Can You Help? Elmsley, Avis & Bill Reid

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Paul Gordon
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Can You Help? Elmsley, Avis & Bill Reid

Postby Paul Gordon » August 15th, 2008, 11:35 am

Can anyone advise...

After Jack Avis died, do you know who purchased the Bill Reid notes about his work (Reid's work) on the Faro? I know Tim Reed handled some of Jack's stuff, but these notes contain a lot of good thoughts; according to the late Alex Elmsley.

Thanks, Paul Gordon
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Matthew Field
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Re: Can You Help? Elmsley, Avis & Bill Reid

Postby Matthew Field » August 15th, 2008, 11:52 am

Paul -- Most of Jack Avis's material went to Anthony Brahams, I believe, but check with John Derris, Jack's brother in law, who was the executor of his estate and handled his library and magic collection.

Matt Field

Paul Gordon
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Re: Can You Help? Elmsley, Avis & Bill Reid

Postby Paul Gordon » August 15th, 2008, 12:04 pm

Dear Matt,

Oh yes, John...I forgot (if you know what I mean) about him.

Best, PG
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Joe Mckay
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Re: Can You Help? Elmsley, Avis & Bill Reid

Postby Joe Mckay » August 15th, 2008, 3:15 pm

I watched the excellent Alex Elmsley 'Signature Magicians' DVD for the first time last night. Wonderful... I have always being fascinated by Alex Elmsley - Does anybody know if his background has ever been covered in any of the magic magazines? For instance, I would be interested to know what subject he studied at Cambridge University, and if he was a genius in his studies as well as in his magic? I studied Philosophy myself (at a much less renowned university!), and would love to know if Elmsley ever tool an interest in it?

Also, I would say that Roy Walton and Alex Elmsley were the two greatest card creators of the twentieth century. In my opinion, Marlo, Jennings, Hamman and Vernon don't come close. I often wonder if more American magicians would agree had they they both being born on the other side of the Atlantic?

All the best,

Joe

Jim Maloney
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Re: Can You Help? Elmsley, Avis & Bill Reid

Postby Jim Maloney » August 15th, 2008, 3:40 pm

Joe,

You may find this article, written by John Derris shortly after Elmsley's death, to be of interest.

Alex Elmsley, An appreciation by John Derris

-Jim
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Joe Mckay
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Re: Can You Help? Elmsley, Avis & Bill Reid

Postby Joe Mckay » August 15th, 2008, 3:57 pm

Cheers, Jim!

Paul Gordon
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Re: Can You Help? Elmsley, Avis & Bill Reid

Postby Paul Gordon » August 15th, 2008, 5:53 pm

Hi Joe,

Interesting and good post, but nothing to do with my question!?

Best, Paul Gordon
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sjrwheeler
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Re: Can You Help? Elmsley, Avis & Bill Reid

Postby sjrwheeler » April 22nd, 2011, 4:43 pm

Take a look at the article on Elmsley at Wikipedia.
it's not very long bio but has some answers you are looking for.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Elmsley

AnthonyBrahams
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Re: Can You Help? Elmsley, Avis & Bill Reid

Postby AnthonyBrahams » April 23rd, 2011, 6:42 am

Correction of fact: only Jack Avis' notebooks went to me, on loan to produce the book "Rara Avis" a collection of about 160 items Jack had written up. These vary from long routines to tips. In addition to the practical magic there are his reports of the first Michael Skinner lecture in 1974 which was very long and very wonderful, and of his long meeting with Jack Birnman in 1983.

I have never seen the Reid material and agree John Derris is the best route.
Anthony


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