As of June 30, 1941 - - - It seems as if the heat wave around the East has driven most of the local from cover, which is why we can't find them in their usual dark haunts. Lucky Russell Swann opens at the Rainbow Room (N.Y.C.) on July 2nd, where, some fifty stories high he can feel what breeze there may be. The press has been receptive to mystics, however. John Mulholland snared a 3 min., 50 sec. reading time article in Liberty mag for July 5 entitled The Smarter They Are, The Harder They Fall. "Magic," says J.M.,…
As of July 29, 1941 - - - To get started on a sour note we must play the tune of Sadelle Hoffman, who, testifying that her husband, Charles (Think-a-Drink) Hoffman, night club "magic bar" prestidigitateur, could pull almost anything out of his hat except marital happiness, was granted a Los Angeles divorce of recent date. The bum cadenza was her simultaneous release of a press photo showing her fanning a deck of cards and winking. Making a living from magic is tough enough without having it used against you. On the lighter side is Bert Kalmar's experience with a…
As of August 4, 1941 - - - We know that but a comparative few of our readers entertain in clubs and restaurants where the tabled guests demand close-up tricks, but Dell O'Dell's "perambulator" deserves description. Her chromium plated "push-around" is a veritable magic shop on wheels. About 3 feet high, 14 inches deep, and 20 inches wide, this demi-demonstrator wagon opens on top and to her side giving access to endless gags, give-away novelties, and quick tricks of the always ready type. When the customers haven't been satisfied with the amount of floor trickery she presents, it takes but…
As of August 20, 1941 - - - One of the most popular of Jinx issues was #69 which featured Sefalaljia, a miniature spirit cabinet routine by Stewart James. A weird happening among the others occurred when the "spirit" or "entity" visibly drank from a milk bottle placed inside with a straw. From Herb Rungie comes a means of accomplishing the effect without the need of an expensive and mechanical bottle. Insert a small white-rubber balloon part way in an ordinary milk bottle. Blow it up to correct size and tie the neck shut. Push it way down into the…
As of August 25, 1941 - - - Our honor, presuming that we have such a thing, is at stake, at least to us. Some years ago Thayer advertised a Knock 'Em Dead effect of Arthur Buckley's (and, by the way, whatever has become of he and his wife, who, as "The Australian Buckley's", did a very neat telepathic act and horoscope business?). The stunt depended upon the securing from the pocket of one of ten paper pellets, the container being a block of wood with holes bored for the carrying of rolled papers. The effect was exceedingly nice, and…
As of April 30, 1941 --------- We have just seen the light which shines on Russell Swann. It has taken a good many shows, with us at front tables and at far bars, but, it has made an average, and now we feel safe in saying that The Swann duplicates in magic the effervescent qualities of radio-picture's Bob Hope. This man Hope exudes some sort of spontaneous appearing talk less looks, and Russell does the first in as perfect a manner while outdoing Hope in the latter part by being quite genic as well as photogenic. This all has to…
The Minneapolis Sunday Tribune for April 20th did right well by the non-exposers of that city. The roto-gravure section carried pics in action of Arthur Nelson, Arthur Johnson, Al Gufstafson, Judge F.W. Carter, and James DeVoll with his one man levitation. Following closely upon the Sunday spread given those Daytonians (Ohio) it gives us hope that an era of legitimate magical picturizations may be coming up. After that recent LIFE mag expose wherein the Keith Clark lent himself to a revelation of a principle which wouldn't have been noticed except for the model's legs and editorially mentioned pants, the western…
When magicians, as public minded citizens denounce the many laws which have been carried on the books for umpteen years and which are ridiculous when looked at and enforced in present day light, they should go back through their own literature and demand that formulae for accomplishing this and that be tested and thrown out if found lacking. Too often we find articles and tricks which refer to a certain chemical way of doing something, and, upon trial discover that it just won't work. Of course, it all could work itself out if someone sincerely wouldn't print such tripe unless…
Now that convention time is here it is well to consider a letter lately received from one of the established dealers. We're sorry it wasn't possible to bring the matter up before. In part it is quoted: "Why don't you take a side on the dealer situation at magic conventions? We've always felt that the dealers are the hub of a convention. They keep things going when the shows, banquets, etc., are not on. They actually are the reason many men come to the affairs - men who are from rural districts, especially. Any dealer with a mailing list advertises…