Pentagram (Vols. 01-07) by Peter Warlock

FOREWORD BY PETER WARLOCK

Details: Still awaiting demobilisation from the army, the idea of publication of the Pentagram came into being. The spur, when reading Bruce Elliott’s comment regarding the birth of Abracadabra in February 1946, that this was obviously a domestic magazine. First the matter of name and then so many letters to friends in this country and America. The reply was encouraging and with the help of Tom Boot arrangements were made for publication to take place in October, the printers George Searson of Nottingham. And so, in those final army days, the matter of contacting dealers, possible advertisers, setting and making illustrations for the first three issues. At Hereford the first post war convention, taking a stand and cajoling customers as subscribers.

Never was the intention to deal exclusively with tricks of a mental nature in the magazine and those with a complete file will know that there was a catholic coverage of the magic scene the main concession being given to tricks needing little or no especial apparatus. In the thirties as a student of magic literature will find, the publication of tricks of a mentalistic or psychic nature were increasing in number, and then in 1934 with the coming of Annemann’s Jinx more and more magicians were turning their attention to magic of the mind. And so in the Pentagram many contributors were found to be following this intriguing trail.

Largely, mental magic when analysed, offers few plots. In the main, one appears to read a spectator’s mind, or in some way predict the future. Add to this pseudo psychometry and forms of calculation. Of these things have come into being novel ways of presentation. Even two person telepathy is only an extension of single person mind reading.

With the invitation of Martin Breese to present a list of what in my opinion are the best mentalism contributions, some famous names are to be found. Of these contributions most of all I would lay stress on first of all the late Al Koran’s ‘A Letter from Al Koran’ for this way back in 1944 was later to be part of Al’s professional presentation. Although mention of the conventional three items suggested many will recall his Dream Car and Dream Holiday predictions, and, whilst a commercial version of the effect has been marketed (Confabulation, Ken Brooke), the method described has no snags, is inexpensive and quite easy to handle.

Three other items of note, Edmund Rowlands”Impromptu Torn Newspaper Test’, Arthur Carter’s ‘One Red Card,’ this later receiving treatment by Karl Fulves, Martin Gardner and Dai Vernon in Chronicles, and never to be forgotten the devilishing mystifying contribution by my very great friend Jack Avis, this entitled ‘Chronokinesis’. But add to this so much more for your pleasure and knowledge. Thank too the publisher for keeping alive the effects of many of those contributors no longer with us.

Peter Warlock, London, England
July 1990

• Publisher: Peter Warlock
• Pages: 672
• Location: England
• Edited by: Peter Warlock
• Dimensions: 9″x11″
• Date: 1946-1953
• Binding: hardbound

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