We aren't running opposition to other publications with the greeting card displays in this issue. They aren't advertisements. We requested ideas and print them as received. Here is the thought. You, you or you might like to have a magical type of yuletide announcement for certain friends -- and certain club agents or committeemen on your list. The ones reproduced herein can be personalized for yourself at little cost. Follow thru; Cut out the one you like best. Paste it, nicely centered, on a sheet of white paper exactly 6 1/4 x 8 inches in size. Next cut out a…
The pictures on this page are from a Minneapolis paper. Mr. DeVoll now is marketing his gadget for less than $50. We take pride in a magical scoop when we say that it will be the next big carnival, side-show, and what-have-you expose item, taking the place of the now well-worn headless lady illusion. That Winchell notice of a hushed up Boston society matron's suicide attempt in a magician's dressing room is not concerned with anyone with whom we are concerned. Dante's chief lady assistant, Miss Moi-Yo (Loretta) Miller, told a Liberty reporter how useful magic could be to a…
THE CLINIC club was formed by members of the Parent Assembly (N.Y.) S.A.M. in order to actually accomplish what should be any magic organization's first and chief reason for existence. At each meeting each member must perform one trick and submit to a follow-up criticism by all who so desire to criticise. Methods of procedure are smoothed out, unnecessary actions eliminated, and the suggestions never fail to come along. No sane devotee of magic could take umbrage at such a "clinic" and it is an answer to the problem of most new members to the various societies - how to…
The Linking Ring, January 1941, has a two page article by Fulton Oursler. It is titled The Sane Viewpoint of Exposure. We doubt if ever before such a point of view has been given such concise wordage. It's too bad that LR copies are not for sale to the public at large over magic counters, but restricted to members only. From a nationally known editor-author-amateur magus rabid, the paragraphs tell truths from a spectator's position. It may be a hard pill to swallow but once down it certainly will give relief. The printed stint makes exposing a minor factor in…
We beg to attempt a quotation remembered somewhat from an English magician. It fits this situation very well. This prestidigitatorial pundit mouthed the words, "'Tis better to have tried and dropped a ball, than never to have palmed at all." There is no wreath nor piece of crepe on our door today, despite the death (or suspended animation ? Ed.) of a wish that has been nibbling on our framework since the day when we heard of "Doc" A. M. Wilson's demise, and, out of sorrow, came the thought that we, not quite "dry behind the ears" professionally but well…
Our previous contests, puzzles, and what-not quiz propositions never did have enough popular appeal to make them worthwhile. For some reason magi are immune to such things. They just want to read and do the tricks inside the covers of what they buy and have no inclination for figuring out something which is of no use before an audience. But, with a prayer, we try again, using an idea which should be a novelty item for every magus even if he doesn't tell us about it. "Squiggles" is quite an appropriate appellation for the making of pictures, sketches, drawings or…
There's an object lesson in the reading of the news clipping (Boston American, Sept. 13, 1940) reproduced at the end of this Editrivia. Elwin ("Le Conjuror") T. Shaw's technique for making blase reporters and columnists interested might well be followed by many others. The Walter Gibson just incarcerated in the N.Y.C. bastile for advertising a Seventh Day Adventist meeting by motoring through the city's streets with a picture of Hitler, IS NOT magic's Walter Brown Gibson, alias Maxwell Grant, confidant biographer of The Shadow. Just thought we'd put it down to squelch those ever-present "boys" who haven't enough engagements to…
Hallowe'en time is with us again, or maybe I should say "Houdini Day". I wonder how many of the boys took advantage of the chance to do a benefit show and be certain of press recognition due to the Houdini tie-up? We were going to put handcuffs and leg-irons on our cats but Sid Lorraine kept us on the time honored track by donating a couple of pumpkins for them. It probably will get to many readers too late, but we just learned the gag. Those "salesman's campaign (Presidential) buttons" which show a picture of BOTH candidates allow the "fence-walker"…
Magic should have a shrine for its relics. True, there are a few with enough reverence for their life-long hobby to acquire ancient pieces of apparatus and objects personally associated with "the greats" but it is all disjointed. Only a national group, in unity, could permanently house and care for such a collection. I doubt if there is any magus who hasn't got tucked away somewhere his first "pull" or homemade gimmick that is cherished because of the memories it brings back. I know I still have those first color changing cotton hanks which didn't match in size together with…
Time out for business: The Jinx does not accept paid advertising. Therefore we have had unparalleled response from dealers because we do not advertise other retailers. For this reason we've left out even our own address and subscription prices from most issues. Only because of requests we print these data: The Jinx is edited and published by Theo. Annemann, Waverly, N.Y., U.S.A. The subscription rates are; 8 copies for $1. By first class mail $1.12. By tube, $1.24. These prices apply to the entire world. (That's that for another 52 weeks. Ed.) Magicians should forget about any tricks pertaining to…