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Stonewick New user 81 Posts 
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I have finally gotten around to reading “Our Magic” by Maskelyne and Devant. I am astounded by the wisdom, insightfulness, authority and all around practicality of this amazing book.
I hate that it took me this long to get to it! On this, its 100th anniversary, it would be interesting to hear how this book has impacted those who frequent this forum. |
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tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16543 Posts
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One of two of my most loved book. I have had the short version since 1976 - Maskelyne on the Performance of Magic. Nevil Maskelyne. $2.00 Still reading it and learning from it today.
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
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Dick Christian Inner circle Northern Virginia (Metro DC) 2619 Posts
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One of the great, but currently little known and largely ignored by the current crop of newbies and wannabes, volumes in the literature of magic. The best information is usually found in the oldest books. Thankfully, as a result of the popularity of one trick DVDs, YouTube and the marketing of magic on the Internet, the really good stuff escapes the notice of the newbies. Their loss, and we old-timers gain.
Dick Christian
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markmiller Special user 731 Posts
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Maskelyne's knowledgable advantage over the many newbies who put out and consume the latest drivel is that he had decades/thousands of hours of real world - performing for audiences - experience to draw on. Maskelyne On The Performance of Magic should be required reading.
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Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27300 Posts
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That works much better if they are also spending much time in front of audiences and can feel the changes in audience response as they apply what they are reading.
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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George Ledo Magic Café Columnist SF Bay Area 3042 Posts
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Quote:
On 2011-01-07 18:38, Jonathan Townsend wrote: Yup. But I'd say "general audiences."
That's our departed buddy Burt, aka The Great Burtini, doing his famous Cups and Mice routine
www.georgefledo.net Latest column: "Sorry about the photos in my posts here" |
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markmiller Special user 731 Posts
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There's no substitute for doing a lot of shows.
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Darkwing Inner circle Nashville Tn 1850 Posts
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Our Magic is a book that should be read and studied by every magician. Even though the book centers around parlor and stage magic, the principles easily apply to all magic entertainment situations. It is not an easy or light read. I suggest taking the book in small bits at first, think about what you have read so that you can wrap your mind around what the authors are trying to convey. This book changed the way I look at and approach magic. I am constantly going back to the book and always learning something new.
Here is a link from Martin Lewis' website that includes Maskelyne's 24 Rules of Magic; http://www.magikraft.com/curiosities/etcetera.html Another great resource for any magician is Levent's Fundamental Rules of Stage Magic which compliments Maskelyne's rules; http://web.mac.com/leventmagic/LeventMagic/Rules.html Please keep in mind Levent's rules are copyright protected so please respect his intellectual property. |
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Whit Haydn V.I.P. 5449 Posts
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Don't forget Darwin's Laws from Designing Miracles, which are also invaluable.
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Lawrence O Inner circle French Riviera 6811 Posts
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Quote:
On 2011-01-08 14:13, Whit Haydn wrote: Another vote here. What a brilliant book as well
Magic is the art of emotionally sharing live impossible situations
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Hugokhf Special user 581 Posts
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Is this book still in print? I am really interested in it
I notice a e-book version in lybrary.com, but I struggle in reading ebooks and it costs a lot to print it out. |
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Whit Haydn V.I.P. 5449 Posts
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Both books are essential to a good understanding of the art of magic.
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Darkwing Inner circle Nashville Tn 1850 Posts
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Quote:
On 2011-08-12 18:28, Whit Haydn wrote: Whit is correct. I cannot believe that I have waited until now to read "Designing Miracles". Boy do I feel really stupid. Should have gotten this book when it first came out. |
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ViolinKing Veteran user a loyal user has no more than 307 Posts
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Stonewick: Just a heads up. I purchased that book from Amazon as well as receiving a copy from a generous member of the Magic Café. Both were identical, and both were missing the section written by David Devant. From what I could tell, there was meant to be a separate part of the book written by David which had his working of the Billiard Balls, and some other things. My memory isn't clear on this but I do know that I formed the opinion that the part written by David was left out of the copies I had... and likely all digital copies.
I do have a copy of Devant's book, "Secrets of My Magic." |
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Gerald Deutsch Special user 526 Posts
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There are 3 "Parts" of the book:
Part I The Art In Magic by Nevil Maskelyne Part II The Theory Of Magic by Nevil Maskelyne Part III The Practice Of Magic by David Devant |
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ViolinKing Veteran user a loyal user has no more than 307 Posts
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Yes, part III was missing from both my amazon copy as well as the copy provided by a member of the magic Café.
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts
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Quote:
On Dec 10, 2017, ViolinKing wrote: IIRC...David Devant was, "allowed to resign" from the Magic Circle, years ago. I don't remember for sure, but, he may have been "invited" to return, later.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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ViolinKing Veteran user a loyal user has no more than 307 Posts
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Dick: there are some details in "Hiding the Elephant. ". I skimmed it. He was allowed to return, spent the last of his days in hospital.
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ViolinKing Veteran user a loyal user has no more than 307 Posts
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David "All Done With Kindness" Devant: His last days, described in "Hiding the Elephant." (End of Chapter 15, Keeping Secrets)
Quote:
In 1937 David Devant had become too helpless to live at home and was accepted in the Royal Hospital and Home for Incurables at Putney in southwest London. Will Curtis followed him there as his personal nurse. Magician Francis White, working behind the scenes at The Magic Circle, had extracted a promise that the Circle would reinstate Davant after a respectful period of time. The club offered the Master an honorary lifetime membership in 1937, which he was proud to accept. |
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Pop Haydn Inner circle Los Angeles 3691 Posts
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I have just delivered a lecture on this subject at the Magic Castle. The lecture notes are available here:
https://www.popsmagic.com/store/p114/Pop......tes.html |
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Posted: Jan 7, 2011 07:06 pm 
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