Magicana

[mark]

I sure hope the time comes when Magicana becomes a book like the upcoming The Vernon Touch. Between that and Intermission, there is a lot of gold in them thar hills.

[Richard Kaufman]

Magicana is coming along, slowly but surely.
The Vernon Touch book is going to be 600 pages or so--it's enormous.
And Magicana completely dwarfs that, and will be more the size of Greater Magic! It's a huge project, and things like this come out really [censored] if they're done quickly.

[Edwin Corrie]

Is the idea to publish these as single volumes (i.e. one for Vernon Touch, one for Magicana)? I don't know about the economics of it, but I have to say that some of the really large books of recent years, great though they are, might have been nicer and easier to refer to as multi-volume sets. Also people could buy them one at a time instead of having to justify large sums to disapproving wives.

[Guest]

I'm happy to hear that Charlie Miller and his musings will be available to one and all, finally. I'm sorry to see it, too. I have had a complete run of Magicana for many years. In fact, I have several complete runs. Although that may be incorrect, depending on your view. And that's what I'm wondering.

Richard, this is for you: What exactly do you consider a "full run" of Magicana? Charlie was in charge for a long stretch. Then he was ill, and Elizabeth Wilson took over. There were other personnel changes, and then Charlie came back. So is Magicana only the columns Charlie did, or anything called Magicana? Also, do you consider the Intermissions part of Magicana, or a separate column, to be published separately? Inquiring minds want to know...

Best, PSC

[Richard Kaufman]

The book will begin with the first two issues of Magicana which Bill Woodfield published as separate newsletters, then continue with the single installment which appeared in The Conjurors Monthly, then continue with the run by Woodfield in Genii in the 1950s (either 6 or 18 months, I can't remember which), and then the bulk of it will be all the columns Charlie Miller did in Genii (including Intermission and those openly done by Elizabeth Wilson and those ghosted by Elizabeth Wilson). It will contain no Magicanas after Miller retired.
Errors in descriptions will be fixed and missing details will be added.
And I think I'll print Charlie's name thrice on the title page. :)

[mark]

I am so happy to hear that Magicana is even in the queue! I am not one of the fortunate few who have a complete run (or even a certain helpful guy who has more than one), but the ones I have are some of my favorite reading. Paul, thanks for turning me on to the hidden gold.

Mark

[Guest]

Awesome. Damn, that is going to be sweet.

It is now a year and a half + since those previous posts.

Mr. Kaufman, where stands the progress these days?

The thought of this project makes me grin, and I'll prove it. Look: :D

Oh, what a gold mine!! Is it HORRIBLE manners to say, "Please hurry up!"?

[Richard Kaufman]

The time since those earlier posts has been filled by finishing The Vernon Touch and writing Mr. Jennings Takes It Easy.

[Dave Shepherd]

Originally posted by Richard Kaufman:
The time since those earlier posts has been filled by finishing The Vernon Touch and writing Mr. Jennings Takes It Easy.

Ah, Mr. Jennings! A book I've looked forward to for quite some time. Excellent!

[Guest]

What year did Charlie Miller retire doing Magicana?

[Joe Pecore]

My notes have Charlie Miller editing Magicana from November 1964 until September 1987. (Although the last few years many issues were edited by Elizabeth Wilson and James Patton.)

[Richard Kaufman]

A number of Charlie's columns were ghosted by Elizabeth Wilson and Jules Lenier when Charlie was off on cruise ships. I had hoped to talk with both of them and compile a list of the ghosted columns, but unfortunately both died too soon.

[Guest]

Doesn't everyone die too soon?

[Guest]

--Not certan relatives of mine...