Superstition is a great thing. No matter how carefully and scientifically the Dionne quintuplets have been reared, press reports have it that their individual rabbit’s foot charms are highly treasured. As birthday presents recently, the voodoo gadgets were explained to the sisters in all seriousness. However, we can be certain that the five feet combined will not bring them ever as much luck as did mama and papa Dionne. And if rabbit’s feet are supposed to be lucky, what about the poor rabbit who has four ?
Variety, termed the actor’s bible, gave us a puzzle in the June 14th issue. Pages 34 and 35 said, in turn, that Robert Rhinehart was the first magus to perform for the television cameras on May 17, 1939 and that Nate Leipsic performed for the ether picture tossers on March 7, 1938. — In Life, for June 12th, was a real publicity set of pics by Irving Desfor. Alfred Livingstone was shown doing billiard ball moves with the World’s Fair Perisphere. Tricky shooting, with Livingstone a couple of miles in front of the big ball made for the type of magical propaganda which always can get space and attention for those smart enough to think up the angles. But that’s too tough for some who can’t get further than the exposure of someone else’ trick.
There’s a rumor about that Esty is preparing another series of magical items for Camel cigarettes adverts. — That pained expression photo in the Look (June 20) spread of bullet catching pictures — when the slug was contacting the target — was snapped by Dr Jacob Daley who kept one step ahead of the professional photographers who were getting exclusives (?). — And the effect by David P. Abbott, in this issue, came to us 12 years ago. The past month marked the fifth anniversary of his death so we thought it might be interesting. Abbott had completed an exhaustive manuscript of his mysteries, and those who have studied his Behind The Scenes With The Mediums know he did have material. The widow wanted too much for the manuscript so it has been gathering dust ever since.
MGM’s release date for the picture Miracles For Sale scripted from Rawson’s Death From a Top Hat, is July 28th. The exploitation department won’t be mad at all if local magi throughout the country contact their nearby theatres and hire out to plug the picture. Their publicity suggestion sheets say the same thing to the managers. Escape stunt especially will be in order. And please don’t write me about an expose of the bullet trick, an important phase of the story. I’ve read the script and know all about it.
Incidentally, to those who have written about The Great Merlini, he’s a brain child of Clayton Rawson’s and the first that we know to have such a pictured identity. The photo in Jinx #56 was a composite of Kellar, Thurston and Houdini. — At the World’s Fair we got an old newspaper from the Little Old New York exhibit. The souvenir carries 1888 and 1898 happenings and disasters reproduced. On the theatrical page, among notices of Richard Mansfield, Nat Goodwin, Anna Held and John Drew, was one of DIXEY, who was giving a full show at the Garden Theatre. The Nov. 16, 1897 Herald said “It is Dixey the Magician. He has gathered together all his versatility, and to this he has added his personality, and with the combination he made a pronounced hit at the Garden Theatre last night”. Do you remember that cigarette vanish of Dixey’s in Jinx #10 ?
This is being written before the show because we’re going on a vacation and close down our factory, but the sale of tickets for the all British performance at the Heckscher theatre in N.Y. is making for a sell out. Certainly it will be a great treat for us and different fare for our somewhat jaded appetites. — We’re sticking our jaw out for credit for the one handed pass behind the back to locate a card via a face up one adjoining. In 1931 or 1932 it began around Baker’s N.Y. shop using a double backer. We fell onto the Charlier pass dodge because we used it a lot. The first two who saw it were Gordon Peck and John Mulholland in the Sphinx office, then in the Times Bldg. John said it was the first trick he ever saw that made practical use of the sleight. It seems to have found great favor. So much for that.
Dell O’Dell, woman’s gift to magic, just published a nice ad book with tricks she will put on sale at the spots she plays. The prize paragraph that wins the non-refillable production cabinet reads “A few years back, after a romance that kindled backstage, Dell married Charles Carrer, a headlining juggler. Just as the romance of royalty seemed destined to occur, so the Queen of Magic met and married the King of Jugglers….. Long live the King !….. and Queen !”
In the mail : “Dear Ted; Jinx #57 read from alpha to omaha. Pressure-rabbit rates 100%. Whisko and Ghosto – 50%. 9 of Diamonds – 90%. Vice-Versa – 80%. Wasn’t there one more ? – 70%. I think you meant your monk to be cell-immured (not immuned) and you can seat or set a person but not sit him”. Thank you, sir. We shall now consider sitting ourself on our immunity to ponder the vicissitudes of erudite verbiage. — We fully appreciate that the S.A.M. souvenir convention program was for the best of causes, but wonder why we were asked not to say anything against it when, but a few days later, it was offered by postcard for 27 cents a copy to cover mailing. The reputed cost was $1.53 per.
Those dealers who squabble about being first to offer flash paper bills should read one of the standard text books Magician’s Tricks by Hatton and Plate. Al Baker dug out a few lines in that 30 year old tome that told of performers using imitation bills made of flash paper ! — That Vice-Versa effect of Dr Daley’s in Jinx #57 is an excellent way of getting rid of a double face card after using it in a previous trick or two. Very subtle.
More of the N.Y. magi should take in the shows given by the Knights of Magic. Their recent “Cavalcade” was very successful, and magic hungry locals could whet their appetites on many of the different from usual effects. Lew Dick and Dr Aaron Weiss were given Supreme Knight jewels, just as big and just as valuable as ones awarded in other groups. — We hope Bill Larsen didn’t lose that return ticket they tied on him the last night at Battle Creek. Gabbatha !
