Search found 59 matches
- December 6th, 2014, 9:00 pm
- Forum: Other Magic Publications
- Topic: Magicol 188 - Paul Fox
- Replies: 5
- Views: 14242
- November 11th, 2014, 11:57 am
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Bobby Bernard R.I.P.
- Replies: 16
- Views: 6277
Re: Bobby Bernard R.I.P.
One couldn't say I was surprised at Bobby's passing, as he'd been having health problems for some time; however, that in no way assuaged the pain I felt. In the days when I used to travel to the UK regularly, it was a great pleasure to join with him for a good chart at the Magic Circle and I looked ...
- September 16th, 2014, 11:40 am
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Phil Willmarth has passed
- Replies: 12
- Views: 3863
Re: Phil Willmarth has passed
Phil was a sensible soul, as well as being a nice guy, with whom I had many'a candid conversation on the state-of-the-art. His hard work on behalf of the IBM, and his contributions to the Chicago magic scene will not be soon forgotten, and I can certainly say I valued his friendship greatly. You'll ...
- August 24th, 2014, 8:13 pm
- Forum: General
- Topic: George Jason
- Replies: 17
- Views: 10470
Re: George Jason
Just a couple of skits come to mind, used both by Jason/Stern and Stern/Fox. The usual caveat goes with them: "Ya hadda be there!" as they're hardly gut-busters when typed out. Anyone who ever saw them knows what great muggers, etc., that all three men were. One I recall involved pouring l...
- July 4th, 2014, 12:02 pm
- Forum: General
- Topic: Inventor of this old trick? - Tube magic
- Replies: 13
- Views: 5062
Re: Inventor of this old trick? - Tube magic
Perhaps Eddie Dawes or some other British magical scholar can help on this, but I have always understood that the ghost/phantom tube was the invention of one George LeWalke of the UK, but I have no reference other than a note telling me no more than this on either the trick or LeWalke. Pity such a c...
- January 20th, 2014, 12:34 pm
- Forum: Magic History and Anecdotes
- Topic: Brian McCullagh
- Replies: 5
- Views: 2502
Re: Brian McCullagh
What a shock to read Kent Blackmore's notification of the passing of old friend Brian McCullagh. Brian wrote a lot of splendid material, mostly on the rather neglected history of magic in Australia. A teacher by profession, Brian wrote a number of books and pamphlets on magic history, and from 1990 ...
- November 1st, 2013, 4:03 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Whose Illusion is This? I think We All Know
- Replies: 74
- Views: 25900
Re: Whose Illusion is This? I think We All Know
Sorry, Diego, I didn't read fare enough through the letters.
- November 1st, 2013, 3:59 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Whose Illusion is This? I think We All Know
- Replies: 74
- Views: 25900
Re: Whose Illusion is This? I think We All Know
Some guy? It was Rajah Raboid. Some guy. -jim
- October 4th, 2013, 9:53 pm
- Forum: General
- Topic: Magicol 185!
- Replies: 7
- Views: 3239
Re: Magicol 185!
Just wanted to join the line of fans praising MAGICOL No. 185. A judicious selection of contributors resulted in a series of articles with a different skew than those appearing in the other periodicals, and most enjoyable they were. Old time subscribers are no strangers to occasional tardiness. Gran...
- May 17th, 2013, 11:21 am
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: To the Guy Who Makes All This Possible ...
- Replies: 23
- Views: 4712
Re: To the Guy Who Makes All This Possible ...
One year closer to the grave, Kaufman! I'll buy you a Slurpy when we meet in LA. Cheers! -jim
- May 3rd, 2013, 11:58 am
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: RIP: Dennis Loomis
- Replies: 17
- Views: 6171
Re: RIP: Dennis Loomis
A real shock. Denny was raised in a small town some 40 miles from where I write this, and I first met him--and Doug Henning--at an Abbott Get-Together many years ago. We kept in touch off-and-on over the years, and he was a great guy. His attention to detail in his magic assured always excellent per...
- April 17th, 2013, 8:19 pm
- Forum: Feature Articles
- Topic: Merlin Cover May 2013
- Replies: 8
- Views: 16140
Re: Merlin Cover May 2013
Found time to sit down this evening and read Jim's excellent piece on Merlin, and say "Amen" to the previous replies. I suspect I've read nearly everything he's wriitten, starting with the first edition of "Jarrett," all read with pleasure and edification. As usual, this was anot...
- April 13th, 2013, 12:14 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: NEMCA President Ed Hill Has Died
- Replies: 2
- Views: 1170
Re: NEMCA President Ed Hill Has Died
What a shock to read about Ed Hill. Certainly one of magic's nicest, most cooperative people. Had my usual grand time at the last NEMCA gathering, and a great deal of it was due to Ed and Pat, the ever-genial hosts. NEMCA certainly won't be the same without Ed, who left his indelible mark on the occ...
- December 25th, 2012, 11:56 am
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Bill Miesel Has Died
- Replies: 12
- Views: 3297
Re: Bill Miesel Has Died
A phone call yesterday from Ed Eckl told me of the passing of our great mutual pal Bill Miesel on the 23rd. Bill died in his sleep of a massive coronary; he is survived by his sister. A friend of many years, Bill was well-known by not only 'card addicts,' but by so many others in magic who appreciat...
- December 4th, 2012, 11:10 am
- Forum: Kaufman & Company
- Topic: DeLand
- Replies: 187
- Views: 823558
Re: DeLand
Always good to have an update on this splendid project. I'm really looking forward to it. Cheers, old boy! -jim
- November 27th, 2012, 11:10 am
- Forum: General
- Topic: Mickey O'Malley tickles
- Replies: 5
- Views: 2355
Re: Mickey O'Malley tickles
Not only was Micky O'Malley's work great, but knowing him from his Detroit boyhood days [as Micky Ostaski (sp?)] he was a great guy, too!
- March 24th, 2012, 11:47 am
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Frank Dailey - RIP
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1693
Re: Frank Dailey - RIP
What sad news. Frank was a long-time friend, and a regular at most of the magic collector conferences, along with his late wife Margaret. He'd been a magic collector for many years, and had some particularly nice material on Tampa and the Davenport brothers. He was generous with his knowledge and ev...
- March 24th, 2012, 11:44 am
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Frank Dailey - RIP
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1693
Re: Frank Dailey - RIP
What sad news. Frank was a long-time friend, and a regular at most of the magic collector conferences, along with his late wife Margaret. He'd been a magic collector for many years, and had some particularly nice material on Tampa and the Davenport brothers. He was generous with his knowledge and ev...
- December 10th, 2011, 12:12 pm
- Forum: Magic History and Anecdotes
- Topic: How did The Billboard/Amusement Business mags affect you?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3358
Re: How did The Billboard/Amusement Business mags affect you?
There's probably a lot 'out here' whose experience is similar to my own. I started reading BILLBOARD when I was 12 or 14 or so, and started each issue by turning to Bill Sach's magic column. Then I returned to the front page and began paging through it. I seldom missed a weekly issue, in spite of th...
- December 1st, 2011, 8:15 pm
- Forum: Kaufman & Company
- Topic: New Japan Close-Up Book
- Replies: 71
- Views: 23663
Re: New Japan Close-Up Book
Richard: Couldn't be more excited to hear the news! I can hardly wait 'til it hits the streets. Cheers -jim
- November 1st, 2011, 10:46 am
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Happy Halloween from the Folks at Genii!
- Replies: 1
- Views: 628
- September 19th, 2011, 12:16 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Earle Oakes has Died
- Replies: 24
- Views: 7638
Re: Earle Oakes has Died
Just read of Earle Oakes' passing, and am truly saddened. I first met Earle years ago when was researching the life of Jean Hugard. Earle contacted me and wondered if I'd be interested in some Ms. pedagogical material that had belonged to 'Roberta' [Byron]who had been a student of Hugard's, and said...
- June 27th, 2011, 11:03 am
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Sid Radner - A Legend Passes
- Replies: 14
- Views: 4917
Re: Sid Radner - A Legend Passes
Was very sorry to hear of Sid's passing, I had some great conversations with him over the years. I think Pat had it right that Sid even outdid Ed Saint in his plugging of Houdini's [and, dare I say it, his own] name. When Sid was on a roll, nothing--as the saying goes--was lost in the telling of a s...
- May 12th, 2011, 1:57 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Max Hapner passes...
- Replies: 2
- Views: 1198
Re: Max Hapner passes...
What a sad thing to hear about the passing of Max Hapner. Though we've no longer seen each other as often as we did in the past, our occasional meetings were always a great pleasure. A man of great enthusiasm, and a contributor to magic..
- November 4th, 2010, 8:34 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Charles Reynolds
- Replies: 24
- Views: 6203
Re: Charles Reynolds
There are certainly those who knew Charles Reynolds better than I, but few left, I suspect, that knew him longer. As young guys, Charles would wend his way north from Toledo to Colon for the Abbott affairs, as I would wend my way south from Lansing. We go back a long way. In those days, he was getti...
- March 21st, 2010, 1:38 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Sid Fleischman Passes
- Replies: 11
- Views: 3572
Re: Sid Fleischman Passes
What a shame; it's tough to realize that I'll chat with Sid no more. I missed seeing him at the last LA conference, as he had a conflicting commitment. Sid was a class guy, and a wonderful companion over lunch or just a chat on magic or any number of subjects. Those who knew him were privileged, and...
- January 21st, 2010, 5:19 pm
- Forum: Magic History and Anecdotes
- Topic: Fred Keating's Middle Name???
- Replies: 2
- Views: 861
Re: Fred Keating's Middle Name???
Yep! Same guy. For some time in the 20s Fred Keating called himself such. I suppose he thought it sounded 'exotic,' or somthing. I couldn't swear that 'Serrano' was his 'middle name' or one he adopted, but he did use it quite often.
- January 6th, 2010, 6:12 pm
- Forum: Collector's Marketplace
- Topic: BEATING A DEAD HORSE: The Life and Times of Jay Marshall
- Replies: 5
- Views: 3046
Re: BEATING A DEAD HORSE: The Life and Times of Jay Marshall
Now that 2010 has arrived, and had a few days to settle in, I can state--hopefully without offending other friends--that my favorite magic book for the year 2009 is, hands down, "Beating A Dead Horse," the biography of Jay Marshall by his son Sandy. I can't imagine who else could have done...
- December 2nd, 2009, 5:00 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: American Museum of Magic Names New Director
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1447
Re: American Museum of Magic Names New Director
Hey Richard; you know how close Bob and I were, and I just want to say I wish I were in his presence right now (as do many) just to hear his reaction! It is nice, however, to see some movement there, and wish them well. I'll be curious to see what transpires.
- December 1st, 2009, 5:55 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Sad News Jimmy Krzak...
- Replies: 2
- Views: 1642
Re: Sad News Jimmy Krzak...
Sorry to hear of Jimmy Krzak's passing. Enjoyed his work many times at Schulien's. Tough to see the 'old-style' Chicago bar magician's leave us. RIP Jimmy.
Jim Alfredson
Jim Alfredson
- November 14th, 2009, 12:34 pm
- Forum: General
- Topic: Are you a member of The Magic Circle?
- Replies: 134
- Views: 26198
Re: Are you a member of The Magic Circle?
I've been a member for many years. Admittedly, I've visited the U.K. on a near-annual basis forover 30 years [Ready for that, Peter Lane, who chauffered me to the Circle on my initial visit!] So I know a number of members. Prior to my first visit, I knew a number via correespondence, thus I got a ve...
- November 10th, 2009, 9:10 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: 2009 Los Angeles Conference on Magic History
- Replies: 49
- Views: 15381
Re: 2009 Los Angeles Conference on Magic History
All I can add to the positive comments on the LA Conference is Amen! Amen! Amen! And, like you Dustin, I wouldn't miss it. It was first-rate, as usual, and nobody works harder than that crew. No, mai-ling, it was not Louie's blade box, but was borrowed locally.
- October 1st, 2009, 7:36 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: MCA: Who's Next at Bat?
- Replies: 70
- Views: 12263
Re: MCA: Who's Next at Bat?
I think that Gord has hit a very salient point, and so has mai-ling. The late Jimmy Findlay--the only major collector I've ever known who if oferred a perfect copy of something, and a less perfect one at a lower price, would unhesitatingly take the 'less-perfect' as many bidders in his auctions foun...
- September 29th, 2009, 6:30 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: MCA: Who's Next at Bat?
- Replies: 70
- Views: 12263
Re: MCA: Who's Next at Bat?
How I missed-out on this thread, I know not. Except I guess the title didn't ring any bells for me. Clay Shevlin kindly phoned me about it, wondering, I am sure, why I'd not commented on it. As current Hon. President of the M.C.A., I should have been the first in line to offer my personal thanks for...
- April 20th, 2009, 5:16 pm
- Forum: Magic History and Anecdotes
- Topic: Thurston Slaps Child
- Replies: 2
- Views: 1216
Re: Thurston Slaps Child
Thanks, Kevin, for the tip. I knew Clare Cummings well for many years, but I'd never heard him tell of the Thurston slapping incident and was interested in reading it. Clare was a great guy and he's missed in this corner.
May Genii
May issue arrived in this morning's post, and was greatly enjoyed this evening! A lot of fine stuff; dandy interviews with Michael Caine/Peter Harness/Scott Penrose, and hope to see the film. Gerald Schiller's piece on Harry Thurston brought to mind Jay Marshall's favorite H.T. story. Seems when Har...
- April 14th, 2009, 5:59 pm
- Forum: Magic History and Anecdotes
- Topic: Toole-Stott's Magic Library
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1359
Re: Toole-Stott's Magic Library
Hello Gene: My understanding is that, no, toole-Stott didn't have a significant magic library. An experienced bibliographer, he knew where the material was, and spent time visiting the major collections in America and the U.K. He was a nice man, very knowledgeable, and trusted by these major collect...
- March 9th, 2009, 12:12 pm
- Forum: Collector's Marketplace
- Topic: wanted
- Replies: 0
- Views: 540
wanted
I have a couple of files that I hope Forum readers might help me complete. I need: Sorcerer's Eyes Vol. 3 - No. 33/36 and Profile Nos. 13,14,15,16,17,18 and the Index. Please have a look, and let me know your price.
Cheers! -jim
Cheers! -jim
- February 7th, 2009, 8:37 pm
- Forum: Magic History and Anecdotes
- Topic: Craige Snader's WRITERS
- Replies: 2
- Views: 1328
Re: Craige Snader's WRITERS
Dear TB: To the best of my knowledge, Craige didn't get around to publish his opus on nail writers. He was a man of enthusiasm, with a lot of irons in the fire--a long anticipated book on the late Leslie May, e.g., (Yours Aye, Leslie May). After Craige's death, his son continued to run his business ...
- September 3rd, 2008, 8:11 pm
- Forum: Magic History and Anecdotes
- Topic: BRITS AT WAR AND MASKELYNE
- Replies: 16
- Views: 4668
Re: BRITS AT WAR AND MASKELYNE
Please, Richard [Hughes], recover from your shock! And to you, Richard [Kaufman], I'm pleased to note that something on Richard [Stokes]Maskelyne research will appear in GENII. I read this eons ago when if first appeared in GENII'S JOURNAL (an Australian club publication) and am fortunate in also ha...