Finally back in print, the complete Blackstone story and the history of magic from the 1920s to today. This much in-demand classic gift book contains over 250 photos & drawings exploring the complete Blackstone story and a vivid and varied appreciation of the history, science, and art of illusion and magic from ancient Egypt to vaudeville to Broadway, Las Vegas, and television. It contains 20 classic magic routines in detailed execution. Traces the history of magic, describes the acts of prominent magicians, and demonstrates some basic cup, card, and coin tricks.

Traces the history of magic, describes the acts of prominent magicians, and demonstrates some basic cup, card, and coin tricks.

The complete Blackstone story and the history of magic from the 1920s to today.

Traces the history of magic, describes the acts of prominent magicians, and demonstrates some basic cup, card, and coin tricks.

This is the story of the world and magic shows of Harry Blackstone (1885-1965), who entertained theatre-goers for over 50 seasons. Gifted with an electric presence, a magnificent voice and a master magician's mentality and skills, he played everything from showboats to vaudeville to television. Blackstone's extravagant productions advertised "1001 wonders" and "an enchanting array of beautiful girls." Waldron's vivid and thoroughly researched narrative, enhanced with first-hand accounts by those who worked on the Blackstone show, presents an unforgettable portrait of a unique showman. Illustrated throughout with photographs.

Marvelous treasury of card magic presents exact details of 155 professional card tricks that anyone can learn. Card wizard John Scarne reworked these tricks to eliminate the need for sleight-of-hand. Simple instructions and clear diagrams illustrate Houdini's "Card on the Ceiling," Blackstone's "Card Trick Without Cards," Milton Berle's "Quickie Card Deal," more.

Written by the master magician himself, this fascinating work reveals the secrets behind how Houdini escaped numerous death-defying stunts and exposed a variety of fake spiritualists. He also gives instructions for 44 eye-catching stage tricks, as well as other fascinating material. 155 illustrations.

This work revisits the golden age of theatrical magic and silent film to reveal how professional magicians shaped the early history of cinema. The author treats cinema and stage magic as overlapping practices that together revise our understanding of the origins of motion pictures and cinematic spectacle.