Description

After the success of their 1937 Magic Annual, Jean Hugard picks up his pen again, and Nelson Hahne his pencil, to offer a selection of the finest magical effects from contemporary magicians’ repertoires. This volume covers magic from both 1938 and 1939, and is worth reading for the lengthy introduction alone, in which Hugard recounts his experiences of watching Chung Ling Soo, describes the little touches that made Alexander Herrmann a master magician, and offers an extended analysis of Harlan Tarbell’s performing strengths. Then there are the tricks… Chapters are devoted to magic with cards, coins, silk handkerchiefs, billiard balls, cigarettes and the linking rings, with further sections covering useful gimmicks, miscellaneous routines and stage illusions. Contributors joining Hugard include Louis Tannen and Frederick Braue, and there’s plenty of material to suit all tastes, with highlights ranging from Elmer Applegit’s hugely entertaining rhyming patter for Six-Card Repeat to a quirky coconut-based finale for the Miser’s Dream, via a Ring Flight-style disappearing-key routine from Dr. H. Walter Grote that bears the delightful subtitle “Magical Disportment of an Ordinary Key.” A great book!