talkmagic.co.uk

Tommy Cooper's a great comedy magician. I also know that Derek Lever is another great comedy magician who founded the Taurus Magic Supply commpany.

Walter B. Gibson.

Mike.

BOOKS:
1. The Illustrated History Of Magic Milbourne Christopjher( cheapest copy
Amazon UK) There are errors in it.
2. Panorama Of Magic. Mil. Christopher
3. Pictorial History Of Conjurors In The Theater. David Price. 551 pages
4. The Great Illusionists. Edwin Dawes.
5. Magical Nights In The Theatre. Charles Waller( programmes in
Australia)
6. Programmes Of Magicians. J F. Burrows ( Davenports)
7. Programmes Of Famous Magicians. Max Holden
8. Victorian Magic. Geoffrey Lamb.
9. History Of Magic & Magicians H.J. Burlingham
10 The Dante Books as
Goodnight Mr. Dante. Val Andrews.(chapter on Bill is incorrect)
Dante..The Devil Himself. Phil Temple.
We Remember Dante. Joel Ray
11 Famous Magicians Of The World. Arnold Furst. reviews with pics from
Genii.
12 Great Magic Shows. Arnold Furst as above.
13 The Chung Ling Soo Books. as
The Riddle Of Chung Ling Soo. Will Dexter.
The Glorious Deception. Jim Steinmayer
The Silence Of Chung Ling Soo by Todd Karr.
A View From The Gods. Val Andrews.
C L S. The Man Behind The Legend Gary Franks
CLS The Man Of Mystery Gary Franks
C L S's Mechanists Brian McCullagh & Dr. J. Ernest Aldred.
14. Hiding The Elephant. Jim Steinmeyer.
15 Val Andrews' other histories as
Murray.
Carmo
Horace Goldin
Chefalo
The Great Lyle.
16 The Great Lyle Edwin Dawes.
17 Illusion Show David Bamberg.
18 The Life & Times Of The Great Lafayette. Arthur Setterington
19 Houdini Ken Silverman. There are scores of Houdini books.
20 Levante. His Life No Illusion. Kent Blackmore.
21 The Original Dante Kent Blackmoor.
22 The Master Illusionists Mark Walker
23 Those Beautiful Dames Frances Marshall.
24 My Magic Life David Devant.
26 The Book Of Magic by Edwin Dawes & Arthur Setterington
27 The World's Greatest Magician: Howard Thurston. Robert E Olson &
his follow up books
28 Same Man: Different Clothes( Edgar Benyon) James V. Reilly
29 Servais Le Roy. Mike Caveney & Wm. Rauscher
30 The Old & New Magic Sidney W Clarke
31 Magic On The Early English Stage. Philip Buttertworth.
Also CHECK Magic Zoom ( daily magic news) especially 30th. Jan 2008 for a potted history. They still get Discoverie of Witchcraft wrong.
There is an article on Magic in Medieval Times by ( I think) Ray Eden who thanks Todd Karr & myself for encouraging him to research this era.

AND The CD ROM by Edwin Dawes based on his ( & expanded) articles in The Magic Circular. from Peter Scarlett ( see The Budget. British Ring)

Except for the last, these are just some on the bookshelves here. Should start you off

OH & why not look up the BBC TV series, The History Of Magic Programmes 1 to 6. You'll find loads of ideas there. Ask who's videod it.
I'm so glad some young magicians are taking a great interest in The History of our Great Art. What has gone before..defines today. Tradition has always played a great part in The Theatre, Music & Classical Ballet.
Allen Tipton
Michael Jay. Thanks for the tip on Medieval Magic. I have looked the publishers up.

One that I think you'll appreciate Mr. Tipton:

"Magic in the Middle Ages" by Richard Kieckhefer.

Mike.