Phoenix
-
The Phoenix: Volume 1 Number 11
Magic of the Knights of Magic is featured in the June 12, 1942 issue. According to Magipedia, “Knights of Magic, an independent order of magicians, was formed in New York City in 1920 by Rachel and Simon Cottlow. The organization was founded to promote sociability, fraternity and harmony among local magicians. Its reports could be… Continue reading
-
The Phoenix: Volume 1 Number 10
Number 10 opens with a card effect designed for magicians who perform for magicians. It’s a two part selection that will fool your friends at the club. It does involve a setup as well as a gaffed deck. It would be greatly improved by those who have read Giobbi’s deck switching book. J.G. Thompson’s Silver… Continue reading
-
Nightmare Alley
One of my favorite novels of the golden age of noir is William Lindsay Gresham’s Nightmare Alley. Gresham, like many mystery writers of the time, was magic adjacent. He was one of the many authors to write a biography of Houdini. His was published in 1959. Additionally he published a clever torn and restored tarot… Continue reading
-
The Phoenix: Volume 1 Number 9
All of the magic in May 15, 1942 edition is “Chinese” themed or as Chinese themed magic was in the mid-twentieth century. This was the time of slapping some pseudo characters on a prop and calling it a mystery of the east. Magic dealer, U. F. Grant was infamous for his spray painted characters on… Continue reading
-
The Phoenix: Volume 1 Number 8
May 1, 1942’s issue features an unusual layout as write-up’s don’t flow as one would expect. For example, the Gibson submission, Soothsayer, starts on the right hand column and ends on the left. One would expect the other way around. The opening effect is L. Vosburgh Lyons’ Call It A Puzzle is a bit of… Continue reading
-
The Phoenix: Volume 1 Number 7
Number 7, dated April 17, 1947, marks the first submission by Shaman to the Phoenix. He’d made contributions to the Jinx in the past but this was his first here. While there’s evidence that Annemann, Gibson, and Elliott all contributed magic under the name, there was a performer who went by the name Shaman. Dennis… Continue reading
-
The Phoenix: Volume 1 Number 6
Number 6 was a free issue and also dated April 5, 1942. The opening effect is a cut and restored by Walter Gibson using a paper tape measure. I don’t know how readily available they are today as the last time I saw them was at the IKEA store a few years ago. It would… Continue reading