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The legendary Willard the Wizard lives on in David Charvet’s brilliant book, WILLARD - A LIFE UNDER CANVAS. From James Willard’s early beginnings with show business in the late 1800s to the passing of Harry Willard in 1970, Charvet chronicles the saga of the Willard family’s trails and tribulations of trouping with a large tent show.

Charvet says in his introduction, “Every person with whom I spoke about Harry Willard, all without hesitation, said he was the greatest magician they ever saw. Every one. And many of those who told me this were very knowledgeable magicians who had seen many of the greats. . . This is much more than the story of a magic show. It is the story of a remarkable family and the drama that played out both on stage and behind the scenes for nearly 100 years in a field of show business that will not come our way again.”

Those of us of the “older generation” of magicians who were lucky enough to witness Willard the Wizard performances welcome this terrific book. It jogs our memories, helps us recall magic’s ultimate showman and remember Willard as a source of inspiration.

Author David Charvet and publisher Mike Caveney offer this remarkable, candid, revealing nostalgic journey into the past, not only to older magicians, but also as a source of inspiration for the younger set and for generations of magicians to come.

I enthusiastically give this my highest recommendation because of its content, its true depiction, the skill and care in which it was written.

Regards,
Gerald

Mr. Charvet also has a great article about Willard in the July 2008 issue of Magic Magazine. Looks like the book will cover some great stuff!

Well aside from being around Glen & Francis off and on for years during the 80s I was fortunate enough to also work with one of her father's original Spirit Cabinets as well as the Rickshaw production from their show... neat stuff and a most interesting man.

And although I greatly admire David Charvet's written work and we have e mailed each other,in the past, please do not forget, in your excitement & praise, the earlier book
Willard The Wizard by Bev Bergeron.
Published by Lake Cane Publications in 1978
156 pages
Met Harry, had information from Madeline Willard'who for 28 years has been unknowingly furnshing me with a chronicle of Willard events'.
Wrote The Willard issues of The Sphinx and Conjurors.
Describes and explains a number of Willard effects & routines.

Bev B first saw the Willard Show in 1940 and he started to make many drawings & notes in 1948

Photographs, illustrations etc.

Bev Bergeron wrote his book 'not to teach one magic but to kindle a little flame of imagination in a reader who may take it and build it into a fire of desire to learn more'
'This book was written to pay respect to the Willard the Wizards[u]
who entertained so many around the world'.

Allen Tipton

Allen,
You are right. I certainly did not in any way mean to slight Bev’s work. His book on Willard has been one of my favorites since it was published in the late 1970s. I refer to it often. Both books remind me of seeing Willard’s tent show when I was a young fellow and later seeing Willard at a T.A.O.M. convention in San Antonio, Texas.

Bev’s book adds a little different perspective to the Willard saga. For those who are interested in trick explanations, Bev’s book goes into detail about some of Willard’s presentation and methods. Although Charvet does address some of Willard’s favorite presentations in one section of the book, he writes in more detail about the Willard family, their history, their successes, their tribulations and life under the canvas.

I’m not likely to forget the pure magic of Willard’s on-stage personae. The books help to clarify the vivid images of Willard which are still in my mind. These images are still a source of inspiration. We are lucky the legacy of this great family has been preserved in these two books.

Regards,
Gerald

Sorry Gerald I did not mean to imply that David's book cast any shadow over Bev Bergeron.
I posted to let any future students of Magic's Great History know of yet another book.
It's always good & informative to have as much information and from as many different perspectives as possible.

I've found my study of Magic History to be like a huge jigsaw. It grows clearer and clearer as each new piece is added.But the real thrill is, it is never completed.

Dante & Kalanag (on whom I lecture) have occupied me for years
The Scrapbooks, recordings etc. on each now need a large shelf each here in the Magic Room.

I do envy you actually seeing Willard though.
I can only read, look, research and dream.

Best wishes
Allen T

Allen,
No problem. Didn't mean to sound combative. Sounds like we may be kindred spirits.
Cheers,
Gerald