Description
Who’s Who in Magic: An International Biographical Directory From Earliest Times to the Present
by Bart Whaley
1990, published by Jeff Busby
Mint condition!
From Jeff Busby Magic, Inc 1992 advertisement:
Nine years in the making, Who’s Who in Magic is the most comprehensive book on magicians ever published — an instant classic that has received raves all over the globe. Winner of the S.A.M. Hall of Fame Award for Excellence in History, Who’s Who in Magic was the only book considered worthy of an award in 1991! This is a captivating panorama of the performers, inventors, writers, dealers, collectors, historians, and showmen of magic as well as the pseudo-psychics and card sharps who revolutionized magical thinking. With over 4,300 magicians listed in its massive 463 pages this will take its place on the shelf with the other books you use most often. It’s a masterwork containing much previously unpublished information — guaranteed to surprise you. It is a fascinating work — a book that you can get “lost in” — pick it up and open it at any point and you won’t be able to put it down. All the important “people of magic” — from Dedi of ancient Egypt to the up-and-coming teenage performers — are cataloged. But it’s not just dry facts — it’s thoroughly
entertaining reading with its riveting discussion of the rich variety of people who make up the “society of magic”. You’ll be intrigued by the stories of “special people” in magic; read about the minorities; you’ll look at the dark side too. But most of all, you’ll find answers that solve questions that have bothered magicians for years —hundreds of pages of little known facts. Also included is an extensive section of rare and previously unpublished photos of magicians—not “staged shots” but the odd, the unusual, and sometimes the bizarre. But, there’s more, much more! The final eight sections could have been published as a separate book! You’ll find out about the various magic associations and dubs, the founders, important members, and when they existed. There is a section on the awards in magic, the prizes, and who won them. The section on “venues” covers the various places where magicians perform or have performed regularly, including theaters, nightclubs, pubs, circuses, carnivals, and TV shows, along with information on performers of note who appeared there. There’s a comprehensive section on important dealers, publishers, and manufacturers of magic from the past to today. The
section on motion pictures gives a listing of the full-length feature films whose theme was magic or mentalism or included appearances by noted
magicians with comments on the cast and synopses of the plots. The section on research facilities lists all the major libraries and museums of magic open to the public or available to magicians and scholars for research. The section on periodicals gives a list of important magical magazines of use to the magic researcher. And, finally there is an extensive annotated bibliography. . . And, Who’s Who in Magic is a unique book—a book that will provide you with hour after hour of fascinating reading.
JOHN BOOTH: “I would definitely propose this as among the top five literary achievements, along with the Tarbell Course, as another one, in the entire 20th century of conjuring … Congratulations on bringing into magic the finest work of its kind ever attempted.”
Please note: While this item is new and unused, it has been sitting around for decades, so issues such as rusted staples or bowed pages may be present.
