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weirdwizardx Veteran user 389 Posts |
Hello everyone!!!
First I have to say I don't know anything about bizarre magic, Ive posted this just cause of my curiosity. Could someone tell me why the books of Tony Andruzzi are so special? Beacuse of the material? Because its very rare? There is one of his books on ebay for 800 usd. Well any info about this character and his work will be apreciatted Cristóbal |
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magiccollector69 New user 51 Posts |
It depends on the books. I have all of them, and it's taken me about 20 years or so to get them, since I didn't start trying to get them until the early 90's.
Three of the "books": the Negromicon, Grimoire of the Mages, and the Scroll, are all handmade by Tony, in very limited editions. They are produced so as to look like mysterious antiques. The material in them is not necessarily super secret or earthshaking, but they are collectable items. Prices peaked in the late 90's and early to mid 2k's, and have been dropping slightly since. There are so few of them out there that they don't change hands that often. I suspect the ones that were sold in the past 20 years were original purchasers cashing in on the interest of the props. I bought the Grimoire from Hades magic and paid just under $50 for it. I've seen it sell for well over $1000. As with all collectables I believe that once a given generation of purchasers sells the items, you are less inclined to see them again until the next generation ages and eventually decides to sell. Other of his books are less rare, and not hand made, but are basically on the people's lists because of what I refer to as the collectors OCD . I.e. "collect the whole set", a term many of us who grew up in the 60's are familiar with. The book on ebay for $800 is the Negromicon. It's not a particularly thick book. The pages are made of heavy parchment and the book is in two sections, one for your friends to look through, and one that is the modus for the 12 effects described. But in addition there's an 8 x 10 glossy of Andruzzi, and advice from him about how to perform bizarre magick (signed with sealing wax and his personal seal.) In the back is a 1 page reference list of other books. Keep in mind that all the information in these books dates to the time of their publication, in the 70's (?). |
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magiccollector69 New user 51 Posts |
Regarding Tony Andruzzi himself I'm less of a font of information. He used to be Tom Palmer, a comedy magician. Eventually he became interested in Bizarre. Some time after that he changed his name to Tony Andruzzi. As with many other magicians I can think of, I've always been curious as to how Tony was able to earn enough of a living to, well, live. Perhaps he inherited money. Or made a fortune early in his career. Or had rich friends.
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RCP Inner circle Two Minnie's in The Hell's Half Acre, The Republic of Texas 2183 Posts |
He was one of the original characters to (re)create bizarre magick. As noted the works are all hand created and in limited quantities. That makes them collectable and thus pricey. Unspeakable Acts by Jim Magus is an excellent work on Tom Palmers life as he became Tony Andruzzi and Masklyn ye Mage. There are many better resources for learning bizzare magick.
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weirdwizardx Veteran user 389 Posts |
Thanks a lot for the responses!!
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weirdwizardx Veteran user 389 Posts |
Quote:
On Nov 16, 2019, magiccollector69 wrote: Ohhh, I always thought that his material was like ultra secret and unorthodox methods and who knows what more. Thanks for the clarification |
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magiccollector69 New user 51 Posts |
Quote:
On Nov 16, 2019, weirdwizardx wrote: It was unorthodox at the time. It features things like chemical tricks (some of which are dangerous.) The use of common items like The Buddha Papers coupled with other items to create a new or stronger effect. I would say that his books are expressing a philosophy, and using the effects he publishes as examples. Some of course were strictly bizarre. Blisters appearing on the mages finger tips when a cigarette is touched to a drawing of the hand. An ancient looking book that has images appear in it, then it bleeds. The Haunted Pack is well represented in Bizarre publications by Andruzzi and Eugene Burger. A common effect, but presented differently than the store bought item. Such philosophy should not be under estimated. For example nowadays we have technology that can do many bizarre effects. Tony probably wouldn't have conceived of at the time. Yet today, audiences are also quite used to technology, so the advantages of items that rely on high tech are perhaps less useful than one would think. |
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weirdwizardx Veteran user 389 Posts |
It was like the Bizarriest Bizarre.
I know understande the other part of the value. His philosophy and material could be found elsewhere? |
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magiccollector69 New user 51 Posts |
Quote:
On Nov 16, 2019, weirdwizardx wrote: Probably Eugene Burgers writings on Bazarre, and performance in general. But it's sort of a case of not seeing the forest for the trees. At first reading you'll probably think it's all about spooky stuff, fake blood, stories and ritual. But it doesn't have to be. I don't think I can explain it adequately other than to say: it's a journey, not a destination. |
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RCP Inner circle Two Minnie's in The Hell's Half Acre, The Republic of Texas 2183 Posts |
I think he lost interest in how dull box magic had become and wanted to return to another time of magic. Explore Robert Houdin with the grandeur and awe that magic was.
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RCP Inner circle Two Minnie's in The Hell's Half Acre, The Republic of Texas 2183 Posts |
Quote: I doubt he was rich but he was prolific in creating illusions and a few books. He was the program director for WFAA in Dallas, worked at Douglas magic shop in Dallas along with Mark Wilson. He was a very active performer and did some TV. He and Mark Wilson competed for work and had he not had personal flaws he might have achieved the fame Mark did. Check out his connection to the JFK assassination and ultimately leaving Dallas for Chicago. Jim's book about him is the best resource about his life. He was very creative and very flawed.
On Nov 16, 2019, magiccollector69 wrote: |
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magiccollector69 New user 51 Posts |
Quote:
On Nov 17, 2019, RCP wrote: Thanks RCP! I haven't obtained the book about him yet. When I hear stuff about "JFK assassination" it makes me a bit leery of trusting other information in the book. I guess one of these days I'll have to look for a used copy. |
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RCP Inner circle Two Minnie's in The Hell's Half Acre, The Republic of Texas 2183 Posts |
Quote:
On Nov 17, 2019, magiccollector69 wrote: I wouldn't let that deter you! He knew some strippers at Jack Ruby's place and wanted to skip child support on his 3 kids. Legends sometimes aren't the best people. |
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magiccollector69 New user 51 Posts |
Quote:
On Nov 17, 2019, RCP wrote: Yeah, I'm somewhat aware of some of his foibles, but that's not what I'm referring to. What I'm wondering is how much of the content was vetted by multiple parties for factualness. |
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Lo Pan Special user Haven't slept in weeks - but I now have 769 Posts |
As a wise man once said “The world is messy; there are ambiguities,” he continued. “People who do really good stuff have flaws.” All the time legends are just people.
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Lo Pan Special user Haven't slept in weeks - but I now have 769 Posts |
Sorry - unless the legend is completely made up and then they can be perfect.
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weirdwizardx Veteran user 389 Posts |
Thank you magiccollector for the response!!!
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Eddie Garland Inner circle Hells Kitchen, New York City 4207 Posts |
I have been privy to many hours of Tony speaking on cassette. Jim's book is the real deal source.
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TEB3 Veteran user Texas 387 Posts |
Having been a very close friend of Tom/Tony/MyM he really was a person. I knew him throughout the Dallas years. We also remained friends in the years after the move up North. Jim's book is FACTUAL. I spent three years helping Jim track down material he didn't have. He first met him in Chicago at a early INVO and also corresponded with him as I did. The late Terry Nosek and his wife Barbara took Tony in as a house guest in LV where Terry recorded a lot of interview cassettes with Tony intending to write his own book. Unfortunately he had a heart attack and passed away before he could get it started.
Jim and I have been friends since the early 80s and I knew he was beginning to work on a book. I sent him copies of all the cassettes Tony and I had exchanged to add to his pile. Then I was able to connect him with Barbara Nosek and she passed Terry's tapes to Jim. She also knew Jim from when she and Terry lived in Chicago. I was able to supply and fact check some things about the Dallas days as well. Yes, Tom did go to SMU but didn't graduate. Yes, he was also a member of Sigma Chi before the SMU days, etc. After the apartment fire Scott Davis (Seance Magazine) and Lee Earle (Manifestations) sent me their customer mailing lists to combine with mine and we sent it to Tony in case the Invo customer data hd been destroyed. Needless to say, Tony was very appreciative of what we did. Finally when after several years, the book was nearly ready. Neil Tobin stepped in and did the heavy weight copy editing and checking. So you will also see credits to Terry and Neil on the cover of Unspeakable Acts. Modestly. I wrote the Preface to the book. Now just for more Trivial, my copy of the Legendary scroll was used by me to photograph and lay out the back cover of the book. I also did the front cover though I did not take the photographs of Tony. So, if you want to know about the man, buy the book! T. Everett Bookings, III/Lary Kuehn/Traveler |
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Philemon Vanderbeck Inner circle Seattle, WA 4694 Posts |
It is a fantastic book about a legendary performer that makes for an amazing read. I am so glad that this work was put together by the efforts of several committed individuals. This is a part of bizarre history that should never be lost. T/T/M was quite the influence in developing my own persona, even though I never got a chance to physically meet him.
Professor Philemon Vanderbeck
That Creepy Magician "I use my sixth sense to create the illusion of possessing the other five." |
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