Comment received about the Walsh Assorted Cards effect in Jinx #90 make us feel good. For the first time, it seems, the actual thumb positions for the various diminishing fans with ordinary cards have been illustrated. It has made the effect practical for many who couldn’t quite get it before.
Our previous comments regarding the Will Rock so-called Thurston show were based upon information from creditable correspondents. We saw his performance at Keith’s Flushing, Long Island theatre versus a double feature program with somewhat prejudiced eyes.
We were pleasantly surprised to see the illusions presented with perfect timing and quite flawless assistance. However, Rock is no Thurston, despite the billing, and we resent seeing him do effects that for so long we associated with the master, especially the sawing. We have no right to that feeling for Rock does the best he can to mystify the audience with the various mechanical boxes. Their execution is far better than those of Blackstone, for instance, but at this point Rock loses much ground to personality and that “something” which makes people like and talk about Blackstone despite too often sloppy performances with stage waits and general disorder. Whatever were the understandings when Rock bought some of the master’s illusions we can’t blame him for using the billing “Thurston”s Magic Show” presented by Will Rock. That was good business sense. We don’t like the part that plays up “successor to” for it is wet. The man just hasn’t warmth – if he has it doesn’t get past the footlights. Appearing like a youngish Hermann in makeup he used 5 assistants at this show, three girls and two men. We liked the show for its attention to details but we couldn’t throw off the feeling that Rock is asking for too much when he invites comparison with Thurston, and drags the master’s judgment flag low when he tries to convince the public that he is “successor to”.
John Scarne evinced a strain of greatness in the May Esquire article when he saw fit to mention Mickey McDougall and Louis Zingone during his talk of gambling and general cheating. We have seen two of the triumvirate come nigh unto blows over the question of superiority. The tribute was a beautiful sop to their vanity but funny to those of us who know who is the best all around worker.
The “exclusive” card set will be happy when Paul Rosini returns to N.Y. on May 15th for a run at the Rainbow Room. The password to his hotel madhouse will be “Think of a Card”. At San Francisco’s Bal Tabarin he excited one reviewer (ACTOR WEEKLY – March 22) into writing : “– headlined and rightly so, he rates headlining on any bill. He kept the audience mystified from the start and his exceptional presentation drew several encores. We can say, without a qualm, that he is the cleverest magician we have ever seen and worth a lot of space on anyone’s must see list.” The same paper mentioned another well known this way : “One of the weakest bills ever seen at the Golden Gate….. (censored), a run of the mill magician, with the usual run of chicken, rabbit and silk handkerchief stunts, which were so much like any other magician that his work had no appeal. He uses a humorous touch, however, that is good for laughs and pleased the audience.” Well, they say that difference of opinion makes show business. (Horse racing, too. Ed.)
Wonder why Jack Gwynne has changed his name to Guinn on the billing ? And after all of these years ? — Wonder also why Bill Larsen is putting so-called “bonus” tricks (mimeographed) in Genii copies ? It seems rather pointless to us. If the material is so exceptional why not print it in the mag as a feature ?
It’s a safe bet that next year will see a national S.A.M. referendum on the question of M.U.M. being a privately printed organ for their own members exclusively. From what we hear the members would rather read facts than fetish. And that $2000 difference in outlay isn’t to be ignored. Of course, it’s the duty of the National Council to take care of the matter, but Sphinx stockholders on the council should be fair enough to take a walk down the hall during the vote on the matter. That is, of course, if the Sphinx bids for M.U.M. next year.
Leo “Sam” Horowitz’s interview on station WBNX recently revealed a swell radio voice not hitherto suspicioned. His recollections of Martinka’s shop, Kellar, and others down to present day contemporaries showed an attitude always Sam’s. No “me”; no “I”; no “the greatest”; just a quiet person who knows his stuff so well that he can afford to be gracious, without hesitation or thought, to all living members of the profession. He finished the broadcast with a demonstration of the card sword, and you’d be surprised (if you didn’t hear it) how well the trick was put over the air. His professional name is now Leo Hartz.
Dr. Jacob Daley is threatening to go to the west coast on his vacation this year which will coincide with convention time. The boys out there should build up a fund to send him as far as possible in the opposite direction — that is — if they want any peace of mind after he’s been around for an hour or so with borrowed cards. — Carl Jones postcarded from Equador that he was about to spend a week with Dave Bamberg in Bogota (South America). We hope he has caught up with his sleep by now. — Lock up your trick boxes and put a guard over your illusions ! Police recently nabbed a 16-year old high school boy at Bishopville, Md., for stealing a plane from an airport hanger and attempting to fly it. The lad admitted he had never taken a flying lesson, but felt confident he could handle the plane in the air because he “had read flying instructions printed on the outside of a package of breakfast food.”
The Magnuson Devil Device single reading trick in issue #89 clicked well. Here is a black paint formula usable on its inside or for any other place in magic ware. It is dead black and non-reflecting. Take some casein glue mixed as directed for wood gluing and add dry lamp black, beating thoroughly with a small egg beater. When well mixed, thin with water to a consistency for applying smoothly with a brush. This paint dries in half an hour or less, will adhere to either wood or metal without rubbing off, and the surface is absolutely dead black.
Indian Underworld, by M. Paul Dare (E.P. Dutton & Co. $2.50) is a worthwhile book on the mysteries of India, even if the author does compare the mango trick to the rope trick legend as an achievement of expert mass suggestion. We like the story about the prisoner found by his jailers each day sitting in quiet contemplation outside his still-locked cell. — The magus’ wife with the black eye got it by interrupting the men’s poker game with “Honey, where’s that marked deck of yours ? I want to show the girls a trick.” He happened to be winning at the time!
