Feedback from No. 181

Inspired by the lead story from November Issue  No. 181 of Magicol  on Sorcar, Walter “Zaney” Blaney shares his email to the author of the article, Tom Ewing, about  his encounter with the great Indian magician.

Thank you to Walter for allowing us to reprint here for our readers to enjoy.

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January 1, 2012

TO: Tom Ewing
FROM: Walter Blaney

Dear Tom,

I was delighted with your wonderful story of P.C. Sorcar. It was beautifully written, and I agree he was a really great magician, though I never got to see him work live.

I was fifteen years younger than he was, and he was in his heyday when I was growing up in Dallas and just getting fascinated with the whole world of magic.  I read everything I could about Sorcar, and marveled at the photos and publicity he garnered  with his big IND-DRA-JAL show.

I also remember reading a lot of malarky by some of the more envious magicians of the day, and a few magic columnists who poo-pooed him as just a big egotist, calling him names like “P.C. Sidecar” (the name Burling Hull gave him, rather oddly I thought, as Burling Hull had a pretty big ego himself).

Years later I got to meet Sorcar, in 1970 when I was invited to appear at the FISM Convention in Amsterdam, five years after I had premiered my Ladder Levitation at the 1965 IBM in Des Moines. Everyone had heard and read about my new illusion by then, and I was doing it at many magic conventions in those days.  Many at FISM told me they were eager to see it performed.

On the morning of the gala show at night when I was to appear,  I was walking around the main lobby of the convention center  greeting my various friends. I remember seeing across the room Sorcar walking around dressed in his colorful costume, with the bejewelled turban, feather and all. I heard various snide remarks by some regarding his appearance in costume while in public.

But at that moment I saw the TV newsmen crew come into the lobby with cameras in hand and go up to the registration desk. They asked the FISM officers who they might point out that would look good on the evening news shows. They took the press over to a table where Albert Goshman was  performing closeup, with a nice, captivated crowd watching him.  But Al was dressed in jeans and a teeshirt.  The press said they wanted someone more colorful, and asked who the gentleman was dressed in the East Indian costume and turban. They were told  it was Sorcar from India, who had the world’s largest magic show. So it was Sorcar who was seen on the TV shows that evening. I got up the courage to walk over to Sorcar and introduce myself. He was very cordial, but of course did not know me at all.

That night I floated Irene Larsen in the air, and things could not have gone better. My trick again fooled everyone.  In the lobby the next morning Sorcar came over to me to give congratulations on my appearance.  He asked if I would like to talk and I said I would consider it an honor. We went away from the crowd an sat together inside the empty theater, just the two of us, and talked magic for about an hour. I was interested in all he had to say, and he was interested in me as well. There was no big ego. He was as cordial and down to earth as possible, and we each made a good, new friend in magic.

He brought up the subject of why he always wore his costume in public, and said that he knew magicians made fun of him for doing so. But he said that it was the main gimmick that got him so much publicity wherever he went, and that publicity was an important part of show business.  He then showed me the newspaper under his arm. It was the morning Amsterdam paper, and he had a large color photo on the front page with a good story on him and the FISM convention. Boy, that sure proved his point.

Sadly, Sorcar died less than six months later, and I lost my new friend. I know I was so fortunate to have gotten to meet him.

Thanks again Tom, for your good story and nice photos.

Best from Texas,  
Walter

Happy New Year!

Magicana wishes you and yours all the best for a “Magicol” 2012. As we look back on our year in review,we are reminded of the grand time we had in Chicago at the 42nd Collectors Weekend. Visit Magicpostergallery.com‘s wonderful retrospective here:

http://youtu.be/H70xvEBU2s8

Thank you to Charles Greene III and Wayne Wissner for this contribution.

Want to join the fun? Register for this year’s 43MCW, where we will have Richard Kaufman and James Hagy as our guests of honor.

More news soon! Until then, wishing you all the best for 2012.

Thank you, Gabe!

He said it couldn’t be done. In fact, he even put money on it – he was so sure we would never get Magicol No. 181 out by the end of the year. Well, we are pleased to say that our team came together, accepted the challenge, and now, the issue is at the printers.

And, what an issue it has turned out to be.

Tom Ewing starts us off on our international journey walking us through the incredible career of Indian magician, Sorcar. Next, Michael Claxton recounts Douglas Beaufort’s “quasi-diplomatic mission” to Morocco in 1892 – quite a different tale from Beaufort’s original telling in his article for Pearson’s Magazine.

Continuing our tour of the globe, Arthur Moses shares his research on Houdini (as the subject) in foreign titled books. This nine-page database pain-stakingly details titles on or about Houdini in over twenty languages! You will find an incredible table of information with Houdini titles organized in alphabetical order of their language; first listing the title, language, author, publisher, publication date, and the original (English) translated title of the book. Whew!

John Carney and Clay Shevlin also return to present their wares in this issue. No. 181 marks John Carney’s final instalment of Gimmicks, Gadgets and Gizmos, and we thank John for his excellent contributions and for bringing these lovely treasures to light. In his column, Clay Shevlin examines Dr. Trevor H. Hall’s very limited and rare publication, Twelve Friends, which was privately published in 1981. Clay gives us a rich look at this exceedingly rare title.

The Conference Corner also returns: Joe Culpepper and Dr. Gene Matsuura both review, respectively, the 42nd Magic Collectors Weekend (honouring Dr. Gene Matsuura and Ray & Ann Goulet) held in Chicago; and the European Conference on Magic History held in London this year.

For book lovers, there are seven – yes, count them, SEVEN – books reviewed in this issue: The Lives of Showman; Adelaide Herrmann, Queen of Magic; Gibecière (Summer 2011); Memoirs of an Elusive Moth; Rameses, The Forgotten Star; Magical Mathematics and a German-langauge title, Wunder-Herrliches!.

We close the issue with a charming reminder by Richard Cohn about finding magic in the most unexpected places!

We could not have done this issue with our the tireless effort of our talented designer, Michael Albright, who burnt the midnight oil to see this one through so we could have a very happy holiday – which will be especially so, when Gabe hands over our winnings!

But, don’t forget…

As the year comes to a close, it is also time to renew your subscriptions for Magicol. You can easily renew online, or download the renewal form here. Save time and register now for the forthcoming 43rd Magic Collectors Weekend May 10-12, 2012.

Finally, Happy Holidays from all of us at Magicana!

Some edits…

We have mailed out the latest issue of Magicol, No. 180, but noticed a couple of errors and omissions:

Issue No. 180, P. 29
Footnote 6 appears to be missing. It should read as:

[6]  Vernon devoted close to eighty-seven years to exploring the book.

Issue No. 180, P. 66
Second sentence should read (bold indicates change):

This consisted of about eighty pages of MacDougall’s take on different gambling sleights followed by the complete text of Erdnase.

Issue No. 180 News

It’s at the printers.

Issue No. 180 will be in the mail soon. As previously noted, this is a special Erdnase Issue focusing on the mystery and identity the author of The Expert at the Card Table, S.W. Erdnase.

Magicana is pleased to publish the findings of Richard Hatch, the world’s pre-eminent authority on the subject, along with sleight-of-hand artist David Ben’s profile of the author drawn from the content of the book. Together, they make a compelling case that one man – E. S. Andrews – was the author of this seminal text. This publication also contains Hurt McDermott’s illuminating analysis of why The Expert at the Card Table, and books of its ilk, was published anonymously, and in Chicago. Jason England, a world-renowned authority on advantage play, provides a detailed description of the published variants and ancillary products.

In addition to our regular Magicol issue, we are also producing a limited-edition run of the issue calling it, Erdnase Unmasked. As a bonus, the special edition includes “Editions of Erdnase” by Martin Gardner from Magicol Vol. 2, No. 1, August 1951.

As a 2010 subscriber to Magicol you will receive your regular issue shortly, but we are also offering subscribers this limited edition softbound book [ 5.5” x 8.5” (14 cm x 21.5 cm), 84 pages] at a discounted rate. It will retail in magic shops for $35 plus postage, but subscribers can enjoy the discounted rate of $30 post paid within the USA, otherwise $40 post paid internationally. Click here to take advantage of this offer. Note: There are only 75 copies available at this rate. One copy per subscriber, while supplies last.

(Bundle your savings by adding Magicana’s historical reprints of How Gamblers Win and A Grand Exposé on the Special Offers page).

Bonus

To augment Jason England’s exploration of over 100 years of The Expert in print, we are pleased to announce the release of a newly created online exhibition, Everything Erdnase.

It is based on England’s aforementioned article discussing the numerous variants of Erdnase and the onslaught of additional ephemera, collectibles and discourse on the author and the contents. We invite you to explore the pages of this free exhibition, Everything Erdnase.

Thank you for your ongoing support and look forward to your feedback on the next issue.

Time Flies

Well, if it seems like an eternity since you last heard from us, that is because it has been.

We have much to report – and explain.

No.179 Feedback

First, thank you for  the wonderful comments about Magicol No. 179.  We would like to bring a couple comments to your attention.

Wittus Witt suggested that the photo caption on page 10, “Jim Sommers performs The Impossible” could have perhaps been phrased better. We agree. As we are concerned about the historical record, we should have made it clear in the caption that Mr. Sommers was performing his knock-off of the Zig Zag, called “The Impossible”.

Also, several people were taken with Christopher Brinson’s contribution regarding the olfactory aspects of magical book collecting.  Daniel Zuckerbrot was one, and he thought you might be interested in Sick Library Syndrome. You can read the piece as a .PDF here.

The August Issue

As for forthcoming issues, we apologize for being behind schedule. Pressing concerns -namely the notion of earning a living – have delayed the publication of the August issue.  On a positive note, we have assembled the material for the next three issues of Magicol.

I believe the “August” issue will be our biggest yet. It is a special issue, one dedicated entirely to the story of The Expert at the Card Table and the identity of its author.  It features contributions from Richard Hatch, Hurt McDermott, Jason England and David Ben. Word has spread within the magic community about this forthcoming issue, and I am pleased to report that we have generated many new subscribers to Magicol because of it. Not a subscriber yet? Better join now: click here!

The November Issue

And… the “November” issue is also in the design stage, and it features articles with a more global perspective. Tom Ewing has written about Sorcar, Michael Claxton on diplomacy and Douglas Beaufort, Arthur Moses on Foreign Language Publications related to Houdini, and Richard Cohn on the magic that can sometimes be found in your own backyard.

We hope to have the “August” issue, and the November issue in your hands before long.

Last thing

Believe it or not, we have also prepared the February 2012 issue. This issue will feature articles related to magicians and collectibles from “Down Under”.  Brian McCullagh has assembled much of the material for this issue, and it will include articles on the first emporiums of magic, profiles of Australian magic collectors, and a tour of he WG Alma Conjuring Collection at the State Library of Victoria.

So, that’s where we stand.

We appreciate your patience and can assure you that we will get the journal into your hands as soon as possible.

Special Offer for two new titles

Thanks to our friends at Squash Publishing, readers of Magicol are invited to take advantage of an exclusive offer.

Two summer releases from Squash Publishing, Memoirs of an Elusive Moth (by Adele Friel Rhindress) and Rameses the Forgotten Star (by Chris Woodward), are being offered to readers of Magicol at  discounted prices:

Memoirs of an Elusive Moth

Memoirs of an Elusive Moth gives readers a rare and intimate first-person account of one of America’s greatest touring magic shows. Laid bare in its pages are many of the secrets … (more)

Regularly $35 USD plus postage is offered to readers for $32 post paid (in USA)

Rameses the Forgotten Star

Rameses the Egyptian Wonderworker was an illusionist of the Edwardian era. Born Albert Marchinski in Poland in 1876, he grew up in London in a distinctly middle class home. But as Rameses, he achieved … (more)

Regularly $45 USD plus postage is offered at $40 post paid (in USA)

Buy both for only $70 USD which includes shipping in the USA!

Order Now

To access this offer, visit our website.

Thank you to Squash Publishing for this limited-time offer for our readers. Discount offer expires August 7, 2011.

New 2012 MCW dates

New dates for 2012 Collectors Weekend

Since President Obama’s announcement that Chicago will host the G8 NATO Summits May 15 to 23rd next year, we have opted to change our 43rd Annual Magic Collectors Weekend to May 10, 11 and 12.

After watching the severity of security, riots and protests in Toronto from the last G20 meeting, we are certain this is the right move!

Details will be posted soon both here on our blog and on our website, but for now, please save the new dates: May 10, 11 & 12, 2012 for the 43rd Magic Collectors Weekend in Chicago at the Westin O’Hare.

We are working with our friends at the hotel to get you great hotel rates and special discounts. Stay tuned! We will open for registration soon.

Until then, happy summer!

No. 179

Magicol No. 179

Magicol No. 179 is now at the printers!

And, it’s another jam-packed issue (one of our biggest to date) talking about fakes, forgeries and … odours! Starting off with the American Zig-Zag Scandal, Mike Caveney recounts the blatant theft of Robert Harbin’s miracle illusion, The Zig-Zag Girl. Arthur Moses warns and educates readers on how to avoid the pitfalls of buying Houdini Memorabilia Fakes. Gabe Fajuri tests our knowledge on frauds, fakes and hidden messages in conjuror periodicals.

We also welcome back our regulars: John Carney shares his latest gem in Gimmicks, Gadgets and Gizmos; and Clay Shevlin has written a great article which details the “real terms” for describing book conditions grading standards. Chris Brinson adds even further insight to grading in his article, Bibliography & Magical Odours: An Investigation into the Olfactory Aspects of Magical Book Collecting.

Thank you Richard Hatch for providing another rich and delightful review of Masters of Illusion – Jewish Magicians of the Golden Age.

Books reviewed in this issue: The Last Greatest Magician in the World, Unspeakable Acts, Gibeciere Vol. 6 No. 1 and The Great Lafayette.

Byron Walker rounds out the issue with a tribute and appreciation of Dr. Robert Albo.

We hope you enjoy this latest offering of Magicol.

Whew!

And with that, we bring the 42nd Annual Magic Collectors Weekend to a close.

We were thrilled to have Guests of Honor, Ray & Ann Goulet and Dr. Gene Matsuura share their collection tales up-close and personal. We were also delighted to have a broad range of exhibitors this year including: Byron Walker Magic Books; Jay Hunter, Joe Hanosek, Jim Rawlins, Arthur Moses; Hank and Jackie Moorehouse; H&R Books, Majic Brand Woodturning; Magicana for Collectors and Mike Caveney’s Magic Words; Pierre Mayer; Bob James’ Magic-FX; Tad Ware; Mike O’Dowd, Celeste Evans; Potter & Potter Auctions Inc.; Jeff Pierce & The Kodells; and Phil Schwartz. Special thanks go to exhibitors: Bill Palmer for his Cup & Ball Display; Jason England for his Every Erdnase Edition Display; and to Bob Escher & Bill Spooner for bringing items to stage a Del Ray Exhibition. It was a great showcase of fine and interesting collectibles and we appreciate all the hard work that everyone put in for our delegates.

To each of our featured speakers, we are thankful for your participation and wonderful contributions. For details on who was there, and who said what, visit our 42nd MCW schedule.

David Linsell, our official photographer for the event, captured literally thousands of memorable moments. We have posted a few gems for your enjoyment.

SEE MCW PHOTOS

But  without Magic Collectors, we would not have a Weekend. To each of our delegates, thank you for attending and supporting Magicana with your enthusiasm, passion and love of collecting magic and of magic’s history. If you had fun, tell your friends! If you didn’t, tell us so we can address and make next year even better.

next up…

So with 2011 now behind us, we are delighted to announce that the 43rd Annual MCW will take place May 17, 18 and 19, 2012 once again at the Westin O’Hare.

Our guests of honors have accepted their invitations and we will reveal who they are soon! Details for next year’s Weekend – including early bird registration – will also be released shortly. Until then, keep your eyes posted on in the inbox for more Magicol news!