The Genii Forum

I'm not ready to tip the name of the magician yet, but later this year I'll be publishing a project of material by one of the most famous close-up magicians in the last quarter of the 20th century. He published some during his lifetime, but nearly enough, and he died prematurely.

This is not something publicly mentioned before, so it will be a complete surprise for everyone.

Later this year is pretty soon....

Well, 2013. :)

Is it Chuckles the Clown?

Jack Birnman?

Geoff Latta?

Mark beat me to the punch.

Stephen Minch is doing the Geoff Latta book. Should be great.

If we're playing the guessing game, I'll guess Michael Skinner. Definitely famous among magicians, didn't publish much and was only 51 when he died. Plus, he had a huge repertoire, so there's got to be stuff that hasn't seen the light of day.

It is not a book.

Is it Grippo?

Is it Presto's method for the Rising Card?

It's a BIG project.

Richard Kaufman wrote:It's a BIG project.

Interesting, didn't know Tom was a magician

My money is on a compedium of ultimate ACAAN effects. Translated from the original Italian.

Richard Kaufman wrote:It's a BIG project.

Sure sounds like Skinner, but a lot of his stuff made it to video. Perplexed...

Is it the working videos ( la your videos with Brother John) for a book that you already published?

A magic kit of some sort?

Can we pre-order? I want one.

Announcement will be in the first half of 2013. Ordering will commence then.

I think I have this figured out. But - if I'm right, then maybe I shouldn't ruin the surprise. I hope I am right since I would love to see more work from this creator.

Maybe Kaufman can PM me if he wants me to keep quiet?

If I am on the right track then the following should makes sense to Richard. The second to last letter of his surname was spelled with an 'e'. Yet - I often often saw it incorrectly spelled with an 'i'.


Anyway - I could be completely wrong. If I am I will name the guy I have in mind.

Ok - back from work now. Had a chance to look up the age of this magician when he died.

And it is probably not him since he died at 80 and thus I am guessing didn't 'die prematurely' as Richard mentioned in his tease.

I officially have no idea who this is!

Joe

PS My guess was Bob Stencel.

Someone else is doing Stencel, not me. Lips sealed.

How about Tim Connover? (probably not famous enough)

Joe Mckay wrote:The second to last letter of his surname was spelled with an 'e'. Yet - I often often saw it incorrectly spelled with an 'i'.

Is it Slydeni?

I don't think it will be Tim. Eric Mead is working on that book and he says it won't be ready for at least a couple of years.

Joe

I'm delighted there will be a book on Tim.

Not Conover (the family is publishing that).
Not Slydini (I wish!).

Skinner?

Mewis?

Oh no, he's still alive, sorry...

Tommy Wonder, I wonder?

The suspense is killing me.

Okay, it's not Carl Ballantine. Let's start from there.

Sicher?

No, not famous enough. Could be Skinner.

Tony Giorgio

Much as a collection of Tony's work would be welcome, I'm not sure he fits in with the 'died early' data...

Since it's not a book, I'm going with a holographic 'Pepper's Ghost' version of Vernon that you set up in your study and it shouts at you that you are flashing...

Looy Simonoff? Would be great to see more from him.

But it probably isn't him since he was quite old when he died.

I like Ian's idea -- in fact I'm sure some wag could cobble together some Vernon footage/audio where he makes various criticisms. This could be an app -- Vernon humiliates you. You would play it as you worked on a trick.

It's not Giorgio. I published all of his best magic routines, with the exception of his three-card monte, in his special issue of Genii.

So you do not deny the Vernon Humiliation app? Interesting.

I've been tongue-lashed by Vernon, so no thanks.

Would you deny me the same pleasure?

You bet.