Walter Gibson as Ghostwriter

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David Regal
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Walter Gibson as Ghostwriter

Postby David Regal » February 16th, 2002, 11:04 pm

Does anyone know if Gibson wrote Blackstone's Modern Card Tricks or Secrets of Magic? How about Scarne on Card Tricks?

John Pezzullo
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Re: Walter Gibson as Ghostwriter

Postby John Pezzullo » February 17th, 2002, 5:39 am

David,

In Bart Whaley's "Who's Who in Magic" the entry for John Scarne lists the book "Scarne on Card Tricks" (1950) as being 'ghosted' by Ben Braude.

Bob Farmer
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Re: Walter Gibson as Ghostwriter

Postby Bob Farmer » February 20th, 2002, 3:48 pm

There is an excellent guide to everything Walter Gibson wrote. It is entitled, MAN OF MAGIC AND MYSTERY: A Guide To the Work Of Walter B. Gibson by J. Randolph Cox, published in 1988 by The Scarecrow Press, Inc., Metuchen, N.J. & London. isbn 0-8108-2192-3. You can probably get a copy from Michael Canick, Volcanick Press (212) 585-2990.

Blackstone's Secrets of Magic is entry A.21. Written by Walter Gibson, published in 1929. Abridged editions began to appear in 1958.

Blackstone's Modern Card Tricks, again Gibson the author. Published 1932.

The book lists four pages of titles with the word "Blackstone" in them, all written by Gibson.

There is an interesting discussion of how Gibson wrote in Steranko's History of the Comics: he had three or four typewriters in ever room of his house and he just went from one to the other.

Bob

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David Regal
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Re: Walter Gibson as Ghostwriter

Postby David Regal » February 20th, 2002, 6:07 pm

Thank you, guys. Does it say if Gibson wrote the Scarne book, Bob?

Bob Farmer
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Re: Walter Gibson as Ghostwriter

Postby Bob Farmer » February 21st, 2002, 6:14 am

David:
The book doesn't mention the Scarne book (in the titles index) or Scarne (in the names index).

I don't know where, but I do remember reading a short history of the Scarne/Braude "collaboration."

Again, you might try Michael Canick for info on this.Why the interest?

Bob


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