Some of the members have felt rather keenly our “kiddie-kar” aspersion in the last issue. We have been told (as though we didn’t know) that there are a number in the S.A.M. National Council who are trying seriously to help magic and the society. Our remark should have been pointed more directly at those few who make too obvious their unfairness of mind when matters are pertaining to general welfare of the members as a whole.
We cannot plumb the reason why an “official organ” should charge $25 per page for society news (M.U.M.). That the same publication charges the society an additional $1.80 per year per paid up member for supplying the magazine containing the paid for pages of news notes (the society contracts for this) is another puzzle. And lastly, we were told sometime ago by an officer whom we queried that the news was edited of all controversies and troublesome incidents that came up BECAUSE THE MAGAZINE IN WHICH M.U.M. IS PRINTED GOES TO MANY PEOPLE NOT MEMBERS OF THE S.A.M.
Why, then, in the name of common sense, doesn’t the S.A.M. once more publish its own M.U.M.? There were eight printed pages of news, articles, arguments and discussions for and about members and their meetings. No ads, no outside coercion, no padding. It could be produced today for much less than the 15 cents per copy per member that the society pays out of dues. With offset printing a reduction of typewritten copy would give as many words per page as does the Sphinx type, and cost, to the less than 900 paid up members, not more than $28 per month for what is now being paid $100. And then those who want to buy The Sphinx as a magazine of magic and dealer’s ads could do so. The publication would be on its own and not be a little dependent upon an assured $2600 a year out of the S.A.M. treasury, an amount that could have been cut to at least save $1200 had Genii been accepted and a saving of not less than $2200 were the S.A.M. to publish their own M.U.M. and really prove that their various important members and officers mean it when they say that the Sphinx and the S.A.M. are two separate factors in magic.
Free ad for those who would: Herald Tribune, Sunday April 7, 1940 – Telepathic experiments: If interested, write D 145 Herald Tribune, Downtown Office, New York City. – More lady magiciennes. Gloria Jerome, “Famous Girl Magician” is being featured at the Park Plaza in St. Louis, Mo. We’ll try to have the review next week.
Stuart Robson, whose tricks have helped our sheet along, rides high these days because daughter Rose May won that $1000 award of the N.Y. Daily News for a most beautiful child. We’ve known the girl since she was but a baby for Stuart was our first benefactor in New York City over 12 years ago.
This page will not get to you in time (aren’t we sorry now we’re not a daily!) but on April 18th she will talk about herself and daddy via the Joe Penner broadcast. Daddy now devotes his time to stage direction and voice culture in N.Y. when he isn’t contributing to the Jinx. (And it had better be soon after that plug. Ed.)
John Mulholland deserves plenty thanks from magic for his coup in making the New York City Museum magic conscious. His display of playbills and memoranda regarding magi from the days when they first invaded our isle to now when tricks are expected at every bar is a sight which no magician worth his name can dare miss. John may have his personal faults, and his austere attitude can, at times, reveal human traits held back by emotions that we are too small to interpret. But let us say that his present effort in publicity for himself and magic is one of the best helps to our art in many years. It is a sorry note that “Psycho”, the Maskelyne automaton built in 1847, cannot be seen with the N.Y. collection. It is on display at the London Museum and only the war prevented John’s wishes to have it present.
Billy Maxwell won the Golden Gloves Lightweight Championship of M.I.T., the fabulous college of Massachusetts. Mama made a trip to see the medal, thinking it would be as big as a balloon without a card. ‘Twas the size of a dime, but mama said, “Well, anyway, he licked a lot of good guys to get it.” Mama is Tess Holden. Papa is the ever-silent Max.
“Doc” Nixon is not dead. Those “suicide” cards that he sent to many of his old friends didn’t make a Merry Xmas for anyone. For him if he wanted to go, nor for his enemies when he didn’t. His friends were worried.
We’ve written before about that Fitzkee show “International Magicians.” West coast magi have seen it and been critical. Seasoned theatrical reviewers gave it a better “break.” Now comes forth a book by one whom we haven’t heard before. It may be because he’s an outsider and not a trickster, but publicist Robert Bernhard has done not a little to help magi with his book Publicity for Magicians. The fellow makes his living by selling publicity to movie people. We don’t know him but we presume that he makes a lousy pass. If making a pass of that sort is what it takes to make a good publicity man we’re for the abolition of all passes, visible and invisible. Pick up a copy at your dealer’s hangout if you can use press response.
The English cousins are also up in arms over the Woolworth (London) magic counters. There are 22 effects for sale, and most if not all are supplied by our own “Adams” of Asbury Park, N.J. Included are Multiplying Billiard Balls, Egg Bag (with egg), Siberian Chain Release, Cigarette Through Handkerchief, Steel Ball and Tube, Hindoo Slave Bangle, Afghan Bands, Find the Lady, etc. It is said that the thumb tips are of excellent manufacture and far better than most magic houses make. Six clear line drawings are included with the instructions. We’re reminded of the time, a few years back, when our Woolworth stores started selling the tips. First at ten cents, then five cents, and finally at two for five. The things still didn’t sell so they were tossed out to make room for something that would. Robert Stanley, in his letter of protest to the store, dug up “from the earliest English book of Magic” what we think is a very nice sentence. “Tricks being unknown are marvellously commended, but being known are derided and nothing at all regarded.”
The Dillenback-Weill feud in the Linking Ring takes up too much space. If D. is right about W.’s mentality he should ignore him. If W. is right about D.’s verbosity and the “phonograph needle” angle he should have pity in his soul instead of acting grotesquely. If you two get large packages from us (collect!) they’ll be nice red kiddie-kars. — And did you hear about the magician who stepped to the front of the stage and asked “Is there a rabbit in the house?”
