Magic Library Books
-
- Posts: 160
- Joined: December 10th, 2013, 6:58 pm
- Favorite Magician: Bill Malone
- Location: NYC
Magic Library Books
Hello all,
I have a few magic books I'm going to be donating to two nearby public libraries. Which got me thinking, I remember one book on magic I found in the NY Public Library when I was getting started in magic was an old book by Bill Tarr. I can't remember the title of the book. For those of you who started magic from books at your local libraries, what were some of the titles you came across? Thanks!
Roberto
I have a few magic books I'm going to be donating to two nearby public libraries. Which got me thinking, I remember one book on magic I found in the NY Public Library when I was getting started in magic was an old book by Bill Tarr. I can't remember the title of the book. For those of you who started magic from books at your local libraries, what were some of the titles you came across? Thanks!
Roberto
-
- Posts: 3306
- Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
- Location: Short card above selection.
Re: Magic Library Books
One of the best, which I eventually purchase, was Greer Marechal's, Magic For The Millions.
-
- Posts: 230
- Joined: August 6th, 2008, 5:38 pm
- Favorite Magician: Bro. John Hamman, Simon Aronson, David Regal
- Location: Central Florida
Re: Magic Library Books
The one I remember was Cub Scout Magic, which was in my elementary school library. It was published in 1960, and I saw it sometime around 1970. Interestingly, the only trick I remember from it (and it was more of a stunt), was how to pick up a empty coke bottle with a straw.
-
- Posts: 365
- Joined: December 24th, 2015, 10:29 am
- Favorite Magician: Paul Megram
Re: Magic Library Books
Was it Now you see it, now you don't? That's the book that always comes to mind when I think of Bill Tarr.mrmagik68 wrote:book by Bill Tarr. I can't remember the title of the book.
-
- Posts: 202
- Joined: January 11th, 2015, 4:17 pm
- Favorite Magician: Brian Gillis
- Location: Pirate, AR
Re: Magic Library Books
Dunningers Complete Encyclopedia Of Magic was the only magic book in our local library and the nearest magic shop was Jack's Joke Shop in Boston. When I was a teenager a friend gave me Bill Tarr's Now You See It, Now You Don't! and it moved me from little plastic box tricks to sleight of hand. A few years ago Barry Ross was selling some of the beautiful original illustrations he did for the book. I desperately wished I could afford one. Quelle dommage.
Re: Magic Library Books
I remember keeping The Amateur Magician's Handbook perpetually checked out from the library of a larger nearby city.
-
- Posts: 594
- Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
- Location: Winfield, IL
Re: Magic Library Books
I eventually purchased almost all of the books on magic that I used to check out as a kid when my library consolidated its branches. Some of my favorite titles were Joseph Leeming's Fun with Magic and More fun with Magic, Walter Gibson's The Master Magicians, Paul Curry's Magicians Magic and my absolute favorite Clayton Rawson aka The Great Merlini's The Golden Book of Magic.
I
I
-
- Posts: 1368
- Joined: February 7th, 2008, 12:00 pm
- Location: Brooklyn NY
Re: Magic Library Books
The Leeming books, the Bill Severn books, and the book that enticed me to get an adult card: Professional Magic Made Easy by Bruce Elliott. Thank you, Brooklyn Public Library, Branch #48!
Click here to get Gerald Deutsch's Perverse Magic: The First Sixteen Years
All proceeds to Open Heart Magic charity.
All proceeds to Open Heart Magic charity.
-
- Posts: 202
- Joined: January 11th, 2015, 4:17 pm
- Favorite Magician: Brian Gillis
- Location: Pirate, AR
Re: Magic Library Books
Ah, good ol' 793.8! (Jeff Stone 793.8 Where is the Magic.)
How many times have we browsed libraries and used book stores? "Where is the hobby and game section? Got any books on magic, sleight-of-hand?"
How many times have we browsed libraries and used book stores? "Where is the hobby and game section? Got any books on magic, sleight-of-hand?"
-
- Posts: 923
- Joined: May 18th, 2011, 1:55 am
Re: Magic Library Books
Three books I was very fond of at the library that were a surprise to me: [ 1 ] David Meyer
Wizard Exposed: Magic Tricks by and Interviews With Harry Houdini Howard Thurston and Other Past Masters of Magic [ I still have a photocopy of a section of that book with interviews and photos of Max Malini and Charles Bertram that I made when I first discovered that book back in high school ]
[ 2 ] T.A. Waters Encyclopedia of Magic and Magicians [ This was doublely surprising because the author would later magically materialize every Sunday at the Magic Castle during the afternoon lectures that I attended religiously during my junior days ]
[ 3 ] Ricky Jay Learned Pigs & Fireproof Women [ I also remember making a photocopy of the Malini section in that book ]
[ If you're in the Southern California area these books can be found at the Cerritos Library which also has a Pepper's Ghost fireplace in the main sitting room in the lobby ]
Wizard Exposed: Magic Tricks by and Interviews With Harry Houdini Howard Thurston and Other Past Masters of Magic [ I still have a photocopy of a section of that book with interviews and photos of Max Malini and Charles Bertram that I made when I first discovered that book back in high school ]
[ 2 ] T.A. Waters Encyclopedia of Magic and Magicians [ This was doublely surprising because the author would later magically materialize every Sunday at the Magic Castle during the afternoon lectures that I attended religiously during my junior days ]
[ 3 ] Ricky Jay Learned Pigs & Fireproof Women [ I also remember making a photocopy of the Malini section in that book ]
[ If you're in the Southern California area these books can be found at the Cerritos Library which also has a Pepper's Ghost fireplace in the main sitting room in the lobby ]
Re: Magic Library Books
I'd like to add something here that sounds odd - from time to time, go check out those books, even if only for a week or so. Many, many of those books from my local library were deaccessioned/tossed due to their lack of circulation. I understand the thinking, but the library as a concept has changed so much over the years that finding copies of great 1920s books library bound and circulating, like I could when I was a kid, are gone. Still, the ones that you may see on the shelf when browsing ought to go home, just so they are there for some younger kid with interest who may prefer reading to the internet. Put a penny in the pot.
-
- Posts: 349
- Joined: July 10th, 2010, 12:34 pm
- Location: Georgia
Re: Magic Library Books
I, too, was partial to The Amateur Magician's Handbook, along with a for-the-public book by Pat Page that I don't readily recall the title of. And Harry Lorayne's The Magic Book should certainly be added to the list.
Re: Magic Library Books
A few that I remember enjoying from the library are
Hokus Pokus by Ib Permin
Pure Magic! by Henry Gross
The Master Magicians by Walter Gibson
Hokus Pokus by Ib Permin
Pure Magic! by Henry Gross
The Master Magicians by Walter Gibson
-
- Posts: 594
- Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
- Location: Winfield, IL
Re: Magic Library Books
The Page book was The Big Book of Magic. If I recall correctly Patrick Page was expelled from the IBM because of this book.
-
- Posts: 160
- Joined: December 10th, 2013, 6:58 pm
- Favorite Magician: Bill Malone
- Location: NYC
Re: Magic Library Books
Jack Shalom wrote:The Leeming books, the Bill Severn books, and the book that enticed me to get an adult card: Professional Magic Made Easy by Bruce Elliott. Thank you, Brooklyn Public Library, Branch #48!
Wow Jack! You really lucked out at that library! Great selection there.
Roberto
-
- Posts: 160
- Joined: December 10th, 2013, 6:58 pm
- Favorite Magician: Bill Malone
- Location: NYC
Re: Magic Library Books
Dave Le Fevre wrote:Was it Now you see it, now you don't? That's the book that always comes to mind when I think of Bill Tarr.mrmagik68 wrote:book by Bill Tarr. I can't remember the title of the book.
Dave,
Turns out the Bill Tarr book I came across at my local library was, 101 Easy-to-Learn Classic Magic Tricks. Later on I purchased, Now you see it, Now you don't.
Roberto
-
- Posts: 3306
- Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
- Location: Short card above selection.
Re: Magic Library Books
What's New In Magic by Walter Gibson. I think I wore out the library copy. It's a great book and I now have my own copy.