The Genii Forum

Oh, I do hope "Into Thin Air" reappears somehow ... I think I would be in paradise if that was somehow resurrected! Sadly, I think it never will be. It would have been more than 50 years ago. Perhaps some persistent researcher with TV connections could dig it up from the archives. I think...

James Munton wrote:Oh do stop it, Mother.

Very well, James. I will remove myself from this thread. It doesn't seem to be productive. Perhaps we should let them discuss Paul's book and leave it at that.

Somehow I have never thought of veteran police officers as being "fawning sycophants" but perhaps I am not a very good judge of these things. Oddly enough I have seen Roger himself frequently praise one of the people he mentions in his post on here but I would not have thought that means t...

On reflection, I think this is all my fault for mentioning Munton's book in the first place. We should really have been talking about Paul's book and I should not have distracted the conversation. It was just that I didn't expect the negative reaction since James's book has gotten such a great react...

You are both reviewers for the Linking Ring, aren't you? I find this vaguely amusing and ironic. How about you review Paul's book and Roger reviews yours? Oh perhaps not............

I have actually seen Vernon perform in his younger years on television. He was indeed excellent. It was on a British television production of decades ago. It was black and white television. It was a gem of a programme featuring 3 wonderful magicians. Slydini, Vernon and Cy Endfield. I think it was c...

Yes indeed. I do own the Fooling Houdini book and am well aware that it has received "blistering reviews" from the magic community. However, I am also well aware that the book wasn't written for the magic community in the first place and was aimed at a far wider target market. It seems to ...

As a result of this topic I have had a look at some videos of Mr Hobson. It may not be my cup of tea but there is no doubt of his professionalism, stage presence and timing. Oddly enough I was reading yesterday an article he wrote decades ago before he was even known in the business. In fact I got t...

Quite frankly I don't like Mr Hobson's act, his humour, his material and most of all insulting behaviour towards his volunteer as explained in that cruise ship review. The passenger was not complaining about the gay aspect of things but the fact that he felt abused and insulted with remarks about hi...

I am sure that you will all be delighted to hear that FISM is back in Blackpool in 2017.

Here is another book along the same lines by another magician (James Munton) ......... Not a book along the same lines at all. Paul actually has a proven depth of knowledge on the subject matter - and knows what he's speaking and writing about. I haven't seen Paul's book but I am sure it is excelle...

Here is another book along the same lines by another magician (James Munton) and in fact I have seen him post on this very forum. I own this book and it is pretty good and well researched.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Con-Vulnerabl ... 1442207310

Maybe we should just call it a performing art and leave it at that.

And of course if you like that sort of thing there is extensive treatment regarding one handed cuts in one of the Ross Bertram books. Alas I have forgotten which one of the two he wrote. Very good books too if you are not afraid of a bit of practice. The one handed cuts are in Bertram on Sleight of...

I knew Henry. He could pitch magic too although he was not a magician. He must be dead now. He was never healthy and had a hole in the heart condition. It is true that he was superb with the bird warbler and I only knew one man who could match him with it. His name might surprise you. It was Paul Cl...

There is actually an entire chapter in Expert Card Technique by Hugard and Braue on one handed card magic. And of course if you like that sort of thing there is extensive treatment regarding one handed cuts in one of the Ross Bertram books. Alas I have forgotten which one of the two he wrote. Very g...

Here is something that might interest you especially if you believe in conspiracy theories. I don't believe it myself but here it is for what it is worth. Someone I know who is very well known in the magic world told me that a friend of his overheard a telephone conversation between Randi and Geller...

I am afraid that I didn't like that at all. Too long winded for me and I found some of the remarks a bit sleazy and low class. But worst of all was the disgusting profanity half way through the trick.

Yes indeed. I mentioned Steve Belchou myself in my earlier post. Perhaps Sebastian missed it. However, I do thank Mr Maven for confirming it. Incidentally although he was not the inventor I do believe Oscar Weigle first popularised it. But here is another one that is not credited. The version of the...

She may not have been negative in front of other magicians and that is understandable even for Joan Rivers. However, she was certainly negative about him in print. I remember reading it in a book she wrote, possibly her autobiography. Of course he fired her and that may have had something to do with...

Many years ago I read what she wrote about Kuda Bux. I am afraid she wasn't terribly complimentary. She said he didn't shower and he smelled.

They can. And they should. And they do. But it should be SECONDARY. Laughter, silliness and participation is FAR more important.

Performing for teenagers is no big deal. You just show them the same material you do for adults.And virtually the same presentation. Naturally you avoid innuendo and tasteless remarks but I believe you should do that with adult audiences anyway. Now, teenagers are a little more rumbunctious than reg...

Yes indeed. Despite what I said on another thread about performers becoming less effective as they get older I am happy to report that Kreskin is as good as he always has been.

Fogel was EASILY the greatest mentalist I have ever seen. And I have seen most of the famous ones. Perhaps he had an off night the time Mr Kaufmann saw him. And of course it was only a few years before he passed away. The older you get, in many cases, the less effective you get. As for Alan Alan I h...

Oh, and with regard to the original question I have no idea where 99% of the tricks in the Royal Road originate but I do know that Poker Players Picnic was invented by Steve Belchou. The Card to Pocket thing was invented by C. O. Williams from Cardiff, and I am pretty sure that Everywhere and Nowher...

I don't know about a "dissertation" but I will be happy to give you my take on it. I like both effects. However, I would tend to present Triumph in a quieter more attentive atmosphere. I find Tipsy Trick more practical for general use. Here is where I see that the advantage lies with the R...

Topsy Turvy Cards is the first trick in the book and was not invented by Sid Lorraine. However, a somewhat similar effect later on in the book entitled "A Tipsy Trick" certainly was. Or at least the shuffle was. I am not sure if the revelation of the selected card was devised by Sid but I ...