Crimp Crib Notes
Posted: November 15th, 2005, 3:48 am
Editoilet (The Crimp issue 32 page 280).
Those whacky Americans! They talk and talk and talk Usually loud enough to hear six streets away
Until they see something good that they want to rip off, then theyre as silent as mice. Then BANG!!! They rip it off.
There wasnt a murmur from anyone about issue:17 which exclusively dealt with the F.U. Bottom Deal. A year later..BANG!!! Out pops GENE MAZEs new book on bottom dealing which describes Follow the Leader as mentioned on p.145 of this magazine.
In the end note to Oh No Not Another Oil and Water Routine I said:-
With a modicum of imagination, the above method lends itself to a follow the leader routine. Naturally, I did not insult the readers intelligence by describing what would amount to be the same method for a different trick.
There is not a hint of credit in the maze book. Of course, to get away with such an obvious theft, Maze back-dates his routine as one he did Twenty years ago.
For how long are these ****s going to get away with such a transparent lie?
It is a great insult to Charlie Miller, Peter Kane and myself who have put a great deal of thought into this area. For Gene Maze to have come up with the same end result would be too much of a quantum leap. To be believable. And I hardly think he could have held on to it for twenty years without creating a stir about it. Furthermore, there are enough people associated with the book who subscribe to the crimp, to make the whole thing pretty disgraceful.
Its just as well that the Americans are so disgustingly insular, because they only fool themselves.
The Crimp Replies (The Crimp issue 33 page 290).
To Jerry Sadowitz, Editor, The Crimp,
While I had been warned by Peter Duffie about your ravings in issue 32 of the crimp, I was unprepared for your psychotic tirade regarding Gene Mazes alleged theft of a card sleight. [Here it appears that RK has misunderstood why JS wrote the above. The issue was regarding an entire trick, not a single sleight Barry Johnson] I am sickened by what you have written. Who do you think you are? You must be out of your goddamn mind. How can you write about this type of thing without asking me about it first? Gene Maze would sooner walk off a cliff than steal anything from anyone.
To quote you, For Gene Maze to have come up with the same end result would be too much of a quantum leap to be believable. Well, [censored], enclosed you will find a photocopy of Genes notes for his original version of follow the leader which he dated june 1973. I have further photocopied the envelope in which he sent them to me two years later, and you will note the post mark 1975. Thats twenty quantum leaping years ago. He send them to me twenty years ago. I received them twenty years ago. He showed me the tricks twenty years ago. He showed the trick to at least four other people in New York twenty years ago.
So, are you accusing Stephen Hobbs, Gene Maze, and myself of lying? You say, There are enough people associated with the book who subscribe to the crimp to make the whole thing pretty disgraceful. You can kiss my ass. The only thing thats disgraceful here is your psychotic outburst that is based on some insane fantasy you have. See a Psychiatrist.
How about the video tape which Gene sent Peter Duffie in 1985 containing follow the leader? Are you also denying that the videotape exists, or that your good friend Peter Duffie is lying to you?
is the whole world lying to you? Is there some massive conspiracy to cheat you of this idea?
You owe myself, Stephen Hobbs, and most of all Gene Maze a sincere apology in the next issue of the crimp. Your statement: For how long are these ****s going to get away with such a transparent lie? Is one of the most reprehensible accusations Ive ever seen.
Ive met you, Gerry, and you seem like a nice enough guy, what the hell is on your mind here? I demand an apology immediately. Immediately, or youre going to be one sorry lad.
Richard Kaufman
P.S. It seems to have escaped your notice that the face up bottom deal is not even the same thing that Gene developed when you were still sucking your thumb. You dont even have your facts right! [Again, here RK seems to be misunderstanding the whole issue- Barry Johnson]
Copies to: Stephen Hobbs, Gene Maze, Peter Duffie, J.k.Hartman, Jon Racherbaumer, Jack Avis, Roy Walton, Donald Bevan, Stan Allen, Erika Larsen, Max Maven, Ron Macmillan, Phil Willmarth and David Goodsell.
The Crimp replies
The following quote is taken from Genii magazine, p. 259, vol 51, No. 4 1987. The subject is Joe Givan who had published a variation of someone elses trick without credit
I pointed this out to Givan, and he said that he had come up with his routine prior to seeing Roths trick, and that he didnt se why he should mention someone elses name when it had nothing to do with the creation of his routine. In all disciplines it is standard ethical practice to cite printed precedents, whether they have influenced you or not. Not only is it common courtesy, but it prevents you from looking like a thief.
I do not wish this to be misinterpreted as a personal attack against Joe, whose company and conversation I generally enjoyed. His attitude toward credit, however, alarms me.
In out modest craft, often the only compensation one receives for an idea is the credit,. Giving credit is such a simple thing to do, too. You merely need the humility to mention another persons name before your own.
- Richard Kaufman P .259 Genii, vol. 51, no. 4, 1987.
It appears that Richard Kaufman has decided to ignore his own advice. To add insult to injury we are now supposed to believe that a photocopy of an envelope addressed to Kaufman and dated 1975 contained Gene Mazes trick. For all I know it could have contained crayons to keep Richard busy at summer camp. Even if it did, the trick was not put into print until last year, over a year after issue:17 of the crimp. Therefore, credit should have been given. Why did Kaufman not respond when issue:17 was published and was seen to contain the same trick about to be published in the Maze book? Kaufman says that Peter Duffie had a copy of a video which contained the trick. I couldnt give a flying ***k if the Queen of England had a copy of a tape made in 1875 with the trick on it. Until it is made available to all magicians then it does not become part of the established record and credit cannot be awarded.
Regarding Peter Duffie To the best of my knowledge, he received a video two years ago (not 1985) but in any case I knew of no tape prior to last months issues delivery to the printers. Incidentally why did Maze not send me a copy of his video? Is it for the same reason that Kaufman failed to send a copy of his letter to Peter Kane?
As for hysterical threats and accusations of psychosis, I wouldnt have thought it terribly clever to threaten someone you consider to be a potential psychopath.
If.. and I do mean if Maze worked the trick out independently then I apologise to him sincerely. Indeed, I feel sorry for him if its true, because by omitting credit, his own friend Richard Kaufman Let him down.
The bottom line however is that it was not just me who was ignored here. Charlie Miller originated the concept of the F.U. Bottom deal and Peter Kane developed it brilliantly in his classic ace assembly in 1967 28 years ago! Both were denied the credit they rightly deserved in the Maze book. Mazes trick was published with no credit whatsoever.
Copies to: noddy, postman pat, dai Vernon, mark chapman, Edwin t, the great Gatsby, Linda mccartney and the legendary charlier.
CRIMP OPINION
Each of us follows a different path. Some of us like to play politics with the yanks in order to pursue ego fulfilment Some of us even under the threat of death refuse to play games or indulge liars, hypocrites and bullies.
When Scottish magician Gordon Bruce decided to go around telling magicians that your editor was a thief, nobody had the guts to stand up to him.
When Margaret Thatcher divided a country up with a political hatchet, there was no solidarity displayed to stand up to her.
The Americans must steal its in their blood and bully the rest of the world with their might equals right; policies, But not everyone will remain silent, or cower down to these dangerous thugs, or indulge their spoilt, corrupt egos.
There is no question that these ***kers will try and discredit me, but I take consolation in the fact that in order to do so, they will have to lie. Myself, I have always hated games and politics, and I always will.
And unlike certain other magicians, I can look in the mirror without the need of a stiff drink, or the constant re-assurances of wee sycophants Scottish or American.
[There then follows a large well though-out essay on proper crediting and the immoralities of the backdating of material, see The Crimp 33 page 291 for details The most important line reads The backdating of material is immoral unless the claimant can refer to an official source. This statement cannot be refuted by any magician of sound mind, or else any man, anywhere could lay claim to anything by referring to a private notebook.]
Those whacky Americans! They talk and talk and talk Usually loud enough to hear six streets away
Until they see something good that they want to rip off, then theyre as silent as mice. Then BANG!!! They rip it off.
There wasnt a murmur from anyone about issue:17 which exclusively dealt with the F.U. Bottom Deal. A year later..BANG!!! Out pops GENE MAZEs new book on bottom dealing which describes Follow the Leader as mentioned on p.145 of this magazine.
In the end note to Oh No Not Another Oil and Water Routine I said:-
With a modicum of imagination, the above method lends itself to a follow the leader routine. Naturally, I did not insult the readers intelligence by describing what would amount to be the same method for a different trick.
There is not a hint of credit in the maze book. Of course, to get away with such an obvious theft, Maze back-dates his routine as one he did Twenty years ago.
For how long are these ****s going to get away with such a transparent lie?
It is a great insult to Charlie Miller, Peter Kane and myself who have put a great deal of thought into this area. For Gene Maze to have come up with the same end result would be too much of a quantum leap. To be believable. And I hardly think he could have held on to it for twenty years without creating a stir about it. Furthermore, there are enough people associated with the book who subscribe to the crimp, to make the whole thing pretty disgraceful.
Its just as well that the Americans are so disgustingly insular, because they only fool themselves.
The Crimp Replies (The Crimp issue 33 page 290).
To Jerry Sadowitz, Editor, The Crimp,
While I had been warned by Peter Duffie about your ravings in issue 32 of the crimp, I was unprepared for your psychotic tirade regarding Gene Mazes alleged theft of a card sleight. [Here it appears that RK has misunderstood why JS wrote the above. The issue was regarding an entire trick, not a single sleight Barry Johnson] I am sickened by what you have written. Who do you think you are? You must be out of your goddamn mind. How can you write about this type of thing without asking me about it first? Gene Maze would sooner walk off a cliff than steal anything from anyone.
To quote you, For Gene Maze to have come up with the same end result would be too much of a quantum leap to be believable. Well, [censored], enclosed you will find a photocopy of Genes notes for his original version of follow the leader which he dated june 1973. I have further photocopied the envelope in which he sent them to me two years later, and you will note the post mark 1975. Thats twenty quantum leaping years ago. He send them to me twenty years ago. I received them twenty years ago. He showed me the tricks twenty years ago. He showed the trick to at least four other people in New York twenty years ago.
So, are you accusing Stephen Hobbs, Gene Maze, and myself of lying? You say, There are enough people associated with the book who subscribe to the crimp to make the whole thing pretty disgraceful. You can kiss my ass. The only thing thats disgraceful here is your psychotic outburst that is based on some insane fantasy you have. See a Psychiatrist.
How about the video tape which Gene sent Peter Duffie in 1985 containing follow the leader? Are you also denying that the videotape exists, or that your good friend Peter Duffie is lying to you?
is the whole world lying to you? Is there some massive conspiracy to cheat you of this idea?
You owe myself, Stephen Hobbs, and most of all Gene Maze a sincere apology in the next issue of the crimp. Your statement: For how long are these ****s going to get away with such a transparent lie? Is one of the most reprehensible accusations Ive ever seen.
Ive met you, Gerry, and you seem like a nice enough guy, what the hell is on your mind here? I demand an apology immediately. Immediately, or youre going to be one sorry lad.
Richard Kaufman
P.S. It seems to have escaped your notice that the face up bottom deal is not even the same thing that Gene developed when you were still sucking your thumb. You dont even have your facts right! [Again, here RK seems to be misunderstanding the whole issue- Barry Johnson]
Copies to: Stephen Hobbs, Gene Maze, Peter Duffie, J.k.Hartman, Jon Racherbaumer, Jack Avis, Roy Walton, Donald Bevan, Stan Allen, Erika Larsen, Max Maven, Ron Macmillan, Phil Willmarth and David Goodsell.
The Crimp replies
The following quote is taken from Genii magazine, p. 259, vol 51, No. 4 1987. The subject is Joe Givan who had published a variation of someone elses trick without credit
I pointed this out to Givan, and he said that he had come up with his routine prior to seeing Roths trick, and that he didnt se why he should mention someone elses name when it had nothing to do with the creation of his routine. In all disciplines it is standard ethical practice to cite printed precedents, whether they have influenced you or not. Not only is it common courtesy, but it prevents you from looking like a thief.
I do not wish this to be misinterpreted as a personal attack against Joe, whose company and conversation I generally enjoyed. His attitude toward credit, however, alarms me.
In out modest craft, often the only compensation one receives for an idea is the credit,. Giving credit is such a simple thing to do, too. You merely need the humility to mention another persons name before your own.
- Richard Kaufman P .259 Genii, vol. 51, no. 4, 1987.
It appears that Richard Kaufman has decided to ignore his own advice. To add insult to injury we are now supposed to believe that a photocopy of an envelope addressed to Kaufman and dated 1975 contained Gene Mazes trick. For all I know it could have contained crayons to keep Richard busy at summer camp. Even if it did, the trick was not put into print until last year, over a year after issue:17 of the crimp. Therefore, credit should have been given. Why did Kaufman not respond when issue:17 was published and was seen to contain the same trick about to be published in the Maze book? Kaufman says that Peter Duffie had a copy of a video which contained the trick. I couldnt give a flying ***k if the Queen of England had a copy of a tape made in 1875 with the trick on it. Until it is made available to all magicians then it does not become part of the established record and credit cannot be awarded.
Regarding Peter Duffie To the best of my knowledge, he received a video two years ago (not 1985) but in any case I knew of no tape prior to last months issues delivery to the printers. Incidentally why did Maze not send me a copy of his video? Is it for the same reason that Kaufman failed to send a copy of his letter to Peter Kane?
As for hysterical threats and accusations of psychosis, I wouldnt have thought it terribly clever to threaten someone you consider to be a potential psychopath.
If.. and I do mean if Maze worked the trick out independently then I apologise to him sincerely. Indeed, I feel sorry for him if its true, because by omitting credit, his own friend Richard Kaufman Let him down.
The bottom line however is that it was not just me who was ignored here. Charlie Miller originated the concept of the F.U. Bottom deal and Peter Kane developed it brilliantly in his classic ace assembly in 1967 28 years ago! Both were denied the credit they rightly deserved in the Maze book. Mazes trick was published with no credit whatsoever.
Copies to: noddy, postman pat, dai Vernon, mark chapman, Edwin t, the great Gatsby, Linda mccartney and the legendary charlier.
CRIMP OPINION
Each of us follows a different path. Some of us like to play politics with the yanks in order to pursue ego fulfilment Some of us even under the threat of death refuse to play games or indulge liars, hypocrites and bullies.
When Scottish magician Gordon Bruce decided to go around telling magicians that your editor was a thief, nobody had the guts to stand up to him.
When Margaret Thatcher divided a country up with a political hatchet, there was no solidarity displayed to stand up to her.
The Americans must steal its in their blood and bully the rest of the world with their might equals right; policies, But not everyone will remain silent, or cower down to these dangerous thugs, or indulge their spoilt, corrupt egos.
There is no question that these ***kers will try and discredit me, but I take consolation in the fact that in order to do so, they will have to lie. Myself, I have always hated games and politics, and I always will.
And unlike certain other magicians, I can look in the mirror without the need of a stiff drink, or the constant re-assurances of wee sycophants Scottish or American.
[There then follows a large well though-out essay on proper crediting and the immoralities of the backdating of material, see The Crimp 33 page 291 for details The most important line reads The backdating of material is immoral unless the claimant can refer to an official source. This statement cannot be refuted by any magician of sound mind, or else any man, anywhere could lay claim to anything by referring to a private notebook.]