Jay Marshall: Beating a Dead Horse

[Matthew Field]

I haven't read the December Genii yet, but yesterday I did get the book which is excerpted in that issue, "Beating a Dead Horse" by Sandy Marshall, the life of his dad, Jay Marshall. The book is beautifully produced, 540 pages with a ton of photos, most of which are in color (which is used throughout).

I'm about to dive in. There's an introduction by Teller and a ton of anecdotes about Jay.

Check it out at http://www.magicinc.net . Here in the UK it's available from David Drummond books in London ( 020 7836 1142 ) and I understand Sandy will be at the Blackpool convention with copies for sale.

Matt Field

[P.T. Murphy]

Good to hear! I have this on my list. Hopefully my wife, er I mean Santa(Satan?), knows if I have been naughty or nice.

For those of you who are in the UK make sure you go to David Drummond's shop in person. Ask him to do his Jay Marshall impression.

It is dead on. No pun intended. Well a little intended...

Happy Holidays!

[Tom Frame]

It's on my Christmas wish list as well. I'm sure than SantaWife will deliver the goods. After I've devoured and savored it, I'll post my review.

[Don Hendrix]

The review for this book is easy. It is simply the most entertaining book I have ever read about magic and magicians ( and a lot of other stuff too).

[Junto Publishing]

We have been following the positive feedback on The Genii Forum and on The Magic Cafe about our new publication, "Beating a Dead Horse: The Life and Times of Jay Marshall." Thanks to these comments we have nearly sold out of our advance copies of the book. The official release date is January 7, 2010, and Magic Inc. will be hosting a book signing for the author, Jay's son Sandy Marshall on January 9th (details: T.B.D.). Sandy will be making appearances in New York at the end of January, Blackpool in February, Las Vegas in March, and at the Castle sometime in-between. The book retails for $69.95 plus shipping, and may be purchased at www.magicinc.net

We'll also be releasing the CD audiobook in early 2010, read by Sandy, with the Foreword read by Teller. More details coming soon.

For the collector's out there, there will be two level's of limited, signed, leather-bound collector's editions. For more information on these, check out our post on the Collector's Marketplace.

[P.T. Murphy]

My christmas wish has come true!

All I can say is "WOW!" This is one heavy book. Great photos. Very well done. I am settling in for some Christmas Eve reading. I hope the ghost of Jasper past pays a visit...

Merry Christmas!

PTM

[Chris Marshall]

Beating a Dead Horse is an extraordinary contribution to magic literature.

Also, saw this today, of interest to magicians: how to make a factory disappear:

http://thinkorthwim.com/2007/08/19/1034/

Cheers,

-Chris

[Richard Kaufman]

That was cool.

[Richard Perrin]

Interesting... indeed!

[Bill Wells]

Those of you attending the upcoming World Magic Seminar Feb. 28 -March 3 will have the opportunity to see and hear Max Maven interview Sandy Marshall on the writing of "Beating a Dead Horse" and have Sandy sign your copy of the book.

There are still Seminar registrations available and low room rates available at the Orleans.

[Magic Newswire]

Just posted my interview with Sandy about his dad, the book and the work that went into it. I'm certainly no Max Maven when it comes to interviews on this topic, but maybe it will whet your appetite. Enjoy! http://bit.ly/dudqly

[mai-ling]

Beating a Dead Horse is an extraordinary contribution to magic literature.

Also, saw this today, of interest to magicians: how to make a factory disappear:

http://thinkorthwim.com/2007/08/19/1034/

Cheers,

-Chris

he speaks from his hidaway behind the stage curtain!

:D

[mai-ling]

i just listened to the interview.
very nice.

[mai-ling]

Well I just got my copy of the book.

A couple of quick notes of first impressions.

The first thing I did was open it in front of my dad.

Firstly...
Dad noticed on a page i happened to turn to off the bat was
his name along with Aye, Jaye, Max Maven, Patrick Page and
Charlie Reynolds with those who knew Jay really well that are
still around.

I think more than anything, that made him feel good because
first off its such a book big and you really do need to
read it to find anything...

He said that Sandy is soo good to him. Then he went on to
tell me some oddities about Sandy that probably no one
knows either.

The funny part was that he saw it because it was at the
end of the sentence. If it was in the middle he wouldn't have
noticed it.

Secondly...
The other thing is that for me to share Frances Marshall's
name it would have been completely impossible for Sandy
to screw this one up for me.

HOWEVER...

In the index and in the book it is spelled correctly.

IRONICLY in the Acknowledgements it is spelled INCORRECTLY.

ODDLY enough my name is not with my parents (both mom and
dad are together and I'm somewhere down the line). Which
is fine and humourous to me.

So again I must do my little lecture on how to spell my name:

It is with "E" not an "I" or no vowel at all.
For I am a girl not a boy.
THEREFORE I have girl parts.

[Junto Publishing]

As the publishers of "Beating a Dead Horse: The Life and Times of Jay Marshall" we made every effort to spell names correctly; however, we regret that we fell short in several areas, and apologize for any misspellings in the Acknowledgements, text or Index of the book. We have developed an ongoing errata sheet which we are sending out with book purchases (and the Collector's Editions), and are also in the process of updating a corrected Index which we will post to our website within the month. Despite the foregoing, if you've been following the reviews, they are sensational.

[mai-ling]

Its a human error to mispell.
I like to point out an obvious irony ... that's all.
no harm done.

I am happy that I was thought of to be mentioned
in the book ...

:D

[Junto Publishing]

For New York magic afficionados, you are invited to an upcoming event. We hope that Richard will send someone to cover it.

"An Evening of Whismy, Wizardry and Wine"
Dick Cavett Interviews Author Sandy Marshall
WHEN: THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2010
TIME: 6:30 - 8:30 PM
(The Interview will begin at 7:00PM Sharp!)
WHERE: THE DRAMA BOOK SHOP
250 W. 40TH STREET (BET. 7TH & 8TH)
NEW YORK CITY
(212) 944-0595
Limited, general admission seating. (FREE).
Kindly RSVP to info@juntopublishing.com

Join us at The Drama Book Shop (NYC's premiere theatrical bookstore), as we celebrate the release of the critically acclaimed new biography, "Beating a Dead Horse: The Life and Times of Jay Marshall." On this occasion, we are pleased to present television talk show legend Dick Cavett in an interview with author and Emmy Award-winning writer, Alexander "Sandy" Marshall who will reveal humorous details about the life and fascinating career of Renaissance man and dean of American magicians, Jay Marshall - "The most famous celebrity no one ever heard of": 14 appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, opened for Frank Sinatra in Sinatra's Las Vegas debut, played the London Palladium, Radio City Music Hall and was the last next-to-closing act at the Palace Theatre. Rare footage of Jay's performances will be shown. Wine reception with music by concert pianist, Hyperion Knight will precede the interview; book signing to follow.

Beating a Dead Horse:
The Life and Times of Jay Marshall
by
Alexander "Sandy" Marshall
Foreword by Teller
Hardcover with DJ, 540 pages, Color

Price: $69.95

"A hilarious ribald, rip-roaring story that holds nothing back... immensely enjoyable." --Richard Kaufman, editor of Genii: The Conjurors' Magazine

[Junto Publishing]

Here is a link to register for the book signing and interview:
http://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=656093393

[Michael E. Abston]

I was only one page into the book and I laughed out loud! Simply Wonderful!
Just wanted to add my 8 cents worth (adjusted for inflation!)

[Myron Lowenstein]

Just got back from the Book Signing at the Drama Book Store in NYC.........
Wow........overflow crowds in the main room downstairs- monitors upstairs to accommodate all in attendance- Cheese, Wine, Crackers- Jon Stetson as the warm up then the main event- Sandy Marshall interviewed by THE Dick Cavett regarding Sandys amazing book on his dad- Jay Marshall-
Beating a Dead Horse
It doesnt get much better than this!
The book itself is a great read with tons of color pix.
If Sandy is presenting this talk about his dad somewhere in your area- Dont miss it!

[Doug Thornton]

I concur.
It was a great evening! There were some fun video clips and fine stories. The story about Jay opening for Frank Sinatra was interesting as well as the one regarding Sinatra's cufflinks. Lefty was there, too.
Sandy signed the book for me; I'm glad I waited to buy it.
I also was thrilled to meet Dick Cavett - had seen him years ago when he was the narrator for "The Rocky Horror Show". He signed my copy of "Cavett" and told my friend and me a gem of a Groucho Marx story.
Thanks Sandy and Mr. Cavett.
Oh, and hi Myron! Great to see you and I'm glad we all survived scenic Newark!

[magicam]

URGENT

If you have purchase AND RECEIVED your copy of the $1,000 Platinum Edition of this book, please PM me ASAP with your e-mail address or telephone #. I'd be very grateful to hear from you.

Clay

[Jonathan Townsend]

... we made every effort to spell names correctly; however, we regret that we fell short in several areas, and apologize for any misspellings in the Acknowledgements, text or Index of the book...

It happens. Someone recently put out a book with John Ramsay's name misspelled on the cover/dustjacket. Perhaps Miss Direction has been temping as a typist?

[incompletefaro]

Just noted on Pg 85 that Jay's Marriage License is dated March 25, 2008...

[Ian Keable]

Probably sacraligious to say so but I found 'Beating a Dead Horse' rather disappointing. There wasn't that much about Jay's working act - I would have loved to had read more about his repertoire and in particular his patter: I didn't really come away understanding why for a time he was absolutely at the top of his profession.

Pat Page always told me that Jay Marshall (along with Al Flosso) was his favourite magician. I asked 'what about Roy Benson'? His response was that Jay had 'more class' than Benson. The book, for me, lacked that type of insight (a glimpse of it could be seen in Teller's introduction).

In truth, particularly towards the latter end, the book seemed to be as much about the author as it did about the subject matter. As a psychological analysis of a son coming to understand - and even, at times, trying to complete with - his father, it was fascinating. But somehow the greatness of Jay as a performer was somehow lost.