Certainly it was a better show in many ways from those of the past. We’re lauding
the Heckscher (N.Y.) Theatre testimonial for Sam Margules held on February
25. Without detracting, and other mags will give complete reviews, it has been
practically unanimous that Bill (Dorny) Dornfield as M.C. from Chicago,
and Dai (Harlequin) Vernon with his strictly, but strictly, manipulative turn
did pick up all of the critical posies. Agents in the audience beat the magicians
backstage for these two. Then the growls and mutterings from not less than three
S.A.M.’ers started. Why was it that Margules had a better show for himself
than for some of the S.A.M. annuals ? They can learn why here if they haven’t
been told by now. Sam paid off the acts for their time. He’d done that before
but this time the red tape was gone. It wasn’t a case of “show a profit aplenty”
for “magicians should work for nothing — it’s quite an honor.” Previous shows
repeated the “regulars” and “locals” for they are always good natured enough
to do a stint. Expenses, other than for the theatre and union help, were looked
at askance. If I’m wrong, why was Dorny brought on to carry the show ? Why
never before ? He’s been good for years. And the audience loved the freshness.
Any magic show which charges an admission can afford to pay the acts, that is,
if they want to have the professionals who work at the art rather than play with it.
There’s a challenge or two for manipulative superiority in the offing, hence
my digging up of the broadside later in this issue. By next month we’ll have
more details and also show where it is a far from new idea. Some of the old
challengers make the moderns look pikerish. — Dennison now stocks some
gummed stickers to represent playing card spots. Buy yourself some blanks and
build up a monstrosity or two for that pet color change.
Wonder why no magical mag mentioned the magician in Eddie Dowling’s play
Here Come The Clowns. He got a lot of verbal kicking around for he came into
the story of theatrical people as a substitute for La Paloma, the Thinking Horse
that was laid up in Detroit with the heaves. Later, when attempting to explain
the difference between a magician and illusionist, the press agent beat him to it
with “crap, and double crap.” Doesn’t our craft get reverence and respect from
the legitimate though ! — Monte Crews did a nice job on Liberty’s Feb. 25th
cover. A perfect likeness of Fairfax Burgher, the social register’s only prof.
mystery man.
“Gen” Grant leaves his N.Y. magic depot on Apr. 1. Tentative plans of the
diminutive demon of ideas is to concentrate on mail order service and make
monthly junkets around country in search of saleable material. Dr Jacob Daley
figures that upwards of 1000 magicians will be left homeless.
6
Art Lyle, whose patter theme in the Winter Extra carries weight, tips those
who lack damp thumbs and fingers at the crucial moment in card work. Get an
envelope sealer in the 5 and 10. It’s a 5 inch celluloid tube with sponge rubber in
one end. Fill with water and carry in upper vest pocket. No more of that tongue
business.
WOR, Feb. 20, Mysteries of the Mind program. Jacque Romano, a N.Y.
psychic well known in social circles, and of whom we will have more to relate
at a later date, stopped his pulse, heard the announcer blat “This definitely is no
trick” and allowed a dramatization of how he once “sensed” a train wreck with
subsequent train delays. He brought out that psychics most capable of helping
investigators are always reluctant to aid or assist. Which reminds us that we
haven’t heard of Romano sticking his neck out when it comes to laboratory
supervision.
We slipped a bit, but only because of enthusiasm, in reporting the Al Baker
testimonial dinner last month. Bill Harris took a lot of shocks and bumps while
Abril Lamarque did the “out in the open” work. We’re sorry that we missed
on the boquet, but if he weren’t so modest more would have known how much
he did. That Herbert Milton effect in Jinx #53 clicked too hard for dealers who
registered over 40 calls in N.Y. alone for the cards. You will have to make them
yourself. To split and re-glue cards toss them into cold water for 20 minutes. Now
separate face from back, blot with newspaper, and make up your combinations
of double faces while cards are damp. DON’T PUT ANY GLUE OR PASTE on
them at all. There’s enough of their own adhesive left. Leave over night under a
lot of pressure. The result is a pliable card, double back or double face, and not
the usual wrinkled and stiff board.
It’s late to bring it up, but that book test in the January Sphinx was very
prominent in Tom Seller’s first booklet. — Our mention of the Wrestling Cheese
did start something. One of the dealers is preparing to advertise it. — Mickey
MacDougall’s new book is far from bad. Technicalities of gambling, so often
too dry for the lay trade, are spread thinly between anecdotes and stories of
adventure among those who cheat. Mickey has gone far in the past few years
when a Svengali deck was as valuable to him as “Karnac” was to Thurston.
Publicity has poured upon him, through retaining the correct people, of course,
but Mickey has an angle in gambling exposes that probably always will be
“tops” with the public. There is an appeal to it that’s hard to follow.
The conventions all look mighty good this year. The Eastern and Western groups
have the added stimulus of World’s Fairs, but the Battle Creek, Michigan,
party by the world’s most carefree (I.B.M.) and fun loving society isn’t going to
fare badly what with plenty of prominents putting it on their itinerary of coast
to coast trips.
7
Try E. Leslie May’s suggested presentation of the card and wallet. Write the
name of a card and seal it in an envelope. Put it in inside coat pocket. A spectator
shuffles the pack and puts them in your pocket himself, removing anything that
is there. Someone else calls a number. The performer removes cards singly
from the pocket to that number. The card at that position is shown. Then the
spectator opens the envelope or wallet he is still holding and finds the written
message naming that pasteboard. It’s only a wide card in the deck, although you
might keep it in the upper vest pocket. It’s the cute way of getting the dope in
spectator’s hands that helps. Call it Pocket Presto.