Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

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Marty Jacobs
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Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby Marty Jacobs » August 15th, 2016, 10:25 am

I've created a fun poll to find out who the most influential card magician of the 20th Century was. You can answer the poll using the link below:

https://goo.gl/forms/wDEo5g0WsQDbLgKx2

There are five choices: Cardini, Ed Marlo, Dai Vernon, Harry Lorayne, and S.W. Erdnase. You can also suggest an alternative if none of these people float your boat.

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby Jonathan Townsend » August 15th, 2016, 11:20 am

Until very recently folks were pretty well rounded rather than specialists. Vernon used coins, cups... the walnuts...

I'll stick with Hofzinser since folks are still doing his tricks... and Harry as the guy who's around and due that recognition.
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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby performer » August 15th, 2016, 11:27 am

I suppose it depends on what you mean by "influential". And I am not sure if Erdnase should be part of the equation since you stated "magician". There is as yet no conclusive evidence that he was a magician. Mind you, there is no conclusive evidence that he was a card sharp either (and I suspect he wasn't). I do think he was a magician but it hasn't been established for sure.

Cardini wasn't particularly influential in the field of close up card magic although he was certainly influential in the field of stage manipulation acts with every magician and his mother stealing his act. But then magicians don't have to be influenced to steal. They do it naturally so I think that counts Cardini out.

I would regard Harry Lorayne as easily the greatest writer on card magic of the 20th Century but since most magicians can't read I think that counts him out too. And in case you dispute my statement that magicians can't or at least don't read I had it confirmed some years ago by hearing Richard Kaufmann himself mutter under his breath at a convention, "Magicians don't read". And even if they do it doesn't seem to do them much good anyway.

So that leaves Vernon and Marlo. I was given a ton of Marlo books when I was young but I couldn't make head or tail of them and the stuff was far too difficult for me so Marlo certainly didn't influence me anyway. So that leaves Vernon. He certainly influenced me or at least Lewis Ganson did by describing his material. And he influenced a hell of a lot of other people too. And since Vernon was an old carnie just like myself naturally I would have to vote for him. Not that he cares of course since he is somewhat dead at the moment.

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby IanLand » August 15th, 2016, 11:43 am

I'd vote for Marlo, simply by volume of material (and a large percentage of it is good stuff, for sure). But Roy Walton should probably be on the list, as should Alex Elmsley. They have both contributed huge numbers of plots and ideas which have entered into wide circulation.

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby I.M. Magician » August 15th, 2016, 12:30 pm

Who "influenced" the most magicians from that list? That's a rather difficult question! Influence in what way?

If you change the word magician to writer, then it's probably Erdnase or whatever his (or her) name is.

Did Marlo influence more people that Lorayne? How could you go about determining that? I don't think you can but it appears that Marlo's stuff is too difficult to master so I would say Lorayne would be higher in the list.

Isn't the question too vague to answer?

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby jason156 » August 15th, 2016, 1:53 pm

I.M. Magician wrote:Who "influenced" the most magicians from that list? That's a rather difficult question! Influence in what way?

If you change the word magician to writer, then it's probably Erdnase or whatever his (or her) name is.


If you change the word to writer, I would suggest Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue.

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby I.M. Magician » August 15th, 2016, 1:55 pm

If we stray from the provided list, then I would agree that Jean Hugard is certainly a strong possibility.

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby performer » August 15th, 2016, 2:36 pm

jason156 wrote:
I.M. Magician wrote:Who "influenced" the most magicians from that list? That's a rather difficult question! Influence in what way?

If you change the word magician to writer, then it's probably Erdnase or whatever his (or her) name is.


If you change the word to writer, I would suggest Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue.


Yes, but the original poster said "card magicians". Hugard and Braue were not really card magicians. Oh, one moment please.......

I see you said if the word was changed to "writer" so perhaps that makes a difference. But actually it doesn't because "writer" is in the singular and Hugard and Braue are in the plural. But no matter-I would not wish to be accused of nitpicking.

I will concede that Hugard and Braue influenced my own card magic more than anyone else did because of the incredible book "The Royal Road to Card Magic" (even if Bill Duncan sniffs condescendingly at it chattering about hammers and suchlike). And I have no idea who wrote the presentation section in Expert Card Technique (Hugard or Braue?) but it is the best advice I have ever read on the subject and that influenced me too. So I suppose they influenced me personally the most. Other people will have had other influences.

But having said that I still stick by my statement that Harry Lorayne is the best writer on card magic that ever lived (and I bet he would agree with me.)

But you know, I have decided I don't like the question anyway since it is subjective and it somehow seems disrespectful to be comparing these people who have ALL had a wonderful influence on card magic! I think it should be left at that.

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby I.M. Magician » August 15th, 2016, 2:48 pm

It's like comparing apples and oranges. They are all very different from each other so I still say that the question is too vague to answer.

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby performer » August 15th, 2016, 3:42 pm

I think it would a FAR more interesting topic to discuss who we think would be the most boring card magician of the 20th century. There would be a hell of a lot of contenders, some of whom are big names in magic.

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby I.M. Magician » August 15th, 2016, 4:30 pm

performer wrote:I think it would a FAR more interesting topic to discuss who we think would be the most boring card magician of the 20th century. There would be a hell of a lot of contenders, some of whom are big names in magic.


Quite frankly, that is why I got away from doing card tricks for so long. I began to think that I was boring the heck out of people by making them watch card tricks.

I have nothing against card tricks but I find other kinds of magic to be more interesting.

There was a guy who used to stop by the magic shop I worked in and wanted me to watch card tricks. Take a card from this deck, count down so many cards in the other deck, now make piles of this many cards, and on and on and on...

By the time he was half way through the trick, I forgot my selected card and really couldn't care less what was next. It was torture! He seemed to have an unlimited number of these agonizing card tricks and insisted on doing them for me.

The thing about card tricks is that they can be very entertaining when performed in a limited quantity and with some level of flair. Presentation, speaking voice, and the effect itself determines if it is watchable.

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby John Bowden » August 15th, 2016, 5:12 pm

Marty Jacobs wrote:I've created a fun poll to find out who the most influential card magician of the 20th Century was. You can answer the poll using the link below:

https://goo.gl/forms/wDEo5g0WsQDbLgKx2

There are five choices: Cardini, Ed Marlo, Dai Vernon, Harry Lorayne, and S.W. Erdnase. You can also suggest an alternative if none of these people float your boat.

Marty



Moving away from what is a very narrow choice of five magician in a sea of many..............I'd add Karl Fulves (if only for the huge amount of material he had produced) and also Richard Kaufman for his amazing contribution to the publication of card magic.
There are many others such as Ricky Jay whose stage magic with cards will surely have influenced how card magic is perceived.
The Spanish school of excellent card magicians should also be mentioned...........................................and the list could go on and on and on.

For me, personally, the most influential magician has been Lennart Green.

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby I.M. Magician » August 15th, 2016, 5:17 pm

Ah, Ricky Jay! Now him I can watch doing card tricks for a long time. There is something about his offbeat style that agrees with me.

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby performer » August 15th, 2016, 5:18 pm

I must say I.M. Magician's post amused me greatly! Having said that I have to confess I love card magic if it is done properly. Alas it usually isn't. However, it really is the most popular branch of magic for a reason. The sheer flexibility of using nothing but a deck of cards is quite something. And the sheer amount of material available. There must be more card tricks than tricks from every other branch of magic combined. Alas this sheer multitude of sleights, tricks and flourishes often obscures the other necessities necessary for good performance and people get involved with so many unnecessary extraneous distractions and finger flinging that it actually distracts from the main purpose which is supposed to be entertainment.

Card tricks can indeed be excruciatingly boring but it is not the fault of the poor innocent card trick. It is the fault of the introverted and dull personalities of the people who are attracted to it. They so love their unnecessary moves and are fascinated with their multiple variations when only one of the variations is necessary. They don't realise that to be skillful beyond the bounds of necessity in any particular trick is detrimental to the effect and they clutter up the effect with indirect plots and convoluted long winded presentations.

And yet, just as you have stated card tricks can be remarkably effective in the right hands. That is, the hands of a showman. Alas, there are very few of those about.

Still there have been a few people who have even done entire stage acts with nothing but a deck of cards. There was Lionel King, Billy 0'Connor and his 52 assistants, Ricky Jay, Nate Leipzig and a few others. I have even done a 20 minute cabaret act using nothing but a deck of cards in the London night clubs working to drunks. Later I expanded to a 45 minute show but only for sober audiences.

Hofzinser said card tricks were the poetry of magic. The trouble is that there are so many bloody awful poets.

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby performer » August 15th, 2016, 5:30 pm

But here is a video of one of the few card magicians that encourage me to stay awake during his work:

https://marklewistradeshowmagiciansecre ... e-tullock/

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby performer » August 16th, 2016, 4:13 am

Incidentally, for those of you who are not aware of it that video was of Eddie Tullock the famed trade show magician. At the end of the video I believe there is also some footage of Eddie Fechter so you are getting two for the price of one.

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby Q. Kumber » August 16th, 2016, 4:26 am

Let me look at the question objectively, if that is possible with a subjective question.

To my mind Vernon can be the Number One answer by a long shot.

Firstly, look at those he inspired. Larry Jennings, Bruce Cervon and John Carney spring first to mind and there are many others and each of those has contributed enough to be on the list.

Second look at the work of old time performers that Vernon brought to our attention. Malini and Leipzig spring first to mind and again, there are many others.

Number three, look at the range of finished, polished and wonderfully constructed routines that are in the repertoires of both working professionals and serious non-professionals.

Number four. The elegance of his routines. When Vernon came to Britain and Ireland many working professionals dropped routines they had been doing for years and switched to Vernon's versions. The Linking Rings and Cups and Balls come to mind. Ken Brooke, Tony Griffith and many others switched to Vernon's Linking Rings. Admittedly these are not card tricks but they do show Vernon's influence over established professional magicians.

Five, the legacy of his books, the 'Vernon Book of Magic' alone being on practically every list of the must have Top Ten books.

I'm sure I could think of extra reasons but that's enough to be going on with.

Oh, one more. If it hadn't been for Vernon, Erdnase might well not be on Marty's list.

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby performer » August 16th, 2016, 2:43 pm

Oh, I thought it was Vernon too by a long shot but as usual, I was far too tactful to say so outright.

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby Marty Jacobs » August 16th, 2016, 7:05 pm

I agree that my question is terribly subjective and that the choice of five is too limited; I did this to make voting easier and satisfy my own curiosity about a handful of magicians I greatly admire. I meant no disrespect to other card magicians by leaving them off the list. I agree that Alex Elmsley should be on this list, but he made it quite clear that Vernon was a very strong influence on him, so I didn't include him, which was a mistake. Roy Walton has exerted a ton of influence, especially in Scotland, so probably should have been on the list as well. Karl Fulves, due to his prolific output (greater than Marlo I think), should be on the list as suggested. Is there anyone else? Maybe we could construct a top ten?

As with any question like this, the replies and subsequent discussion that is generated is more important than the actual question itself. Thanks for all the interesting replies on this thread.

Currently, the order of influence is:

  • Dai Vernon
  • Harry Lorayne
  • Other
  • Ed Marlo
  • Erdnase
  • Cardini

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby performer » August 16th, 2016, 7:09 pm

It is a hell of a lot easier asking who was the most influential mentalist or coin magician. That would be far easier.
Annemann and Bobo.

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby Q. Kumber » August 17th, 2016, 6:15 am

It seems that Vernon wasn't the only one promoting the merits of Erdnase. In England Graham Adams was doing it.
According to Magipedia:

"Adams gave lectures on Erdnase called "S. W. Erdnase—His Book". His lectures on Erdnase would last nearly two hours, providing explanation of the sleights contained in The Expert at the Card Table, which he considered one of the first three books on Magic. He also did a book called "Mr. Erdnase, His Book" was illustrated by photographs and based on a lecture he gave to The Magic Circle in 1931. Only six copies were produced."

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby El Mystico » August 17th, 2016, 11:27 am

Adams did write a number of articles on Erdnase in Pentagram. But I don't know if they covered the same material as in his scarce book.

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby brianarudolph » August 17th, 2016, 3:55 pm

I always have a problem with these kinds of polls since there seems to be a natural bias towards those whose works appeared earlier in the time period rather than later; such folks are able to exert a naturally "greater" influence because they existed first.

Recognizing that "what comes before" influences "what comes after" (sometimes by creating a gap for something dramatically different than "what came before"), and speaking from my own narrow perspective, I see what I'll term "Eras of Influence" (many of which overlap in terms of time and which obviously build upon each other's influence.) For example:

The Erdnase Era
The Vernon Era
The Marlo Era
The Lorayne Era
The Tamariz Era

This list is not meant to be definitive and I extend my apologies to those I've omitted. I know that I have omitted significant card magic from Japan, but that's simply because I still have a lot of catching up to do and I am not as familiar with a lot of work that came out of the Japanese School yet - something I'm hoping that the impending arrival of The Secrets of So Sato will subsequently spur me into digging into further through a lot of Richard's previous works and any others I can find.

Actually, it would be interesting to formally look at these "eras" on a combined timeline to better see when they existed, how far their popularity/influence roughly extended, where we are now, and where it seems card magic is heading in the future - an exercise I humbly leave to those with far more knowledge of the matter than I.

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby Joe Mckay » August 17th, 2016, 4:53 pm

That is an excellent way of trying to address the question.

Great post!

I am not sure you could ever say there was an Erdnase era since his influence grew over time in light of Vernon shining a light on his book.

As such - I would be tempted to replace that earlier era with something like the Annemann or Charles Jordan era.

Sleight of hand with cards only became dominant from Vernon onwards. Until then most of the stuff in print consisted of stacks and gaffs. Along with an tradition based around the classic pass, classic force and palming. That is a Hofzinser influence which then became the backbone of the card repertoire of the professional magicians in the early twentieth century. I don't think he is directly responsible for this (how many magicians were reading Hofzinser a hundred years ago?) - but his name is a good representation of that approach to card magic.

That influence faded as card magic became more of a field for amateurs than professionals.

The Hofzinser Era (00s-20s)
The Annemann Era (20s-40s)
The Hugard Era (40s-50s)
The Vernon Era (60s)
The Marlo Era (70s)
The Jennings Era (80s-90s)
The Tamariz Era (90s-00s)
The Paul Harris Era (00s-10s)

Each name represents the ideas they published, the students they inspired along with the influence they had in terms of the books and magazines they published - or had material printed in.

I have also put Jennings in there as well. Of course he could be slid into the Vernon sphere of influence. But he deserves his own title since the defining aesthetic of card magic in the eighties and nineties was defined by the type of magic that Larry Jennings (and Derek Dingle) had in print. And it is worth marking that as a separate era.

With Juan Tamariz - it is worth recalling that he is the big influence on memorized deck magic over the past few decades. Simon Aronson published lots of great things in this area but Tamariz was the inspiration.

I removed Harry Lorayne from the list since his work transcends a number of decades but never really defined any one era. At least in my opinion.

I feel now we are really in a Paul Harris era. In a world of one-trick downloads, the emphasis is on visual card magic that is short, easy to do and fun to learn. And if your trick involves rubber bands, folding & tearing cards and stuff drawn on card cases then so much the better. It is all about what will be eye candy in a magic trailer.

Apologies for extending the list to cover the first 16 years of the 21st century!

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby Bill Mullins » August 17th, 2016, 5:03 pm

Joe Mckay wrote: I am not sure you could ever say there was an Erdnase era since his influence grew over time in light of Vernon shining a light on his book.


Hoffmann was shining lights on Erdnase well before anyone ever heard of Vernon.

For that matter, I'd replace your Hofzinser era with either a Hoffmann or Roterberg era (or both), and have it start well before 1900.

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby Joe Mckay » August 17th, 2016, 5:05 pm

Yeah - that is a good call.

I was trying to think of a better name than Hofzinser - but nobody was coming to mind.

The two you suggested are a much better fit.

Cheers!

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby Joe Mckay » August 17th, 2016, 5:38 pm

Another way of thinking about the list (in terms of "eras") - is that when you pick up a card magic book at random - it is very easy to tell which era it is from. A certain style of magic and thinking pervades each of those eras and is quite distinct from the other eras.

What is interesting is when a move/idea/trick slips from one era to the next. For instance - the Erdnase change is one of the oldest moves in card magic. Yet it still feels very contemporary and fresh. It is a move that seems to have popped up way ahead of its time.

Alex Elmsley was publishing stuff on the faro shuffle in the 50s in IBIDEM and the Pentagram which had a sophistication which was decades ahead of its time.

'Honeycutter' is a trick from 1953 that appeared in The New Phoenix magazine. And I feel that trick was 20 years ahead of its time. In the sense that it felt like a trick you would see published in the mid 70s rather than the mid 50s.

The same is true of 'The Highland Hop' by Ron Wilson. He published it in GENII back in 1968 - yet it feels like the sort of trick you would see published in the 90s.

Fred Robinson published 'Ambitious Riser' in 1975 (and Ray Kosby published 'Raise Rise' in 1987) - yet they both feel like like the sort of "cardistry" move you would have seen published around 2010 instead. A similar thing is true of Marc DeSouza's 'Shapeshifter' colour change. Published in the 80s yet feels like something you would see created today.

The same applies to the Asher Twist. Published in the 90s (although the idea can be traced back to Alex Elmsley in the 70s) - yet has the mixture of ingenuity and directness you would expect from a novel move today. At least if it is to stand out from the crowd.

I have always had a soft spot for Charles Jordan. And a lot of his ideas still work today as magician foolers. As such - a lot of his work honestly feels like it is a hundred years ahead of its time. At least for those with an appreciation for that type of peculiar ingenuity.

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby I.M. Magician » August 17th, 2016, 5:55 pm

I don't see John Scarne mentioned anywhere.

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby MagicbyAlfred » August 17th, 2016, 6:38 pm

Yes, Scarne deserves to be in the conversation. Lorraine, Marlo and Vernon were undoubtedly super-influential. But what about Richard Kaufman? He is a fine card magician (never seen a cleaner pass) whose sphere of influence has been enormous, world-wide, for decades. I am guesstimating but there are way over 100 works in which he has been writer or co-writer, and/or illustrator, and/or publisher, show-casing and illuminating an innumerable number of artists, effects, methodologies and presentations to which countless magicians have had access. A staggering body of top shelf work, through which an inestimable number of magicians have been profoundly influenced.

So, Richard is a card magician who has been tremendously (and arguably the most) influential, which I believe meets the criteria of the OP's query.

PS The most influential on me, personally: Bill Malone. While Marlo's work was mind-boggling, as was Scarne's, and of course others, anyone who has witnessed Bill with a deck of cards in person knows in their heart there has never been any better.

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby brianarudolph » August 18th, 2016, 11:07 am

I'm getting ahead of things with this next thought and I don't want to derail this discussion by any means, but once there is some consensus on the eras of card magic themselves, it'd be interesting to start nominating effects that are great examples of that era - both by the person the era was named after as well as those by others of that era (with the latter complementing/extending the former and not being dominated/overwhelmed by it.)

Fantasizing and jumping way, way, way ahead, I can even envision a series of books: a single book that broadly covers each of the eras in succession and their inter-relationships, as well as a book devoted to each era in deeper dives.

Hmmmm ...

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby Rick Franceschin » August 18th, 2016, 5:57 pm

Charles Jordan, Ted Annemann, Dai Vernon, Al Leech, Ed Marlo, Paul Harris and Arturo Ascanio can each have their own family tree of artist who followed their process. I think that the 20th century was such a trans-formative period in card magic that it's unfair to give most of the credit to one person.

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby Stephen Burton » August 19th, 2016, 12:45 am

There is an argument to be made for Jean Hugard as well.

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby Q. Kumber » August 19th, 2016, 3:16 am

Stephen Burton wrote:There is an argument to be made for Jean Hugard as well.


As Royal Road and ECT were books sold to the public then Hugard and Braue would win by inspiring more people to take up an interest in card magic.

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby Marty Jacobs » August 19th, 2016, 8:58 am

I'm happy for this thread to be derailed! The concept of "Card Eras" is far more useful than than the original straw poll.

Can I suggest that we label the eras with names that don't suggest a single magician was responsible for that era alone? Similar to the way comic book historians and enthusiasts categorise publications into various ages:

  • The Pioneer Age
  • Victorian Age
  • Platinum Age
  • Golden Age
  • Atom Age
  • Silver Age
  • Bronze Age
  • Copper Age
  • Modern Age

Maybe the names of the eras could be derived from the most popular card moves for that particular time period? Such a naming convention would then allow us to list the main movers and shakers for each era/age. This would also allow for overlap.

Marty

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby Q. Kumber » August 19th, 2016, 10:18 am

With Vernon having added the Bra Trick to his act we have the Cleav Age

not to mention the
Aver Age
Garb Age
Pilfer Age


and then the Outr Age when someone doesn't credit a move.

and John Bannon the master of the Pack Age

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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby Marty Jacobs » August 19th, 2016, 12:17 pm

Q. Kumber wrote:With Vernon having added the Bra Trick to his act we have the Cleav Age

not to mention the
Aver Age
Garb Age
Pilfer Age


and then the Outr Age when someone doesn't credit a move.

and John Bannon the master of the Pack Age


Don't forget the Overdos Age, in which an avalanche of one-trick DVDs act as a gateway drug to harder forms of sleight of hand.

Marty :D

brianarudolph
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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby brianarudolph » August 19th, 2016, 1:48 pm

Marty Jacobs wrote:[*] The Pioneer Age
[*] Victorian Age
[*] Platinum Age
[*] Golden Age
[*] Atom Age
[*] Silver Age
[*] Bronze Age
[*] Copper Age
[*] Modern Age[/list]


Great. Since we're talking magic here, now we have to worry about a copper and silver transposition.

Jonathan Townsend
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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby Jonathan Townsend » August 19th, 2016, 3:36 pm

Bill Mullins wrote:..., I'd replace your Hofzinser era with either a Hoffmann or Roterberg era (or both), and have it start well before 1900.


Understandable. More "Merrie Companion" than poet.
Mundus vult decipi -per Caleb Carr's story Killing Time

Brad Henderson
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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby Brad Henderson » August 19th, 2016, 4:24 pm

I think we are remiss to ignore the contributions made by Paul Harris and his books on at least an entire generation of young card magicians in the 70's - 80's.

he was a gateway for many magicians. I had no interest in sleight of hand (based on poorly and confusing texts to which I had previously been exposed) until I found the Paul Harris material.

I know many magic elitists might be loathe to include Paul on such a list of magics icons - but practically speaking, I think he may have had far greater influence on many than even Vernon. (specifically, many people learned Pauls stuff and never went past it to Vernon. having said that, Vernon clearly had an influence on Paul (as he did everyone who was on or at that level) so one can still rest assured that Vernon remains 'king' but Paul introduced many of us to Vernon or to other magicians who then introduced us to Vernon).

Joe Mckay
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Re: Most Influential Card Magician of 20th Century

Postby Joe Mckay » August 19th, 2016, 5:16 pm

I can't imagine what a thrill the Paul Harris publications must have been in the late 70's.

I came to his work a couple of years after 'Art of Astonishment' came out. And even in the mid 90's his work was pretty much unlike anything else you saw in magic.

To experience that in the 70's must have been very special.


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