which will either fall asleep or observe the conjurer "give himself away." This might have described my own view of the matter had I not had the honor to be the guest of the Society of American Magicians at the "Magical Fooleries of 1937," presented by Golden Gate Assembly No. 2, S. A. M. Officially the fooleries commenced when Jimmy Muir appeared before the curtain to inform the audience that lie was about to hand the job of announcer to Steve Shepard. Actually it began for me the moment I was introduced to Jimmy at St. Marks Hotel, Oakland. Except when in his office Jimmy is a natural foolerer'and has a remarkable capacity for making others follow his lead. It is the willingness of magicians to follow this kind of lead that makes them perfect illusionists. What depositor in his bank would for one moment imagine Caryl S. Fleming to be other than the most serious of business men? The answer is, sit with him at the dinner table with his fellow magicians and try to make him talk seriously on a social occasion. All you will inspire him to do is tell another story. This applies with equal force to other members of the magical art—and what stories they tell! I have yet to meet those who can tell stories better than magicians. True the circumstances to which they are related are very circumscribed, owing to their close affinity to certain parts of the human anatomy, but they are so worthwhile that none but a prudish Puritan would object to them. One hopes that if there is a heaven it will be full of magicians, they are so friendly. If Satan obtained admission he would be well-received by them. One can imagine Leaf McManus or Dr. Alexander Schwartz, noticing that this historical renegade had Sixteen

endeavored to hide his flexible terminal appendage, seizing him by the arm, saying with a sly smile, "Say, old man, have you ever heard this tail?" His satanic majesty's contusion would be very transient, for as soon as the story was told he would feel at home. This, however, does not fully describe the magician, for he is a man of many parts. He is, for instance, an artist, a very serious artist, so sensitive that there is no likelihood of his art deteriorating. It is one thing to extract a rabbit from a hat, but quite a different thing to do it the way the prestidigitator demands. To him it is not merely a question of a hat, a rabbit and a man, nor is it altogether a question of dexterity. There must be about the operation an indefinable something truly esthetic. The man, the rabbit and the hat must be so that a Michael Angleo or a Rembrandt must approve of it. It must be clone so artistically that one must feel that if the rabbit was sensible enough to know what had happened, he would be boastfully pleased with having been associated with the act. It is this fact that makes the conjurer a combination of kindly friend and severe critic, and it is because of it that he can take adverse criticism like a gentleman. I witnessed the truth of what I am saying. After the show, one of the younger members of the art asked an older and more experienced conjurer what he thought of his act. Without the slightest nesitation the critic gave unstinted praise where it was due, but mercilessly exposed the youngster's defects. In almost any other profession I feel sure the youngster would have objected to such plain speaking, notwithstanding the kindly manner in which it was done. Not so the young magician. An appreciative smile passed over his face as he replied, "Many thanks. I am anxious to perfect the act and one cannot very well judge one's own deficiencies." Can there be a finer testimony to the love of the magician for his art? No wonder magicians are such pleasant people, and we may be sure that no matter how public taste for entertainment may change, there will always be a demand for conjurers. Because of his desire to do a job well the magician will always be a valuable asset in the education of the young. I witnessed this fact while watching by brother Leaf McManus give a show to some boys in a Nevada reformatory school. At first the boys were inclined to treat the affair with levity. They felt they were "smart guys" who were not to be deceived by a performance suitable for children. They were, they felt, loo cute to be taken in by the conjurer's "stunts." One youngster declared that anyone could see through "a magician's stunts." Throughout the performace I watched this young man Patronize Genii advertisers.

closely and saw his whole attitude change to one of complete admiration. His final remark, accompanied oy a look of genuine admiration, revealed his change of heart. "Well," he remarked breathing deeply, as the conjurer linked with great dexterity one metal hoop into another, "I'd like to know how he, does that." One of the educational values on this occasion was the complete honesty of the conjurer. He made it plain that he was merely aiming at entertaining the company, and not really trying to deceive them. His masric was purely tricks. This placed the whole performance within the reach of every person present. They too could do these ticks if they cared to try The lesson was that practice makes perfect, and if such efficiency could be attained with the manipulation of hoops and colored handkerchiefs, it could also be obtained in the more serious things of life. Consciously or subconsciously every sincere magician doubtlessly realizes the educational value of his art. Therefore magic is a serious undertaking During an evening's conversation with Lloyd E. Jones and Claude Burke I discovered how seriously the magician views life. We delved into such abtruse subjects as philosophy, science, metaphysics and religion in no amateurish way. Here were serious students of humanity, thoroughly interested in the magic of the human mind and the universe. I suppose that the magician, realizing how easily people can be deceived by the hiding of salient facts, naturally becomes a critic of anything smirking of hypocrisy and rea; deceit. He is a lover of truth. Making no attempt to pass his own wonders off as supernatural, he will stand for nothing that violates this principle. Magic therefore makes for logic and the understanding of facts. I am prepared to say all magicians are clever psychologists, and if they become sceptical where anything with a tang of the mysterious presents Itself, this makes for sound judgment ir not carried to far. Magicians, therefore, possess valuable qualities, the chief one being that they are thundering good entertainers, adding considerably to the happiness of mankind. Jimmy Muir told the audience at the "Magical Fooleries of 1937" that I had come all the way from England to see the show. I reply, had I done so my time and money would have been well spent. "TOPS" The Independent M:.V

MAX TERHUNE & "SKULLY" Max: Skully! I caught your act in "The Hit Parade" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Skully: Why do they call it Chinese Theatre? I took special notice and there was not a chinaman in sight, not even "Ata Sun Gai." Max: You were also at Loew's Theatre in L. A. Skully: Quit kidding: it's no lower than lots of theatres I've played. In fact some of these low theatres are built on a hill and have a balcony. Max: Am now a member of Mystic 27 and a full fledged magician. Skully: Don't think you are a magician just because you've been fooling the public for years. Max: Ribbins is going to take a crack at you in his column. Skully: If he does I'll tie those ribbons around his neck and draw them so tight his Adams apple will taste like cider. Might tie 'em in a bow knot and send him back to Kindergarten. Max: You talk a lot for a dummy. Skully: Yeh! if it wasn't for my talking you wouldn't eat so regularly. Skully: Say Max! Who is Charlie Miller? Max: He is a magician. Skully: You're a trusting soul Max. You just believe anything anybody tells you, don't you? Max: Charlie's a friend of mine and another crack about him and I'll box your ears and its a mean trick to talk about him that way. Skully: I'll talk as I please and as Roy Wade said last month if somebody wanted to play a mean trick on you all he'd have to do would be to nail my mouth shut and you'd go bankrupt. TIilrf Demon Silks. A smile results on learning that Davenport will sell his Miracle Ball through g'ass in the "improved" version to American customers for half what the pirates ask. And as it has been for the past several months, MAGIE from Germany is for May a valuable item. Now little remains except an overly sufficient amount of lists from the dealers. Ireland, Donald Holmes, Lindhorst, Ovette, Stanyon, each with the best in magic and the elusive something new. Albright includes his INSIDE DOPE a page of useful ideas and Thayer has another Ballygram. Hope you will be in Reno and have recovered from seeing my likeness on the cover. Hatif is mumbling something about "It sphinxs-—it sphinxs." It sphinxs? Must put him to bed, Thirty-Three

GENII

BAG DA Bad humor this month . . . Fighting a tough murder case . . . Looks as though the fight will go on and on . . . . means more work for Law and less for magic . . . nevertheless, I can always find time for Genii . . . Sometimes, Irowever, it is just a bit difficult to jump without warning, from murder to magic . . . ask Judge Fricke . . . . he knows. And who is the winner of the Patter contest for the billiard ball act . . . come, come, Jay Gore, let us know . . . This much I'll tell you. Whoever, wins any prize offered by the Magic Art Studios of Portland will really have something worth while . . . Theirs is really worth while magic . . . C. R. Mawe left for the middle west where he will meet his friends at Denver, Topeka, Kansas City, St. Joseph, and his old h'ome town of Lincoln . . . About the time I corresponded with Loring Campbell I aiso corresponded with Dick Mawe . . . He was one of my first friends in magic . . . In fact, Mawe, Dr. Finlde. Loring Campbell and Franz Massopust were my first magical acquaintances. Tlvomas C. Worthington, III is the founder of the Society of Osiris . . . he is a talented performer, owns the mast valuable collection of wancis and rare apparatus in America . . . understand he is now completing" a book . . . . Howard Thurston regarded him as one of his closest personal friends . . Out here I have heard muan criticism regarding the late Thurston, all of which I resent . . . Every year, for years, I saw his show . . . To me he was, and always will be, the Great Magician . . . In my life time I have seen only two who were his equal. They were Houdini and Eugene Laurant . . . Thurston and Houdini are both gone. However, it is my devout hope that someday I shall again see Laurant perform. To me he is magic's greatest living magician. Frank Chapman, that 'splendid performer who has made California his home, is now located in Santa Ana. He is connected with the sales department of the Shell Oil Company . . . . Chapman is a modern prototype of Alexander Hermann . . I would rather watch his humor with two boys from the audience than the best of modern sleight of hand . . . Caryl Fleming, who knows magic ana magicians, has repeatedly told me that he regards Chapman as being one of the outstanding magicians in the entire country . . . Speaking of Caryl, by the time this issue reaches the reader, he will be well on his way Thirty-four

to High Point to attend the annual I. B. M. Convention . . . On:y wish that I could go back with him. Understand that our friend Haskell lias been held over for the third week in Memphis, from there he went on to New Orleans, thence to Chicago . . . Although HaskelF's present act is similar to those who have gone before he is truly a real magician . . . . He could succeed as well in the theatre as he does in night clubs . . He could present illusions as well as sleight of hand . . . Sometimes, wnen I read the report of his success, I wonder if he is the same kid to whom I used to deliver lectures in my kitchen . . . This much I can say; I liked him, and I encouraged him. His success proves that I was not far wrong in my judgment . . . And now comes a letter from Ray Gamble. I have lived these many years but this is the first time I have ever received a letter written with a white typewriter ribbon upon b'ack stationery; it makes the most impressive looking document of correspondence that I have ever received. Likewise, it set my mind to wondering regarding the magical possibilities of white typewriter ribbrn . . . Ray Gamble is one of magic's first ambassadors. With nothing to gain, he gives freely of his time, and of his money, for the cause. The field of conjuring is exceedingly fortunate that he has chosen magic as his avocation . . . Ray Gamble and Captain Howard were the first subscribers to Genii. Ray's subscription reached me about twenty minutes after I had been made Editor of the Official P. C. A. M. publication . . . . Howard's^ subscription reached me exactly five second's later. . . . . Immediately thereafter Caryl Fleming and Russ Walsh subscribed for ten years in advance . . . Ana who am I to deserve such confidence. Ed Reese, the Swami of San Diego, and one of those who has joined the ranks cf our favorite people, again sends u- his monthly letter regarding criticism of Genii . . . Although we do not credit him specifically, many of the ideas which we have embodied in Genii are his . . . He tells us that Fred Shields is still doing the silk act and going in for illusions . . . Fred produced a girl from somewiieru and one 'cf the audience yells "Get ME one of tho'se" . . . And Ed uses Floyd Thayer's trick "Bank Night" from Genii . . . We only wish that we could publish Genii four times a month in order that we might receive four letters instead of his usual 'one . . . I Write your favorite columnists.

don't know him except by letter, but mark my words to this: in whatever line he plans to follow he will be a success. Good Luck, Ed and write oftener. Bill Taylor and I have just received a book of Magic from Yoshio Ku'se, called Kijutu no Hiken, translated in English, "Secrets of Magic." This is all I know about the book as far as the text is concerned. However, if the description is as clear as the illustrations, then Occidental magicians will really have a mighty tough example to live up to . . . Just received subscriptions from Harold Lloyd and David Roth. The first needs no introduction; the second is the gentleman who after years, remembered Addison Simms of Seattle. Yet, if you don't know, both are splendid performers of magic . . . It does us good to know that Max Holden and Gene Hugard are editing a printed version of Glenn Gravatt's Encyclopedia of Card Tricks . . . It is rumored that Max was able to overtake the brig commanded by the bucanneer Gravatt and haul it into a neutral port. He put three shots across its bow and Glenn ran up the white flag of surrender. Hence, the printed version will be entirely legitimate; Max has the authorization of all the various inventors for the inclusion of their pet effects in the new edition . . . With Max editing, and Hugard writing, it can't help but be a tremendous 'success . . . in tne meantime Gravatt has escaped the neutral port and is again preparing a new, bigger and if possible, better, encyclopedia regarding an entirely different field. Frank Stephens has been working day and night. Rumor reaches us that a week ago Thursday he managed to get in only 22 hours sleep . . . Soon he will leave for New York where he figures he can manage to rest up a bit . . . Frank carries numner seven in our volume of favorite people, . . . A letter from Joseph Roberts reaches us from Jeanette, Pa. . . .Joe has a new bottle trick which we hope to be able to release to Genii readers . . . and do you know that Dalian is one of the most liberal contributors to the cause of magic? Likewise, he at all times has the good of magic at heart, announces that dude American ushers will walk up and down the aisles to brush the flies from those desiring to sleep during the performance. And congratulations, Doug Kelly on a new degree. It was received by him on May 27th, from the University of California Medical School

GENII (Continued from page 22)

6 ARTISTIC PRESENTATION OF ACT (self explanatory). I offer this trophy in the sincere hope that it will induce all Convention acts to give assiduous attention fo the fine details of PRESENTATION, For, it is these points that make for the individual, an act, that though he may be an amateur, is shown to the public in a professional manner. May it serve it's purpose in helping to make our Convention Shows better each year. Sincerely—(Signed) A. Caro Miller, President—Oakland Magic Circle." And so say we all, Thanks, a million, Caro. Caryl S. Fleming, President, P. C. A. M.

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"THE PERFECT CLOSE-UP STUN\'FR"

—And While You Are Ordering. GET A COPY OF "THE STRANGE INVENTIONS OF DR. ERVIN" By Dariel Fitzkoe. Foreword by T. Nelson Downs Effect: Any bill is borrowed. The number is copied SO pages. 59 marvelous close-up tricks by the world's and it is signed by a spectator BEFORE THE PERinventor cf small magic "Highly recommendFORMER TOUCHES IT. It is placed in an ORDINARY greatest ed"—JOHN MULHOLLAND. "A very good book." envelope and BURNED. Bill is visible until the last —FRAZEE "Congratulations on a g o o d book." moment. Performer reaches into his pocket and IN- —JONES. "Swell." —BILL LARSEN. "You will get STANTLY brings out a SEALED package of cigarettes. many good tricks from this." —BRUSH. "It will be He tears it open and offers a cigarette to two or three in everyone's library." —BOB "A new classic spectators. He takes one himself. When he tries to in the literature of magic . . . WEILL. say that, I give it my light his own something is found wrong. He takes the unoua'ified endorsemtnt is notTo putting it too strong." cigarette from his mouth. In full view WITH THE "A great collection . . . Much exSPECTATOR HOLDING ONE END OF THE CIGAR- —CRAWFORD. cellent stuff." —BOWYER. "It surpasses your usual ETTE the bill is found inside IT IS THE IDENTICAL excellent standard." —FLEMING. MARKED BILL. A knockout. PRICE $2.50 THE FOLLOWING IS ABSOLUTE TRUTH: The We blush with modesty when we contemplate what ORIGINAL BILL is the ONLY bill used. The ORIGINAL MARKED bill is INSIDE. No clips or fastenings well-kncwn men say about •, on the bill. NO FUMBLING. NO SWITCHES. NO "MISDIRECTION FOR MAGICIANS" SUBSTITUTIONS. Not an unnatural movement. MAY By Dariel Fitzkee BE PERFORMED WITHOUT NOTICE UNDER ANY But Who The Hell Are We To Dispute Them? ' CONDITIONS. Easy to do and FOOL-PROOF. Get it today. A sensation for clubs, lodges, night clubs Listen: CRAWFORD "Performers MUST read this or stages. Perform it ANYWHERE. This is not a book . . .One reading is worth more than 50-rehearsdream. But a thoroughly practical, workable, sensa- als." BOB WEILL. "A definite and valuable contributional effect in which you can build up a sensation. tion to the a r t of magic . . . A wonderful job." Nothing is required but that ingenious Dr. Ervin de- FRAZEE. "A splendid work." GUEST. "Not since 'Our vice It is all done in the MERE GESTURE OF j Magic' has anyone made an earnest effort to put the REACHING INTO A POCKET FOR A PACKAGE OF important side of magical performing in book form." CIGA.RETTES No stalling. FARRELLI, "I can recommend it with every confirpTTT7> TIT T T M ATTT dence and especially to professional magicians."

ERVIN'S BORROWED BILL IN CIGARETTE

ABSOLUTELY

1HE ULIIMAIU

PRICE $5 00 with ERVIN-FITZKEE instructions. I have exclusive sales rights. NOTE: NOT in the Ervin book.

After all that, we read it ourselves. It isn't half bad— i in fact we admit it's darned good. BUT IT ,DOES j TEACH MISDIRECTION as we understand it. I PRICE $2.50

FITZKEE, IS S3 43rd Ave., San Francisco, Califr Support Genii advertisers.

Thirty-five

Pacific Coast Magic News July, 1937

•

Vol.1, No. 11

Twenty-five Cents

GENII WILLIAM W. LARSEN WILLIAM TAYLOR FRANZ CHRISTENSEN MRS. WM. LARSEN

.

Editor and Publisher Assistant Editor Advertising Manager . Business Manager

GENII is published monthly by William W. Larsen, P. O Box 560, Pasadena. California. Ed'LOrml office, P. O. Box 560, Pasadena, California. Price in the United States ana Canada, $2.50 per year; twenty-five cents a copy. Elsewhere, $3.00 per year, thirty cents a copy. While manuscripts, photographs and drawings are submitted at the owner's risk, every effort will be made to return those found unsuitable, if accompanied by first-class postage, but we cannot be responsible for any loss of such matter contributed. Contributors are advised to retain copies of their contributions and to double space all articles submitted Printed in the United States of America, by the Bickley Printing- Company, Pasadena, California. All contributions and advertising matter must be received by the Editor by the 25th of the month preceding publication.

July, 1937

Vol. 1

IN I I I / I/XLC GENII SPEAKS

5

MAGIC

6

IDEAS OF LU BRENT

9

L. W. MAGIC

10

AMATEUR DEP'T.

12

STAGECRAFT

14

CHAPS CORNER

15

HOUDINI AND A NEW ACT

16

PAGING THE LADIES '

17

CONVENTION NEWS

18

CLUB REPORTS

23,

SCATTERED SHOTS

27

THRU THE MONOCLE

27

RIBBINS

28

MAGIC OF EAST

29

MAX & SKULLY

29

C. T. JR.

29

OVER THE COUNTER

30

CANDID SHOTS

30

TRICK REVIEWS

30

BOOK REVIEWS

31

BAGDAD

32

Four

No. 11

RENO QUARTET C. S. Leaf McManus, Bud L.the dirty work. If anything goes Beasley, Leo F. Schmitt, and Ed-wrong at Reno, if you lose your walward W. Chisin, better known as j let, if you get too drunk, if you get Mac, Bud, Leo and Ed, these are the rolled for your money, if you can't four horsemen of the Reno conven- date up the pretty brunette in room tion. They have nothing to sell, ex- 202, blame Bud. His shoulders are cept a swell time on July 20th, 21st, broad. He can take it! On the and 22nd. Between them they hold other hand, if you have a good time, the key to the "Biggest Little City in maybe it'd be a good idea to thank the World," or, as it is sometimes him. For he'll be responsible for known, "The Divorce Capitol of that, too. America." They know the mayor, Now then, Leo Schmitt and Ed the district attorney and the chief of Chism I don't know so well. The police. The town will be wide open | first is treasurer of the P. C. A. M. to magic through their efforts. and the second is second vice-presLeaf McManus, and how did such ident of the same body. The fact a guy ever get the good name that they were elected to such high "Leaf," which is distinctly Scanda- offices overcomes the fact that they navian, is the first vice-president of make their homes in that modern the P. C. A. M. He is the organ- sink of wickedness: Reno. It is writization's illusionist, though he finds ten that even Lot lived in Sodom it wise to make his money elsewhere. and, yet, escaped complete corrupI first met Leaf in Hollywood. He tion. said it was a nice town, but a little I've appreciated the checks that tame after Reno. During the last Schmitt has forwarded for P. C. A. year we have corresponded frequent- M. convention ads in Genii. If, at ly and I know that he is planning a the time of the Reno convention, he great convention. has any money left in the treasury, Bud Beasley knows magic, Arlene I'll do my best to get most of it. If Judge and what to do to make con- he can keep any of it, it will be sure ventions interesting. His news col- proof that he is a great magician. umns have been so entertaining that So gentleman, in the four corners I hope I can induce him to keep up are the four challengers; challengers the good work, even after Reno is a to all for the best convention ever to thing of the past. During the past be held in the West. Let's hope it year Bud has been P. C. A. M. sec- will be so. Good luck, gentlemen, retary, and, as a result, his has been all of you.

GENII

By Bill Taylor Out of the surge of the inconceivable appears another Genii—another slave of the lamp who, with the aid of his mystic wand, will usher you through the columns on page five. Your guide will not attempt to open new doors of thought but will strive to point out a few well-known facts that are worthy of meditation. You have, no doubt, noticed that some magicians play "up" to an audience, others there are who play "down," while still others seem to make more of a "level" contact with their audience. In considering this subject we will assume that the performer is capable of presenting magic. Let us interest ourselves with his presentation only. The man who plays "up" to his audience belittles magic as well as himself. He may know his effects and have a certain amount of confidence in himself but makes the mistake of rating his audience too highly. He proves this by being too solicitous, too eager to please. His manner is apologetic. We associate this type with the beginner and as a rule can rest assured that experience will help him to become better adjusted. The magician who plays "down" to his audience hurts himself. Mr. Average Spectator is quick to recognize this type and resent his superior attitude. He is likely to consider this man's magic as an affront to his intelligence and his response will be unappreciative. It is true that some such performers may attain success, not because of their attitudes but in spite of them. It is a great pleasure to watch a magician who has the human touch ; one who has a genuine sense of humor and mixes with it enough of the serious to give him light and shade. He places himself just a trifle above

the audience. He shows dignity but tempers it with smiles. He weaves a sort of a spell over you causing you, for the time being, to forget sound judgment and to believe that you are seeing natural laws disobeyed. That is magic and we do not see enough of it. When we are looking at a trick we are usually conscious of the certain moves necessary to bring about the effect. When these moves blend so perfectly that they pass unseen and the effect seems to just happen, we receive the thrill of magic. Many there are who have the ability to do this and also that "something" so essential in "putting it over." A friend of mine who happens to belong to one of the well-known service clubs in a near-by community called me up a short time ago and asked me if I would be a dinner guest of his at the club and if I would do a trick or two. He hastened to explain that there would be present a number of business men who were constantly on the look-out for entertainment and that this would give me an opportunity to show what I could do and should be worth my while. He went on to say that his club never paid for entertainment, etc. etc. It is an old line of approach and one that you have all heard. I have heard some magicrans express themselves as being absolutely opposed to anv such form of free entertaining. They hold the opinion that it does not pay to donate your services before a group who really can afford to give compensation. Other magi take the view that the more you can put yourself before the public and the more you display your wares, the more you popularize magic. They further contend that these service clubs do not have funds for entertainment but that their proceeds of profit go to charity. Enter-

tainers in other lines are many times asked to contribute their services. Opinions are divided on this subject. A proper charge for an engagement is another problem of magicians. Every man should charge all he is worth for his act. But how much is his act worth ? A performer just breaking in his act is certainly not to be compared with the finished artist. We know of one professional who plays schools for ten cents a head and another who puts on a real act for three dollars and a cup of coffee. On the other hand there is the man who sets his price too high, sells himself with a lot of super sales talk and presents a magical act that is a farce. Such a thing occurred in this territory some time ago. The chairman of the entertainment committee made the statement to one of our local magicians that his club would never again book a magician as the last one they had was so poor they finally requested him to leave the stage. Our local, who happened to be one of the best, replied that he was very sorry and to prove to this club that there was real entertainment in magic would be pleased to put on his act for them without charge to compensate for the damage incurred. In our humble opinion that is being a martyr to the cause. But the offending one still carrys on. The amateur who does his own booking is wise to learn full details of the date before he sets his price, being careful not to put it too low. The professional who books through an agent has his problems worked out for him. In this field there is much room for discussion. Our societies have worked on it for years and will continue to do so as long as judgment differs and we think that will be for a long time.

GENII

MAGIC die in box at a certain number. The hesitates, stops. At ten! Did you murfirst one with number one on top— der your mother-in-law at ten o'clock, the second one with number two on Sir? You did. Good. Congratulations. top and the third die with number And you. I spin the pointer "again. three on top. These added up will Hesitatingly it stops at four. That give a total of six, and this added to was the time you robbed the bank, the 21, which is the total of the num- wasn't it? Finally let us consider the By Loring Campbell bers on top and bottom of any three gentleman wearing the handcuffs: • dice will give you the 27. If you want the last one to take a card. Spin dial! This is a routine with several pieces to use some other numbers, say 31, It stops at three. Oh, don't deny it, of standard apparatus, that I have then place the three dice in box so Sir. I know you didn't commit a crime used many times and it always goes they will add up 10 and 10 and 21 at that time. However, I'll say nothover big, the routine as far as I know equal 31. I won't fully explain Mr. ing to your wife, even though it is the is original with me, as I have oeen Thayer's die box—if you have one or time you got home this morning." doing it for many years. Effect: know For this effect you will need the the secret—the above will be Magician hands someone a sealed enapparatus usually called the Hindu, velope to hold. He tells them that clear to you, and if you don't, you or Mystic, Clock Dial and, if you need this is a spirit message, then a single- can buy one for $1.50 (I believe this it, a pack of forcing cards, for a slate is examined and washed clean is the price), and then after you read three-way force. The dial may have on both sides by a spectator and is the secret it will be clear to you. the self-setting pointer, or the older stood against some object or magi- This is a good trick and I am sure if type. Either will do. The three cards cian's table. Next a small, round box you do it once, you will always use are forced, either by means of a forc(Elis die box, sold by Thayer) and it. ing pack, or by sleight of hand. Or, three dice are handed for examinaif you prefer, the cards may be freely tion. A spectator is asked to come chosen and glimpsed. However, in on the stage to assist the magician, the latter method it might be that he is handed a piece of chalk and is inappropriate cards would be selected, shown a small blackboard standing regarding which it might be difficult on magician's table, blackboard is to patter. If you do just glimpse the about 18 inches high and 12 inches cards, omit court cards from the wide, with a brace on the back of it, pack. Irving Joslyn so that it will stand erect. Magician • now takes the box ^.nd three dice, "Ladies and gentlemen: This glass places dice in box and places on cover, then he shakes the box and dial, numbered from one to twelve, removes the cover and lets spectator and the pointer which I hold, combine see the total of the three dice, he then to make one of the greatest of present tells spectator to write total on black- day crime detecting devices. Of board, this is done three times all course, we already have finger printBy Irving Joslyn three totals are written on black- ing, foot printing, ballistics and a • board, spectator is then told to add hundred other methods of establishthe three totals and it is, we will say ing the identification of criminals. This item may be used in either of 27, magician then asks the spectator But, thus far we have never had a two ways: as part of a cabinet seance, to open the sealed envelope. He device which would detect, not the or as an escape. A chair, of the comdoes and takes out a sheet of paper perpetrator himself, but the actual mon kind familiar to any old fashionand reads out loud: the total of three time at which the mis-deed was comed kitchen. It is the sturdy, fourmitted. For example, a bank is rob- legged kind, with a back consisting shakes of the dice will be 27, signed spirits. Magician then picks up the bed. But, was it robbed at nine at of four- or more, round pieces set into slate and says if the spirits are really night, or five in the morning? Too the back frame. Two lengths of rope present, they will have written some- frequently we cannot tell. So it was are brought forward One is about thing on the examined slate—he turns left to me, a magician, to furnish de- four yards long; the other about two. slate around and there in large num- tectives and police with the greatest The performer's legs are bound, to of modern contributions to crime de- the chair, with the lengthy piece, and bers is written 27. tection. a portion of it is brought up and tied SECRET: Any magician who has "Being a law abiding citizen, myself, about his body, so that his waist is read this far, will know the secret. I shall not ask any of you to actually fast to the chair back. The hands However, for those who shouldn't commit a crime in order that we may are then tied behind him, to the two know exactly, I will do a little ex- test out this device. Instead, I re- center rungs to the chair, the center plaining: I use a slate with a lock- quest that several of you pick cards of the rope being first looped several flap, but any flap-slate will do. Of times about the two rungs and then from this pack. When you have done course the spirit message is written so, I want you to remember the num- one end securely tied to each wrist. on paper and sealed in envelope be- ber on the card, then bury your card Nevertheless, an escape is made alfore. You must decide on a definite thoroughly in the pack. Now let us most immediately after the curtains number, any between 24 and 39 will presume that each of you three who of the cabinet are closed. Or, if part work. I take it for granted that you have chosen a card has committed a of a seance, the ghostly manifestaall know the secret of the Elis die box. crime, and the number on your card tions immediately begin. After box and dice are examined, I represents the hour of your moral The chair is prepared. Now, lest always take box first and then get lapse. You now understand? Then the dice one at a time and if I use let the dial speak for itself. I spin you are tempted to read no further, 27 on slate and message, I place each t h e p o i n t e r , s o . . . I t s l o w s d o w n , let me say it is a very simple job of preparing; a thing you can do your--

A Spirit Slate Test For Club Shows

The Detective Clock

Cabinet Chair Escape

GENII self regardless of the limitations of your tinkering ability. The secret is merely this: the whole back pulls out; that is, the rounds may be pulled free of the seat. The pull-out should not be too easy, that it may not be discovered. Indeed, the fit of the back rounds should be fairly tight. Thus it will be readily discerned that, even after the performer is tied, he may lift upward and disengage the entire chair back. And thus his hands may be slipped clear of the entire back. To be sure, he will not be free of his bond, for the knots will be intact, but he will have the slack to do just about as he pleases, whether it is to release himself fully, or to cavort about as a ghost, finally fitting the back into its place and showing all to be as it was before. Of course, if the reader is mechanically-minded he may improve on the above idea. He may fit up the chair so that only two of the rounds can be released, these to push upward into a wide chair top. However, for all practical purposes, the first version is entirely adequate.

for no purpose other than preventing the ink, and it must be filled with ink, from getting on the clothing. Borrow the bill and have the numbers remembered; the last three numbers. At this time they are not written clown; just memorized. Fold and roll the bill compactly. The rubber band keeps it secure. Apparently place it under the handkerchief, really bringing up to the center the hem enclosing the rolled paper and thumb palming the bill. The latter is done with the right hand. The left hand takes the handkerchief and holds it forth to the second spectator. Simultaneously the right hand goes to the trouser pocket and pushes the bill into the cap. The cap and bill are then palmed in the same hand and, as soon as the spectator has taken the handkerchief, the right hand goes to the upper right vest pocket and apparently removes the pen. Actually, the right hand lifts off the extra cap and brings the pen out, and into, the cap which already contains the bill. The motions of unscrewing the cap are now indulged in and it is fitted over the top end of the pen. The latter is handed the lender, together with the pad of paper, and he is asked to jot down the numbers which he memorized. Then the handkerchief is taken from the other spectator, flipped out, and the bill thus vanished. Of course, when the lender •ries to replace the cap over the pen point, in order to screw it on, it will not fit. At this juncture the discovery of the bill is made.

he says, turn the bag inside out, allowing the green silk to flutter toward the floor. Thus, by magician's logic, the spectator's wish has been complied with. If he said "green," the green silk remains. If he has said "red," the red silk has vanished. The reader will not appreciate the beauty of this trick unless he attempts it with the apparatus in hand.

Magical Meanderings By J. Mark Hall

Now that beer is back and, bette-yet, that it is put up in cans, it should nol be difficult to have a passe passe effect with a can of beer and r. small jiass of the same amber liquid. A shell can would be all that is required, plus two cardboard tubes of props" size. After that the working would be the same as in the passe passe bottle and glass effect. And, speaking in the same vein of thought, I have often wondered why some enterprising dealer doesn't make up a set of passe bottles that look like real bottles, instead of tin fakes, it By Stewart Hanley should not be hard, and the sail A bill, of any denomination, limited should be good. But then, the idea of only by the affluence of the lending making up a changing canister to look spectator, is borrowed, folded lengthlike a small thermos botile was good, wise, rolled into a compact parcel and, too. But all the dealers overlooked finally, secured with a rubber band. that one. How about it, Percy AbHowever, the lender is first required bott, Max Holden and Floyd Thayer? to note the "- - - - last three numbers Patter for the rope trick: cowboys on the bill." The bill is placed, in its used to tie their lariats in a loop and rolled up position, in the center of a sleep in the center to prevent snakes pocket handkerchief, which latter is from bothering them. One night, in given another spectator to hold. Now rattler country, the villian cuts the the performer removes his fountain i ope, hoping thus to permit the snake pen from his pocket, unscrews the co kill the cowboy. But the latter cap, fits the cap over the upper end, knew a bit of magic. Just at the By Dale Williams as usual, gives the pen to the specIn a recent trick combination, I de- crucial moment as the rattler was tator who parted with the bill and sired to vanish one of two large silks. stealthily approaching, he caused the asks him to write down the numbers The silks were almost a yard square. rope to become joined. Thus the on the bill which he has noted. When snake, and Mr. Villian, were foiled. One was red and one green. The red this has been done, the handkerchief had to vanish, theoretically be- The cowboy married the boss' daughis shaken out and the bill is gone. The one a spectator chose it so. No part ter and finally fell heir to the bar-X lender is requested to replace the cap cause the trick presented any difficulty, ranch. on the pen. However, he finds diffi- of the idea which I actually, finally, Card is selected. Spectator is asked culty in so doing. An examination yet may be worth passing on to to write its' name on a slip of paper, proves that there is an obstruction in used Genii readers. Although I am de- with a pencil. Then he is handed a the cap. The obstruction is, of course, scribing vanish with two large rubber eraser, of school type, and told the borrowed bill, which may be silks andthe a large size changing bag, to erase his writings. He does, and checked against the numbers! smaller silks, and the small size bag. the name of the card is found written in pencil along the under side of the For performance, the magician will will do as well. require the following: a handkerchief In the beginning both sides of the eraser. You know the answer. The prepared with a piece of folded paper bag are empty. The bag is turned in- card is forced. It's name has been in the hem, a fountain pen with two side out, then replaced. Turn the written on the eraser long in advance caps, a small pad of paper and a few handle so that the half circle of wire of performance. As Chapman would say, "- - - a quick trick." lubber bands. The pen may well be, is mid-way in the bag, i. e. so that You can have your own wrappers, and, indeed, should be, of the dime both compartments of the bag are acstore variety; thus the extra cap cessible. Now tuck the red silk into cellophane, put on the nickel cigars won't cost much. No duplicate bill one portion and, just as the last of it which your home town cigar maker is needed, for the one borrowed is is well in, complete the turn of the puts out. And he can have anything you wish printed on the wrapper. So, the one which actually, thanks to a handle, thus secreting the red silk "bit of doing," appears in the cap. in the closed portion. Immediately buy a few boxes and have the followIn the beginning the latter is in the begin stuffing the green silk into the ing printed on the wrappeis: You took the ten of hearts. Hoping you right trouser pocket, open end upper- bag. most. The pen is in the upper, right Ask that a spectator name either like the trick and enjoy the smoke, Sincerely, Your name." Force the vest pocket, the cap atop it loosely, color: red or green. No matter what Seven

Capping The Bill

With A Changing Bag

GENII ten of hearts, hand out a cigar and there you have it! What? Publicity! If you are a big magician, use fifty cent cigars. And the above gag isn't a bad idea for use with pencils. Write the Eagle people. While on the subject of pencils, after doing the rising pencil on hand, go into the "rubber pencil" routine: where the pencil appears limp when waved in the hand. The foregoing is a nice introduction to any trick wherein there is to be some writing. Finally, did you know that the best of all paper for billet tests is that torn from the five cent pads that kids use in school. It can be secretly opened, when such procedure is necessary, with no noise at all. Try it and see.

And There Was The Watch -

fusal. He offers a quarter in cash or a five hundred dollar check. Refusal. Finally, he twists the neck of the paper bag, thus enclosing the balloon therein and offers it to the spectator —"—even if the baby can no longer listen to the ticking of your watch, Sir, he can play with the balloon." Refusal, again, and more argument. Finally, enraged at the lender's lack of reasonable cooperation, the performer tells him that he will give him nothing at all; not even the balloon. With that he sticks a pin thru the bag and punctures the balloon. The lender looks in and there, in the bag, is the watch. Surely it was in the balloon all the time. This idea is based upon a trick appearing in one of Will Goldston-s recent books. However, the working is greatly simplified, and I am sure those who attempt it, injecting, of course, their own ideas, will like it.

Telepathotype

By Ralph Carey

I have always been interested in "The Broken Watch" trick. This, for two reasons: first, I associate the effect with the late Herrmann and therefore it has intrinsic value; second, I find that every audience enjoys the discomfiture of a fellow spectator who suffers helplessly while his cherished property is being destroyed. However, though I have found no difficulty in saving ou,t the borrowed watch and smashing up a dummy, I have found it hard to discover a suitable method of restoring it. Working, as do I, without an assistant, I can't load it behind flower bushes., I care little for the non-assistant nests of boxes. I won't drop it in a loaf of bread for fear of the effect of bread crumbs on main springs. And, as for picking an hundred dollar watcn out of a glass of milk, even though it comes from behind—well, it is just too much! The owner would really have a right to be annoyed. Hence the following. The watch is borrowed, palmed and the dummy substituted. In this use your own method: the silk stocking described in Hoffmann's Later Magic, and effectively used by Chapman, the first part of Grant's Blue Ribbon routine, a watch mortar, or any other idea. After the substitution, a paper bag, which has been folded and lying on the table, is opened. In so doing the borrowed watch is placed inside. The bag, opened, is set upright on the table. A toy balloon is blown up and placed inside, over the borrowed watch. After a thorough, apparent, breaking up of the watch, the pieces are collected, placed in a blunderbuss, or double handkerchief ana vanished. The performer regrets the failure of

the experiment. He offers the lender the gun in place of the watch. ReBight

By Judson S. Brown •

The experiment to be described below embodies an entirely new and subtle principle for gaining possession of words, numbers, or letters which have been written by members of an audience. Although there are several drawbacks involved, it serves as an excellent publicity stunt for newspaper or agent's offices. Don't be discouraged when you learn that the writing must be done on a typewriter, for in spite of the fact that every magician does not have one, there will be many occasions when he will find himself in a home or office where a typewriter is handy. Properly presented, the effect is very good and will fool any one who is ignorant of the underlying principle to be described. In my own presentations or the trick I have used the following patter scheme: "Whenever one sends a telegram nowadays, the message is not sent to its destination by tapping out a code message on a single key as in the early days of telegraphy, but is transmitted by means of a more efficient syste mknown as *eletpye. With this system the operator simply types out the message on a kind of electrical typewriter and the words are automatically tarnsmitted to their proper destination. It occured to me one day that it might be even more convenient if one could accomplish the result without bothering to use wires and electrical typewriters. In short, why not do It by mental telepathy?" After an introduction of this sort the magician produces a few white calling cards, or borrows two, and

proceeds with the effect. A typewriter with the usual cloth cover is

used, the cover being left on. A person is selected from the audience to do the typing, and after one or the blank cards has been inserted into the machine and centered, the subject types any fairly short word, name, or series of numbers. In doing so, the cover of the machine is pushed back sufficiently to expose the keys but not so much that the card is exposed. When this is done the magician steps over to the typewriter and reaching up under the cover removes the card face down and without looking at the card hands it to a spectator to pocket. Now the magician picks up another white card, and after showing it to be unprepared inserts it into the typewriter and instantly writes exactly the same word or number written by spectator. Nothing is feked, no glimpses are made, and no preparation is needed. The basic principle which makes this effect possible is the fact that ^vords written by a typewriter having a fairly new black ribbon may be transferred very easily to one's thumb and from thence on to another piece of paper. The ease with which this may be accomplished, and the clarity of the transferred impression is quite astonishing. One must be careful, however, that the writing is not done with a ribbon that prints faintly. In the actual working of the trick it is important that the small card used by the spectator is centered in the machine in such fashion tnai the word when written will lie exactly in the center of the card. Then when the magician reaches up under the cover to remove the card it is quite easy to press the center of the card tightly between thumb and foreginfer and gain a good impression of the word on the ball of the thumb. When the card is pulled out into view it is held by the edges and handed immediately to another spectator, the magician keeping his head turned away all of the while. After showing the second card to be quite unprepared the magician can press his thumb against the back of the card and leave thereon a clear impression of the written word. This he can read quite naturally while inserting the card into the machine. The rest is easy. This principle can be utilized in many different ways. The victim can type the word in the center of the card, hand it to the magi behind his back, and then be amazed when the magi reads it after sneaking a look at his thumb. It can be done with several people as a living and dead test, with the dead name appearing on the outside of the proper envelope as a misty reproduction of the original. Or it can be worked in the dark with the aid of a shaded pencil

flashlight. At all events, I hope you like the idea.

GENII the table. NOTE: This effect can be just as well presented while standing up at the Bar or table, of course your angles and moves are SLEIGHTLY changed to suit the occasion, the glass of course, is stolen in this case and produced from under someone's coat during the surprise production of the lemon.

with the rabbit is placed into the box which should have a hole in the lid. The tied end of the bag is pulled through this hole. The performer utters a magical word or two, then of idle moments pulls the entire bag up out of the By Lu Brent hole. The rabbit has vanished. Now to prove that such is the case the performer carries the box to another table which is undraped, tips over the box and proves it's emptiness. Of Wherein a glass (tumbler), lemon course the noisy fellows will eventuand a coin play havoc with your unally figure that the rabbit was left in suspecting onlookers, truly a magical Remember the method used where the draped table, now all the pergem for the close-up or table-worker. an Ace of Hearts is covered with two former has to do is to return to this The performer commences by first other Aces in a manner where Ace table and take it all apart. This idea forming a sheet of paper around the of Hearts looks like an Ace of Dia- is credited to U. P. GRANT. glass (a-la-glass through table man- monds? Well, this little dodge is ner). After this is done place a coin worked with this effect. Show four on the table and cover it with the Aces and then mix them up so that paper-covered glass. Now state that your victim will not know the paryou will cause the coin to vanish ticular order which they run, keep from under the glass. While saying face of the cards toward yourself. this, place both hands into your pock- Now state that you will lay the Ace that the advent of Volume Two ets (Right pocket contains the lemon). of hearts to one side for the time of Now Genii is close at hand, may we After a few choice magical words being, so saying, you really discard make the following announcements pick up the glass with the left hand the Ace of Hearts without anyone which may be of interest to our readand then transfer it to the right di- seeing the face of this card. Now to ers: rectly over the lemon which you have prove that you have actually laid the 1. In volume two will appear a new palmed out as in the cup and ball Ace of Hearts aside you will show Wright-Larsen series, originally steal. The coin has not vanished and them (or him) the other three Aces, prepared for The Sphinx, but which the performer looks somewhat dis- but in such a manner as to obviously has never been published. It is mayed over this procedure. Tne audi- indicate that you are employing an material which was held back by Wm. Larsen after the death of ence? - - - well, I suppose they'll old dodge known to even school chilPage Wright. guffaw a bit over the failure of the dren and grown ups as well. (Keep Magicians powers, however, he is de- the Ace of Diamonds covered in exact 2. In Volume two will appear a series termined to try again. The glass with manner as that of the method menentitled "Pipes of Pan," originally the lemon is placed on the table away tioned above). Surely your audience planned by Wm. Larsen for book publication. In this series the from the coin. The performer states will bite on this, but pay no attenword "Pan" has its own peculiar that he will attempt to pass the coin tion to them for the time being. Turn significance. up through the table and under the the three cards face downwards and glass it will be found if successful. withdraw the Ace of Diamond and 3. In volume two. columns by Harry Pick up coin and place under table, in place it on the other side of Ace of Mendoza, Max Holden, L. O. Gunn, Dr. Edw. Saint, Frank Chapman doing so drop the coin into the crotch Hearts, then show the two Black Aces and others, including the infamous of lap, then bring out the hand from placing them aside. Now state that C. T., will be continued. under the table and show hand empty, you will cause the two red Aces to the coin has apparently made it's change places, well there's no use to 4 In volume two Lloyd Jones will penetration. The performer raises mention here what will take place by keep up with the latest books while Charles W. Pricke will judge the the glass with the left hand, but to way of words. They will all say that latest tricks. The latter column the surprise of everyone a lemon is you placed the Ace of Diamonds on the will be a leal magical innovation. seen instead of the coin. Now while table first and then through the old all eyes are centered on the lemon dodge you have tried to convince that 5 In volume two, Arthur C. Spratt, the glass is allowed to slip out of it's you retained the Ace of Hearts and editor of the Amateur Department of the Sphinx, under the late Dr. paper covering into the lap. Now that you have wasted your efforts. A. M. Wilson, will continue to conplace this paper form to one side of You are not dismayed over this good duct the Amateur Department of lemon, but hold on to the form with naturedly rebuke, for you turn the Genii. left hand to prevent a spread away tables on the audience and still at the bottom. Pick up the lemon change the position of the two red 6. In volume two we promise the reader at least a hundred tricks, with right hand and pretend to pa.ss Aces. You'll like this, try It. created by the best known magic it into the covered glass from the top. writers and i n v e n t o r s in the The same hand (right) which conworld. Likewise, news, notes, club tains the lemon SMACKS down the reports, scandal, politics, ads, edicovered glass—WOW!—the lemon torials and sundry other material. and glass went right through the THEREFORE Here is a sucker rabbit vanish table where you immediately proceed Subscribe now to Genii, volume two, which I am sure would prove very efto bring out the glass first, next the lemon from under the table. The fective. And you use nothing else but beginning September, 1937. Price, U. S. and Canada—?2.50 per trick is practically ended. Now in the old tip-over-box. The following the meantime locate the coin is self explained. The box is setting year. Price in foreign countries—$3.00 per somewhere in your lap and palm it on a draped table, a rabbit is placed and as if by after-thought produce it into a grocers paper bag, mouth of year. GENII, Box 560, from under the crushed paper now on bag is gathered up and tied, The bag Address: Pasadena, California.

I DE

AS..

Magical Melange

A Sucker Ace Trick

Important Announcement

A Sucker Rabbit Trick

Wine

GENII

L. >V. A4 A e I C T. Page Wright and William Larsen

Modern Card Sleights Continuing a Series By the late T. Page Wright and William W. Larsen COLOR CHANGES The color change is more or less to be considered as a fancy flourish with cards, yet a smoothly worked change is genuine, beautiful and magical in effect. A number of such sleights already exist, yet we feel that these additions to the number should be welcome, for two reasons. First, a single color change is hardly important enough in effect to be worked by itself, and in a routine of color changes it is desirable to keep altering the method, and, second, color change moves occasionally prove useful in unexpected connections, in various experiments. We say that in a routine or color changes it is desirable to keep changing the method; it is equally desirable to give variety to the effect. The basic effect is the same every time, of course, but variations, such as with the Rising Change or the double changes to be hereafter desoribed, keep the series of changes from becoming monotonous. Apropos of routines, we *nay remark that we have frequently worked the series of changes to be hereinafter described as a routine in just the order that we give them, for close up work, carrying the routine up through the double changes. We then finish with a change that we may as well describe at this point—a change that we have found to be the most effective possible for twse up -worn, for it is color change while the wrists are being held by a spectator. For this purpose, we do not use a new sleight, but rely upon the standard side steal color change sleight, by the by, which we believe to be the most perfect of regulation changes, and one which forms the foundation, as will be discovered, for some of our elaborations. Though the sleight has been several times described, we will briefly give our handling of it for this usage. The deck is held face up on the left palm. The right hand takes it, grasping the cards by the ends between the base of the thumb and the first and second joints of the Ten

first finger, but holding the cards at the extreme right corners, so that the whole face of the pack remains exposed. The apparent reason tor shifting the cards from one hand to the other is to permit the left hand to be shown empty. Now the right hand is turned over, and the palm also shown empty. The right hand is then turned palm downward, and as the spectator is told to grasp the wrists, the deck is replaced in the left hand. In so doing, however, it is slid over the left fingers and these press upon the back card of the deck, shoving it out and into the right palm. The whole movement is perfectly natural and smooth even at closest range. The wrists are held, though with sufficient looseness to permit the magician to pass his right hand over the face of the deck. The palmed card is deposited thereon, and the right nand smoothly moves away and turns over, being disclosed empty as the face card of the deck is seen to have changed. In short, the change is no more difficult when the wrists are held than when they are not. And yet, in this form, the magician has a change unequalled for use as a single transformation, and adequate to climax any routine of close-up changes. In working this change for a group of any size, it should be done as follows: the performer steps behind an assisting spectator—preferably a boy —and places his arms around him, so that the performer's hands are in front of the boy's body, at about his waist. The boy is told to grasp the magician's wrists, and the change is worked as usual. With the deck held in this position, everyone can see the transformation, and so the sleight shows up effectively, even upon a stage. A RISING CHANGE A card is removed from the deck, shown and laid upon the left palm, face down. The hand is turned so that the back of it is to the audience, and the right hand rubs the back of it, causing the card to rise out of the left hand, changing as it does. This is admittedly merely a combination of two well-known moves, but the effect is none the less out of the ordinary for a change and pretty. The deck is held face down In the left hand. The right hand lifts off the two top cards as one, and shows the face, holding them at one end, ball of thumb on the face of the cards and first and second finger tips on the back. This done, the performer makes a turn to the left to lay the deck upon

a convenient table or chair. Under cover of the turn the two cards are brought over the deck, and the face card of the two invisibly dropped thereon as it is placed down. This leaves the performer holding a single card in his right hand, the back of it to the spectators, and the change already accomplished. This card Is placed face down on the lett palm. Fingers and thumb hold it in place as the hand is turned over, so that back of it is to the spectators. The palm hides the card sufficiently so that the change cannot yet be seen. Now the right hand is brought over to rub the back of the left hand. Under its cover the left thumb is brought down so that its tip can be placed under the end of the card, and the card is pushed upward through the hand by the thumb. As it appears at the top of the fist, it is seen to have changed. The right hand removes it from that position and the hands are seen otherwise empty. For stage use, or use at any little distance, the change can be as well accomplished without the use of the deck. Two cards are held as one, and shown. Then, in laying the double card on the left palm, the position of the two is secretly reversed, by any regular change sleight. Now the other card is at the face, and the rising move is also worked with the double card, for the two will stay together well enough so that at a few yards the duplexity of the "card" cannot be detected. In fact, a whole routine of changes can be just as well worked in this manner, from the stage, apparently with only one card, for two or three can be held squared together throughout the routine without difficulty. THE NEW BOTTOM CHANGE The effect of this is as the regulation color change: the card on the face of the deck is changed by passing the right hand across it. It is one of the few changes, however, in which there is no steal from the back of the deck. The deck is held out in the left, thumb at one side and fingers at the other. The left thumb secretly releases the two bottom cards at the side. The right hand grasps them as one by the ends, showing them as the card to be changed, lifting them slightly away from the deck, and replacing them so that they overlap the other cards by about half their width, extending from the lower side. In this position the left thumb holds them against the deck. The left fingers rest against the back of the rear card

GENII of the two. The right hand, shown empty, covers the projecting cards. Simultaneously the left thumb draws the face cards of the two flush with the pack while the left fingers push the other card irto the right palm. The right hand slides slightly down, until the card it grasps is free or the pack, and then it is passed across the rtack in an upward direction, depositing the palmed card thereon, causing the change. This change has the advantage that before making it, the performer can show the top card of the deck, and the card next to the bottom (he actually having lifted away the two bottom cards as one) proving that he does not switch either of these for the rard at the face of the deck in making the change. Of course no reference to a switch should be made in the patter, but an ostensible reason for showing top and bottom cards should not be hard to find.

separates the two face cards slightly from the rest at the upper end. The right thumb pulls them away from the other cards, and the left little finger retains the break, keeping them separated. The right hand can thus grasp them at the upper index corner, holding them at the extreme corner, thumb on the face and first and second figner tips at back. The left thumb is permitted to lie on the face of the cards. Now the whole deck is raised until about on a level with the performer's chin, thus bringing the backs of the cards to the audience. At the same second, the card at the face of the" deck is apparently slid away in the right hand. Actually the left tnumb on the face of the card retains it on the deck, and it is the card second from the face which the right hand grasps by the corner. The apparent purpose of bringing the cards up is to permit the performer to blow on the face of the card he has just taken from the deck. Then, as it is slowly turned over to disclose the fact that it has changed, the deck with the left hand is permitted to drop to the side, and for a second pass out of sight behind the leg, where the one hand pass is made to bury in the center the card previously seen.

The feature of this color change is that the face of the pack is never covered by the right hand, even for a second, in stealing the card from the pack. It is evidently a variation of an earlier change, described in Hatton and Plato's Magicians' Tricks, from which it differs only in the above point, but this is the one element which makes it worthy of performance. THE PROJECTING CARD CHANGE

This original card transformation is very startling, as it is instantaneous. A card is placed so that it projects from one end of the deck for about two-thirds of its length. Its face is clearly visible, yet it is made to change by merely brushing the hand across it. The performer stands with his left side to the audience, holding the deck in his left hand with the backs of the cards to the spectators. Tne right hand takes two cards as one, from the top or bottom' of the pack, and A SIMPLE BOTTOM CHANGE thrusts them in one end, at about the This color change requires no palmcenter, so that they project aDout twoing, and the change apparently takes thirds of their longth. The rignt nlace while the card is held far from hind remains touching the cards, with the deck. their ends lying along the base of the The pack is held in the left hand as right fingers. Now the magician usual, thumb to one side and fingers makes a half turn, which will bring at the other, thumb side uppermost bis right side to the audience, and at and cards facing out. The left thumb the same time expose the face of the secretly releases the two bottom cards THE TWIST COLOR CHANGE card projecting from the pack. In the at the side. The right hand grasps The originator of this move is un- action, however, the front card of the them by this same side, between first known to us. It is simple in theory, two is bent down over the face of the and second fingers on the face and but requires pack, by the right hand, which is thumb on the back, and the two cards neat working.considerable practice for drawn clown so that it completely being grasped as one and lifted slightThe deck is held upright in the left hides the pack itself, but leaves rely awav from the face of the CIPCK, vealed, beyond the finger tips, the but with the lower side still resting hand, face to the spectators, between fingers on one side and thumb on the proiecting card. Thus It Is ttie race against the left fingers, which touch the face of the card. A half turn is other. The tip of the little finger of the rear card of the two wmcn the made to bring the left side of the rests on the back of the top card, be- audience sees. The other is comperformer—and the backs of the cards hind the pack. The right hand, held pletely hidden by the right hand. —to the audience. Simultaneously palm upward, is brought up under the Now all that is necessary is to brush the right hand apparently lifts away pack so that the end of the deck rests the right hand rapidly upward over the bottom card of the deck. Ac- on the tips of the fingers. The cards the projecting card, when the front are at right angles to the fingers, so one of the two cards will snap back tually it draws off the card second from the bottom—the back one of the that if permitted to fall forward, they into place and completely hide the double card—the face card being re- would land face downward on the other. As the two cards were placed right palm. in as one, they will now be squared tained in position bv the pressure of The left, little finger presses the up and will again appear as one, and the left fingers. Keeping backs of the cards to the spectators, the per- rear card of the deck down against the projecting card seems to have former announces that he will change the right fingers. At the same time changed. the right hand twists around, turning this ace of hearts (or whatever the During the sleight, the left hand face card of the deck chanced to be). over so that it is with its back to the holds the deck by the sides, between He again faces the audience squarely, audience. In the action the rear card tip on one side, and the tips and rubs this single card against his is palmed off into the right hand, as thumb of the second, third and little fingers follows: the left, little finger presses knee. It is then turned over to reon the other. The left forefinger is veal the change. But as this hap- the end of the card against the right held doubled up against the back of pens, the left hand, with the pack, is fingers in the position it will be in the pack. It arches the pack outheld out of the way behind the back, when the card is palmed, and then slightly, which helps to cause and a one handed cut or pass is made, holds it in that position, so that as ward front one of the two cards to so that when the deck is again the right hand turns the card is press- the spring up into place instantaneously, brought forward, the card which was ed off the deck and into the palm. and also ensure that the two will reoriginally s h o w n and apparently main pressed together as one after changed is now buried safely in the the change. This double "card" can center of the deck, out of sight. now be pushed down into the deck, or, under cover of withdrawing the We have another handling of the front card of the two, the rear one cards, in working this change, which can be slid down square with the some may prefer. We will give Both, rest of the pack, enabling tlie card and leave choice to the individual. which has just changed to be tossed The deck is held directly in front out into the audience without any of the body, face out, in the left hand. duplicity being discoverable. The right hand is brought over it, and Eleven

GENII

EDITED

By

C. S P C 4 T T

ST. JOSEPH, MO.

ERVIN ASKS? BY THE WAY: An apology is first clue Mr. Chas. How many of you recall— Billy and "Dot" Robinson. Maly, for dubbing him "Henry" in Del Adelphia's bird cage vanish. our department last month. Where Larry Crane's egg bag. I ever received such a mental wave, Olivette, the man in black. I cannot say, unless I had haa a drink Albini's vocabulary. too much the evening I wrote it. The Ernest Evangeline publicaHowever, he is coming through St. Joseph soon, and I am going to pry tions, by Fred Singleton. Henry Clive's (stage) card force. him loose from some subtle magic for The Sharrock's rapid fire code. our 'lil ole department'. Frank Van Hoven's ice. Friend Ross is back from his vacaHerman Weber's classy chautauqua tion. Had a good time he says, but act. Dai Vernon did not make it. HowDe Jen's repeated hat loads; with a ever, I believe if one of us could have listened in on the sessions he had tossed up onion for misdirection. Owen Clark's thumb-tip coin prowith Paul Fox, we would possibly say "There is something new, under duction. Hugh Johnston's card pass—that the sun." fooled Houdini. Another error comes to my attenHarry Louine's clever coin act. tion in last month's Department, in That Howard Thurston was an Dr. Ervin's article, second paragraph: ardent in spiritualism, and it says "The wand itself was con- consultedbeliever a certain medium frequentstructed entirely of paper, welded— ly. and here is the mistake, that last Or Doc Wilson's "out" sign that word should have been weighted; in- sometimes prevaricated. stead of welded. Well if you do, you are welcome to A Prince "Budda" is playing at a the old timers club. local night spot with magic and punch show. His magic is pretty sloppy. IMPROVED "CARD PENETRATION However, his punch act was very MYSTERY" well done, and I understand he is beBy Vernon Cook ing held over another week. Met him (With apologies to Chris Van Bern) after the show and he seems to be a In reading that interesting English pretty nice fellow; pretty cle,ver with book, "Mysteries of the Mystic Sevcards at a table. en," I was very much impressed with Our local club had a gooa write-up Mr. Bern's trick, but desiring a betin a local paper, photograpn and ter presentation, without using duplicate cards and glasses, I have evolved everything. You will notice we have a new con- the following effect which is very tributor this month, in the person of easy to work, and is a good one to Mi-..Wm. Meyers, 1303 Coy Ave., work on magicians, I recommend that Saskatoon, Sask., Canada. He gives it be used for small gatherings and us a new slant on the "Disappearing clubs for reasons which you will unSpots." We might use this idea when derstand later. The only sleight I we see spots, after a too generous use is the pass, and no palming of cards are used. indulgence in "Fizzes." Our good friend Vernon Cook, of EFFECT: Two sheets of plain Box 41, Sheridan, Wyo., still is stand- glass 8" by 10" are shown to be withing by the ship, and thank the good out preparation and fastened togethLord. Don't know what I would do er with rubber bands around the four without you Vernon. And I mean it sides, they are now placed in a small too. siaad and they remain in full view Well boys, I am going to take in the throughout the rest of the trick. A pack of envelopes are handed convention of the Peoria Magicians Assembly, in October, and 1 surely out for some to select one, seal it and will try to beg plenty of ideas for then wirite their name aci'ss-j the the department. However, don't let fiont, two sir.all stickers a n placed that stop you from sending in your en the envelope and these slickers are moistened and stuck on the front ideas. WE NEED THEM. Enough of this chatter, and on with of the bheets of glass. Next, a pack of cards is uandcd out the show, for after all that's why we bought tickets to this "Genii," so un- lor someone to select one and wnie tneir name across the front, this card til next month, is now returned to the pack and the Adios, spectator places it in coat pocie', the "ART" Twelve

magician now picks up the sheers 'if glass and shows it all around, then replaces it in the stand. The magician now states he will cause the spectator's card lo leave the pack and reappear in the envelope which is fastened on the sheets of glass, the spectator now looks through the pack for his card but it has vanished, the magician now informs his audience that to cause the card to reappear in the envelope would be rather old-fashioned, he will cause it to reappear BETWEEN the sheets of glass. The magician now tears the envelope off of the glass and sure enough there is the identical card which the spectator had chosen and marked by writing his name across the face. MATERIALS USED: Two sheets of glass, 8" by 10", four rubber bands, one-half inch wide and three inches long, stand to hold glass. This I made by cutting a slot in a piece of board, this board should be 12" long, 2" high, and 2" wide, the slot should be 1%" deep and nails should be driven across the slot for reasons stated below, four nails will do. I should say that the slot should be about ^-inwide. Two pieces of celluloid, 1-16 in. thick, Va-in. wide, 1%-in. long, a pack of cards, a tray, and two tables, these can be anything handy, and last but not least some invisible white wax. PREPARATION: First, a small portion of the white wax is placed on the wide edge of one of the sheets of glass, about two inches from each end, now the pieces of celluloid are fastened to this glass by aid of the wax. The two sheets are now laid on the table, with the pieces of celluloid up, this is to keep them from being brushed off. Now; a very small dab of the wax is placed on the tray on the bottom, near the back edge, the stand is placed on the front of the tray, behind it covering the wax, is placed the envelopes, off to the side are the cards. I should have said that the pieces of celluloid should be left protruding over the edge of the glass, about one-half inch. One table or stand should be right in front of spectators and the other well back. WORKING: The two sheets of glass are picked up and casually shown, the celluloid will be invisible. They are now placed lengthwise in the stand with the celluloid up, the rubber band is now snapped around the upper side, this will hold the sheets together and the celluloid.

GENII pieces will be an invisible wedge, now these pieces are turned over and the ends, bound by the first rubber band, will be in the slot. The nails and the extra depth of the slot will keep the celluloid pieces intact, the other ends are fastened with the other bands and in the end, the wedged sides are up. The stand is left on the tray and with the other pieces of appsualus, are now brought forward and placed on the other table or stand. Now, picking up the pack of cards and bringing them forward to have one choose and initial, or sign it, when the card is replaced in the pack, it is brought to the top of the pack, the pack can be false shuffled if desired. At this point we will have to return to the place where we have just fastened the sheets together, the performer now hands out the envelopes for someone to select one and it is sealed and marked, and then fastened on the front of the glass, by the aid of the stickers and now this brings us back to the point where tne card is on top, the pack is now placed clown, face up over the small da)) of wax on the tray, the glasses are now picked up and shown all around, they are replaced in the holder and the cards picked up (the wax holds the chosen card on the tray; Hidden by the stand), and the spectator places the cards in his pocket. The performer now picks up the tray in his left hand and carries it back to the rear table, as soon as his back is turned, picks up the card in his right hand and inserts the card between the sheets of glass where it will fall down and be hidden by the envelope. The magician rests his hands casually on top of the sheets of glass for a moment and when he removes them, he takes the pieces of celluloid away and the rubber bands close the opening.

"DISAPPEARING SPOTS" By Wm. Meyers

Everyone is no doubt familiar with (lie trick known as the "Disappearing Spots •' In the effect, four Kings change to four Aces and then all change to blank cards. The trick toiiM-ts of six cards. A blank, an Ace of Spades, a King and three trick-printed cards. Look up your set and try the following method of presenting it, it is really very effective. (Hue the blank and the King together, back to back. Place this double card, blank side clown, second from the bottom of the face-down packet. The AV ce of Spades is on the bottom. Now count these five cards as four cards, use the false count a-ia Six Caul Repeat Trick. At the completion of the count, you will have the Ace of Spades in the left hand, it is returned to the bottom of the packet. Now take the packet in the left hand, h.ld it upright in front of the body, with the back of the packet towards the spectators. And with the right tingers, lift the Ace of Spades upward, move it forward and downward to the back of the packet, but do not shove it Lush with the packet, leave it's end projecting above the end of the packet for about half an inch, and count one. Shift two more cards to the back of the packet, counting two and three. The blank is now on the face of the packet, you do HOI shift this caid, but instead shift the Ace of Spades to the face of the packet, and count four. The cards are now back in their original order. At this point jou turn so your right side will be towards the spectators, and spread the cards tanwise and display them as four Aces, keeping the blank squared behind the Ace of Spades. Announce to the spectators, "In a game ot Bridge, four Aces held in one hand, at no trump, is a hundred and fifty for Honors." Close the fan and The magician now explains what he shift the blank to the face of the intends to do, and when the pack is packet. Open and display as four blanks, and say, "I pass." The Ace run through, the card will have been of Spades, is of course held squared found to have vanished, and it will be found between the sheets of glass. behind the blank and covers the King glued to the back of the blank which NOTES FOR EASIER WORKING: it possible this time to show If you will file off one or tne edges makes the back of the fan. Again close the of each of the sheets, you will find And now say. "Of course if that it will be easier to insert the fan. rather have picture cards, why card on account of the small funnel- you'd we can give you the*j too." And at shaped opening. the same time that you say the fir.At first I used seals to fasten the half of the sentence, turn with your sheets together, but it took up too lett side towards the spectators and deal the Blank-King card into the much time and besides it is toomussy and you get your fingers soiled. The lirst and second fingers, King-side towards the spectators, the whole senrubber bands enable you to get rid tence has of course been said by now. of the fekes. Lay the card on the slanting face-up packet, King-side up, and then turn A small dab of wax just below the center of the panes of glass will keep the packet end for end. Bring your right side towards the spectators the card from falling down too far. a^ain, and spread the cards and disI would appreciate hearing from play them as four Kings. Show the back of the fan cf cards, close the fan anyone, who will try this out and and return the cards to your vest let me know their impression. I have pocket. The cards supplied in the had good results from it.

cheap sets are somewhat flimsy and should be reinforced by gluing them to the faces of ordinary cards. THE

RAID

By Fred Rickard

"A short way from town, where I I lived, there was a two room shack which, I have often heard tell, was used for gambling purposes. Indeed, the story goes, a crap game went on there. My, my! That such things should be. Fortunate am I, tonight, to be able to tell you the entire tale, and, moreover, to demonstrate the matter. The large dice which I hold is one of the pair of dice which was used in the game. It is big, I grant, but so were the gamblers. 'Twas not a petty game, by any means. I have also a replica of the two room shack. You see it here. "Most of the time the gambling went on in the north room. I place the die in the north room, so! Before beginning the game, all the aoors, indeed, even the skylights, were closed. Then, "oft in the stilly night" was heard the rattling of bones; not human bones, but African dominoes galloping floorward in their race for sevens and elevens. In time, after forty years, the noise reached the police. "A raid was rapidly decided upon. Two squads of policemen left the station. They arrived at the tworcom shack. 'Open up' they said, 'in the name of the law.' No answer. They again knocked and pounded and shouted. Soon the door and skylight opsneel. There was nothing there. Not to be outdone, the police rushed to the other door. 'Open up' they cried. And the doors were opened, to no avail. 'Hold,' said the Cheeze, i mean Chief of Police, 'we know you are just moving the gambling apparatus back and forth. Open all doors, or we'll shoot our way in.' With that all the doors opened, and, sure enough, no one was there, not a person, not a thing. It may be that here was the origin of the expression 'No dice.' "The die was gone. And where do you think it went? Why those gamblers had it so trained that at the very instant of the first knock on the door it traveled, all by itself, up the road, around the turn and into a secret cavern. (The hat). And there it has remained, to this very day." Those familiar with the working of the sliding die box, and who isn't, will appreciate that this is but patter for that trick. It is based upon an old L. W. idea, which saw print but not in this form. It is suitable only to the magician who goes in for story patter. (Editor's Note: Editor Bill Taylor please take note. This may be another Phantom Watchman.). Thirteen

GENII

So your club is going to give a show? The eleventh of a series of articles by Caryl S. Fleming, president of the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians. THE DRESS REHEARSAL In the case of a club magic show, the dress rehearsal, instead of being primarily a rehearsal, in the literal sense of the word, should be considered as the "dog" or first complete performance before a relentlessly critical audience, the director. It is taken for granted that each act has rehearsed fully before the director, timed, cut or added to as the case might need and is as nearly a finished product as is possible to make it. The stage crew are all present, scenery hung, stage screws, staples and screw eyes, ropes, piano wires and black threads all tested and ready to go. The chief electrician is at his switchboard, spot light operator at his position, each with his typed lighting plots fully discussed and understood and all special equipment for the "effects" gone over and ready to "do their stuff." The Public Address system .placed and tested and the recordings piled in the rotation they will be used and written music plots for each act on a clip board close to a small pilot light where they can be easily followed. Or, if a full pit orchestra, or even a lone pianist, are to be used the music has been handed out and parts distributed. Each act should be given an opportunity to talk over, "walk through" and even rehearse such bits of business as must be synchronized with the music, especially manipulative effects, or portions of the score which actually control the tempo of the stage action. Director's assistant, o'r stage manager stationed in a seat where he can view all parts of the stage and ready with pencil and paper to take down notes that may be given to him by the director from time to time during the rehearsal. Full make-ups should not be necessary unless an actor is trying out new combinations of lights, or portraying a character he has not done before and then in this case, It is most important that all details of make-up, lights and so forth, he viewed from all parts of the house and the necessary Fourteen

corrections made then and there. Entire stage costumes are not necessary, unless they be of a special nature, but such portions of the wardrobe that conceal pulls, droppers or other gimmics should be donned so as to permit the performer employing such items the opportunity to perform his complete act as well as to check against stage angles. Once all the preliminaries are set and everything ready to go, the entire performance should be c a r r i e d through from the first dimming of the house lights, overture, stage lights "up", the curtain opened on the first act right through each and every act in its rotation, master of ceremonies doing his jokes and gags, intermission, entre acte music and second half of the show clear through to the final curtain. A stop watch should be set on all acts and the time registered against each section 'of the show and later checked against the original time allotted to each act according to the director's schedule. No interruptions should be made by the director nor tolerated on the part of any other person, but instead notes made as to suggestions and criticisms which are to be taken up after the final curtain has fallen. Then each act can be gone over in turn and final changes made, and once the act is finally "set" no deviation whatsoever should be permitted. The principal function of the dress rehearsal is to cement together all of the component parts into a smooth flowing well 'ordered performance which progresses in style and tempo to a fitting finale, and to insure against mistakes and delays toward making the show as nearly foolproof as possible. The attitude and conduct of the director toward his cast has much to do with their attitude toward him and this attitude is unquestionably reflected in an actor's performance. The days of the old time swearing, scolding, "holier than thou" director is long past. A director's suggestions should be both inoffensive and constructive and should be regarded by those at whom they are directed in the same light as they 'should be given. After all, you are all members of the same organization and the best of friends and it should not be for-

gotten that the director was appointed because of his ability and likewise the performers chosen for the same reason. Intelligent persons invariably heed requests but frequently balk at preemptory orders. Dogs cower and sulk at bellowed commands, shrink in fear and frequently rebel and in this humans and dogs are akin. A few thoughts on the worK of the master of ceremonies might be worth considering: For instance, an "emsee" should— —be sure that his material is suitable for his audience. —not resort to "blue" stuff unless he is playing a low-down show and that sort of thing has been requested. —not take himself too seriously or try to appear profound. —work with unction and spontaniety. —not anticipate his jokes. —carry his gestures through into his joke, but not impersonate a statue upon hitting his point. —not interrupt the audience; laugh by going into something else instantly. —not wait for the laugh you expect but do not get. —not be too funny in your opinion— let your audience find that out for themselves! As to the director, here is a random, partial list of things that could demand the expert attention of your Cyclopean vision— Are the stage settings, tables anoung, carefree habitues would be just a little thrilled over the piospect c f such additional entertainment, thcugh they would doubtless not admit the fact. The tlooi show would come on. Houdini would not open the bill. There would be the usual dance team, the "newly discovered" tenor, the Radio Rogues, then, with a dimming oi lights, with the music of Pomp and Ciicumstance: HOUDIXI. Houdini in his "work clothes," as Mis. Houdini says he called his tuxedo. Houdmi leady to show the world that a magician does not need a stage with d> apes and taps for the production of ettective magic. The substitution trunk would be worked, at tentfic speed. Then a fast pilloiy escape; Leon's would be excellent, though Houdini would piobabiy have his own. Finally, one of the feature numbers for which the man was famous, speeded up to night club tempo: a big illusion or escape Three effects have been done; and only three. But it is big magic; feature magic! Oi, again, Houdini migru do but one item: something big—perhaps lie would use a three-sided stop clock, big enough for all to see, that eveiyone could count the seconds while he made his escape. Even the t'psy gentlemen at the lear tables wojld sit up and take notice of that. Next day they would, at least, remember that they had seen Houdini. Then

there would be challenges.

Not, ot cuirse, to be taken up during the floor show; time would prevent that. But en Saturday afternoons the police would be there with handcufls, sti ait-jackets, and other restraints. Admission would be granted to those interested, and who had the price to pay. Thus would be insmed additional publicity and, incidentally, moie levenue for the Biltmcre Bowl. And, in the public mind, magic will have seemed just a little n i n e important than rhumba dancing and torch singing, due respect being heie given to the exponents of both the latter. The scene is ended. Houdini will never present such an act. But— Magic, grand magic, did not die with Houdini. There are others, today, who are, undoubtedly, qualified to cany on. There are magicians who could take night club conjuring oat oi the field of cigarette tossing and cocktail shaking and put it back into the higher realm ot mystery. We, the amateurs, won't do it. Maybe the professionals won't, or can't, do it. Maybe it is all thoroughly impiactieal. I wonder? If the youngsters jump on me I w on't answer. It may be true that I am old fashioned. Perhaps cigarette tin owing and card fanning may be gieat magic. But this I do know: I would rather have the mind to remembei the performances of Houdini, Thuiston and Laurant than have Cardim, and his prototypes, as personal valets.

,-.

COURT IS ADJOURNED — AND JUDGE CHAS. W. FR1CKE TURNS TO MAKING MAGIC

GENII

PAGING THE LADIEX GECALDINE CCNC4D Friday

D i a r y of a Magician's Wife

Al came home from work today loaded down with heads of cabbage. I couldn't imagine what he was going to do with them. I knew he liked One week from the diary of the cabbage but after all! He explained fascinating, young wife of that fa- that at last his illusion was ready to try but he decided instead of using mous amateur magician, Al Hocus. a person for the experiment he would • use a cabbage head instead. After Monday dinner I went out to the work shop I have so much to do, I hardly to see the great illusion of illusions. have time to write, dear diary. We It really looked very impressive. The leave for the convention next week blades glistened in the light and and, what with getting the children made me shiver. The color—a bloody leady to leave, and getting ourselves red—reminded one of lives lost in ready to go, I'm just a nervous wreck. ancient days on the guillotine. I was Al has been spending all his time glad he didn't expect me to put MY working on a new illusion to do at head in there. Al placed the head the convention. He has been rushof cabbage in place and zim—the ing to get it finished, so we will have blade cut it squarely in two. I gasped time to practice it well before going but Al said that was what he always on. He hasn't let mB &ee it yet. did to show that the knives really Tuesday cut. NOW watch, said he. ZIM . . . Again the second head of cabbage Al showed me the blueprints of was split in half. Al looked puzzled the illusion today. It is a GUILLOTINE! I'm really worried! He show- and admitted that that should not have happened. I couldn't stand to ed me all the lines and figures, and things, and told me that it is per- see the slaughter so I told him to call fectly safe to work, but . . . I saw me when he had it fixed and went on tliis trick done some time ago and it into the house to tuck the children looked terribly dangerous! Of course, into bed. About an hour later Al came in. He had run out of cabI want to go to the convention, and if I don't make myself necessary, by bages! being Al's assistant, he might feel Saturday that I should stay at home! Nevertheless, this guillotine business doesAl came home from work at noon n't look so good to me. and I heard him pounding away in the Thursday work shop and about three o'clock Today was Sanci's day off so I had he came in with a sheepish grin on a chance to try out a new recipe his face and said, "Come on out and given me by my friend Esther Lang- see the bon-fire, tell the kids we have an. It was for a Ham Loaf, and was a swell fire to roast some marshperfectly delicious when we had it mallows." Sure enough there was at her house. I bought 1% lbs. his pet illusion going up in smoke! He said he wasn't going to take any ground round steak and % lb. ground chances of leaving it there in the ham. With this I mixed 2 cups of workshop and having s o m e b o d y milk, % of a loaf of stale bread, cut in small pieces, 2 eggs and V2 tea- ELSE hurt themselves. At that I spoon of dry mustard and made it all looked at him expecting to see a into a loaf. I sprinkled brown sugar hand or foot gone, but he showed me in the bottom of a loaf pan and some a nick out of one of his fingeis wnere the blade had just nipped him. At ground cloves (you can use whole ones if you wish but unless you re- least I won't have to endanger MY move them before serving, one is apt life in the darn old thing. to bite into one which is not so pleasSunday ant) I put the meat loaf into the pan and baked in a moderate oven Tor one I was afraid Al would feel kind of hour. It really was marvelous and sad this morning about losing his illuthere is a trick to it. Who would sion but on the contrary he was very ever think of using brown sugar in cheerful. He said he didn't know the bottom of your loaf pan? One how he could have shipped the thing does for baked ham, I'll admit, but to Reno anyway, it was so big and would you think of doing it for a ham bulky. He has decided to do a card loaf? That is the secret of the grand routine instead and Al is simply flavor. With this I served scalloped GRAND at card tricks so I know he'll potatoes, fresh asparagus, a green be a success. We leave next week, salad, and for dessert we had halves and here's hoping we'll see all our pf cantelope filled with ice cream. friends there.

RENO

Time: July 21st, 1937. Place: Reno, Nevada, XL S. A. Scene: Courthouse. Characters: Judge, Attorney, Magician's wife. Judge: Pocus versus Pocus. Attorney: Ready, your honor. Judge: Take the stand, Mrs. Pocus. Mrs. Pocus: Yes, your honor. Attorney: Mrs. Pocus, you are the wife of Mr. Pocus? Mrs. Pocus: I am. Attorney: And you are a resident of the State of Nevada, as prescribed by law? Mis. Pocus: I am. Attorney: You have alleged in your complaint that your husband has been gufity of a course of cruel conduct toward you. Will you explain to the court? Mrs. Pocus: Yes, ever since we have been married, my husband has been cruel. He has refused to eat my biscuits. He has accused me of buying gravy in cans. He has retused to let my mother live with us for longer than two years at a time. He even called mama an old Oh, Judge, I can't even tell you. He said I couldn't keep my check book straight. Judge: Just a moment. Can you keep your book straight? Mrs. Pocus: Well no. But my husband also said that I was dumb. And judge, I didn't know. Why, wiien the bank said my account was overdrawn I still had lots and lots of checks left in my booK. Judge: Hmmmmmmm. Attorney: Harrummmph. Mrs. Pocus: And that isn't all. My husband goes to club meetings every Monday night and doesn't take me along. I get soooo lonesome. Judge: Yes, yes. Go on. Mrs. Pocus: That's about all, your honor. Judge: It appears to me mat the proceeding is entirely frivilous. There is no cause for divorce. These things of which you accuse your husband do not make for cruelty. I shall deny the div Mrs. Pocus: But judge! Judge: Yes, Mrs. Pocus. Mrs. Pocus: My husband is an amateur magician. Judge: What! Repeat that please. Mrs. Pocus: My husband is an AMATEUR MAGICIAN! Judge: Why didn't you say so before? You may take your decree. DIVORCE GRANTED! Seventeen

GENII

CCNVENTICN NEWS humidity. Then, too, there was rain Little and Jess Dowley attended the . . . But it takes more than that to Rotarian luncheon and performed dampen the spirit of a few Hundred magic. It seems that the magicians magicians. letc no stone, or wheel, unturned . . . Chucky Koontz gets better as he Everyone went hoeni and Frank gets older. What a conjurer he'll be Travers was still languishing in the HIGH POINT HEADLINES by the time he's grown up. A nice High Point bastille . . . The last night Being a brief report of the 1937 looking kid, too . . . Bob Nelson "men- featured Ed Miller, Loyd Handy, I. B. M. Convention Would have called this High Point talized" the press boys, all to the Frank Caton, Charles Finding and High Points but, without doubt, good and gain of magic . . . But it Herman Weber . . . But Landis helpevery magazine will use that one . . . took Max Holden's shadowgraphs to ed built up the performance with his Days faded into nights, and the really lay them in the aisles. Here, outdoor escapes. nights were not at all. At least they as in magic, Max is a past master Too bad John Snyder is going away were not at all for ordinary sleeping . . . And what about Frank Travers, on a vacation after all the favorable alias John G-ifford, alias Eddie Welch, purposes . . . All along Main Street publicity. He could mini, money this it was " take a card" . . . The the man who murdered his grand- summer . . . Doc Hendlich "the taiher? He who, while freely admitsleight-of-hand dentist." Can fill a official registration well passed the three hundred mark and local papers ting half a dozen murders, amused hat with rabbits or an empty cavity the police with card tricks. . . He with gold . . . And Charlie Beckler made much of the congregating of so many magicians. The press ran the should do a book: Prison Prestidigita- should quit the school business and tion, or Cell Conjuring. Even "Clever become professional. His M. C. gags gamut from front page headlines to intimate glimpses by the columnists Card Conceits for Convicts" would do were swell . . . But did Ted Anne. . . And many pictures were in the mann do his bullet catching trick? . . . And every inch of the publicity papers . . . And did the boys like Al My correspondent didn't say. Fraidy was well deserved. Baker? Indeed, gentlemen, indeed. cat. The editor of Genii does the John H. Davison, of Ashaway, R. Al is still tops. . . Amzy Lockwood I., was re-elected president; a worthy produced the usual childrens' show. trick with cannon balls. (Mulhollar.d, successor to the late, beloved W. W. This year it was better than ever, Abbott and George Johnson please Durbin . . . Harry Cecil, wlio drew thanks to Amzy's splendid efforts and note and copy). New executive compraise from everyone as M. C. an all- the worthy talent that he managed mittee: Bill Russell, chairman, Max around good fellow, is first vice-pres- to enlist. The magi made it possible Holden, Percy Abbott, A. A. A. Almon ident; T. J. Crawford, second vice- for the local orphan children to share and Floyd Thayer . . . Davison manufactures felt. Will be pleased to represident; Caryl S. Fleming, third in the fun. ceive a new top for our pool table. vice-president. Ted Heuber will funcWill even trade a used pack of dition as secretary . . . And reports California was represented by Caryl minishing cards for same . . . And have it that Ted was much the life S. Fleming. Incidentally, he travelGoodette Dodson can still put the of the party. As was Coke Cecil. ed the longest distance to get to cauls through their best paces . . . Charles Larsen brought some won- High Point. Understand he paid Laurie Ireland, called Larry by all the derful, foreign apparatus. And has a strict attention to magic and didn't papers, worked Otto to best advanswell silk dyeing trick . . . And Ted try to establish a new branch of the tage. Swell act . . . Synonym for Annemann ceased nursing the Jinx Bank of America there . . . Al Saal, "beautiful": Lorraine Heubert. long enough to attend . . . John Mul- the man with the lights. The name holland arrived the second day. He is Saal, gentlemen, not Seal, the proBill Garrison can grow a foot. Arms is one of the best when it comes to gram to the contrary notwithstand- likewise . . . One of the leading forces magic . . . Gig and Mom Miller were ing, etc. . . . At the night before party of the I.B.M.: Dr. Kenneth Sheelor, there, sporting a grand silver Pierce Coke Cecil introduced City Attorney of Washington, D. C. A leading Arrow trailer. Hope they can make Grcver H. Jones, who welcomed ma- spirit in magic today. A force for the Reno festival . . . The water, or gicians to High Point. If I'd known all that is good . . . Was C. T. at was it the water, affected some of he'd been going to do that I'd have High Point? . . . I really wonaer? . . . the lads badly and, for a spell, they gone back there and wrestled with Contests? Good. But fewer contestcouldn't get far from the intimate in- him . . . That's one thing the conven- ants than in years gone by. The enstitutions made famous by Cmc Sale tion lacked: a good wrestling act . . . tire atfair was over in one atternoon . . . Philip Poxwell, of South Bend, The editor of Genii can wrestle and . . . . On the other hand, it was probIndiana, won the Caryl Fleming tro- back palm fifty-two cards at the same ably the biggest conclave of dealers phy with a memory reat, using a time. Great act . . . Says Julian V. that magic has ever known. So, the current copy of the Saturday Evening Boeh'ru) /'It's a beautiful world." depression is over . Necessarily I can't Post. Tom Osborne, whose act was Agreed! It's simply swell . . . And mention everyone who made for the highly praised by press, public and there was many a fine tribute paid to success of things . . . But, regards to prestidigitators, won the Jack Gwyn- dear old Bill Durbin. How ne would everyone, whether w^'ve met or not ne cup for the best act on the show have enjoyed being there . . . And . . . And thanks for a splendid convenprogrammes. Bill Russell, who still congratulations, Frank Bunker, for tion, which I only wish I could have wows 'em with the floating ball, took your efforts in making High Point a attended personally. It was a big second place. . . . Thayers were there. high point in I. B. M. history. help to magic . . . Finally, thanks to Now en route to Washington, D. C. Harry Cecil, for now by "his works" Grady Nicholson does magic which As are also Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd I know him . . . Like most of us, he Chambers. Chambers may attend the would please Norsk Gods. After pro- works for the cause . . . In closing, I Reno convention . . . Dell O'Deil ducing beer from a paper drawing he can only hope that next year, fate pleased everyone. Especially the En- causes a sledge hammer, of all things, willing, I shall be with you personalterprise columnist, Soc Chakales . , . to float mid-air . . . Not to be outaone, ly. Further, I know that it was such Wotta name! Soc Chakales . . . Coke Mystic Craig produced any, anda time, speaking now, again, of Cecil must do something about it many, drinks called for . . . Frank High Point, as would have pleased with the Chamber of Commerce . . . Ducrot, the perrenial boy magician, "Uncle Bill," had he been able to be The heat was bad. Or was it the did the Jap thumb tie as only Frank there to enjoy it! can do it. . . And, in passing, Ed

I. B. M.

GENII CONDENSED ROUTINES OF ACTS PRESENTED AT THE I. B. M. CONVENTION, HIGH POINT, NORTH CAROLINA Specially recorded (or Genii by Caro G. Miller—additional notes by Caryl S. Fleming. Wednesday, June 15th—Night Show. Master of Ceremonies—C h a r le s Boekler, Lykens, Penn.—Working in an excellent low comedy tramp makeup and using a complete change of burlesque costume for each appearance. "Uncle John" H. Davison—Pres. I. B. M.—FUll evening dress.—Producion of silk from billiard ball—Production of pot of flowers—P. & L. rose bush with flowers opening and closing—Jim Barton—Wine and Water routine. "C t i e s t of Wang Ho" (the best piece of production apparatus of its kind I have seen to date). Production included—silks— birds, more silks—fish-bowl with water and goldfish—bird in cage—still more silks. Grady Nicholson, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma—Dinner clothes—Production of flowers and tray of glasses from foulard—draws beer keg on chalk-talk board—pushes real spigot into paper—gets a glass seidel full of foaming beer from double funnel —tears paper from board, wads it up and squeezes another glass of beer from paper (probably rubbercovered sponge) Milk Go with cylinder and tray—encore—f l o a t i n g sledge hammer—Nicholson's very excellent, original version of adaption of the well-konwn floating or acrobatic cane. Max Holden, New York—Dinner c l o t h e s .—Shadowgraphs—sure fire and the best I have ever seen. Mystic Craig, New York—Full evening dress—Back palm production of cards wearing gloves—Walsh cane to silk—rabbit vanish with Gwynn turn over box—M i r a c l e Bar—topnotch routine of "Any Drink Called For" using his own materials and pouring second and third drink into same glass while same is held by member of the audience. Craig's bar is fine for clubs and small stages, but would be much more imposing if It were larger for regular stage use. Al Baker, New York—Street clothers—Al's own sucker egg-bag routine with two kid stooges—a riot-—dye tube silk routine—com production— Cake in the hat done in the way Al alone can do it. What an act!—Al is just himself—but how. Al Saal, The Man with the Lights— Spanish-dress c o s t u m e with flat Gaucho hat—excellent appearance— clean worker, highly adept—evidently has cig droppers in sash as well as elsewhere. Act consisted principally of production and manipulations of Cigs, silks, billiard balls, and fast cig production finish. Frank Ducrot, New York—street clothes—A very well executed thumb'

tie routine—paper tear with design and I. B. M. emblem for finish. Frank L. Bunker, Charlotte, N. C.— full evening dress—Uses two lady and two men assistants. Stage well balanced with large apparatus. Mummy case illusion—producing first lady assistant. Vampire illusion—producing second lady assistant. Quong Hi cabinet (very well done and held interest)—goldfish catching using pole gimmic and bowl of water —catching pigeons in net—working among audience—pigeon vanish—Nixon duck go vanish with sucker gag. Good flash act for finish. Winner of the Mr. Harry Houdini brcnze book-ends and deserved them. Thursday, June 17th—Night Show. Master of Ceremonies—C h a r 1 e s Leedy, Youngstown, Ohio—Working in sport clothes—friendly, easy manner—very likeable—sprung a couple of fine subtle gags. Les. Gilbert—dinner c l o t h e s— Plenty of pep but reminds one somewhat of a "hoofer"—he disappointed us though and did not do a dance finish although he dropped a tap or two coming on and in final exit. Uses two kid stooges from audience—Magazine cover dys tube silk production—cut and restored rope—15 cards taken by each stooge —5 cards selected from one pile— chosen cards transposed from original deck to other deck, checked and found missing from pile from which they were originally chosen—Duval color-change silk. Goodlette Dodson, Atlanta, Ga.— sport clothes—Card fans—a precision performance demonstrating that he can do every one of the card fans described in his recent book—plus a few more—shows lots of work, thought and rehearsal, and deserves plenty of credit. "Billy" Russ-ell, Batavia, New York —evening clothes—His own version of the classic floating-ball—a masterpiece—no compliment too big for this one, won trophy for the second-best act of the three shows—complete routine, instructions and real photo illustrations can be purchased from Donald Holmes, Churchville, New York. Hope someone on the Pacific Coast gets it and features it. Sure fire. L. L. Ireland, Chicago, 111.—dinner clothes—Demonstrating all of his own original items—all excellent and highly recommended. Stage-size cups and balls—Jumbo card frame (a-la-Sucker Diebox) cards vanish at finish. Torn papers to hat (comedy card announcements during progress of trick)—cut and restored borrowed handkerchief —built-up house on board silk production—"Otto, the Duck" card trick —hat production with borrowed hat— eggs, sausages, etc.—Watch manipulations, productions and vanlsnes, six watches vanish from stand and reappear simultaneously—alarm clock

production from hat—placed a: angles of hexagonal-board held by lady assistant—board t u r n e d over and proves to be a large clock with all bells ringing—Ireland at his best and that is mighty good. Dr. Kenneth Sheelor, Washington, D. C.—Summer naval officers dress uniform—Glass box dove production —Red, white and blue boxes routine with vanished dove found in last box —silk production—torn card production from candle—glass rod penetrating a glass of milk placed in a cabinet (very good)—five silks taken from frame, vanished in tube—reappear on frame—ribbon thru glass pjate— somewhat similar to die release from frame. Dell O'Dell (lady magician) playing long engagement at Ben Risley's Arrowhead Inn, New York City—attractive evening gown—Works from a regulation tea cart—mostly standard tricks, original patter, some poetry, material pretty broad in spots and undoubtedly okay for sophisticated nite spots and got over well. Torn and restored laundry ticket— Demon box silk production—20th Century silk trick—story concerning salesman and farmer's daughter— changing bag method—torn and restored paper—rabbit production and vanish using Thayer draw front black art utility cabinet. Jean Fole—formal afternoon outfit —braided sack coat, striped trousers •—reminiscent of Max, touch of Charlie Chaplin—Now and then—good worker and holds interest although magic was mostly smaller, intimate things—bank and egg, card manipulations (wearing gloves), etc., nice club act. Percy Abbott, (Colon, Michigan— formal afternoon outfit—b r a i d e d sack coat, striped trousers, etc.— Stage filled with apparatus—Percy is a real showman and knows what he is doing, realizes the values of quantity as well as quality. Hat production—silk production— flower bouquets—rabbit production and vanish in turnover box—hank from candle—color change with hank —candle to flowers—vase to flower bouquet—production 4 large pots of flowers—2 large silks on flag staff for finish. A good fast working act for flash finish. Friday afternoon, June 18th—Kid show—house packed—Amzy Lockwood, director. Master of ceremonies —Ken Punnett lead off but due to late party the night before during which Ken delivered several impassioned political speeches or something, after the fifth or sixth bottle cf cold tea—could not make himself heard and so Caro Gig Miller subbed for him and succeeded in making the kids behave better than we have ever seen them before. H. Willard and assistant—sport outfits, white fedoras, typical vaudville types, but nice workers—Foulard productions, two parasols (MarNlneteen

GENII Tom Osborne—full evening dress, top hat, etc.—wonderful appearance, grace, ease, showmanship and everything else it takes. Stopped the show!! The audience stood up and cheered. Was that a thrill? John Mulholland and I were speechless. Won first prize for best act of entire convention and did it in a walk-away. If he ever plays your town don't miss him. Cardini could take lessons from him—no fooling. And a swell unassuming fellow offstage. His act— oh, yes, purely manipulative—Cane, gloves, and cards—his own routines and beggars description. (All Gig could write in notes was W-O-W!!). Charles F. Finding—dinner clothes. 20 minutes of silk productions, using exclusively Marshall's apparatus— nice silks—nice parasols, jardinieres of flowers, etc., two large aluminum tubes—bamboo frames, silks placed on racks and pulled up to sides and back drop so that stage was rilled and beautiful picture at finish. "Chucky" Koontz—Eton dress outfit—3 silks production—color change in paper tube—silk vanish—reproduced via 20th Century Clever vent routine. Wallace Lee, Durham, N. C.—dinner clothes. Famous for his double talk and panics everyone around the hotel during the convention. Flower tiube—2 t^ower pots prod.—Tourble Wit paper fold designs made famous Ly Ellis Stanyon—very interesting chalk talk accompanied by his own special phono records. Nixon duck vanish, with sucker gag under table at finish. Good act and well received. Friday, June 18th—Night Show Frank Caton, Oklahoma City, OklaMaster of ceremonies, Harry E. homa—typical Prince Albert, silk hat Cecil, Detroit, Mich. Street clothes, and suit case. Dr. Hokum—comedy Great comedy hat that refused to stay on, medicine show monologue. a personality all his own, must be ijig good natured fellow and has the seen to be fully appreciated—fast elements of a swell act. worker and does so many things and Herman L. Weber—full evening gets so many real belly-laughs that it dress—immaculate appearance. Stage would be impossible to describe him beautifully arranged and well bal—one of the very best I have ever anced, everything immaculate. Webseen any place—Harry Cecil and Jim- er was very nervous and tired (last mie Muir together would kill 'em and night of convention) and this showed lay 'em in the aisles—wotta showman in his work. Despite this, his act is —wotta C. C.—wotta wow! Does undoubtedly big-time material. magic, gags, hokum and is a whole Prod. 2 large flower b o u q u e t s show all by himself. large flags, body load, Dove pan Ed Miller; street clothes—Chinese Welsh Rarebit routine, produces two rabbits—silk knots routine—empties wands—hank to egg, switch to real 6 Grant classic water lotas into a egg, egg bag—hank vanish—string of hanks from stooges collar—hindoo large special-made metal vase (mayturban cut and restored—diebox—Jap be foo can principle) dumps water from large vase into 6-gal. stone box silk vanish—produced from tube —paper serpentine rroru small pail. crock with metal cylinder—crock vanLloyd Handy, New York—white ishes—stand supporting crocK is linen sport outfit—nice appearance opened up and a large balloon produced therefrom much to everyone's for a big fellow. Opium pipe vanish surprise. Original routine with Link(a-la-paper wand shell)—hand to ing Rings proceeded the last routine hollow egg, switch to hard boiled egg above and was very well received. —cracks open egg and eats same— Weber is one of the most seriouschoked on egg and had to leave stage minded students of magtc ana audito get rid of it—started to do 20th ence psychology and deserves high century hank trick, tied hanks to- commendation for going on under trygether, then went into cut and re- ing circumstances. stored necktie with plant, forgot to Ted Heuber, Secretary of the I. B. finish 20th Century trick—Dr. Q. Slates and swallowing razor blades. M. handled all three night shows backstage and much to his credit Twenty

snails, and the most compact I have seen yet—occupy half the usual space —fiee ad but well deserved—torn and restored paper—breakaway fan—cig. productions—silk in lamp bulb (very good)—swallowing razor b l a d e s— rope tie and pull through neck (two ropes and thread). "Billy" Russell, Batavia, New York; street clothes; short version of his famous floating ball—by r e q u e s t still great. Philip Foxwell, South Bend, Indiana—sport clothes—swell voice and personality. Foulard—glass of water production—Chinese Wands—rab b i t production—coin pail—A m o s and Andy sucker card trick with mat-—2 kid stooges—paper cutting contest with two large paper bands (Afghan bands routine) pulls shirt off kid without removing sweater. "Cliucky" Koontz—12 years old and works with the adeptness of an old timer—wears Eton outfit, striped long trousers, Eton jacket, Windsor tie and collar, silk hat and cane— did an excellent routine, outstanding in which were the egg bag, three card transposition using two kids from audience—finished with veiy good vent act. Dr. Karland—Magazine cover tube silk production—organ pipes silk production—cut and restored hindoo turban—linking rings. Amzy Lockwood deserves sincere congratulations for a nice show well staged to an highly appreciative kid audience. Wish Amzy lived on the Coast—he is a distinct asset to any magical organization.

there was not one single stage wait. Three cheers for Ted. And, he deserves more for he is one of the busiest and most willing workers in the I. B. M. Miss Lorraine Heuber, Ted's beautiful debuntante daughter, must have brought along several trunks of wardrobe for she changed costume every act, and there were many, who needed a lady assistant. Lorraine is rightly named "The Sweetheart of the I. B. M." for she is loved by everyone. She is a miniature of former movie star Helen Ferguson, only prettier, and fairly oozes poise and stage presence. Would predict a very bright future for her if she was in pictures. Maybe she will surprise us all. Here's hoping and here's luck, little fella. Street attractions were too numerous to mention—escape acts all over the place, card men working three card monte and all sorts of things all over the place—stunts of all kinds— Ted Heuber and Jerry Furman (the furious) pulling enormous crowds and holding them with their burlesque trained fly Oscar who walks the tight rope—or with their hypnotic lay down card trick, or their double version of the famous "Whistling Sailor" (and are both those guys built to do it?). Yes sir, High Point, was a success —and then some. Better save up to go to Cincinnati next year. Third week in June. I'll be seein' you!

P. C. A. M. This month, on the dates of the 20th, 21st and 22nd, will see the culmination of all the plans that have been made during the past year for the biggest and best of all P. C. A. M. conventions. Hence, the news that follows will be the last that will reach you before the convention and before the gang gathers at Reno for the actual consumation of all the good things that have been planned. Genii thanks all those who have aided uls in presenting convention news to our readers. We aie especially grateful to Bud Beasley, Caryl Fleming, Leaf McManus, Caro Miller, Claud Burke, Lloyd Jones and the secretaries of the various, individual clubs. Through it all they and we have tried to give you every bit of available data, in as interesting a fashion as is possible. In the August issue there will appear a complete resume of everything which will have transpired at the Divorce Capitol of the World. Therefore, if you want to know who was there, who performed, who was good, who was lousy, who cheated, who gambled and all the other dirt read the August issue. But, even better than that, why not go to Reno yourself?

GENII TAT"!.!, VV l t l l

A __

JL OUI"

Reno—July 20, 21, 22 ! n a v e 3 u s t received the beautiful Caro Miller perpetual trophy which will be given for the most artistic act presented at the convention.

Reno—July 20, 21, 22 Following are a few of the people This, as you know, is the Conven- a n d o r g a i l i z a t i o n s that have made tion issue of the Genii. Soon you p o s s ible our splendid prize list: Caryl will be with us in Reno, or be at ans. After such a grand convention, I plan to stay a magician"s wife for many more years! SUNDAY.

Today Al unpacked his trophy and p'aced it along on trie mantel in four pieces. I just TOLD HIM that if he wanted to display that trophy around here he'd have to fix it or else' So Al spent all afternoon in the workshop soldering it together. Now he has it in the place of honor in the living room and we are both very proud to show it off to our friends, as evidence of Al's prowess as a real magician. Seventeen

GENII

CCNVENTICN NEWS reached me as follows: That the pre-convention registration was better than expected; that the get together party was a success, that some minor curb stone political discussions took place, that everyone was telling everyone, who was anyone, that Caryl Fleming had to be president for at least another year or that somebody would be punched in the nose; that Reno is hot. ineterologically speaking even at night; that no magicians were seen prowling around the bagThe editor is sitting right on the nios. firing line, hammering out this homeAnd yes. one of the first persons ly prose on a borrowed Corona. The tumult of a thousand noises assail to seek me out on the pre-convention e\ery thought. Directly beneath my day was Professor Fait, of San Diego. hotel window are two score gambling He appears to be a splendid gentlehouses, saloons, dance halls, dives man, reminding me somewhat of and what-nots Correction: the what- Theodore Roberts of movie renown. nots are a block or two away and, He questioned me right roundly refrom all reports, are not at all noisy. garding C. T. Jr. I offered no defenses Personally, I know nothing about it. and no apologies, except to tell mm 1 overheard a lecture given by Doug that I print anything that comes to Kelley, Dr. Kelley to you, to Laurie me and that my paper is open for any Ireland on the subject of vice in gen- and every side of every question. So, eral and spirochaetes in particular. before long we may have a contribufrom the Professor. And will it Doug is a convincing lecturer. Ask tion rl ! make good reading? Laurie. I shan't attempt to give a detailed Likewise, tired as I was, I took impersonal view of the entire Reno pa'^s to button-hole my friend Darie! affair. Other magazines, too splendid Fitzkee and make him promise a for personalities, will do that. In- whole series of articles for Genii. He stead, I'll report this thing just as it has a host of good material and says appears to me. If I seem long wind- ir will be forthcoming soon. In fact, ed, I hope I may be forgiven. It is few escaped this button-holing proborn of the thought that a magic cess. I pan-handled everyone for magazine should be something more tricks. Ask Bill Harkness, Doug Kelthan paper, print and pretty pictures. ley, Ed Reese and all the rest. Am I right, Lloyd Jones? Among the early arrivers were The latter gentleman was the first Arnold Furstenberg, who started out of the brotherhood to greet me, Mon- for Reno in a Lincoln and arrived in day morning. He, leaning out thea steamer. And, right here is a good window of his room, yelled at me in time to advance this comment: the such manner as would shame a Tar- convention was largely attended by zan. Lloyd, who is the foremost of the younger members of the various the Jones' boys, and a product of organizations. I do not say that they Oakland, had arrived the preceding were in the majority; but there were day. He was feeling fit as a fiddle many more than in years past. A after a fair night's sleep. I was three good sign. Everything depends on quarters dead from the effects of a young, new blood. That these lads five hundred mile drive, which had are sufficiently interested to travel a taken all night. Accompanying me on long ways, often on little or no monthe drive were Evelyn and Fred ey, is a good sign for magic. And Kapp, my wife and my eldest boy, most of the youngsters arrived early, Billy. There are, I assure you, no too. finer people. The first day of the convention arSpent the day preceding the con- rived with a blast of heat calculated vention, Monday, wishing to God that to remind us all of the nether reI could find some excuse to turn in gions of the old-time religions hereand sleep. Finally, after ditching a after. Registrations were in order get together party, which was over- for the morning, and those who had crowded anyway, I tumbled into my ambition to brave the stifling sun trundle bed at nine-thirty. This rays walked to the Twentieth Cenb r o u g h t much raillery from my tury club and made their entries. The friends, who, at conventions, retire afternoon was left fairly well open, not at all. The same night Jack, Beer except for the publicity items. In Baron, Boschard, Bob Bailey, who these Doug Kelly escaped from a keeps the keys for Jack, and a host wine barrel and strait jacket, and of others were still doing tricks in Mrs. Houdini was crowned Queen of the hotel—hotel, thank heavens—at the convention. Mrs. Houdini was her five the nexf morning. Reports also usual, charming self and suffered

P. C. A. M. Reno

The Land of the Free and Home of the Brave

Eighteen

bravely through the proceedings. To her should go much of the thanks for making the meeting a success. Doug Kelley acquitted himself perfectly, but that he did not grunt enough. I have suggested that, Henceforth, Doug grunt more and that, occasionly, Ken Allen kick him in the head just to make the escapes better "box office." The evening of the day, Tuesday, found us gathered at the magicians' only show—which was also open to the public. Lloyd Jones, special Abbott agent for the West, was responsible for a splenetic! array or talpnt. The show began with an act by Arnold Furstenberg. I saw the same act some months ago and can vouch toi it that it has greatly improved. However, there is still a lot or room lor practice. And, Arnold, please kick those parasols out of the show. Bob Bailey was next with a comedy ?ct. This item was really funny. Next came Gilham. The lad is a good worker for magic anu w a comer if 1 ever saw one. However, his act was very poor and most of the effects didn't work. But, though the act was bad, I believe the lad has a lot more on the ball than many of his seniors. All he needs is a few more yeais and a bit more practice. Charles Smith, who was the Uncle Feelix of Dr. Wilson's publication, presented the dancing handkerchief, with many original improvements, and ideas. It was the highlight of the Magicians' Only Show, from the standpoint of the audience and also the stage magician. Next came Dariel Fitzkee, performing Dr. Ervin's bill in cigarette. It is only too bad that we all were not close enough to enjoy this wonderful piece of magic. I can truthfully say that to the magician who does not know the secret, Ervin's bill in cigarette will appear to be a miracle. Following, was A. Caro Miller with rag pictures. This is a beautiful item. The black light effect helps, but it is most spectacular, and interesting, even without the latter refinement. Following a short intermission, came to us the one and only L. L. Ireland with cups and balls and the golf balls. Laurie is always good and his act thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. Bert Hansen was next with vent work. His crying baby gags reach high art. Dr. L. ,T. Ennis performed an act on the Cardini order. His skill is amazing for one not a professional; really a high calibre show which Doc could book if the dental business ever went bad. Harold Agnew, a nice kid, followed with a not much different floating cane. Orin Ford mussed up the shadow illusion pitifully. He should have a good talking-to. The show closed with an alleged comedy act by

Genii Sweepstakes Trophy awarded yearly.

GENII Bill Harkness and Jack Boshard. Both are good men: Bill is a first rate magician and Jack an all around good fellow. After a hard night, for most, there dawned another hot day. In fact, it was so hot that the very sidewalks and pavements were soft. The business meeting, scheduled for ten, started promptly at eleven. The results follow: Caryl Fleming was reelected president of the P.C.A.M. for the next year, and the 1938 convention was given to San Jose. There were other matters, of technical natiurej, discussed an'd passed upon which will be reported fully elsewhere. The vote for the convention city was hotly contested. San Diego and San Jose each made a bid. San Diego brought to the convention at Reno a key note speaker from the Chamber of Commerce. He made fine headway for a few minutes, but when he lapsed into interpretations of Spanish words, discussions off 'telescopes, statistics regarding Tuna fish packing, and poetry, the border city was licked. San Jose, with its prunes and quick comment, put the booty in the sack with commendable dispatch. Good luck, San Jose! Let me know what I can do to help. The San Jose boys, Art Heinsen, Tuttle, Shaw, and the rest, bought their way into the hearts of the P.C. A.M. gang with prunes. Prior to the convention, prunes were everywhere —nicely wrapped, of course, in paper. In fact, there were prunes all over Reno. The reason, as you have probably guessed, is that ban Jose is the prune center of the world. (Though why the world should have a prune center is beyond me!). I wonCer how many tons of prunes that bunch brought to Reno. Then, when they had the convention in the sack, there was not a prune to be found. I complained of this fact to Art Heinsen and he, forthwith, presented ine with a five-pound sack of the shrivelled plum meats which I had a hell of a time hiding behind a radiator, m order not to be encumbered with such impedimentia on my homeward trip. The afternoon was taken up with judging contests for new tricks, etc. A newcomer, Everett Lyda, did some beautiful silk work. As did Boxley. Fitzkee did a card trick that was good, as was a rope trick with a clothes-pin refinement. Bobbie Fisher presented a vent number. Good. Lawrence Daughters presented a new card effect, and Caro Miller a complete, novel type act. Earl Wheeler caused a wand to shrink and change color. Stoppard caused a card to arise from a borrowed pack. A twelve-year-old, Marvin Levy, presented magic worthy of an adult, and Doug Kelley followed "with a Page-Wright item and some first class card work. Ken Allen presented a fine card item —which had me fooled. (And, by the way, Ken was the convention's best

showman). Al Hennings' improved parasol trick and Art Heinsen performed with prunes! An old timer, Glyndon Smith, put on a delightful act with a coin transposition, egg bag and card effect, the latter being especially worthy of note. C. S. Cain worked to a whole stage full of apparatus, as did Dethlefson. Ed Reese entered a liquid effect with a vase, from which cocktails were poured, and a new combination with handcuffs and a pack in which a hole had been cut. Tuttle presented a pillory seance, then did a trick with a balloon. The Jones boy contested in a big way with a grand array of Abbott apparatus. There were others, but memory is a frail thing. In the late afternoon Glyndon Smith performed an outdoor rope escape, and Steve Shepard walked through a brick wall. The base for the brick wall was built by the genius of mechanical magic, Bob Stull. That may account for something. I would say that fully a thousand people garnered to witness these events, after which Bill Harkness and Bud Beasley performed a blindfold auto race through Reno's narrow thoroughfares. This ended in Harkness winning by the thickness of a thumb tip. The evening, Wednesday, brought to us the public show. This was a grand affair and much credit should be given to Claude Burke who was responsible for it all. How he ever did it is a miracle. Further, the show was a sell-out. The house was packed even up into the balcony. The big show acts may be enumerated as follows: 1. Lee Durham: Magic while balancing on a large ball. 2. James Stoppard: combination with balls and silk; bewildering blocks in combination with die box. Bran vase and silko Blendo. 3. Bernadine Madison: a beautifully staged act of large magic. Deserves highest praise. 4. Harry Louine: beautiful rendition of miser's dream, with added coin moves and manipulations. Finale with egg bag and two glasses of liquid. 5. H a r r y McManus: Expanding trunk; shooting thru woman— which didn't quite work, ana the substitution trunk. In the latter, Mac icrgot to give the assistant the keys to the trunk and, at the end. the trunk couldn't be opened. Finally, the curtains were again closed and Mac released Viimseil. The papers had a lot of fun with this trick. And, I wonder what Mrs. H o u d i n i thought? 6. Earl Wheeler: an alarm clock vanish with a new gag I've never seen before. Vanish of guinea pig from two fold screen and tube. Wand diminishes in size and changes color. Penetration of number of wooden rods

of bottle full of milk. New organ chimnies and silks. Dove and guinea pig vanish from small house. Card house built under silk—but get a thread Earl, not a rope. We all could see the lifting device. 7. Charles Starr: Cardini sitting down. In addition, the best cut rope trick of all time. 8. L. L. Ireland: Most likeable. Color changing silk. Golf ball through silk. Multiplying golf balls. Diminishing golf ball. The "sign" trick. Otto—the duck. 9. Slyter: Best act of show. Multiplied glasses of wine. Cigarettes, etc. Top hat and dress, attire. Wowed everyone! 10. Wm. Harkness: Escape from boiler, which was made by a Reno concern. Before being put in boiler, Harkness was cuffed and chained in every conceivable manner. Swanson, of Seattle, d e s e r v e s plenty of credit for his work behind I he scenes, not only in the public show but in all the shows and contests. Swanson is a real old-timer who knows plenty of magic. Likewise, thanks to the M. C, Jim-Hie Muir, who is usually pretty blue. This time he kept his stuff clean and was the best I've ever seen him— and I'm a dirty guy myself, so I'm not preaching. I only hope that sometime Jimmie will write up some of his own M.C. material for Genii. Among those introduced at the Public Show was Mrs. Houdini. She responded with a few words, part of which I quote as follows: "---- I did the substitution trunk trick for your grandfathers . . . I can't make a speech, but from the bottom of my heart, I thank you." I only wish that I were as young, at heart, and in spirit, as is Mrs. Houdini. The final day was devoted to the last of the contests, judging and the dinner dance. The following awards were made: Ray Gamble trophy—Doug Kelley, M. D. Page Wright trophy—C h a r 1 e s Smith. Fleming trophy—Bob Bailey. Houdini trophy—Steve Shepard. Col. Harry Day tropny—Wm. Harkness. Miller trophy—Miss Madison. P.C.A.M. Dis't. 3, trophy—Arnold Furstenberg. Golden Gate Assembly 2—Miss Madison. Seattle trophy—Oakland. Gordon trophy—Jack Boshard. Reno trophy—Leaf McManus. Spokane trophy—Clarence Slyter. Other prizes were given to F. E. Tuttle, Earl Wheeler, A. Caro Miller, T. A. Dethlefson, Ed Reese, Glyndon Smith, Dr. Ennis, Charles Starr, Ken Allen, Harold Agnew, Everett Lyda, Boxley, Lloyd Jones, Dariel Fitzkee, Lawrence Daughters, C. S. Cain, Mar-

Twenty-five dollar cash prize for best trick every four months.

Nineteen

GENII vin Levi, Louine Miller, Ray Gamble, L. L. Ireland, Lee Durham, Claude Burke, Bert Hansen, Bob Fisher, Art Heinsen, James Stoppard, Al Hennings, 0. Ford, Lyle Laughlin and Campbell. A well-appointed dinner dance, at the Hotel Riverside, concluded the convention. After excellent cuisine, Steve Shepard, A. Caro Miller and Jimmie Stoppard entertained. And I say honestly they are three of the finest entertainers I have ever seen. The way Shepard pounds a glass tumbler around before he causes It to vanish still has me laughing—says he "You have to handle glass carefully." Then he bangs it some more. Steve also presented the vanishing bird cage, stating that he learned his version from Adelphia thirty-two years ago. All of Steve's work is swell. Caro Miller, as I have said, has a most artistic performance, in addition to being a good magician and rag picture man, I must also make mention of his ability as an orchestra leader. Much of the success of the public show was due to his perfect handling of the music. Finally, Caro has one of the finest stage personalities, arid stage appearances, of anyone in the business. Jimmie Stoppard can always be depended upon for an A-l performance. In fact, the P. C. A. M. should have some sort of a sweepstakes trophy for him. Jimmie is as personable a chap as you'll ever meet, is assisted in his regular act by his charming wife, and his handling of magic is exquisite.

Miss Dorothy Wolf, Paul Studham, Laurie Ireland, who also operated a dealer's exhibit, Miss Jane Tupper, W. C. Shelly, Ray and Mrs. Gamble, Bill Watters, Dr. Parsley, E. V. Boyle and Lawrence Daughters. Others who traveled far have already been mentioned. Oh, yes, and there was also the one and only Joe Cook—who arrived the second day from Brigham. Utah. Oakland and San Francisco sent the largest delegations to the convention. On the other hand, the contingent from Los Angeles was pitifully small. The meeting seemed to hit most of the boys at just the wrong time. Arranged with Dr. Edward Saint, Mrs. Houdini's manager, for a Mrs. Houdini contest for Genii. This contest will begin in September. Also, I will try to swipe Ed's collection of walking sticks. The one he had at the dinner dance was a beauty. I think Ed should use Fatima—the stick would be perfect. The convention excited a lot of interest among the citizenry. All outdoor performances were well attended. Even the movie newsreel camei as were there. The Reno bunch did a swell job and I'll wager they are glad it's all over. To put on a conclave like that means a terrific lot of work I know the P. C.A. M. is appreciative of the effort, and Genii joins in thanking the Reno club which made it possible.

held on Saturday and Sunday, August 21st and 22nd, at Massillon, Ohio. All magicians are welcome. There will be a show Saturday night, fo'lowed by tree beer and edibles. Sunday morning is the time for the Amateur Contest. Sunday afternoon; picnic contests. Prizes will be awarded the winners of the various events. Last year there were two hundred and forty-six registrants at the Carnival, making it one of the biggest gatherings of the kind in the world. Btiftles Brush writes me that he expects to see that figure topped this year. I certainly hope so, for it is lu&t such gatherings as these which give impetus to the magic we love. Baffles Biush (and Genii readers will note that I've finally managed to eret a picture of him) will be in charge of the affair and anyone wishing further information can obtain Hie sa'rie by writing him at 1518 10th Street, Canton, Ohio. Likewise, (hose desiring to have a place on the show, or who wish to enter the contests, would do well to write him and let him know. You still have time. Massillon. Ohio, is centrally located for the majority of magicians. It is easily accessible to those who live in a score of large, surrounding cities. Also, being set on Saturday and Sunday as it is, should make it a convenient time for everyone. After all, VPU can't do any business, or make any money, on those days. So, you might iust as well join the gang and blow yourself to one of the best times you've ever had. In order that you may attend it is Some of the personal highlights of not necessary that you be a member the convention for me were my talks of anv masic organization. It is an with Dariel Fitzkee, Doug Kelley and independent affair, open to all who B'll Harkness. Dariel gave me a lot have an interest in magic. of advice which I will use. -I believe ^-'tzkee is the best informed magician I understand that at the beer party, The Central States Magicians' Car- "iiich was held at the 1934 Carnival, in the West. Doug- Kelley, the M. D., nival, which was started twelve years is another personable chap who lives there was one bottle of pop. This for magic. That is, he lives it when ago by the late Jess Springer, will be was not used, and was again availhe can fake time away from his able in 1935. However, I understand medicine. Incidentally, he discussed that the bottle of pop survived both medical topics as interestingly as 1935 and 1936, so it will undoubtedly »magic. I like him. And I arso like be at Massillon again this year. BafBill Harkness, a hard worker for the tles says that if no one demands it cause. It was a genuine pleasure to before 1942 he's going to take a see Bill Harkness and Steve Shepard chance and drink it himself. get the award of the two Houdini trophies. I can't imagine anyone ever EDITOR'S NOTE doing more to earn them. They really worked. Good luck, Baffles. Hope you have a swell turn out. And, don't rorget Two young men who will go far in to have someone send us a complete this magic business, unless I am far leport of the entire meeting, that we wrong, are Ed Reese and Al Henmay publish it in Genii. nings, both of San Diego. Both nave a flair for new ideas, and don't mind going to a lot of work to put them SUGGESTED PROGRAM into effect. Another young chap 1. Popping The Bag, (November, whose work is far above par is Ever1936 Genii). ett Lyda. The San Jose gang should 2. The Languid Cartoonist, (Deget together and do everything poscember, 1936 Genii). sible to foster Lyda's work in magic. Among those coming a long way to 3. The Haunted House (December, attend the affair were Dr. Talbot, J. 1936 Genii). B. Barth, Captain C. H. Howard and 4. Spell Bound (November, 1936 his wife, C. P. Robinson, Lloyd ChamGenii). bers, who put on a dealer's demon5. A Pipe Dream (December, 1936 stration for Thayer, Mrs. Chambers, Genii). BAFFLES BRUSH Twenty Enter the Mrs. Houdini Escape Contest now!

Twelfth Annual Central States Magicians' Carnival

GENII

Ramblings and Ravings

has disillusioned not only me, but you and you! Am I RIGHT? If not, SUE ME!" By the GREAT LAYOFF (DORNY) 1 met Caro Miller some years ago, backstage of the local show shop m T T T Fmdlay, Ohio and had many nice "Well, after many, many months and tell clients and booking agents "chin-wags" with him. I know the silence as a 'scribe' we could not re- what to book tor entertainment, then Pacific Coast boys are fortunate in sist the temptation to unload a tew they will begin to have factions, dis- having a man of his caliber among •ad libs' in this swell magazine of coula, petty intrigues and POLITICS. them as he knows PLENTY about magic. We useter be quite some And that is BAD! We know that the SHOW BIZ, or what is left of it. His •pumpkins' when it came to 'dishing \\ est Coast Conventions in the past me dirt' in magic, but we sorta cut it have been BIG SUCCESSES because laiented daughter, the late Marilyn out about the time old man Depres- ihey have gotten together tor the pur- ivinier was always one or our pet sion came along. Somehow or other pose of having a SWELL TIME in stars. "Greetings to you, GIG!" we never could get m the mood." Some day, (if anyone is interested) and with MAGIC and MAGICIANS. But after reading a tew copies of And we would like to attend the big we will unload a bunch of data on the GENII we figured it was about briiNDIG in Reno as we know there some of the good old magic acts that lime we did something to help (?) wiii be a lot ot men there who are we have lamped during a period of the promoters ot a good magazine mere to have a good time and get a many years of show shopping and aiong, so we hope the readers may load or two of what's new and novel trouping. We have a lotta swell anecget a few moments or pieasuie out ot m magic. But we regret we cannot dotes too, about some of the big and our ravings. luake it this time. We are working a small shots of magic. If "ye ed." has First ot all, GREETINGS to that spot in Michigan until September the space and the time for 'em, we'll grand person BEATRICE HOUDINI. lidi, so we will have to content our- be glad to SHOOT THE WORKS! Am very happy to know she is well seives with wishing all you "guys" Well, we hope you have stuck with this column so far. If you haven't and enjoying herself out there in the the best Convention ever. Golden West. (Bring your own in our "battmgs around the world," it's all right with us. If you have, GULD). Thanks so mucn for remem- we have met quite a few magicians, >ou're NUTS! SELAH "DORNY" uermg us at Christmas time with a bom pros and amateurs who now and (Copyright despaired of, 1890). card, Beatrice. then have come to us for financial We also s u r up our well-regulated assistance in times ol duress. We (?) "think tank" now and anon to le- nave been glad to help out a brother S. A. M. PARENT ASSEMBLY caix some ot the swe?i cnaps and the tan but it has been disheartening to A Commentary g"ood times we had while we weie tind that some of them turned ouc to be HEELS, NET! We have written •troupmg" on the Coast. F u s t wiui By William W. Larsen 1 Elsie Janis and her Gang" anu later most of them in plain language askThe attitude ot the Parent Assemon, in the vaudeville shops. Then it ing them to be "regular" and take was "Two a Day." Today it is " Two cdie ot the triends who took Cdie of bly of the S.A.M. toward Julian Prosa Day . . . and THREE at NITE." mem when THEY needed it. We kauer is enough to make a person iliey used to call it "Continuous Vaa- siiall see what we shall see! Some who loves magic doubt his own reacleville." Now it's "Contagious Vau- cti e on the Coast and some in other son. I have never wept too loudly deville." (One show caiches the parts of the world. If they prove to over the exposing evil. On the other other). AH RIGHT then, skip it: oe "RIGHT GUYS" and at least write hand, I have given the avaricious There was always a feeling ot gen- ua saying they are unable at tne time brotherhood a wide berth. Exposers uine friendship on the Coast which is to handle the matter, we will stni have no place in my group ot friends. hard to find in any part of the United reel that they "belong." But it we But, not so with the Parent AssemStates or . . . PHILADELPHIA. cio not hear from them we are going bly, the assembly which by all right While we were helping to win the i.o "BLAST." We will come right out should set the example to the rest ot war by "bathing dishes and battling m the open and publish their names! us. with our BUNK-MATES (Bunk Doth ; , u r for petty revenge but to warn We know that Proskauer aoes not ways) m g'ood old San Francisco, we me others who might FALL for their need the S. A. M. He can make his met and learned to like very much, line, to BEWARE. We believe in way through his golden fields without such splendid men as Jesse Mueller, x/ din talk. That is another reason the aid of that organization. He's Harold Jacobs, Syril Dusenbery, Rust why we like the GENII. It dares to smart enough in the ways of money ijipka and many others. It is our biurt right out tacts and trutns as making. But, why in God's name does ambish to come out there before we they exist. the parent assembly think it needs do the final "vanish" and renew old It has been one of the biggest DIS- Proskauer? What possible good can friendships, and we hope, make some ILLUSIONS of our travels to meet he do them except bring them into new ones. some of the BIRDS who have been ndicule? It must simply be the case We have had a great deal of ex- .. .aten up in the TRADE PAPERS mat the swell guys m the assembly, perience in our young (?) and bril- ao potential HOUDINIS and THURS- and there are a lot of swell guys, liant (?) career with putting on magONS to find after meeting and see- don't care. Yet, if that is the case, ic shows and conventions, borne weie ing them, that they were very, very then let the Parent group be disbig and some were small. Some were jRY SAD in every way. We like solved. That would be for its own good and some were just so -o. But C. T.'s (whoever he may tie) "RIB- goad, and for the general good of we have sorta discontinued our ef- BIN'S" because he DARES to talk magic. forts as magical Ziegfelds for many plain language. We realize that most Proskauer—and I hasten to apoloreasons. Mostly politics. Politics in of his stutf is a "rib and a gag" but gize for thus publicizing his name— a magical organization are the there are many fine points in fact has been a thorn in the flesh of deBUNK. As long as a flock of good that crop up with rare frequency. cent magic for years. If the Parent fellows associate themselves for the And by the way C. T., I have been Assembly won't do something about promotion of magic and GOOD FEL- honored here in this part of the it, the national body should. I enjoy LOWSHIP, they will click. When country as being perhaps the mys- my membership in the S. A. M. Howthey try to go in for too much "UP- teiious C. T. (I wish it WERE true). ever, I'll never pay another years' LIFT and REFORM" and really begin Too much con and bull about Dirds dues' if all it will do is help to tin to think they can stop exposers (?) who do not rate the bows they take Godify a heel. Twenty-one Five dollar award each month for best trick.

GENII

LUB REPORTS SEATTLE NEWS By Charles N. Smith

FLASH A. Caro Miller

FLASH—Here we are folks, at the scene of the Post Convention Activities in Oakland, California. The portable transmitter of Station P.C. A.M. is set up in the lobby of the St. Mark Hotel to broadcast the highlights of Oakland's Post Mortem Magic Party to all stations on the Genii network. FLASH—Friday evening and here they come. Charlie (Uncle Felix) Smith, Hasp-p-p McManus, Caryl Fleming and charming little Dorothy Wolf, the Eay Gamble's Queen of Magic, Mrs. Harry Houdini, Ed Saint, and others. A happy reunion of brother magicians who haven't seen each other since last night in Reno. FLASH—Saturday night and what! Steve Shepard is M. C.-ing—Plenty of liquid refreshments—plenty or laughs —plenty of magic. Some fun eh? FLASH—Jimmy Muir has a new theme song—"Rose in the Bud." Now "Rosebud" Muir to those in the know. Rumor has it that the Oakland Aiagic Circle is considering tossing Jimmy out of the club for "exposing." FLASH—Sunday morning and Jack M C Boshard and Bill M C Harkness awaken your scribe to remind him of his breakfast promise. Over the coffee is born a new magical organization—"The Scotch Wizards." FLASH—Sunday noon and a bus tour of the two bay-bridges with Jimmy at the microphone. High-balls enroute—shrimp cocktails at Fisherman's Wharf—Golden Gate park—the beach—China town—and back to the hotel. Swell. FLASH—Sunday night—a n i n e rdance at the Lake Merrit Hotel. More laughs—then back to the St. Muir. hotel for more talking—more laughing and more magic. FLASH—Monday night at Embassy Club in San Francisco to greet Mr. and Mrs. Mardoni—now in their twenty-sixth week. Last-minute flash—T e n k a i and Okinu are headed for Oakland and clue in tonight. Maybe we will start another convention. Very last minute flash—The Oakland Post Convention has been a great success and will be repeated next year. Twenty-two

On July 7th, Frank Joy punctuated the summer magical calm, with a most delightful 'house warming' at his beautiful new home, 2835 28th Ave., W. A colorful gathering of local Magis were present as well as Miss Wolf representing the Sphinx, who was passing through Seattle on an extended trip. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the evening was the discovery of an oddshaped counter-like contraption in the basement Amusement Room; it was some ten feet long with a brass footrail extending along it's front, some ten inches from the floor, while mirrors and inverted goblets and glasses were displayed behind it along the wall. Following this discovery a sevenact Magic Show was presented, with the following magis contributing: Harry Miller, Coins; Jno. Stablein, Cards; Geo Todd, Hankies and Manipulative; W. L. Stroud, Comedy Prediction; Prof. Beddo, Mental Effect; Hickerson, Mind Reading Bill Effect; your reporter, Cards and Restored Kibbon. Ray Gamble of Tacoma then exhibited his $3,000.00 set of thirtytwo dice made of semi-precious soones, and Miss Wolf extended greetings from the Sphinx to the Magicians of the Northwest. Mrs. Joy then presented the 8th act, a 'Wizards Supper' routine, to the some forty or more guests assembled, and long after everyone had run out of gastronomical space, Mrs. Joy's delicious productions still continued. Frank Joy then presented an excellent Keg Escape; causing a foaming amber liquid to escape through a spigot from an examined keg—this pioved to be a delicious and delighttul symphony in alcoholic rythm. NEWS FROM THE HOME TOWN —Reno, Nevada.—Flash—Several local Seattle boys made good at the Convention. Please read the other columns in this Magic Magazine for more detailed information. Briefs from the World of Sports— Reno, Nevada.—Flash—Barnum was right—the birds that did not attend the Reno convention, certainly belong in the category that Barnum made famous. What a grand, successful convention it was—a grand President pre-

siding, a grand Host in charge, and more grand Magis per sauare inch in attendance than I have ever seen. The Oakland Post-Mortem was a Miniature Convention all of it's own, and likewise an efficiently-handled delightful affair. The rumor that all Jack B. B. Boshard ever ate for breakfast, while at the Reno conclave, was a DOWI of Aspirin Tablets and Cream, is not true; he always washed it down with a glass of Bromo-Seltzer. Jack told me so himself. The Convention is over—long live the Convention—San Jose, you've something to shoot at. OAKLAND MAGIC CIRCLE FINAL STATEMENT OF THE RENO PUBLIC SHOW By Claude Burke, Director.

In the following paragraphs I will not even attempt to review the show. That in all probability will be done by more competent critics than the director, who sees less of his show than anyone else. If we can believe the complimentary things we have heard it was a good show, and if it was a good show, thanks and acknowledgement is due many. First, to the artists themselves, without whose talent no show would be possible. To A. Caro Miller, musical director, who handled a difficult job to perfection. To Jimmy Muir, the master of ceremonies, who can really make a show click, great credit is due. To Chas. Murray, who worked the switchboard of that "bastard" Reno lighting system. To a Reno youth named Archie Tracy, who hung around the stage during the day until I finally put him to work and proved to be my most competent assistant. To the Reno committee headed by R. D. Jenkins, who worked like hell rounding up props, spots, music stands, etc. To Ed Chism, chairman of the ticket committee, who I understand sold over four hundred dollars worth of tickets himself. To Madame Houdini and Ed Saint for their unstinted co-operation in our efforts to publicize the show.

Twenty-five dollar cash prize for best trick every four months.

GENII THE SAN DIEGO MAGICIANS

the South American. These two magical conclave. For further data great boats are pleasure cruisers op- write Al. Ruesch, President, 519 erating on the Great Lakes; sorry I Sixth St., Peoria, 111. . . . JOHNNY By C. W. Fait, President have never seen Mr. Gordon work, again playing clubs around We, Carl H. Heilbron, O. D. Gin- but JIMMY THOMPSON is exception- PLATT ;must be the Texas influther and myself arrived home in San ally adept with cards and is a master Chicago; but he has affected a style of Diego at S:00 o'clock Friday morning, of small intimate magic . . . during ence own—horse blanket shirts and somewhat the worse of wear. We the past month we were glad to re- his flesh-colored shoes had a rear tire blow out about 15 new acquaintanceship with Dec Zolla, miles north of Lone Pine, on High- who showed a neat paper tearing deway 395, and began to tumble, we MINNEAPOLIS HANKY PANKY JIM CONLEY and I both took came to a stop at last with all four sign; CLUB notes, Thanks DOC . . also in town wheels straight up in the air; all were THE STERLINGS and M. F. May 26 is rather far behind, but it three of us pinned in. Mr. Ginther, the first to free himself, crawled out ZENS, the latter on his way home was a memorable occasion for "the and began to get Mr. Heilbron from from High Point after making the boys," so we'll tell you about it, even under the dripping acid of the bat- Eastern Conventions. (Some people at this late date. We had our annual public performtery. I was last to get from under a have all the luck). . . . my correslot of baggage, and found that I had pondence brought me a nice folder ance on that night. We had one grand fiom GREAT LESTER, Ventriloquist, time. The show was managed by a damaged right shoulder. After some little time we had enough peo- who was playing Wivel's Restaurant, 'enisee' Harry Bjorklund, and he cerple stop, and turned the car over on N Y. C. . . . as a fulfillment of a tainly is good. He's funny. He's lovthe wheels again and were able to go promise made some time ago McDON- able. Headliners on the bill were Bill on under our own power. Arriving at ALD BIRCH mailed me a tropny for Lone Pine we were given first aid by my cabin on the Fox river, it turned Schreiber (Chinese act, and received out to be a rattle snake skin, a seau- well), known as Chin Low, A. C. Dr. Schultz, and came on home. specimen—thanks MAC for the (count) Boese, and an old-timer who I want to tell you that we had a tiful wonderful time at the Convention. I, snake's overcoat . . . effective August shows us all up, Kathleen Conrad, for one, did enjoy the battle we had 14th. PERCY ABBOTT will open a the Northwest's only girl magician, for the 1938 convention. Although we Chicago branch store, stocking a com- Dave Swift, and George Anderson. The program was spiced up with lost, it won't be so for the 1940. We plete line of fine magic. JOE BERG will win out on the next, and don't will be manager; a nice arrangement several fine dancing and musical forget it. We will do whatever we for both and a swell break lor the numbers. Don Bennyhoff is a riot can to help to make next year at San local boys . . . sorry to read that with his "stomach Steinway." We had a good house of 400 who NAGYFY, fire eater, is in a serious Jose a huge success. condition in a Cleveland, Ohio Hospi- enjoyed the show very much. tal; the report goes on to say that he DON WARE. MYSTIC 27 CLUB REPORT is suffering from poisoning, as a result of chemicals used to protect Members of the Mystic 27 club, OAKLAND MAGIC CIRCLE composed of amateur and profession- himself . . . DORNY is still the MagiBy Claude Burke al magicians, provided an entertain- cal Master of Ceremonies at urand Well, here we are, back in the sading program Friday night in Placentia Hotel, Macinac Island . . . will be School's Auditorium, and enabled the ihere until September . . . EUGENE dle trying to get accustomed to Rotary club to raise approximately BERNSTEIN, our new live wire Pres- everyday routine again and believe me it's not so easy. In fact I've lost $300 for recreation work in the com- ident of Chicago Assembly, S. A. M. munity. has already inaugurated some lnte- track of order so well that this is just going to be a rambling page of A social club composed of only 27 lesting innovations, calculated to general information. snare the members interest on meetmembers interested in magic, came You just don't have any fun when to Placentia to provide the entertain- ing nights. Invitations were sent to you're in charge of one of the major ment through an invitation ex- ail local dealers to present any new functions of a Convention, so I'm Many dealers tended by Eisenacher. Those who tricks they wished. sure that any other member could participated included Ray Frazier, availed themselves of this opportunwrite a more interesting account of who acted as master of ceremonies ity and the boys viewed some shiny the affair than I can. In fact I didn't and fooled the crowd with card 1937 magic . . . it being a warm July even attend the business session or tricks Hal A. Curtis, America's night the success of me evening was the contests as I was at the theatre "worst" magician; George R. Postle, aided and abetted by some cool keg- working on the show. Frank Whitson, Dr. R. V. Stone, Leo .med refreshments. So enthusiastic However, when we arrived the good li by, Dick Wilcox, Milton and Francis aie the members about this opportunold "beer baron" Jack Boshard was Clausen, Richard Mawe and Max Ter- ity of seeing new magic that this plan already there in all his glory and his hune. Teihune is a ventriloquist of will be continued indefinateiy, us a first words were "let's have a cold note and played in The Hit Parade, a matter of fact, will be extended in one." And they kept checking in recent film. scope, and GENE has authorized me from all points that first day. It was to invite every dealer in the U. S. leally something to remember. Our to send an effect or two for demontop man, Caryl Fleming, was "on the CHICAGO NOTES stration at the next meeting. It will line" (and don't get me wrong) with be capably presented and will be sold By a cheery greeting for all as they or returned immediately. We meet trooped in, singly, in pairs, or in George Troseth Friday of each month. Mail to bunches. All the old familiar faces Seemingly my reportorial activities third EUGENE BERNSTEIN, President have earned me the sobriquet of "the S. A. M., 77 W. Washington St., Chi- were there. Captain and Mrs. Howard WincheO of Chicago" . . . can't help cago, 111. . . . Peoria Magical Assem- and Bill Harkness from Canada. it boys, I call 'em as I see 'em . . . bly is planning a Grand Get-Togeth- Charlie Smith of Seattle, the "prince GREAT GEORGE played Kedzie The- er of all Mid-West Magicians on Oc- of the convention." Ray and "Tot" ater recently . . . PAUL ROSINI at tcber 1st and 2nd. Shows each night Gamble representing Tacoma, and Talbot from Spokane. From the Hi-Hat Club for an indel'inate run . . . with NICOLA the featured attraction. Doc our little Queen, Madame HouGENE GORDON is acting as M. C. Headquarters will be at the Jeffer- South dini with the ever-present Ed Saint and Magician on the North American son Hotel and Peoria boys are workon duty as usual. Our editor, Bill and JAMES KATER THOMPSON is ing hard to make this an outstanding Larsen with his charming wife, or officiating in the same capacity on Twenty-three Enter the Mrs. Houdini Escape Contest now! CLUB

GENII should I say, our editor Gerry Larsen with her husband. Met the San Diego delegation and from what I saw oi them they seemed to be good eggs. Sometimes I wonder if all tins tripe about S. D. isn't just a bit out of oider. Others who stand out particularly for some reason or other are: Doc Parsley and his pal Dick Boyle, Mrs. Chas. Carter, Dick Swanson, L. L. Ireland and his pal Studdem, the San Jose boys, who incidentally were the successful bidders for next year's convention, Bob Madison w h o s e daughter as I predicted, although the Genii didn't publish it, "knocked the wise guys siliy," Joe Cook from Utah and Pine Ford from Del Monie.

Steve Sheperd, Douglas Kelly and G.yndon Smith for their outdoor s units that attracted great attention and gained us valuable newspaper write-ups. Deserving of special mention is the ladies' committee. The side attractions arranged for the ladies were excellent and I have it right from the girls that they had a better time in Keno than ever before. All in all, it was a grand Convention and our hats are off to Reno and the Reno Magic Circle. We'll be glad to come back again, and soon.

P. C. A. M.

I. B. M. and the S. A. M. San Jose was chosen as the convention city for 1938. It was also suggested that the meeting be held in San Francisco in 1939 and in San Diego in 1940. Two new clubs were admitted to membership in the P. C. A. M. The first was the Demon's Club of Seattle. The second, The Oakland Conjurer's Club. Both of these are Junior organizations. A method was also provided for the acceptance into membership of clubs and individuals at any time during the course of the year—without the necessity of waiting until the time of the convention. The following were elected to fill vacancies on the Board of Governors: Ray Gamble for District Number 1; Dariel Fitzkee, Leaf McManus and Gig Miller for District Number 2 C. Heilbron for District Number 3. In the second district, A. Caro Miller will substitute for "Gig" during the latter's absence. It is noteworthy that the entire meeting was conducted in complete harmony.

First night was the Magician's only show and standouts were: our own Dr. Ennis, Chas. N. Smith, and L. L. Ireland. Lloyd Jones deserves plaudits. The Magician's only show is the toughest show of the convention. No one seems to treat it seriously with The meeting was called to order by the result that it's doubly hard to put the President, Caryl S. Fleming. Conover. This was the best M.O. show we have ever had, so again, I say, giatulatory telegrams were read by the secretary, followed by the election congratulations Lloyd. ot officers. The results of the elecModesty should probably forbid me mentioning the Public Show, but if I tion follows: slight it I would be doing the artists Caryl S. Fleming was unanimously who appeared an injustice, because it re-elected president of the P. C. A. M. was a good show. In fact it was a First vice-president: Arthur Heinsen, great show and every act is to be of San Jose. Second vice-president: sincerely congratulated on the show- Fred Tuttle of San Jose. Secretary: Mrs. Harry Houdini has kindly coning each made. If any censure is to Harry G. Shaw, San Jose. Leo sented to foster a NEW CONTEST be made, I deserve it myself for not Schmitt was re-elected treasurer. which is to begin in September. Enthinking quickly of some solution tries will be published each month in when a "distant voice" piped up, "I've GENII up to and including tne Februgot the key here in my pocket." ary issue, at which time the names of Last night of course was the dinthe winners will be announced. ner-dance, at the not-air-conditioned The contest concerns ESCAPES. Riverside hotel. Might as well call a New ideas regarding escapes, new spade a spade. The arrangements presentation ideas for escape work, were poor. No proper table reservaescape lectures, treatises regarding tions with the result that there was escapes and any similar material may a mad scramble of groups trying to be entered. Also, in addition to winfind a table that would accommodate ning the Houdini prizes, the winner their number, etc. Check, San Jose, may also win the regular four months and don't let it happen again. Howcash prize, the monthly prize, and his ever, after everyone finally got loentries will automatically be entered cated, we sat down to the finest in the sweepstakes contest. meal that we have ever had at any Prizes for the Mrs. Harry Houdini convention. Magic entertainment at Contest are as follows: the dinner-dance should never be attempted unless the working condiFirst Prize tions are proper, and they certainly Pair of book-ends, one being a bust weren't proper at the Riverside. A. Caro Miller, Clarence Slyter and of Harry Houdini and the other of Steve Shepard "worked," and deserve Mrs. Houdini. praise for their efforts in the face of Second Prize such performing difficulties. To Capt. Chas. Howard goes a bouTen dollars in cash. quet for the excellent manner in Third Prize which he led his committee in handling the contests. They were run off Five dollars in cash. with dignity and order and the prizes CARYL S. FLEMING The contest is now open. Send in were distributed promptly and propGenii feels that the P. C. A. M. is to your contributions as early as possierly. Especially excellent judging be commended upon it's choice of of- ble. was shown in the awarding of the ficials. We are also happy that Caryl trophies. I haven't heard one squawk Fleming is willing to devote another yet. year's effort in behalf of the organThe publicity, thanks to the co-upization. It is notable that Caryl is eration of Madame Houdini and Ed President of the P. C. A. M. and, likeSaint particularly, was the best ever. wise, holds a vice-presidency in the And in that line we must also thank Twenty-four Enter the Mrs. Houdini Escape Contest now!

Business Meeting Reno 1937

Mrs. Harry Houdini Contest

GENII CANDID CAMERA CLICKS PEEPHOLE BOX CAMERA SERVICE INC. By Orac Rellim

BY H A R R Y

M E N DQZA

HOOLIMAH! Hot Headlines from Hollywood: Understand from good authority that C. T. Jr. is an illegitimate child, quite natural at that with a Father like C. T. Sr. I receive at least a dozen letters a week asking who C. T. is. I am not sure and can't say at this time, but as soon as I know—I will definitely expose him. Bert Kalmar famous song writer and magician is on his way to Europe. Bert will visit in London, Norway and Sweden. He and Clement DeLeon should prove great friends on account of Billiard Balls—they're both good too. Too bad Jerry Kosky just missed the S.A.M. presidency by one vote. Well, it was a good try for something that was decided upon at the last moment. Jerry has been the hardest worker for the S.A.M. that the coast has- had. Charlie Miller just back from a tour of night spots for the M.C.A. Still the greatest guy with all-around sleight of hand in the entire world. Max Terhune will be starred in his next picture for Republic. Max is getting very ritzy, he just purchased a new dummy—guess Scully is glad to get a rest at that. Caryl Fleming returned from Hisrh Point loaded to the gills with books pnd apparatus. (He even bouerht Cecil's book which this writer think'; is not so hot). Incidentally Osborne's book on Cups & Balls is the last word. (Hev—I'm getting in Lloyd Jones' hair—I better stop). The Great Leon is fully recovered and once more is wise-cracking ^t Magic meetings. Too bad Charlie Miller missed the last meeting of Los Magicos as they had movies of how Hamburgers are made, especially' prepared by Dr. Looser. Understand Luis Zingone is coming out here again to make another picture for M.G.M.

and energy that you spend on three ten dollar dates on one twenty-five dollar date you will get ahead In magic quicker. Whether in a small school or in the largest theatre, its the presentation that counts. A small town school audience is harder to fool than a fifth avenue crowd. There are just as many kids that yell open the other side in the dye box trick today as ever and just as many grown ups that want to but are pfraid. It is still the greatest sucker trick. No amateur ever hurt Magic. But some of them sure play hell with it just after they turn professional. What or who is a copiest? Oh I know a rat; but who is a rat and who isn't? In some people's view I can claim priority rights as the world's greatest copiest. I open with the cane to silk, so I copy Miaco, and I have done it for three years as they say Mvstic Craig does it, so 1 copy him. I do Blendo and produce a birdcage therefrom, so I copy Tommy Martin- I use the Dyeing Silks and Umbrella trick so I copy Duval; I do Frackson's card routine as he taught me. so I copy him; I do One to Eight1 •R'lliard balls in Pantomine, so i copy Cardini; I was one of the first that used the Cocktail Shakers, In ract I believe Paul demonstrated his proof for me. and now I have Mvstic Craig's Bar Act so I will copy Hoffman in my next show; I use my own Linking Ring routine but I hope some dav to be able to do a routine lust as* Dai Vernon does, then I will copv him. No. there is nothing original except the smile. But—I have never stolen a man's trick, sold or marketed pnvthing that was not my own and mv conscience is clear. In short my friends, who or what is a copiest?

Our Camera Clicker was very active at the recent Reno ConventiL-.., but at a low cost of operation. You would be surprised how inexpensive taking pictures is—if you don't put in any film. However, he did make one mistake—or looking at the photo perhaps it is two mistakes—and so we give you this month—a bit of scotch. Those of you that want scotch and soda—put your Genii away and come on over to the house. Anyhow—the two bonny laddies—maybe lassies, are Bill McHarkness and Jack McBoshard who collectively hold the light weight championship of "Worlds Worst Magician." That makes them each half bad—umm—suppose it was a donkey they had won? The boys are really fighting over the possession of the Trophy. Oh my, ves. Bill is trying to get Jack to take it—and Jack is trying to give it to Bill. However, both of them can take Beginning with the September isit—and I don't mean the Trophy. It's sue, a monthly prize of five dollars h-rd to do much ribbing in this col- will be given for the best trick apumn with such a coupla swell guys as ' pearing in the current issue. The Bill and Jack. We would suggest contest is open to all except members however, that Jack either tie a knot of the Genii staff. The editor of or let down the kilts. And after all Genii will make the decisions as to their act wasn't so bad—only Jack this award personally. All tricks, forgot the lines they both forgot to presentation schemes, patter ideas learn. Apparently from the stance— and apparatus combinations will be Bill, is following the advice of Jimmie considered. Muir—and not putting all his eggs in I ikewise the twenty-five dollar conone basket. test will be continued. The name of That's that this month—who is the third winner will be announced next month's Moron? Does your con- in September. Remember, every four science bother you after Reno? You months a cash award is given for the may be next. best trick appearing in Genii within that period of time. The prize is twenty-five dollars in cash and again JUST THOUGHTS all trick contributions are considered By Daniel Dew Don't criticise the other fellow's act except those presented t>y members if he gets more money for a date than of the Genii staff. Judges are appointed by the editor and the latter you do. If you spend the same time, money has no control over the award.

Q U E S T I O N : What well-known spook show performer who at one time claims he was an M. D. couldn't take it when he witnessed an operation being performed in a movie? Genii Sweepstakes Trophy awarded yearly.

Genii Contest Notes

Twenty-five

GENII and may you always wield a heavy scepter. Miss Dorothy Wolf of New York fell in love with California.

THRU

THE

MONOCLE BY DR. EDWARD JAlNT The King is dead, long live the King. Hail San Jose. Let all the Loyal Subjects start NOW to prepare for the next P.C.A.M. convention. I'm doing my bit by sending a box of aspirin to the committeemcn. During the elaborate coronation ceremonies when Mrs. Harry Houdini was publicly crowned Queen of Magic, little Virginia Marie, after cairying the jeweled crown forward to waiting Reno Mayor Cooper, turned to Caryl Fleming and said, "Can I go home now?" The Window of Mystery presented by youngster Alfred Hennings has the earmarks of a second Haskell. Try adding to the window, spirit paintings or spook effect, for a finish. You've got something, Alfred.

Leaf McManus was tickled that he got out of the red.

pink

Ray Gamble, father of the Reno Magic Circle, can well be proud of ihe wild and wooly youngster. It is whispered that the attendance in the convention city would have been much heavier if so many wives and sweethearts had not objected to their Mystic Lords attending Wideopen Reno. Will convention tell me why one months in Reno to license but only 6 vorce.

magicians please must reside 6 obtain a fishing weeks for a di-

Robt. Bailey asked a Reno girl if her name was May, and she answered, "No! My name is June, 30 days hotter than May. Reno convention went Hollywood in lavish parties, all-night sessions, flashy sport clothes, celebrities and big spending.

Col. Harry Day, M.P. hopes that his next visit to America will enable him to attend the '38 convention.

Mrs. the big for the making

Wm. Harkness, Canadian Magis, planning a 'Poison Gas' escape for next year. Out in 2 minutes or else!

Mardoni in his 28th week at the Embassy Club, Frisco. A half year's run is a record or something.

Al Baker, Jarrow and Silent Mora crashed excellent action photos in magazine section of the N. Y. Sunday News.

I guess it was just Fate that San Jose won out over San Diego.

Why some men become magicians. A baby-buggy salesman quit his job when his boss sent him into virgin territory.

Charlie Carter stating that Carter show has been stored time being. Young Carter plans for the Orient later.

A communication from Col. Harry Day informs us that Maskelyne and Devant are again teamed and will, this fall, send out a new show of magic and illusions. It is good to see these names together again.

The ladies of the convention went on written record that the Reno Ladies Committee topped EVERYTHING heretofore. (Hollywood, please note).

I SUPPOSE YOU KNOW one magician can not make a convention, but a convention can make many a magician.

In a solemn and pretentious burlesque, Mrs. Harry Houdini crowned Jimmy Muir King of the magicians during the post-convention festivities at Oakland. Mz-s. Houdini was assisted by five uproariously funny Court Dignitaries and the thirty minute coronation became a leading highlight of the convention lun.

Magic That Perks

. . . . and Jimmy, I want to add some Saint-ly thots and Imp-ressions. May you always have the root of all evil. May you never experience the worm of discontent, know where to hang out, never see the bare side of life, never be blamed for exposing Twenty-six

Harry Cecil has just favored me with a copy of his new book "Magic That Perks." While this book will have little appeal to the sleight of hand men, it is thoroughly practical for the worker of small apparatus. It is thoroughly enjoyable reading and should have a good sale. A coin sland by T. J. Crawford is especially good. Likewise, Harry's own patter for some smaller effects is bound to find favor with a majority of readers. W. W. L.

B Y

G U N N

I regret 444 times that I, or ratiier (We) were unable to attend the convention in Reno. I know I missed a good time and lost the opportunity of learning something, for all conventions teach something. Maybe after all I gained by not going, for 1 worked four shows during the convention week, and have several booked ahead. I had the pleasure, on the night of July 21st of broadcasting Magic over the radio just as you would see it on the stage. This should help Magic. Columbia Broadcasting Company put this on, over K.N.X. in Hollywood. I took no active part in the play but supplied all props and made a Magician out of an actor in a few rehearsals. He was very good and made a better Magician than some Magicians who practice for months. I have taught tricks to several Movie Stars for the pictures and have found out that a good actor can become a good Magician on short notice. They put something in the act besides the Magic, and many Magicians could take lessons from these experienced actors. Knowing the secret of a trick does not make you a Magician. Well sir, for once in my life I am going to beat the races. I am booked for the Del Mar Hotel at Del Mar where Bing Crosby has his race track. I will entertain the boys that take money from you fellows who think you can beat the game. That's something! Floyd Thayer and his wife have been away almost two months and how we miss them. We used to meet at Thayer's every Saturday afternoon and talk Magvc. Now there is no place to go. I know you boys back East were glad to see the Thayers. San Jose, Gig Miller's old home town will be the meeting place for the 1938 P.C.A.M. convention. Makes it nice for all on the Coast for it is so centrally located. San Jose is also the home of the biggest haunted house in the U. S. Be sure and see it when there. What is it that makes a Magician work so hard. It's certainly not the money he makes. The average Magicians will quote $25.00 for a club act but if only paid $10.00 he will work just as hard. John Public will never know or appreciate the effort made by many Magicians to put the show over. The love for Magic is a »«ry peculiar thing and understood only by a few.

Enter the Mrs. Houdini Escape Contest now!

GENII

C. T., Jr.

Magic of the

(San Diego Branch) MAKING

LITTLE ONES OUT OF BIG ONES OR PICK YOUR HOMESITE, SAN DIEGO MAGICIAN'S CLUB NOW BEING SUBDIVIDED

East By Max Holden

Despite the hot weather magic is sti[l holding its own. Glen Pope at the Hollywood Cafe. Perhaps one of his most talked of effects is the Clay Pipes. An old effect, but new to the present generation, and it really has them talking. Two clay pipes are shown, then placed bowl to bowl and puffs out smoke. For a finish they are chushed on the floor under his heel until they are in pieces, and then gathering up the fragments in his cupped hands and placing the hands to his mouth he again draws out mouthful after mouthful or smoke. This just goes to show what an old trick with modern presentation will do to the lay public. Pope is now doing the any drink called for and as a result he has been held over. Mystic Craig playing around Pittsburgh. John Mulholland up in Maine entertaining with his exclusive magic. Louis Zingone opens at Loew's State Theatre July 27th. Keith Clark was in and showed me some proofs of his Cigarette Book. A lot of time has been spent on this worthwhile book. It is expected early in August. A letter from Horace Goldin from London. Horace is ever on the look out for new effects and even if small, he enlarges them to suit his vaudeville show. The Tip-See Milk Bottle as an example of a small effect that Goldin has added to his show and the audience like it. A new illusion has been added. A large rubber balloon is infiated. When completely blown up— a girl is produced from same. Giovanni billed as the world's greatest pickpocket magician again playing London. Tom Jersey, a clever shadowgraphist, also playing London, and besides his shadows works the Saltrix (Salt passed from hand to hand), Sympathetic Silks and Milko. Dr. Harlan Tarbell again playing dates, and it is good to know that he has fully recovered from his recent illness. Hardeen breaking records around. Mr. and Mrs. Fred DeMuth in town for their annual visit. Herman Weber also a visitor; and Friend Frost from Oklahoma. Chas Hoffman and John Booth doing well. They both keep busy on the publicity end of their act and the reason, plenty of bookings. Doc Nixon playing out of Kansas City with his clever act under the name of Chandu.

Professor Fait, commonly known as Our Lord Fait, started the San Diego Magician's Club in 1932. Of course with Professor Fait as president. A few other aged rodents completed the n.embership. Along in 1934 a younger element began to trickle in. By 1935 there were eight (yes, I said ten cents) young vipers nesting in Professor MAX TERHUNE Fan's Real Estate Office. The Club gave a social meeting every month in anyone's home who could set up one uoughnut to each member. Professor Fait has had for the last Max—Did you go to Reno? Skully—You know I'm a bachelor. two years, a sore foot which keeps Max—I mean to the Magicians Con- him from performing his hypnotic and escape act that used to wow 'em vention. Skully—I went once and saw so in the old days. Thus the programs many long haired magicians I thought were always rounded out by the it was a House of David Baseball young fellows. The beginning of 1936 saw Lyle club. Max—If you mean Lima, Ohio that Laughlin leave the fold to form Los Conjuares Del Sur with by-laws built was a magicians Convention. Skully—It was Kenton, Ohio and 10 exclude the young fellows. Eddie Goodwin then left the San were the Barbers on a striks? M a x — S k u l l y you're talking to Diego Magician's Club for Los Conjumuch, don't you know "Silence is ares Dei Sur giving the reason that "he didn't like the young fellows Golden." Skully—If you'd shut up and leave fooling around with his apparatus." me alone I'd have plenty of money His "apparatus" consisted of a lot of junk and his performing ability then. Max—I'll leave you alone smart worse. One of the Magician's wives diAlec, as I now have another dummy. Skully—You mean you have two voiced him for beating her and because Professor Fait had testified in good performers and you are the her behalf, he also left the San Diego stooge. Magician's Club for Los Canjuares Max—Why didn't you go to Reno? Skiully—Was making a picture and Del Sur. several other members transferred my sweetheart said I was just a shadow of my former self, and hit me their alliegence to the other club for with a flyswatter because I played reasons either too lengthy or sordid around on the screen so much, and to relate here. Ed Reese and Fred say you big Ham why didn't you go. Shields resigned from the San Diego Max—Big Ham? Say, I've been told Magician's Club and are now free lancing, belonging to no clubs and I was a finished performer. Skully—Finished performer? Yeah, thriving on it. Now only two members, and they I'd say about 10 years ago. young ones, attend the meetings of Your pals, the very feeble San Diego Magician's Max Terhune & Skully. Club. Of course at the annual reelection of Professor Fait, tne Prof, drags out a ventriloquist and an old . A > '• •'/' broken down war horse who does magic too poorly to deserve the title of Magician. These three oldsters manage to flout the opposition with the help of punch and cookies which all knew are coming if they vote right. The present meetings are taken up wi.h the discussion of "our old members and how we can get them back." Los Conjuares Del Sur has not fared much better.

Five dollar award each month for best trick.

Twenty-seven

GENII means of this sleight is one of those the last day when someone had feats which can be successfully work- yanked him out of bed after about 1 (Continued from Page 11) ed at a card table, and will be found hour of sleep so that he could get a of the group, between first and sec- extremely effective under such cir- ride home. I was reminded of Slyter's Act. ond finger' tips on the face and the cumstances. thumb on the back of the card, grip- - - - what in the dickens was that ping it by the end, and dealing it face s>.ng that Louine Miller was trying to up on the table. This is repeated with get u = to sing at the dinner, some? second card. But on the third deal, thing about a preacher who prayed instead of taking the face earn, this too long. I thought that I knew all that act of Clarence Slyter's on is shoved back a portion or an inch the songs in the Scout Song Book, but 'he Big Show, I have heard of Clarin the left hand by the right second (hat was a new one both in words ence who appeared on the Seattle and melody. It's funny, but people finger tip, and the right hand grasps programme in '36, but never expected the two top cards of the pacKet and will never sing when you try to get f .^ see such swell pantomine and ma- them to, and won't stop when you do. deals them as one face up on the table on the other cards. This leaves nipulation with such difficult objects wouldn't that little platinum one card in the left hand, and it also as wine glasses. This is the type of rragic act that I have always dream- b'onde dancer at the Doghouse be is dealt face-up on the others. Only scmething nice to produce out of a ed about as being the tops in enterfour cards have been visible, and Doll House Illusion. tainment value. The gentlemen revelthese are the four black cards. If. Miss Bernadine Madison's er who comes home after imbibing however, this packet is picked up and Fantasy in silk, no, I don't mean it again turned face down, and the same too freely, but can still get around deal repeated, the fourth card which under his own power and imagines that way. That act was not something to laugh at, but it was someis left alone in the right hand will be that he sees all the things that realthing to just sit there and watch. As the red queen. It is dropped face ly d'O happen. Clarence well-deserved down on the table in front of the his trophy for the outstanding per- long as I can remember, magicians spectator. ?nd as he turns it face-up forrrance. The nice thing about him have always considered that the and looks at it, the performer casually is that he really appreciates the ap- Passe-Passe Bottles had to be worked with a sterotype line of patter, but preciation of his audience. buries the other card in the deck, Miss Madison disproved this and conthus hiding all traces of the method. the clever manipulation of the veyed the whole idea by graceful When the packet is picked up, at dummy in the vent act in the contest gestures. It must have been a matter show. I did not get his name but of considerable satisfaction to Bob the start of the deal the cards should Madison to see his daughter so efbe crimped lengthwise, so that their this young man has something here ficiently performing effects that have faces are concave. This helps to en- and will undoubtedly cash in on it. the improvement that Mc- been his pleasure these many years. sure that the two cards will stay squared together when dealt as one. Manus made in the Trunk substitu- — another effect that I enjoyed The packet should be held well down tion illusion by leaving the key in his was performed by Alfred Hennings pocket. This causes the audience to of the San Diego Club in the contests. in the left hand in such a position that the backs of the cards are al- wonder how he got in in the first This was a combination of Mi Lady's place, whether or not he was in the Parasol and some screen effect that most completely concealed making it less easily observable that at one trunk at all, and if so, how could he I am not familiar with. Hennings has pick the lock which was outside the combined these with a little story and time the top card of the packet is slid trunk when he was inside. This is off instead of the face card. the entire effect is a series of surThe above represents the standard positively baffling. prises. This is one of the best acts execution of the sleight. We have dethe expression on that lad's in the entire contests and show's that vised, however, a different handling fa"e who worked the wine and water he expended considerable time and cf the cards to produce the same re- trick in the contests when he an- thought in it's presentation. sult—a handling which has some ad- nounced that he would pour out a it's not a bit too early to bevantages over the original in point of glass of milk and it turned red, incinaturalness. We give both, that the dently, this has been one of the few gin making plans to attend the conreader may take his choice. occasions when I have enjoyed see- vention next year at San Jose. HARRY G. SHAW. For this new version of the sleight, ing a performer's trick go haywire. the left hand is held palm upward, that great gag the Reno boys and the packet is placed on race up- pulled on Caryl Fleming when they wards, in the normal position for asked him to present their trophy dealing. The left hand is now turned it came apart in his hands. They towards the performer's body, bring- and must have got that idea from those ing the back of the hand, and conse- collapsable telephones. ouently the backs of the cards, to the - - - - Lyle Laughlin working up the spectators. The cards are dealt off In September the name or tne winthe face of the packet, by being push- "may I have your autograph please," ed ever slightly by the left thumb, and then switching with one of those ner of the Genii Sweepstakes award and then gripped at the protruding exploding pencils, and then going in- will be made public. The award concorner by the right hand, with thumb to hysterics. Some people will go to sists of a beautiful trophy, engraved tip on the face and first and second a lot of trouble just to annoy some- with the name of the winner. In making this presentation we want Genii finger tips on the back of the card. one. Except for the tilt on the left hand, some of the explanations of- readers to decide for themselves the this is precisely the normal handl- fered by the local Renoites astohow contributor to whom it should be ing for dealing cards off the top of Steve walked thru the brick wall. given. the deck. When it comes to the third One fellow rapped his knuckles to All contributions are eligible, card, however, on the deal, this card see if they used some kind of sponge- tricks, articles, club reports, columns, is drawn downwards a fraction of an rubber bricks. etc. Likewise award may be given to inch by the left thumb, and the two - — Boshard trying to get behind anyone except a member of the Genii remaining cards are gripped as one Harkness and Harkness trying to get staff. So, buy a penny post card by the right hand, and so dealt face behind Boshard when they were pre- right now and let us know who gets up on the others. The card remaining sented with their well-deserved Tro- the trophy. Address your vote to in the left hand is now shown. Wm. Larsen, Box 560, Pasadena, Caliphy. The color change executed by Agnew's eyes the morning of fornia. Twenty-five dollar cash prize for best trick every four months. Twenty-eight

L. W. MAGIC

I'm Still Laughing At

Sweepstakes Award Vote

GENII

BOOK REVIEWS Light From the Lamp A review of magical literature by Lloyd E. Jones Everything is packed. It's Reno in the morning so there will be no postconvention comment in this column. With little Hatif corked in his jug I'll soon be behind the wheel headed for Reno and a glorious time. Good news comes in the announcement that Michael Kanter is to publish Keith Clark's Encyclopedia of Cigarette Magic. It should be available finally, for next month's reviews. And speaking of Encyclopedias, have you yours on Card Tricks yet? Better place your order now. For new magic we find Joe Berg turning out HERE'S NEW MAGIC for one-fifty by photolitliographing twenty sheets of twenty secrets and stapling them in an attractive cover. As usual with books by dealers, the magic is good. Cards and handkerchiefs are mainly employed, then there's a rope knot popular iocally, Berg's fine routine with worthwhile patter lines. Another booklet comes from England from the mimeograph of P. Molz and is titled TRICKLETS, by Ventor. Apparently the dealers can furnish this one for it was forwarded through Floyd Thayer. For thirty cents you get six tricks to file away and forget but there may be one or two of you who will like some of the ideas although I didn't. The July JINX brings another Lock and Key mystery that many will simplify by forgetting about the hidden lock. Three other tricks of the Jinx worthwhile variety, another routine from earlier issues, the newsy news, and a poke at Glenn Gravatt that Genii readers will enjoy. The June DRAGON has magic from Van Zandt that the kids will use, a dozen other columnists with a variety oi small tricks, Opel's interesting reminisences, and the usual no illustrations. When I told an I.B.M.'er triend that the June issue of his LINKING RING didn't have a single trick in it, he said to lay off or he would pick on me! Tsk, tsk such language, certainly we all like to read interesting columnists but don't we all want magic in magical magazines? What's the matter with you I. B. M. members ? The July TOPS brings more news of an interesting controversy that should provide educational reading for several months. The book collectors begin warming up for the battle, the contests bring forth selected entries, and the columnists don't repeat

the same thing or tread on each others toes. In all, an enjoyable issue of magic's "bargain price" magazine. The July MAGIE asks, "Were you in Berlin?" Then proceeds to maice us all wish we were through descriptive photographs and amusing cartoons. Soaie of the latter suoula DO Americanized for all to enjoy. So in haste the column is wound up. In a few hours the Reno epoch in my life will begin. From Reno it's on to the National Parks not to return till this issue appears. Will I find a letter from you on the desk when I return?

Judging the NewTricks By Charles W. Fricke

When Editor Larsen mentioned in the last Genii that 1 was to columnize on the new tricks no one but he knew the chances he was taking. For the uninformed, may I explain that this same William W. Larsen is one of our leading Los Angeles criminal lawyers and not infrequently appears in my court. My greatest difficulty is going to be the finding of the new tricks. Say, C. T., when IS a trick new? One of the dealers in his last circular includes a Solid Bar Through Coin that Floyd Thayer showed me a year ago. Grant advertizes the Judge Crystal Ball and Stand. Fairly new, ror it TABLETS OF OSIRIS first received publication in the Thos. C. Worthington has Deen March, 1937, Genii and we are glad favoring me with copies of The Tab- someone has made up the necessary lets of Osiris. I heartily commend outfit. Of course we think it's good this paper to every magician who has for we "thunk" it up and the Genii the capacity to rationalize. The last gave it to it's readers. Caryl Flemnumber was issue 95, so, you see, the ing's rope gimmick idea was too new Tablets is well founded in experience. to be mentioned in the last book on I see eye-to-eye with editors Worth- rope effects and it's too bad for Uncle ington, Bish and Heese. Tneir re- Caryl's method is real tops. Say, that marks regarding the S. A. M. ana the Out of the Room Mental Location of Parent Assembly are particularly ap- Frank Travers in the June Sphinx is worth learning. Haven't seen Percy lvopriate. Osiris it out to fight exposers and Abbott's "Wiz" yet but a report from the editors hold no brief for such the I. B. M. convention tells me that it successfully vanishes most anyoffenders as Proskauer and his ilk. smaller than a watermelon. Send one-sixty-five for a subscrip- thing Oh yes, and don't forget that the next tion to the Tablets, addressed to The number the Genii starts it's second Society of Osiris, Baltimore, Md. year andof another of good new lou'Il get a lot of good reading out tricks. The best year new trick I can cl the paper and you'll help fight the think of now is to renew my subscripexposers. tion. See you next month. W. W. Larsen

•B

Thanks A Million To All Members of the P. C. A. M. For the wonderful way you received me and made me one of you. DOROTHY WOLF

Twenty-five dollar cash prize for best trick every four months.

Twenty-nine

AS9A9 As I pound out these words, the Fifth Annual Convention of the P. C. A. M. is meeting in Reno, just 47S mlies away . . . Body and mind find it difficult to keep together—Mind is in Reno and body in Los Angeles . . . Wish there was some truth to that old "magic carpet" idea . . . Ho-hum—But the boss told me not to write about the convention. Said that he would be there to cover it and I should look elsewhere for news. As if there is such a place outside of Reno this month. I'm getting even— I just sent a wire addressed to: "The World's Greatest Magician" in care of Convention Headquarters, Keno. Nevada and I'LL bet they wont deliver it to BILL LARSEN. Gosh, I wonder who will receive that message—and will he be cnagnnefl. Have just read a review of DR. CHARLES HOFFMAN'S act at the Beverly Hills Country Club near n;r, c in n a tj. BILL SACHS said that "Charley's turn has vast audience appeal and pulled sustained palmwhacking:." Local papers there are f ; ving him excellent publicity. Well. "Bartender" . . . when you get back 1T->IYIO the drinks will be on US. . . . ""RRNESTI" (E. J. Caddish to om'•^adei-s) is busy playing dates around S e t t l e and The Great Pacific Nor+hwest. Those who attended thp Seattle Convention last year will rer"eniher him as the man who carried off first prize for the best comedv maeir set. . . . We hear that THEO. ANNEMANN has a perfect force which he has never disclosed. Mavbe its a combination of all his other methods. What ever it is. it MUST be good. . . . HERMAN WEBER sends us word that he is no longer a maKician but a lecturer. THERE is a tHck some of the rest, of us would like to learn. . . . The St. Joseph MaeiVians Assembly is receiving eroorl publicity these days. We have in a recent issue of "The St. Joseph Gazette" a picture of the boys In action with our "Opti-mystical" friend Arthur C. Spratt producing a live guinea pig from what appears to be ft die-box. This might be a good effect for Arthur to write up for the Amateur Department. . . . ALAN SHAW sailed from San Pedro, July 21 on the S. S. Monterey for Sydney, Australia. GERALD KOSKY and the Thirty

writer enjoyed a few hours with him the night before he sailed. DAI VERNON once said of Shaw that, "when HE put a coin in his hand it was THERE." While he 13 working you do not have that uncertain sense of something hidden. . . . ALBERTO has been engaged to teach Mae West a lighted cigarette routine and thimble sleights, and the funny part of it is he is charging her for it. Some fellows get all the breaks. Have you seen the picture, "The Great Gambini"? If so, you saw Alberto doing the hypnotic cane and several productions. BERNARD GIANNINI and GILnuRT VALLE were hosts to LOS MAGICOS at the Sunset Arbor in Hollywood a short time ago. And was the 'Scotch good! Judge CHARLES FPICKE performed a card effect using Miss Wolf as an assistant and h"d her rub the spots off the wrong cird to make it the right one. The m-inciple he used was different. At th» finish there was nothing to get vi d of and the card was passed out for inspection, you might ask Miss Wolf about it. It is still a mystery to some of us . Dr. U. L. DiGhilini was recently a star witness in a court hearing which resulted in the Spiritual Psvchic Science Church of California being deprived of it's state charter. This is the church that ordainec? ^oe Penner's duck, some time ago. DiGhilini said it cost Mae West and Warner Baxter who signed the application, $5.00 to get "Goo-Goo" his ordination papers, which entitled the duck to perform weddings, officiate at funerals and ride on railroads at half fare. The above action will place a number of magicians we know back into the lavman ranks. Ed Saint saw the crash coming a moi>tn ago nnd offered his ministerial services for less than half the usual rates. Jimmie Muir will need to get out fl new business card, likewise Caryl Fleming. Len Gunn and Fulton Ousler who was a "bishop-at-large" . . . What is this we hear about a MidWest conclave of magicians at Peoria. Illinois on October first? The writer used to vanish milk bottles back in that town years and years ago. . . . Now we know where C. T. gets his cues for his "RIBBINS" . . . around a

billiard table. . . May we suggest to our feudin' columnists', PRANK CHAPMAN, HARRY MENDOZA and C. T. that they retire to the hills of old Kentucky and learn some fine points of feuding from professional feudists. . . . TENKAI and OKINU were given a farewell dinner July 15 by the Southern California Japanese Magicians. Having spent most of this past year in this territory they will play dates around San Francisco and Oakland before heading for the East. Germany's "chamber of the theater" lms turned the magicians wand into a "swat-stick" in the hands of the government. The Nazi admini=trafj'on has issued an order forbidding r^agicians to expose their tricks before an audience, and along with the governments interest in the magic art comes a joker that should bring a laugh. It is unlawful for a magician to use eggs or milk in his act. Many other restrictions have been placed on the use of live stock. All of this is a part of the Nazi campaign to prevent waste of foodstuffs. One thing certain, this law against exposing should do away with a lot of dilly-dallying around, pro and con. At least, the magi know where they stand. The restriction on foodstuffs seems somewhat severe, for, after the magician has produced his twelve or fifteen wooden eggs, surely he should be allowed to break a REAL one to bring out the proper effect particularly if he could testify that this little pullet product had passed its age of usefulness to society. On the other hand, if the performer wishes to do the wine to milk trick he could use chalk water but he couldn't call up some member of the audience to taste and verify that the transposition was really a success, nnd the liquid was now certified cow beverage. . . . Well, we could go on and on—but what's the use. Its about time to "flatten out," however, before we do, we wish to extend our congratulations to LESLIE HUNT upon his completion of a successful tour of South America. Next week we have a date to play before "The Los Angeles Educational Deaf Society," am we fear our patter is going to be a complete flop. So what?

Five dollar award each month for best trick.

By BILL TAYLOR

President CARYL S. FLEMING Beverley Hills, Calif.

COAST AJXCCIATION MAGICIANS

First Vice-President Second Vice-President C. S. LEAF McMANUS EDWARD W. CHISM Reno, Nevada Reno, Nevada Treasurer Secretary LEO F. SCHMITT BUD L. BEASLEY Reno, Nevada Reno, Nevada BOARD OF GOVERNORS Third District DR. C. W. TALBOT JAMES STOPPARD CARO "GIG" MILLER CAPT. C. C. HOWARD Portland, Ore. Spokane, Wash. Oakland, Calif. North Bend, B. C. Second District DARIEL FITZKEE EARL RYBOLT L. O. SUNN C. S. LEAF McMANUS San Francisco, Calif. Los Angeles, Calif. Los Angeles, Calif. Reno, Nevada CARO "GIG" MILLER FRANK O. BROILI FREDERIC G. HODGE Third District General Production Directoi Stage Manager General Publicity Director GERALD KOSKY IIOYT G. MARTIN . M R S L O TTI S BRADEN Calif. _,T . Los , , . _ _ Angeles, „-„„ Chairman of Entertainment Committee Chairman Ladies' Auxiliary CLAUDE BURKE, Ass't. General Production Director in charge of the Public Show LLOYD E. JONES, Director Convention Show (Magician's Only)

DIRECTORY LOS MAGICOS Meets first and third Mondays each month at homes of members: Leon H. Leon, President. 10719 Acama St., No. Hollywood. California; Caryl S. Fleming. President Emeritus. 924 No. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, California, William T. Taylor, Vice-President, 2429 Halm Ave.. Los Angeles, California: Fred A. Kapp, SecretaryTreasurer, 10 Terrace Villa. Pasadena, California; Council Representative. William T. Taylor, 2429 Halm Ave., Los Angeles, California. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY" No. 22. S. A. M. Meets second Monday of each month—Pie: & Whistle Cafe—6411 Hollywood Blvd.. Hollywood, Calif. Judge Charles W. Fricke. president. 495 Dalehurst Ave., Westwood. Los Angeles. Calif.. Phone West L. A. 35931; Gerald Kosky. Sec'y & National 1st Vice-President, 2618% Hillcrest Drive Los Angeles, Calif., Phone Parkway 6270; Council Ren-esentative. Franz Christensen, 527 Winona Ave., Pasadena, Calif., WA. 3749. LOS ANGELES SOCIETY OF MAGICIANS Meets last Tuesday of each month—No regular meeting nlace. Frank Fewins. president. 1224V> So. Serrano St. Los Angeles Calif.: Arthur Valli, Sec'y.. 402 West Jefferson Blvd.. Los Angeles, Calif.; Council Representative—Not reported. MYSTIC 27 OF LOS ANGELES Meets first a.nd third Thursdays eae'^ r^onth—Ko'ivwood A. C. ami homes of me-Mie^s. George "Postle. T>T-ec;iriopt SOI W. Patterson, Glendale: Walter Westcott, viee-^re=;idpnt. 1417 Linden Ave.. Glendale: C. R. Ma we, secretarv-t-easurer, 1196 West Road Whittier: Ravwood Frazier, P.C.A M. Representative. 756 S. Spring St., Los Angeles. MYSTIC THIRTEEN OF LOS ANGELES Meets first and third Fridays each month—St. Bernard Cafe. 4057 S. Figueroa St. Ernest Mickie, President. 3146 E. Hill St., Huntington Park. Cailf., James Conley. Secretary, 942 W. 34th St.. Los Angeles. Calif.; Council Representative, Arnold Furstenberg, 111 N. Breed St.. Los Angeles, Calif.

PORTLAND SOCIETY OF MAGICIANS Meets first Thursday each month—at Magic Art Studios—1414 N. E. 21st Ave., Portland, Ore. James T. Stoppard, President, 705 S. E. 55th Ave.. Portland, Oregon, Phone TA. 0984; D. W. Kelly, Sec'y., 4912 S. E. Franklin St.. Portland. Oregon; Council Representative, D W. Kelly, as above. TACOMA RING No. 64. I. B. M. Moets second Monday each month—Winthrop Hotel, Tacoma, Wash. Ray Gamble, President, 3915 No. 30th. Box 316, Tacoma. Washington, Phone Proctor 4443; Herbert Schuh, Sec'y., 3718 North Mason, Tacoma, Washington, Phone Proctor 2157; Council Representative, Ray Gamble, as above. SEATTLE RING No. 59, I. B. M. Meets third Tuesday of each month at the Olvmpic Hotel. Lawrence A. Daughters. President. 3259 Ferdinand S\, Seattle, Wash.; Victor A. MacKenzie, Secretiry, 758 31st Ave.. Seattle, Wash.; Council Representative. Charles N. Smith, 3118 Lakewood Ave., Seattle, Washington. SPOKANE MYSTIC CLUB Me°ts second Tuesday of ench month—no regular ^"•eting place. Dr. C W. Talbot, President, Paulsen Medico-Dental Bldg., Spokane, Washington. Phone Main 2618: E. Vaughn Klein, Sec'y., 1817 West 8th Ave., Spokane Washington. Phone Main 5221; Council Representative. Harper Joy, Vice-President, residence, 825 21st Ave.. Phone R. 2262. RENO MAGIC CIRCLE ASSEMBLY No. 28, S. A. M. Regular meetings and place not reported. C. S. Leaf SIcMamis, President. No. 1. Mapes Bldg.. Reno. Nevada. Phone Reno 21955; Fred Hodge, Sec'y.. P. O. Box 2111, Reno, Nevada. Phone Reno 6121. Council Representative, C. S. Leaf McManus, as above.

LOS CONJURARES DEL SUR Meets fourth Thursdays of each month—at 1 homes of members. (). D Ginther, President, 4685 El Cer ito Drive, SAN DIEGO MAGICIANS CLUB San Pi»go. Calif.. Marshal B. Sylvester, Sec'y., 2118 ,T St., San Piefio. Calif.; Council Representative, Lanson L. Meets first & third Mondays each omnth at 3078 UniAndrus. .3^75 Adams Ave., San Diego, Calif., Phone R a n versity Ave., San Diego. Calif., or at homes of members. dolph 809 1. C. W. Fait. President, 3078 University Ave., San Diego, Calif.; Council Representative, not reported. WIZARDS OF THE WEST Regular meetings or place not reported. William HarkMYSTIC 13 OF SAN JOSE ness. President. 1723 First St., Victoria, British Columbia, One meeting each month called by president—meets Canada: Carl Strable, Sec'y., 2880 Glenwood Ave., Vicnt members homes. Joseph F. Garofolo, President, 942 toria. British Columbia, Canada; Council Representative, Clintonia Ave., San Jose, Calif., Phone Ballard 2253-R; William Harkness, as above. Roy N. Williams, Sec'y., 298 South 15th St., San Jose, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA JAPANESE AMATEUR Calif.. Phone Columbia 2416-W. MAGICIANS SOCIETY GOLDEN GATE ASSEMBLY No. 2, S. A. M. Tenkai Ishida, Organizer. Dr. Tsuned Murakami, Club meets the first Thursday of each month in the Pres 239 V. East 1st St., Phone MU. 3718. T. Miyamoto, California Hotel. Charles Murray, Acting President; Dr. Vice-Pres.," 245 East 1st St., Phone VA. 6882. S. Nako, A. Schwartz, Sec'y., 1163 Flood Bldg., San Francisco, Treasurer, 115 So. San Pedro St., Phone TU. 9703. M. Calif.. Phone OR. 5893; Council Representative, B. F. Kameishi, Secretary, 127 So. Evergreen Ave., % Saito, Farrance, 114 Sansome St., San Francisco, Calif, AN. 4003. OAKLAND MAGIC CIRCLE DEMONS CLUB Meets first and third Wednesdays each month at Meets regularly on the first Tuesday of every month at the homos of members. Raymond Blalock. President, 2716 St Mark Hotel in Oakland, Calif. A. Caro Miller, President, Boylston, N. Seattle, Washington, CA 2432; Harvey Long, 6615 Dana St.. Oakland, Calif. Phone Piedmont 6245-W; Secretary, 4125 Terrace Drive, Everett, Washington, Claude Burke, Sec'y.. 598 42nd St., Oakland, Calif.. Phone Red 1660; Council Representative, Ralph Gilham, 2407 Olympic 8925' Earl Wheeler, Council Representative, 2115 11th Ave. N., CA 0530. Milvia St. Berkeley, Calif., Phone Berkeley 5S91. We are wringing the directory down in type -size to make room for more material. Club secretary^ please check the information and send corrections if necessary.

"Flip-Over" Dove Vanish Box (Qwynne)

"HERE'S M'iW MAGIC" I!y .Foe Illr«. .\n amiy of new and original problems. Illustrated Pi ice

A real book $1.50

"(I 1"S AND HALLS" Uj Tom Osborne. The most complete work on this subject we have seen. 60 pages neatly printed book and profusely illustrated. I'rice $3.00 " l l l K I C Til VT I'KRKS" By Harry Cecil. Clever Tricks clever pattern Effects with cards, eggs, pti.pcr, coins, handkerchiefs, ropes, and mindi eading". 74 page.-, punted on heavy enamel stock. Illustrated. Price $3.50 •Ci(, 111 MANIPULATION"" B> Jack Chaniii. The onlv complete tieatise on Cigar Magic. Many trick.s and much manipulation. Neat printed 80-page booklet and profusely illustrated. I'rice $3.00 " K \ n ( ' l , O r E U I l OF SELF WORKING CARD TRICKS" Revised b> Jean Hu^ard Now in printed form and beautifully bound. 100 pages —Too tricks E\ cry magician should have a copy. I'rice—legular edition $5.00 I'riee—deluxe edition $7.00 "ENCkCLOPEDIA OF CIGARETTE TRICKS" By Keith Clark Now l ead> ' The last word in cigarette magic. With 300 illustrations. Eveiy magician should have a copy, ['nu — regulai edition $5.00 I'rice—Deluxe edition $7.00

"THE 'WU-LING' PAGODA MYSTERY"

A dove is placed, openly and without fumbling, in the box. Immediately the box revolves, the top and bottom fall open and THE DOVE IS GONE! Accomplished by a new, highly ingenious, self-wot king principle, the equal of which is not to be found in any other effect of a similar kind. Simple to work! Entirely self contained! Flashy anil i f i R-.' Price complete $0.75 SUPER SIMPLEX SILK BLOWING By Hllxkl'H A tube is fashioned from a piece of paper, blow n through—and a 1 ed silk shoots out the end The red si k, blown through, becomes white; and the white, blue Then with another blow, all the silks shoot thru knotted together. The paper is shown on both sides and tossed away. The ultimate in simplicity! No faked tubes or attachments. Nothing to get rid of and no sleight of hand. Positively self contained. The paper can be unrolled and shown empty at any time. Pi ice, apparatus and method only $1.50 Price, including silks $3.50 TING PIN SOO GAUD VANISH A selected card is placed in a small case just large enough to hold it. A silk is then thrown over case. Silk is pulled thru the holes in the case and the card has vanished. Complete without silk 75c

"MYSTIC CRAIG'S MIRACLK MAR" ANY DRINK CALLED FOR! A kit of 10 drinks $10.00 Being" used by the leading magicians.

Shown e m p t j , a glass of milk may be produced t h e i e n» ()t a glass placed therein will vanish . It is equally effictivi m exchanging articles of similar size. Invaluable in conjunction with "Milk-O" for the leproduction of the glass of milk Vn illusion in miniature! EASY ro woni>"' PIORFIOOT C O N S T R U C T I O N ; G O R G E O U S L Y

r

"TOUCH A CAED PREDICTIOX" Perfoi mer writes a prediction on a card and places same on the table face down. A card is now freely selected while pack is spread out face up on table This freely selected card proves to be the card that performei predicted Can be immediately repeated. Easy to do and astounding. Price i . $1.50

mOCORATICD'

A Pin ( xima tely 5 by 10 m in size, it is a splendid decoration to an.\ act. Even the talented Mr. Hahne's drawing does not do it full justice. landless variations are possible—all you need do is own one. Older today and be one up on the other fellow. Price, I'agoda cabinet only $8.75

ADDRESS ALL ORDERS TO

THAYER'S STUDIO OF MRGIC i)3(t LO.NGWOOD AVESUE

Phone: WYomins 5012

five dollar award each month for best trick.

LOS ANGELES, CALIF.