"BOOM-BOOM", presented by Herman Weber at the Heckscher Theatre, N.Y.C., October 6, 1941. Reviewed by Annemann. As far as this metropolitan audience was concerned, the show title "BoomBoom" should have been "Thud-Thud". Mr. Weber wrote a book for magi in 1936 and called it "Money From Magic". Including the fact that no profit was evident because of a dearth of audience beyond the 8 rows of $2.20 seats, Mr. Weber did an excellent job of proving how bad things could be if one paid no attention whatever to his book which covered showmanship, stage deportment, program building, clothing, etc. Mr.…
WILL ROCK - Civic Theatre, Portland, Maine. Reviewed by Tchatcha-em-ankh. Opening with some productions which, though not spectacular, were both deceptive and convincing, Rock moved into a smooth-running well-handled one-hour show, which lived up to its claim of Thurston's Mysteries. The familiar Animal Tales production was performed with ducks, one being promptly hypnotized and carried off in Thurston style. Next, a levitation, not the Kellar version, but done smoothly, with no stage waits nor clap-trap. Version of the Indian Basket Trick was a real surprise. Started with a girl in the basket, with the 'vanish' rather doubtful, only to switch…
BERTRAM ADAMS, at Brown's Camp, Center Lovell, Maine. Reviewed by Mulholland, Jr. There was an audience of about 60. Just the crowd that you'd expect at one of the higher priced, out-of-the-way places - mostly married couples, elderly persons, and young children. Mr. Adams set up his show from a cleverly contrived travelling kit during the dinner hour without the benefit of screens or curtains in fact, with a large plate glass window almost behind him. Throughout the performance the audience never was enthusiastic, but always friendly and appreciative. The Serpent Silk with hand reel opened. It catches the eye…
The Public Show - P.C.A.M. Convention. Metropolitan Theatre, Seattle, Washington. July 23, 1941. Time: 2 hours. Reviewed by Charles Bertram, Jr. With a black-out opening à la Olson and Johnson the show got off to an effective start. A scream thrilled the spectators to attention. And when lights went up, Charlie Smith, P.C.A.M. president, took over as Master of Ceremonies. Appearance and manner good. As a preface he performed Card in Cigarette, with missing tobacco found in sealed envelope. Torn corner seemed to convince audience. Then introduced was POOGIE-POOGIE ALLSTRAND, semi-pro. Directness of action is Allstrand's crowning virtue. Stage manner…
Aladdin Productions presents A Night of Magic. Brooklyn (N.Y.) Y.M.C.A. - April 19, 1941 - Reviewed by Robert Houdin, Jr. AL FLOSSO was forced by circumstances (he had to play another date) to go on first. Despite a discourteous audience which refused to settle down for quite a while, Al, by brute force, got it to sit up and guffaw. After seeing Al work a few times, I realize that it is his technique, and not luck, that makes his stooges (kids from the audience) so funny. Al left them laughing as usual. STANLEY AND WILLIE. Good ventriloquial act. Good…
ARTHUR B. MONROE (Behind the Scenes with the Private Investigator). Columbia University Club. May 6, 1941 - N.Y.C. Reviewed by Leo Hartz -- (S. Leo Horowitz). Lady Luck - that glistening, giddy, gaudy "gold digger," scintillating and bedecked in dazzling glory - ever tantalizing and captivating - always beckoning the exciting adventurer to share her riches, to partake of her supreme favors and her glittering promises of a sweet life of luxury and ease - and her only exacting demand for this golden reward is to court her at the "green cloth" and to shower her with monetary attention, but…
Annual Banquet and Show - Parent Assembly #1 - S.A.M. Hotel Barbizon-Plaza, N.Y.C. May 24th, 1941 --- Reviewed by Rhadamanthus, Jr. John Mulholland was Master of Ceremonies. He said that an M.C. was merely the punk that sets off the fireworks, but then he decided to do a trick so that the Larsens would not be the first on the bill. He did a few sleights with thimbles. If that were all the sleight-of-hand for that evening, this reviewer would have said that it was good, competent work, but then Cardini came later. No magician should ever be on the…
"A Miller Melange" - Presented by Charles (Earle) Miller. May 23rd, 1941 - Hotel Oakland, Oakland, California. Time: 2 hr. Reviewed by Charles Bertram, Jr. Mr. Miller was sponsored by the Oakland Magic Circle, in a show opened to the public and all interested in good magic. Some 60 persons paid $1 to watch the demonstration which had been conveniently divided into three parts. Lloyd Jones, in his strictly non-professional manner, greeted the cash customers and introduced the one-man show in person. In a commendable manner, Charles Miller lost no time on "corny" patter before the start, and whipped right…
Mickey MacDougal, in the Damon Room of the Pythian, New York City, March 11, 1941. The show was scheduled for 8:30 P.M. but started at 9:10 P.M. The excuse was that they were waiting for people who might be delayed by the local bus strike, but you and I know that it doesn't keep a magic show from starting on time. About 70 people were present. Harold Haber, Jr. introduced Mr. MacDougal, and begged the audience to try and make the performer feel that there were at least 200 persons in the room. And then Mickey MacDougal hopped upon a…
Philadelphia's (Pa.) Greater Magic Show. S.A.M. #4. The Plays and Players Theatre, Sat. March 29th, 1941. Reviewed by Robert Houdin, Jr. The show, amazingly enough for a magic show, started on time. It got off to a bad start with ELMER ECKAM who presented Blendo, production of bouquets, mis-made flag, etc., finishing with the rice bowls. Stock magic, presented in a stock way. Guilty of all the faults of the average magician, slowly paced, repetitious patter, constant use of the word 'now'. Aimed at a juvenile intelligence, probably a good children's magician. Time: 25 minutes. "BALLOONS" BONNERT presented a novelty…