Search found 237 matches

by Richard Stokes
February 26th, 2024, 5:49 pm
Forum: Magic History and Anecdotes
Topic: Ancient Automata
Replies: 8
Views: 1319

Re: Ancient Automata

"Evidence indicates that the complicated bronze astronomical calculating machine with thirty gears, the Antikythera mechanism, known as the world’s first analogue computer, was made between the third and first centuries BC in Rhodes."
GODS AND ROBOTS
by Richard Stokes
February 26th, 2024, 5:30 pm
Forum: Magic History and Anecdotes
Topic: Ancient Automata
Replies: 8
Views: 1319

Re: Ancient Automata

I couldn't find the original Dial of Destiny, but it is loosely based on the Antikythera Mechanism.
No time travel, alas.
by Richard Stokes
February 26th, 2024, 10:53 am
Forum: Magic History and Anecdotes
Topic: Ancient Automata
Replies: 8
Views: 1319

Ancient Automata

Two recent books on ancient automata: Gods and Robots: Myths, Machines, and Ancient Dreams of Technology by Adrienne Mayor (2018) Body and Machine in Classical Antiquity Edited by Maria Gerolemou and George Kazantzidis (2023) The wooden dove of Archytas: was this the world's first robot? And what ab...
by Richard Stokes
February 26th, 2024, 10:15 am
Forum: Magic History and Anecdotes
Topic: Hark, I Hear The Cannons Roar
Replies: 8
Views: 833

Re: Hark, I Hear The Cannons Roar

Cannon's Roar: The late great Steve Walker once told this joke with great effect at the Sydney Magic Convention.
by Richard Stokes
February 20th, 2024, 12:02 pm
Forum: Feature Articles
Topic: Please retire the term, "cardman."
Replies: 290
Views: 233203

Re: Please retire the term, "cardman."

My two children quite liked the Lemony Snicket books. I was always touched by the opening dedications to Beatrice Baudelaire: To Beatrice—Darling, dearest, dead. For Beatrice— My love for you shall live forever. You, however, did not. For Beatrice— You will always be in my heart, in my mind, and in ...
by Richard Stokes
February 19th, 2024, 2:25 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Blackpool 2024 Day Three
Replies: 13
Views: 1616

Re: Blackpool 2024 Day Three

Craig, you've been blacklisted by Mark Waddington, a Blackpool organiser, from their Facebook group. I tried to defend your reviews, so now they've cut me out as well. Waddington was upset by your allegedly misogynist body image comments. I thought his stance was inconsistent given Harrison Greenbau...
by Richard Stokes
February 19th, 2024, 2:01 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Blackpool 2024 Day One
Replies: 12
Views: 1817

Re: Blackpool 2024 Day One

Well, two years ago Craig promised to stop his looney YouTube rants.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lh0K37jTx4
but he couldn't shut his gob for long!
by Richard Stokes
February 19th, 2024, 10:07 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Blackpool 2024 Day Three
Replies: 13
Views: 1616

Re: Blackpool 2024 Day Three

Steve Valentine's evening show was outstanding!
by Richard Stokes
February 19th, 2024, 10:02 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Blackpool 2024 Day Two
Replies: 4
Views: 1340

Re: Blackpool 2024 Day Two

The Harrison Greenbaum roast for 2023 was a highlight.
by Richard Stokes
February 19th, 2024, 9:58 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Blackpool 2024 Day One
Replies: 12
Views: 1817

Re: Blackpool 2024 Day One

On the Friday early Gala Show they dragged the human beast, Craig Petty, from the audience and placed his head in a huge guillotine. I was hoping that chopping off his head would put an end to his ceaseless rants. Unfortunately, the guillotine failed to drop. Craig survived. And all was confusion. I...
by Richard Stokes
January 1st, 2024, 11:19 am
Forum: Feature Articles
Topic: Kuda Bux
Replies: 0
Views: 1562

Kuda Bux

Vanessa Armstrong mentioned the link between Roald Dahl's short story Wonderful World of Henry Sugar and the performer Kuda Bux. Kuda Bux appeared in Jasper Maskelyne's post-war shows. So, it is likely that Dahl was also aware of Jasper Maskelyne. Indeed, Dahl steals the hitchhiker anecdote from Whi...
by Richard Stokes
November 27th, 2023, 1:19 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Jack Delvin
Replies: 2
Views: 1547

Jack Delvin

Richard, our editor, mentioned several respected names in magic who have sadly passed away. Duncan Trillo at Magic Week referred to the death of Jack Delvin 1931 - 20th November 2023. "Jack spent a lifetime in magic from his initial interest as a child to working behind the counter of Ellisdons...
by Richard Stokes
November 10th, 2023, 12:27 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Derren Brown's Unbelievable - a review
Replies: 58
Views: 14763

Re: Derren Brown's Unbelievable - a review

Apologies, but I really enjoyed the show. Especially the impressive opening effect and the baffling closing climax. The music was great. The cast were excellent. And their spectator selection was top notch. Recommended. Don't be put off by the mixed reviews.
by Richard Stokes
November 6th, 2023, 12:50 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: David Berglas has Died Aged 97
Replies: 27
Views: 4680

Re: David Berglas has Died Aged 97

Following on from CraigMitchell, here is The Times Nov 6: "David Berglas obituary Pioneering magician who fled the Nazis then baffled Britain with his extravagant stunts, mind games and trademark card trick It is known as the “holy grail” of magic card tricks, and named “The Berglas Effect” aft...
by Richard Stokes
October 28th, 2023, 3:24 pm
Forum: Link Watch
Topic: An Index of wallets, peek devices, coin holders and deck holders
Replies: 21
Views: 10746

Re: An Index of wallets, peek devices, coin holders and deck holders

Rovi had a straightforward version of card to wallet using the traditional (but ungimmicked) large wallet

See Safe Bet in booklet Rovi Reveals.
by Richard Stokes
October 27th, 2023, 6:31 pm
Forum: Feature Articles
Topic: Michael Vincent article in Genii; Nov 2023
Replies: 18
Views: 8523

Re: Michael Vincent article in Genii; Nov 2023

What the hell is John Oates (from Hall & Oates) doing on page 19 of the Vincent article? Say it isn't so!
by Richard Stokes
October 18th, 2023, 4:34 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Derren Brown's Unbelievable - a review
Replies: 58
Views: 14763

Re: Derren Brown's Unbelievable - a review

" I remember some time ago there was a Shakespearian play in London (I think MacBeth) that got terrible reviews and because of the bad reviews the theatre was packed every night because people wanted to see if the play was as bad as it was reputed to be." This was Peter O'Toole's attempt a...
by Richard Stokes
October 5th, 2023, 1:17 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Train to Nowhere
Replies: 2
Views: 1796

Train to Nowhere

A few years back the Magic Circle was threatened by the development of the new High Speed (HS2) rail line from Euston (London) to Manchester via Birmingham. The Magic Circle is tucked away in a quiet side street This street happened to be dangerously close to Euston. Fortunately, the Headquarters es...
by Richard Stokes
June 27th, 2023, 6:22 pm
Forum: Link Watch
Topic: Locked Room Mysteries
Replies: 6
Views: 5116

Re: Locked Room Mysteries

French author Paul Halter (b.1956) is worth examining as he specialises in Locked Room/Impossibilist fiction.
Many of his books and short stories have been translated into English.
by Richard Stokes
June 27th, 2023, 6:19 pm
Forum: Link Watch
Topic: Locked Room Mysteries
Replies: 6
Views: 5116

Re: Locked Room Mysteries

Tom recently gave a lecture on two lesser known locked room mysteries at the Bodies from the Library conference (British Library June 24). The Death of Lawrence Vining by Alan Thomas (1929) & Into Thin Air by Winslow & Quirk (1928). Both books are long out of print. Vining involves a charact...
by Richard Stokes
March 21st, 2023, 12:03 pm
Forum: Feature Articles
Topic: The Secret Society of Golden Age Magical Mystery Writers
Replies: 5
Views: 2882

Re: The Secret Society of Golden Age Magical Mystery Writers

The Man Who Explained Miracles, Douglas Greene's biography of John Dickson Carr, has several references to Carr's link with Clayton Rawson. There are also references to the Maskelyne Mysteries. The locked room mystery The Hollow Man, perhaps Carr's most famous book, makes use of a Maskelyne illusion...
by Richard Stokes
March 18th, 2023, 8:07 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Blackpool 2023
Replies: 16
Views: 2730

Re: Blackpool 2023

"I did see a video of the last convention and was somewhat horrified to see how lower class the conventioneers were. Not the sort of people that one would invite to the best country homes with their dreadful accents and tattoos all down their arms." Taroist , Lord Snooty, are you from the ...
by Richard Stokes
March 17th, 2023, 10:04 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Edwin A. Dawes, 1925-2023
Replies: 9
Views: 2288

Re: Edwin A. Dawes, 1925-2023

Edwin Dawes obituary, The Times, March 17, 2023 Magician whose greatest trick was to combine showbusiness with his day job as an eminent biochemistry professor Eddie Dawes was one of the world’s leading chroniclers of the esoteric world of magic, writing numerous books on the subject as well as a re...
by Richard Stokes
March 8th, 2023, 5:30 pm
Forum: Magic History and Anecdotes
Topic: Maskelyne's surprise visit to London c.1965
Replies: 2
Views: 2061

Re: Maskelyne's surprise visit to London c.1965

Thanks, Joe.
John Davenport has now sent me the extract from the book you mentioned.
by Richard Stokes
March 7th, 2023, 4:26 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Edwin A. Dawes, 1925-2023
Replies: 9
Views: 2288

Re: Edwin A. Dawes, 1925-2023

An honourable gentleman. In September 2009 he wrote me an apologetic letter expressing his frustration and anger that Dover had censored parts of his Introduction to the re-release of Maskelyne's Book of Magic. References to my research on Jasper Maskelyne were cut without Edwin Dawes' permission.
by Richard Stokes
March 7th, 2023, 4:10 pm
Forum: Magic History and Anecdotes
Topic: Maskelyne's surprise visit to London c.1965
Replies: 2
Views: 2061

Maskelyne's surprise visit to London c.1965

There is an anecdote that Jasper Maskelyne made a secret journey to London in the 1960s (possibly 1965?). Apparently, Patrick Page was working up front at the Davenport’s Magic Shop at 51 Great Russell St, opposite the main entrance to the British Museum, when Jasper Maskelyne suddenly appeared. Thi...
by Richard Stokes
October 26th, 2022, 6:51 pm
Forum: Magic History and Anecdotes
Topic: Tumbling Dice
Replies: 1
Views: 3197

Tumbling Dice

From The Times, Tuesday October 25 2022: "The ingenuity and dishonesty of ancient Roman gamblers has been brought to light by the discovery of a hollowed-out dice filled with mercury. Players would secretly allow the mercury to run to the bottom of the loaded dice before throwing it, weighting ...
by Richard Stokes
August 3rd, 2022, 1:07 pm
Forum: Link Watch
Topic: Magic and Paraphysics
Replies: 3
Views: 4214

Re: Magic and Paraphysics

Hypersonic missile-bender? Geller to the rescue: ( Letter tp Putin) 'I am issuing this statement as a serious warning to you: 'If you resort to the use of Nuclear Weapons your plans and your missiles will backfire on you! 'I will use every last molecule of my Mind Power to prevent you from launching...
by Richard Stokes
June 20th, 2022, 1:05 pm
Forum: Feature Articles
Topic: Simon Cowell
Replies: 2
Views: 3863

Simon Cowell

I was shocked to see Simon Cowell gaining the cover of your magazine this month.
Then I realised it was time for me to visit an optician.
by Richard Stokes
March 20th, 2022, 10:54 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: RIP Amazing Johnathan
Replies: 4
Views: 1473

Re: RIP Amazing Johnathan

The funniest show I've ever witnessed. I saw him down in Sydney, Australia in the 1990s.
by Richard Stokes
August 10th, 2021, 2:20 pm
Forum: Alternative Media
Topic: Are You Being Served? Update
Replies: 7
Views: 4921

Re: Are You Being Served? Update

Mo rarely appeared at Crime Fiction Conventions. This is a German interview which partly captures her.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUcWvzarnb0
by Richard Stokes
August 10th, 2021, 2:06 pm
Forum: Alternative Media
Topic: Are You Being Served? Update
Replies: 7
Views: 4921

Are You Being Served? Update

I was flabbergasted to learn that Candy Davis who played the ultra-bimbo Miss Belfridge in the comedy series Are You Being Served? later developed a serious career as Mo Hayder, the acclaimed crime novelist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1sDjK9820E Alas, she died of motor neurone disease last mon...
by Richard Stokes
June 3rd, 2021, 6:55 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Quentin Tarantino's 10th & final movie
Replies: 0
Views: 1084

Quentin Tarantino's 10th & final movie

"Most directors have horrible last movies,” Tarantino said. “Usually their worst movies are their last movies. That’s the case for most of the Golden Age directors that ended up making their last movies in the late ’60s and the ’70s, then that ended up being the case for most of the New Hollywo...
by Richard Stokes
May 26th, 2021, 1:11 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Death of Alistair Maskelyne
Replies: 12
Views: 8251

Re: Death of Alistair Maskelyne

Yes, Jasper & Alistair were both fond of motorbikes. In White Magic, Jasper claims he was hired as a motorbike despatch rider during the General Strike. He rode a dodgy deathtrap motorbike nicknamed Jezebel and was paid to deliver coded mail across London. In the fabled scrapbook, there's a grea...
by Richard Stokes
April 21st, 2021, 5:40 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Death of Alistair Maskelyne
Replies: 12
Views: 8251

Re: Death of Alistair Maskelyne

Yes, Jasmine also lived in Australia. She passed away before Alistair. She was more protective of the Maskelyne reputation and I'm told by Angela that she was not happy about my research. I'll try to find out what her occupation was.
by Richard Stokes
April 9th, 2021, 2:17 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Maybe this time? Jasper Maskelyne film.
Replies: 3
Views: 2224

Re: Maybe this time? Jasper Maskelyne film.

In 2004 Alistair Maskelyne informed me that Peter Weir, the film director, had taped an interview with him in Australia. Alistair then gave him an earlier copy of my research. Peter Weir rang him back to say he was withdrawing from the War Magician film. According to Alistair, Weir said he could not...
by Richard Stokes
April 8th, 2021, 3:43 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Maybe this time? Jasper Maskelyne film.
Replies: 3
Views: 2224

Re: Maybe this time? Jasper Maskelyne film.

I really think it's time for me to publish my own extensive research on what really happened. Any magic publishers out there who can assist me in this project, feel free to contact me.
Best to contact me on the following email:
novotnycurse@gmail.com
by Richard Stokes
April 8th, 2021, 3:38 pm
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Maybe this time? Jasper Maskelyne film.
Replies: 3
Views: 2224

Maybe this time? Jasper Maskelyne film.

Colin Trevorrow To Direct Benedict Cumberbatch In Studiocanal’s ‘War Magician’ EXCLUSIVE: Fresh from wrapping Jurassic World: Dominion, Colin Trevorrow is set to direct War Magician, a Studiocanal WWII drama that will star Benedict Cumberbatch. E. Nicholas Mariani is writing the script, based on the...
by Richard Stokes
November 1st, 2020, 8:26 am
Forum: Buzz
Topic: Aladdin's Lamp
Replies: 4
Views: 1277

Aladdin's Lamp

"Two men who allegedly duped a doctor into buying an “Aladdin’s lamp” for more than £70,000 – even conjuring up a fake genie – have been arrested in India, according to officials. Laeek Khan approached police in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh after he realised the lamp did not have any mag...
by Richard Stokes
July 13th, 2020, 6:25 pm
Forum: Light from the Lamp ONLINE.
Topic: Magicians at War by H. Wayne Capps (2020) / A Slightly Biased Review
Replies: 18
Views: 52531

Re: Magicians at War by H. Wayne Capps (2020) / A Slightly Biased Review

Magic History for Dummies? I downloaded Kapps book out of curiosity. But it was money wasted. Fisher’s accounts of Maskelyne have been heavily discredited since being published. He’s probably referring to me. Fisher’s book seems to rely heavily on the 1949 book (ghost-written by Frank S. Stuart) abo...

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