Mail bag : “The Clever Coins in #78 is swell and open to many variations. It could be worked with each set of coins different; or checkers from a checker board; two different colors of poker chips; even the small marbles from a Chinese Checker set. A careful fixing and “Coco-Cola” tops could be used. Even two brands of cigarettes may be used. But why go on ? There’s material in this effect to supply a new trick for weeks. Even the force could be any of a dozen known methods.” R. C. Buff.
Dear Ted; Am driving the locals crazy with Jordan 49 trick (Jinx #78) using it as a telephone mystery. A little long but satisfactory especially for the wise guy whom I lead astray by making the card appear where I want by directing the picking up of the piles – spelling name out, etc. – also using three first cards as totals to disclose. Hastily – Lloyd Jones. Thank you both very kindly. We happened to be just in the mood (or need ? Ed.) of a couple of back pats. But Joe Sternbach of N.Y. beat Lloyd to the phone a few days before (but only because of mail delivery to the coast) because on the night of the day when he received his Jinx he saw the light and called four magicians to upset them no little, I hope.
Scoop ! That new movie called The Magic Bullet is about the life of Dr. Paul Ehrlich — and not about Annemann. — From a recent Doris Blake Love Answer column; “Dear Miss Blake : What do you think of a boy who smokes a cigar and kisses me at the same time. I do not like cigars.” (signed) Wondering. (Answer) “He must be a magician, as well as a rude young person.”
We’re only conversant with two lady magi in this country today, Joan Brandon, and Dell O’Dell. It seems as if they are to have a wand challenger, for Miss Blanche, touted as Europe’s peerless Lady-Magicienne, is expected in our United States soon. It is said that she’s probably the youngest Court-Magician or Magicienne ever known, for, in 1938, and at the age of 22, she appeared on the occasion of the King’s birthday before the Yugoslavian Royal Majesty to be appointed, as an aftermath of regal satisfaction, Artist-Magicienne of the Yugoslavian Royal Court. Miss Blanche, judging from her repertoire, does right well with manipulative magic. One of her press notices says that she led a ballet-troupe at the age of 16, witnessed a Viennese magician (Larette) on a Hollandish coast, AND ALTHOUGH SHE NEVER HAD LIKED MAGICAL SHOWS, AND EVEN HATED CONJURING AND MAGICIANS, she was fascinated by the performance and “got the desire.” Well, we hope upon hope that Miss Blanche gets over here soon and makes a go of it. There are plenty of spots for the people who can fill them. And it is our wish that she “goes to town” for only by the success of “outsiders” can there be a chance of some of our really good magi opening their eyes and getting about the business of educating our public to the better side of magic while coining some awfully good looking dollars for themselves. Vive la Blanche !
Offtune note : Since that Walt Disney epic, Pinocchio, termed by critics the ultimate (until next time. Ed.) adventure in technicolor cartoon movies, our two figurehead kittens have been wanting to change their name to Figaro, that celluloid feminine feline. From the Jinx International Day and Night Desk comes the information that the two cats are of different sexes; will retain the names with which they were christened; and will never go to a movie. Their contract manager, a Mr. Ammeramerman, has vowed to keep them exclusive.
Of interest only to New Yorkers and the commutors is a last minute reminder of the Heckscher Theatre Show of the S.A.M. Staged on the 24th of Feb. the annual Ernst Hospital Relief Fund benefit still stands (and as much as you have panned the S.A.M. ! Ed.) ((So what ! T.A.)) ((They’re magicians, aren’t they ? They’re sick, aren’t they ? Still T.A.))) (——————- Ed.) Now that for once I’ve stopped that fellow from lipping in — Sam Margulies, the impresario, has innovated the evening by giving incomers usherettes — USHERETTES — Naomi Baker Marshall and Hope Harris will be assisted by Pearl Magini, Helen Dorothy Allen, Gertrude Elliott, Miss Short, The Horowitz Twins, and Miss Shufro. Teddy (hello, Dai) Vernon will be page boy in case a doctor is called – or a lawyer if someone else’s trick is stolen. Backstage (who care about backstages ? Give us more usherettes ! Ed.) Al Baker will be stage manager, assisted by that old Dunninger standby George Wagner, Lou Schaffer, and electrolite Harry Greenberg. Good or bad, the acts will be flowered by Jack Trepel, the bouquet to basket, posy to orchid man who loves magic beyond its human frailties. We hope (for this is being written four days before) the show is good. However, good or bad, an awful lot of people will buy out the house and help an awful lot of needy magi, and in doing that will find improvement in their tricks at their next performance.
Martin Gardner, whose multifarious mysteries filled our Winter Extra issue of 1937-38, has just published a book of 12 Tricks With A Borrowed Deck. Your dealer has it now. Martin always struck us as a most genial and very much unlike a magician person. Then he would do card tricks and fool you — even you — and you’re smart ! He fooled us – not plenty but enough to make us boot ourselves back 10 years – in respect for his angles. We like this printing – not because we like him but because, appreciating subtle problems, we know he has given to the trade a bundle of material which is practical – and “practical” is our creed.
Last but too, too far from least comes a plug for a publication which I mentioned in preparation almost three years ago. Now it’s a reality. It has to do with telepathy apparent between two people in every sense of the word. It covers EVERY angle of thought transference of the fakey kind and it’s a book which I’ve been lucky enough to follow from a gleam in its father’s eye to a son in the side of all other book writers on the subject. Bob (Calostro) Doidge, who mentored the La Vellma books, has something on the ball with this and next week we’ll give you an insight on how SOME magical and mystery books are MADE.
On the stands now is Double Detective a pulp thriller mag featuring a character named the Green Lama (will Tibetian monasteries shake and crumble at that), and, although magic is out, the ten cent Lama does have a knowledge of escapes. This month, a la Kellock, he emulated Houdini under ice, and we understand that to come will be straight-jacket troubles and wet sheet worries.
We’ll give you plenty low down on questions regarding a daily Jinx with issue #83 dated March 9th. Don’t say we didn’t warn you ! — Houdini may have put “houdinize” into the dictionary, but Murray, an English getter outer of things coined “escapologist” and the savants included it in their book of learning. — And an intimate musical revue, by Charles LeMaire, designer of other such things plus the Ringling-Barnum spectacles will hit Broadway this year entitled Presto-Chango.
Gabbatha!
