Influential Amateurs
-
- Posts: 80
- Joined: March 18th, 2008, 12:08 am
Influential Amateurs
Here's a thought: who are the most influential amateur magicians in the history of magic?
I'll start with my favorite: Professor Hoffmann (Angelo Lewis). An attorney by profession, his elegant, encyclopedic texts -- including Modern Magic, More Magic, Later Magic and Latest Magic -- provide a remarkable catalog of a broad spectrum of the art of illusion.
Hoffmann's seminal work catapulted generations of magicians into the art. In My Magic Life, David Devant credits obtaining a copy of Modern Magic with his entry into conjuring. One professional conjurer suggested that Hoffmann should be "hanged" for exposing so much of the craft to the public. Yet his tireless efforts virtually created the hobby, converting a guild-like profession into an accessible pastime and entertainment for countless millions.
Even today, more than a century after their creation, his works remain a joy to read.
There must be scores of other amateurs who have advanced the art. Any ideas?
Gary Brown
I'll start with my favorite: Professor Hoffmann (Angelo Lewis). An attorney by profession, his elegant, encyclopedic texts -- including Modern Magic, More Magic, Later Magic and Latest Magic -- provide a remarkable catalog of a broad spectrum of the art of illusion.
Hoffmann's seminal work catapulted generations of magicians into the art. In My Magic Life, David Devant credits obtaining a copy of Modern Magic with his entry into conjuring. One professional conjurer suggested that Hoffmann should be "hanged" for exposing so much of the craft to the public. Yet his tireless efforts virtually created the hobby, converting a guild-like profession into an accessible pastime and entertainment for countless millions.
Even today, more than a century after their creation, his works remain a joy to read.
There must be scores of other amateurs who have advanced the art. Any ideas?
Gary Brown
Gary Brown
- Joe Pecore
- Posts: 1914
- Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
- Favorite Magician: Paul Harris
- Location: Northern Virginia
Re: Influential Amateurs
I nominate Milt Kort, a Detroit pharmacist.
From the back cover of the book "Kort":
"Milt Kort is a legend of sorts: a magician who has seldom traveled outside the Detroit area, who rarely performs at magician's conventions or lectures, yet a man whom the professionals and greats in magic came to see; men like Paul Rosini, Dr. Daley, J.B. Bobo, Charlie Miller, Cardini, Dai Vernon, and many more sought out Milt Kort and shared secrets with him. But why? Milt was a pharmacist by trade, not a professional magician. The answer lies in the word love. It was his great love of magic that drew magic's greats to him. Magic has been Milt's abiding passion since childhood, and he always did it for the love of it, for the fun of it, not for the money or the fame in it.
Well, there was one other reason they came; Milt often fooled them with devishly clever tricks of his own invention."
From the back cover of the book "Kort":
"Milt Kort is a legend of sorts: a magician who has seldom traveled outside the Detroit area, who rarely performs at magician's conventions or lectures, yet a man whom the professionals and greats in magic came to see; men like Paul Rosini, Dr. Daley, J.B. Bobo, Charlie Miller, Cardini, Dai Vernon, and many more sought out Milt Kort and shared secrets with him. But why? Milt was a pharmacist by trade, not a professional magician. The answer lies in the word love. It was his great love of magic that drew magic's greats to him. Magic has been Milt's abiding passion since childhood, and he always did it for the love of it, for the fun of it, not for the money or the fame in it.
Well, there was one other reason they came; Milt often fooled them with devishly clever tricks of his own invention."
Share your knowledge on the MagicPedia wiki.
- Bill Wells
- Posts: 299
- Joined: January 21st, 2008, 12:00 pm
- Location: Lexington, VA
Re: Influential Amateurs
Good question Gary - fun to think about. Don't forget about our own Pete Biro, photographer, writer, magazine editor, as an amateur magician has had a marked influence on magic and the way magicians think. I know he has on mine.
-=tabman
-=tabman
Re: Influential Amateurs
And John Ramsay didn't ???Originally posted by Pete Biro: Hey, I got paid for my shows! :D :D :D
-=tabman
Re: Influential Amateurs
Pete,
You also get paid, and make your living from, photography, if I understand correctly. Ramsay made his living as a grocer, and as a judge for gardening and dance contests (he was an expert at both and in high demand as such).
Jon
You also get paid, and make your living from, photography, if I understand correctly. Ramsay made his living as a grocer, and as a judge for gardening and dance contests (he was an expert at both and in high demand as such).
Jon
-
- Posts: 912
- Joined: January 30th, 2008, 12:00 pm
- Location: Nyack, NY
Re: Influential Amateurs
Sol Stone psychologist
Harry Lorraine author/memory expert
Richard Kaufman author/forum moderator
Herb Zarrow CPA
Ken Krenzel psychologist
Harry Lorraine author/memory expert
Richard Kaufman author/forum moderator
Herb Zarrow CPA
Ken Krenzel psychologist
- Michael Kamen
- Posts: 338
- Joined: January 18th, 2008, 12:00 pm
- Location: SF Bay Area
Re: Influential Amateurs
Paul Curry, notably for Out of this World and the Turnover Change.
Michael Kamen
-
- Posts: 843
- Joined: January 22nd, 2008, 12:00 pm
- Location: New Orleans
Re: Influential Amateurs
Henry Christ
Jacob Daley
Frank Thompson
Oscar Weigle
Ben Braude
Fred Braue
Ed Marlo - Machinist
James Elliott
Jim Steranko
Karl Fulves
and so on...
Jacob Daley
Frank Thompson
Oscar Weigle
Ben Braude
Fred Braue
Ed Marlo - Machinist
James Elliott
Jim Steranko
Karl Fulves
and so on...
-
- Posts: 1639
- Joined: March 13th, 2008, 11:33 pm
Re: Influential Amateurs
Let's not forget
Jon Racherbaumer
Steve Minch
Jon Racherbaumer
Steve Minch
-
- Posts: 87
- Joined: March 11th, 2008, 7:14 pm
- Location: Philadelphia,PA USA
Re: Influential Amateurs
In my humble opinion,Jon,is not an amateur.
Earle
Earle
Re: Influential Amateurs
Alex Elmsley, for sure.
Re: Influential Amateurs
Thats an interesting aside. I never knew that. I'd like to hear more about this and of course it has me wondering if he ever did any magic related machining???Originally posted by Jon Racherbaumer: Ed Marlo - Machinist... and so on...
-=tab
-
- Posts: 393
- Joined: March 16th, 2008, 4:55 pm
- Location: Belgium
- Contact:
-
- Posts: 2631
- Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
- Location: Edinburgh
- Contact:
Re: Influential Amateurs
I think Roy Walton _has_ to be here.
Take care, Ian
Take care, Ian
Ian Kendall Close up magician in Edinburgh and Scotland
Re: Influential Amateurs
Bill and Milt Larsen.
- NCMarsh
- Posts: 1223
- Joined: February 16th, 2008, 12:00 pm
- Favorite Magician: Devant, Wonder, Richiardi, Benson, DeKolta, Teller, Harbin, Durham, Caveney, Ben, Hoy, Berglas, Marceau
- Location: Orlando, FL
- Contact:
Re: Influential Amateurs
In the strictly literal sense of the word ("one who does a thing because she loves it, a lover") every one of the masters was/is an amateur...Generally, we have a misplaced respect for "professionals" in our culture, and a misplaced contempt for "amateurs"...beautiful magic will always come from an amateur -- were that there were more amateurs in magic!
as to the conventional sense of the word, a case could be made for Dai Vernon. His period working for Frances Rockefeller King was fairly brief and he seemed to be fairly hesitant to be involved (at least according to Karl Johnson's The Magician and The Cardsharp)...much of his life seems to have been spent living hand to mouth from the silhouette cutting and then being supported by the castle...in the latter case, his means of support is coming "from magic" but not from paid performances for the public...however we want to consider this in terms of the making a living with magic/making a living some other way distinction; he remains, in the real sense of the word, one of the greatest amateurs of magic...
best,
N.
IllusionArtistry.com
as to the conventional sense of the word, a case could be made for Dai Vernon. His period working for Frances Rockefeller King was fairly brief and he seemed to be fairly hesitant to be involved (at least according to Karl Johnson's The Magician and The Cardsharp)...much of his life seems to have been spent living hand to mouth from the silhouette cutting and then being supported by the castle...in the latter case, his means of support is coming "from magic" but not from paid performances for the public...however we want to consider this in terms of the making a living with magic/making a living some other way distinction; he remains, in the real sense of the word, one of the greatest amateurs of magic...
best,
N.
IllusionArtistry.com
-
- Posts: 5915
- Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
- Location: Huntsville, AL
- Contact:
Re: Influential Amateurs
Gary Plants. Ken Krenzel.
Re: Influential Amateurs
Fred Kaps always said he was both, a pro AND and Amateur... he did his act as a pro... but pleyed with magic for the shear pleasure.
Stay tooned.
- Steve Bryant
- Posts: 1947
- Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
- Favorite Magician: Ballantine
- Location: Bloomington IN
- Contact:
Re: Influential Amateurs
Then there is the entire cast and crew of Le Grand David, who probably toil elsewhere during the week but put on a most professional show on the weekend.
Re: Influential Amateurs
Well, the jury may be out on this, but I believe one of, if not THE, most influential amateurs of the 20th century would have to be: ERDNASE!
Best, PSC
Best, PSC
- NCMarsh
- Posts: 1223
- Joined: February 16th, 2008, 12:00 pm
- Favorite Magician: Devant, Wonder, Richiardi, Benson, DeKolta, Teller, Harbin, Durham, Caveney, Ben, Hoy, Berglas, Marceau
- Location: Orlando, FL
- Contact:
Re: Influential Amateurs
Intriguing suggestion -- though I've always imagined him as a "resourceful professional"...
-
- Posts: 80
- Joined: April 20th, 2008, 6:31 pm
- Location: Mansfield Center, Connecticut
- Contact:
Re: Influential Amateurs
Come on, Pete. Getting handed a Snickers bar back stage doesn't count. :DOriginally posted by Pete Biro:
Hey, I got paid for my shows! :D :D :D
Best Regards,
Ray
http://www.rayhaddad.com
Ray
http://www.rayhaddad.com
Re: Influential Amateurs
Steve Minch is a professional writer and publisher of magic books, isn't he? I think by "amateur" this thread refers to people who make (made) their living outside of magic.Originally posted by Bill Duncan:
Let's not forget
Jon Racherbaumer
Steve Minch
Wasn't Larry Jennings a plumber?