(1926- 2004)
Alan Robert Wakeling spent his formative years in Winslow, Arizona and there was introduced to magic. When his family moved to Los Angeles, CA, Alan discovered magic shops and worked for Merv Taylor, Floyd Thayer, and The Magic House of Charles. After his time in the Navy during World War II, he studied Drama at the Universiy of Southern California. About 1947, he made the decision to make magic his career, performing mostly in nightclubs. However, he also worked as a motion picture camera technician and photographer. In 1966, he joined Mark Wilson's company as Creative Director for Wilson's TV shows. Alan remained with Mark until he retired in 1988. Alan died in 2004.
Among Wakeling's inventions is distinctive version of the Sawing a woman in half effect, known as "The Wakeling Sawing." Wakeling also devised the "Double sawing in half" routine for Channing Pollock. Among the illusions he devised for Mark Wilson were Backstage, Girl Through Glass, The Spiker, and Excalibur. He was also responsible for Wilson's "Circus Act" routine, which involved the Gorilla Crush Illusion. He and Jim Steinmeyer collaborated on "Matrix Poker."
Informative book: The Magic of Alan Wakling, by Jim Steinmeyer.
(1854-1948)
Invented: Elevator Illusion, Transmogrification, Silk Production From a Fan, The Enchanted Tubes, Visible Silk Penetration
Wrote: Magical Nights at the Theatre (published posthumously in 1980), For Magicians Only, Original Creations for Magicians Hitherto Kept Up His Sleeve (1920), Waller's Wonders (1927), Happy Magic (1932), Magic From Below
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Discovered the uses of zinc sterate as a fanning powder, invented The Rabbit Wringer, the Dream Deck, The Long Distance Spinner.
Wrote: Sponge Ball Magic (1940), A Treatise on the Sucker Effects of Three Card Monte (with John Scarne - c 1930), Dice Dexterity (1953),
| Walsh,Russ (?-?) After much experimentation, Walsh found that coiled steel film two inches wide, used in the production of razor blades, created a strong, realistic, fast-collapsing cane for an impressive quickie effect. This resulted in a number of Walsh inventions: Appearing Cane, Cane to Table,Walsh's Cigarette to Silk, and the Flash Appearing Golf Club |
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(??-??)
Daughter of magician Peter Warlock (see below), Elizabeth was the youngest magician to win the IBM's British Ring Shield (1953) and also was the first woman to do so. In 2002, she won the David Berglas Award from the British Magical Society, once again, the first woman to receive the award.
Invented: Link Later (described in The Encyclopedia of Rope Tricks), Anti-Gravity Glasses
Wrote: One Hundred by Warlock (describing the magic and routines of her father, Peter Warlock) (2005), articles in Magic, The Magazine For Magicians , The Linking Ring, and Genii, among others.
(1904-1995)
Peter Warlock (born Alec William Bell), was a semi professional magician and publisher of "Pentagram" 1946-1959, "new Pentagram" 1969-1989. In 1952, he was awarded the IBM's British Ring Shield. His magician daughter, Elizabeth (see above) won the award in 1953.
Invented: Self Contained Milk Pitcher, Ringcord, Out of the Loop, Giant Size Triple Tubes, Silk Filter, Adhesive Glass, Cream of the Jest, Atomic Silk, Ring and Rope Release, PW Slip Cut
Wrote: Patterns for Psychics (c 1940), Bautier de Kolta Genius of Illusion, P.T. Selbit A Magical Innovator (with Eric Lewis), The Best Tricks With Slates (1942), A Haunting We Will Go, or Edison’s Box, The Complete Book of Magic, Walter Jeans, Illusioneer (1986) (with Eric Lewis)
(1925-2000)
Born Werner Geissler, Werry became interested in magic about 12 years of age, and began performing at home and at school. After World War II, he joined with Thedore Wolf in a magic store venture and also began publishing the "Magic World" periodical in 1952. In 1960, he invented The Transformer Trick.. and in 1970, the PK Spoon. Other inventions include Mental Monte, Silk Dream Tricks, Poltergeist (1989), Bewitched Disc, Flash Cocktail, Nucleus, Infra-Red Box, Pensation, Brunos Kristall-Zerfall (Star Crash), Fantastic Thimbles, Magic Bar (with Harry), and Paranormal.
Many of his effects are included in Ian Adair's Encyclopedia of Dove Magic.
(1921-?)
Invented The Westgate Bowl Production (in 1939, when he was still a high school student) and the principle by which it works. It was later adapted by Aldini so that it could be performed without an assistant.
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Invented: Gloves to Doves tabletop, Rabbit Box, Master Table Flap, Skeleton Table,
Wrote: Original Mysteries for Magicians (c 1920), Modern Master Mysteries (1923) Brunel White Presents 'Would You Believe It?' by Louis Lam (1935)
(1880 - 1937)
Invented a Magic Laundry routine (circa 1920) which was subsequently reworked and published (Linking Ring 1951 Vol. 31 No. 6) by Bruce Posgate into "The Magic Laundry" and later by Lewis Thomas into the commercial version produced by Supreme, known as "The Chinese Washing Machine."*
Invented the standard pear-shaped handkerchief pull and the repeat vanish routine made possible by its use. Invented The Merry Widow illusion, Tea Chest and Tea Boxes, The Pillars (fore-runner of the Chinese Sticks), The Dizzy Limit (forerunner of Grant's Bengal Net) and many others.
He was involved in a paranormal investigation into a "Haunted Rectory" in 1919, which, aided by detective work of his wife, proved that the "spirit manefestations" had been produced by a servant girl. Online Reference.
*Researched by Andrew Pinnard.
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Born in Israel, emigrated to the USA, where he became (1979) a magic dealer and manufacturer (Meir Yedid Magic) in Fair Lawn, NJ. Invented: Biting Sensations, Cardinal Cards, Divide & Conquer, Fadeout, Great Card Escape ,Predict-Perfect, Smiling Assassin, Total Destiny, Twist And Shout, Zinger
Wrote: Incredible Close-Up Magic, Magical Wishes (1987), Memorable Magic, Off The Wall Lecture Notes (1983), Stage Stuff
Media: (DVDs) Finger Fantasies; Live From London...It's Meir Yedid; Magic Of Gene Maze; Published & Unpublished; Stand-Up, Pop-Jump; Twisting Arm Illusion
Web Site
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His magic takes up a section of John Northern Hilliard's Lost Notebooks, where we learn that Cyril Yettmah, the English Magician, toured with Thurston from 1928-29. In Genii magazine, 1967, his Turban Trick and Thumb Tie were published.
Invented The Shadow Box or Lady From the Light, Doves From Air, Chinese Snow Storm,
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Scotty has performed as a professional magic bartender in the Washington D.C. area for many years.
Invented: Scotty's Kiss Trick, Scotty's Light Bulb, The Blow-Away Vanish, Quarter in Sugar Packet, A Ring Trilogy (Genii,V29,1975) and many others.
Wrote: Scott York: Coins (1975)
Media: Scotty York, The Silver Fox DVD.
(1925 - 2008)
Born in Paterson, New Jersey, Herb Zarrow became interested in magic through magic sets and magic books. Invented the Zarrow Shuffle (c 1940), and for many magicians, that's all they know about this creative magician. He also invented: Herb Zarrow's Switch Change, Herb Zarrow's Trapeze, Herb Zarrow Retention Pass, Zarrow Block Addition, Starfish Copper/Silver, Matched Revolvers, Universal Count Grip.
Media: Herb Zarrow on the Zarrow Shuffle DVD; Long and Short Spell, etc
You'll find more of his magic in The Tarbell Course, and also in J.B. Bobo's Modern Coin Magic. Video Link
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Michael F. Zens invented: "Zens' Miracle Pocket to Pocket Trick"
Wrote: Cardiology of Tomorrow by Michael F. Zens (c1941), What? Another Square Circle? (Published in Genii Magazine under Miscellaneous Props) by Mike Zens (Vol. 13, No. 1, Sep. 1948)
| Zimmerman,
Dick (1937 - ) Magician and well known Jazz and Ragtime Pianist. Invented: Linking Hula Hoops, Master Prediction System, Crystal Clear Card Box, Clearly Impossible, Zimmer Egg, Zimmer Stab, Sure Thing, Rough and Ready (Again), Plonk/Zimmer Shaker, Rattled, Digital Delusion. Wrote: Shari Lewis presents 101 magic tricks for kids to do (with Shari Lewis), Creative Magic (Lecture Notes) |
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