Extending Magic Beyond Credibility by John Booth

Details: John Booth, in Extending Magic Beyond Credibility, his thirteenth (and possibly best) book on magic, looks back on his more than 70 years of experience with the conjuring arts and considers some of its most enduring mysteries, intriguing questions and fascinating personalities.

From legendary effects such as Robert-Houdin’s Light & Heavy Chest and the Indian Rope Trick to the origins of dove magic, ventriloquism and automata, Extending Magic Beyond Credibility has the famous Booth blend of secrets, biography, philosophy and romantic history.

Whether you’re a student of magic history or simply one fascinated with the art and its many facets, you’ll find Extending Magic Beyond Credibility is more than just a book of magic history. It’s a captivating read you’ll find difficult to put down, written by a man who not only knows his subject…but who lived it as well.

Hard bound, cloth clover with gold foil stamping on spine and cover.  272 acid-free pages and a striking full-color dust jacket.

Contents

xi Foreword by Silvan of Rome
xiii Preface

5 Wake-up Magic!
5 Magic that Jolts Audiences: Richiardi, Jr.
13 Kevin James: Master of Shock Magic
21 Todd Robbins: The Sideshow World
29 Sylvester the Jester: The Self-Mayhem Principle

39 Harry Houdini and Max Malini
39 Revelations About “Houdini’s Hollywood Estate”
47 Malini and His Violin

61 Four Brief Pieces to Ponder or Enjoy
61 Aloha: Final Tribute to Dai Vernon
65 Do Morality or Ideology Affect Art in Magic?
69 That FATAL Signet Ring: A Short, Short Story
73 Book Reviews: The Achilles Heel of Magazines
79 Reflection 1: Desiderata
80 Reflection 2

83 Brilliant Magic with Beautiful Birds
83 Centuries of Development Unfolded

103 A Star Among Stars
103 Thurston: A Truly Great Magician
113 Magic’s Most Famous Waltz: The Zenda
121 Memorable Music for Master Magicians

129 Averting Catastrophe: Magic and Politics
129 The Legendary Robert-Houdin Light and Heavy Chest Examined

149 Fascinating Opportunities in Ventriloquism
149 Ventriloquial Stunts: From Pactolus to Today
159 The Illusion of Voice Throwing
165 Dolls that Smoke: Bodiless Heads that Talk
171 New Era Ventriloquism: The Hamills

181 The Puppetry Branch of Wizardry
181 Puppetry Across the Spectrum
187 The Duck that Made John Salisse Famous
191 His Left Hand is His Fortune

201 Automata
201 Machines that “Think” and Perform Like Humans and Birds

211 The Great Indian Rope Trick
211 Where, When and How the Reports Began
219 My Experiences in India and Tibet Searching for A Rope Miracle
233 Illusionists Who Have Attempted to do it
241 The Last Word: Myth or Reality?

249 Bibliography and Recommended Reading
251 About The Author

• Publisher: L&L Publishing
• Pages: 257
• Location: Tahoma, CA, USA
• Dimensions: 6″x9″
• Date: 2001
• Binding: hardbound

Contents: magicref.net – click for details

Found something wrong? Help us improve things by clicking here!