Review – The Great Carmo – By Val Andrews

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Review – The Great Carmo – By Val Andrews

Postby Piers » Mar 13th, '09, 10:56



Review – The Great Carmo – By Val Andrews

http://www.punchandjudyshow.com/book/index.htm

Price : £12

They say : About the Book
To someone who only knew of the Great Carmo as the originator of the Davenport exclusive The Carmo Bead Mystery this book was a fascinating eye-opener. Harry Cameron, Carmo, was a brilliant man of both the Theatre and of the Circus. He had a eye for the spectacular, was a master showman, and married the appeal of Magic and Wild Animals in a way today we associate with Siegfreid and Roy.
We learn that his show was lavish and his magic stunning. He is right up there with the great illusionists, and in many ways more theatrical.
This book not only explores his way of presenting magic, and how it differed from his contemporaries and those who were to follow, but also details the turbulent private life, the two marriages, and the wife who became La Petite Carmo. I found it a tale well worth telling and recommend it enthusiastically.

I Say : What an excellent book. It’s a real book. Quite dinky at about 95 A5 pages but a great read nevertheless. At first £12 may seem quite allot, but if you have ever tackled the small press self publishing route, you will know things are not cheap. The price is a fair one. Also, this book appears to be limited to just 100 numbered copies.

The story of the Great Carmo is a fascinating one, and almost didn’t get told. This book addresses that issue, and is an easy and engaging read. Beginning from Carmo’s early years and charting his highs and lows in the world of great theatre magic and circus. There is perhaps at times a little poetic license with some of the quoted speech, but overall the book feels utterly factual and complete. A really vivid picture of what theatre and illusion must have felt like during the early part of last century is painted superbly, still giving inspiration for today’s theatre.

I loved this book – the human drama, theatre descriptions, performer names I recognised and a poignant inspiration to who must have been a great man – with great support too. The story ends on a slightly sadder note, but it is a story worth reading.

Overall : I cannot fault this book. A great read that will leave you wanting more.

Rating : 9/10. Well, nothings perfect, is it ?

Piers
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The Great Carmo

Postby Allen Tipton » Jun 27th, '09, 14:37

I do so agree Piers, it is a most interesting and fascinating read. Would make a good film as the story contains, spectacle, disasters, triumphs, and a love story. All this besides the Magic.
Relooking at it, I remember seeing Togare and his wild beasts at Blackpool Tower Circus, around 1952?

The book also reminded me of what became known as 'The Carmo Mummy' illusion as presented by Jeffrey Atkins on the Paul Daniels TV show.
In this a young lady in 'Egyptian' style clothes floated out of an upright casket, poised in mid air. Then she gradually revolved, vertically, round ; had a rooe with which she skipped in mid air,and then began floating upside down in a full circle, with Jeff passing a hoop encircled with ribbons, round her. The she floated backwards into the casket; the lid mysteriously closing over her.
I still have it on video and still pics were published, of the various stages of the illusion. I think in Edwin's (Supreme Magic) Magigram magazine.
Carmo didn't invent it of course; the special belt worn was used in other levitations, notably The Amazing Aerial Lady in Burling Hull's 'The Encyclopedia of Stage Illusions', page 21.
Hull's book contains short details, mainly, with plans in some cases, and many illustrations, of some 220 Illusions.

In the early 70's, when on a Theatre Holiday in London, I took a badly worn 20 pages of facts etc about Carmo to Davenports where I handed them over to Bobby Bernard who in turn was going to give them to Val for me. I had even recorded the pages on tape in case Val couldn't read some of the faded words.
They had been passed to me by my oldest friend, Vic Odin (we were teenage magicians together in Worcs.). Vic toured the world with his wife, the late, this year, Louise, as escapologist and illusionist , for 33 years. Consequently he had worked in many circuses and those 20 odd pages came from circus sources.

Val didn't write the book for nearly 30 years, out of respect for Bayard Grimshaw MIMC., (famous mental act with his wife Marion),writer. editor of the Magi, The Budget, and last editor( 1965- 72) of the magic page in The World's Fair. Bayard had planned a book on The Great Carmo but it never materialised.

Val presented my wife & I with an autographed copy when he stayed with us in 2001.
He published the book himself (as with some of his others) from his mobile home in Waltham Abbey, Esses.

Allen Tipton.

Began magic at 9 in 1942. Joined Staffs M.S at 13. Nottm.Guild of M. (8 times President. Prog Director 20years)IBM. Awarded Magician of Month 1980 By Intern. Pres. IBM for reproducing Dante's Sim Sala Bim. Writes Dear Magician column for Abra. Mag.
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Allen Tipton
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