Magic Shop Photos

 Some photos of old time brick and mortar magic shops.

Daytona Magic Co. , Daytona Beach, FL c. 1980's

(this shows about 2/3rds of the store ; there was additional space behind where the photographer would be standing to take this photograph)

Hollywood Magic, Hollywood, CA , c.1990's 

Bill Bixby The Magician

The Magician was an American television series that ran during the 1973-1974 season. It starred Bill Bixby as stage illusionist Anthony "Tony" Blake, a playboy philanthropist who used his magic skills to solve difficult crimes as needed.

The Salt Trick - Jack Chanin

 Two photographs of the great magician Jack Chanin , at different points in his career, performing the vanishing and re-appearance of a shaker full of salt.

Some quotes about Jack Chanin from the book "Chanin: The Man with the Magic Hands" by David E. Haversat -

“Because of their unusual cleverness and originality in presentation, Chanin’s books will live as long as magic-and that is forever.” 

– Edward M. Massey

“Chanin could pick up a silk with a brick in it, and you would never know.”

– Dai Vernon

“I had never before seen such an impromptu performance, nor have I seen one since. They don’t make ’em like Jack anymore.” 

– Jay Marshall

“Jack was not simply a great magician; he was the greatest.” 

– Max Maven

Magician Buatier De Kolta - Flowers From a Paper Cone

Magician Buatier De Kolta invented many magical effects , including the classic effect of producing bunches of flowers from a rolled up newspaper cone which was shown empty , then it overflowed with flowers into a basket. 

Ade Duval Rhapsody In Silk

 Ade Duval (with his wife and performing partner, True Duval) was one of the most successful magicians in vaudeville, playing around the world with his stunning act "Rhapsody In Silk".

There is an excellent book about Duval , called 'Ade Duval - Silken Sorcerer' by David Charvet, available from the author: http://charvetmagic.com/catalog/c1_p1.html 

This photo (which appeared on the cover of The Sphinx magazine, Dec.1934) shows Ade Duval at the height of his career, touring the world with his assistant True Duval (his wife) with the act "Rhapsody In Silk".

Duval's Rhapsody in Silk was one of the most beautiful sophisticated magic acts of the era, featuring an array of effects using silk scarves, culminating with a spectacular and stage-filling, rapid-fire production of an inexplicable number of silk scarves from a single tube. 

Later after he had retired the elaborate silk act (which required one - to -two hours of reset time between shows), he performed an engaging magic act presented in a light comedic manner, performing his own versions of such classic magic as the multiplying golf balls, the die box, the vanishing milk, and his own Smoking The Thumb, the full secret of which Duval took to the grave, although other magicians have performed successful versions of the feat (such as Fred Kaps and Finn Jon).  It's all covered in David Charvet's book 'Ade Duval - Silken Sorcerer'.

Ade Duval presenting his signature effect , "Smoking The Thumb" -

This image is from later in Duval's career when he presented a talking act in clubs and on cruise ships, after the vaudeville era had ended - 

Tragically, Ade Duval's career was cut short by Parkinson's Disease. After he was forced into retirement he had planned to write a series of books describing all the details of his magic, but only one part of this was completed enough before his death to publish, a portion of the silk act, published as "A Rhapsody In Silk" by Magic Inc. in 1962. 

Doug Henning featured in Time Magazine article The Magic Boom July 22, 1974

Time Magazine article The Magic Boom July 22, 1974 , featuring full page photo montage of Doug Henning performing illusions from The Magic Show (then currently the big hit show on Broadway). '

TIME magazine , July 22,1974, ”The Magic Boom: New Sorcery” by Stefan Kanfer (with Patricia N. Gordon), featuring photos of five-year old magician Paris, Milbourne Christopher, Derek Dingle, Doug Henning (with co-stars Dale Soules and Anita Morris, from ‘The Magic Show’ then currently playing on Broadway) , Yumi Ueno, Peter DePaola, James Randi, Mark and Nani Wilson. And an interior shot of the crowded counter at Tannen’s in NYC.

Tannen's Magic Shop, NYC , circa 1974

Doug Henning performs Robert Harbin's Zig-Zag Girl in The Magic Show on Broadway. Co-star Dale Soules is is the girl who is zig-zagged.  David Ogden Stiers as rival magician Feldman looks on incredulously. 

Alternate photo of Henning performing the Zig-Zag Girl in The Magic Show with Dale Soules and  a different actor playing Feldman. (if anyone knows the name of the actor playing Feldman, please comment to let me know)

Jack Gwynne Full Evening Magic Show photos

 Jack Gwynne , full evening magic show -

Tony Curtis as Houdini (1953) - Evaporated Milk

 Tony Curtis as Houdini, presenting the Evaporated Milk. 

Neil Foster

Neil Foster was well-known for his floating silver sphere effect. 

 

Jack Gwynne Miracle Of India Levitation

 Various shots of Jack Gwynne presenting his "Miracle of India" levitation illusion.

 

In later years Jack Gwynne invented a scaled down version of this called the "Flying Carpet" , which was marketed by U.F. Grant/MAK Magic -

 

 

Other versions of Gwynne's 'Flying Carpet' illusion have been made other magic manufacturers.  Charles Cassini's was beautifully designed and made -

Jack Gwynne invented or improved many magic effects that are still standards in the world of stage magic today.   Another notable illusion invented by Jack Gwynne was his "Temple of Angee" (aka "Temple of Benares")  -

To learn more about Gwynne and his remarkable life in magic (and his magic creations) try to get a copy of the book Jack Gwynne: The Man, His Mind, and His "Royal Family of Magic"  by David Charvet (http://charvetmagic.com/)  Sadly, the book is out-of-print and difficult to find , but occasionally copies do pop up for sale.