Magic As a Hobby

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P.T.Widdle
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Magic As a Hobby

Postby P.T.Widdle » September 14th, 2012, 8:29 pm

At an antique shop in New Hampshire, I picked up a book, "Magic As a Hobby," by Bruce Elliott (1948). Has anyone heard of this book? Bruce Elliott was the editor of The Phoenix. The introduction to the book is by Orson Welles.
There's some great material in there. Not the same old beginner stuff that I expected. For example a cool trick for vanishing a coin from under a pile of sand.

Oddly Bent
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Re: Magic As a Hobby

Postby Oddly Bent » September 14th, 2012, 9:27 pm

This is one of the classic library books I had access to in 1950, don't remember much from it but it was along the side of Henry Hay's book, the three Hoffman books, Illustrated Magic by Fischer (my favorite because it had a lot of pictures). There was also a cupola others I don't remember the name. Some lucky libraries had Greater Magic and the Tarbells. Good find.

Bob Farmer
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Re: Magic As a Hobby

Postby Bob Farmer » September 15th, 2012, 10:56 am

All of Bruce Elliott's books are great -- basically compilations of material from The Phoenix.

Bill Mullins
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Re: Magic As a Hobby

Postby Bill Mullins » September 15th, 2012, 11:30 am

Bob Farmer wrote:All of Bruce Elliott's books are great -- basically compilations of material from The Phoenix.


Bob -- which issue of The Phoenix has the stuff about jailbait? <G>

Image

[and yes, the same Bruce Elliott wrote One is a Lonely Number. Also some Shadow novels, and science fiction.]

Image

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Magic As a Hobby

Postby Richard Kaufman » September 15th, 2012, 12:29 pm

It's a great book, but I've always preferred his "Classic Secrets Of Magic"

http://www.amazon.com/Classic-secrets-m ... B0007FDVVI

This is an amazing book.
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Dustin Stinett
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Re: Magic As a Hobby

Postby Dustin Stinett » September 15th, 2012, 4:15 pm

Which is why Classic Secrets... was the first "Book of the Month":

http://www.geniimagazine.com/forums/ubb ... Post148385

Jim Riser
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Re: Magic As a Hobby

Postby Jim Riser » September 15th, 2012, 4:21 pm

Bill Mullins' post above clearly illustrates why I enjoy his contributions. There is always something to learn. Thanks for the enlightenment and good laugh, Bill.
Jim

Bob Farmer
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Re: Magic As a Hobby

Postby Bob Farmer » September 15th, 2012, 5:03 pm

Bill:

See "Strip Tease," Phoenix #124, pp.497-498.

Bob Farmer
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Re: Magic As a Hobby

Postby Bob Farmer » September 15th, 2012, 5:07 pm

Bill:

Also check out the editorial in that issue and the suggestions about high class lingerie.

Bill Mullins
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Re: Magic As a Hobby

Postby Bill Mullins » September 15th, 2012, 9:06 pm

Thanks, Bob. Now I have a legit excuse for the black lace panties my wife keeps finding.

Some of the mystery fiction blogs have given Elliott's "One is a Lonely Number" quite good reviews. It's available as a ebook, and a sample is here.

P.T.Widdle
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Re: Magic As a Hobby

Postby P.T.Widdle » September 15th, 2012, 9:18 pm

Has Genii ever done a piece about Elliott?

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Magic As a Hobby

Postby Richard Kaufman » September 15th, 2012, 9:24 pm

No.

I did speak with his daughter Judy decades ago, but she really didn't remember much about him. I think he died when she was still quite young. I may be misremembering.

All you have to do is read his "Back Room" columns on the back page of each issue of The Phoenix and you'll get to know him really well.
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Bill Mullins
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Re: Magic As a Hobby

Postby Bill Mullins » September 15th, 2012, 9:50 pm

Richard Kaufman wrote:I did speak with his daughter Judy decades ago, but she really didn't remember much about him. I think he died when she was still quite young. I may be misremembering.

She was born in 1942 and he died in 1973.

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Magic As a Hobby

Postby Richard Kaufman » September 15th, 2012, 10:13 pm

Guess I mis-remembered the dates! Duh.
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Bill Mullins
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Re: Magic As a Hobby

Postby Bill Mullins » September 15th, 2012, 10:41 pm

I get the impression that family life in the Elliott household wasn't all that great, particularly after Bruce crawled into a bottle. Judy may be intentionally not remembering her father, or maybe there wasn't that much good to remember.

Ken Becker
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Re: Magic As a Hobby

Postby Ken Becker » September 16th, 2012, 12:22 am

A book just of Elliot's "Back Room" would be great. The Phoenix,
without Elliot, was just not the same, and his Back Room was as
special and entertaining as the material contributions in the
main.


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P.T.Widdle
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Re: Magic As a Hobby

Postby P.T.Widdle » September 17th, 2012, 9:36 am

In the Appendix is this now sad line:

"There is a magic store somewhere near you no matter where you live."

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mrgoat
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Re: Magic As a Hobby

Postby mrgoat » September 17th, 2012, 10:16 am

P.T.Widdle wrote:In the Appendix is this now sad line:

"There is a magic store somewhere near you no matter where you live."


Which can now be replaced with this brilliant lines:

"There are now thousands of magic retailers on the internet. You can browse through their catalogues at your leisure, without feeling pressurised to buy something. If you decide to buy, anything can be shipped anywhere in the world in a matter of days. If it's not suitable, you can just return it. Also, there are now dozens of brilliant forums where you can discuss ideas, tricks, presentations and more with the very best magicians all around the world and when you get to know them, many even 'session' over skype, or in google hangouts so you can get advice from people you never would have heard of, let alone met. Isn't the internet marvellous."

Bill Mullins
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Re: Magic As a Hobby

Postby Bill Mullins » January 12th, 2014, 3:31 pm

Discount stores sell DVDs of public domain TV shows. My son and I just watched "Flash Gordon and the Planet of Death," which is also on youtube. The episode was written by Bruce Elliot.


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