If you bought this book today and spent one month on each chapter and spent say $100 on props you really could be in the top 1% of magicians in the world after just twelve months. I also dreamed of performing effects with Razors, Money and the Cups and Balls from the other remaining chapters. In my magical youth I used to perform three card routines from Chapter 1 (the Spectator’s Card is Produced) with the highlight being the Card on the Ceiling the rice bowls from Chapter 3 (Water, Water, Everywhere!) two paddle routines from Chapter 4 (The Very Peripatetic Paddle) the four ace routine from Chapter 5 (Those Four Aces!) the Egg Bag from Chapter 7 (The Egg Bag, Well Done) two matrix type effects from Chapter 8 (The Two Covers, and the Four Objects …) some simple billiard ball moves from Chapter 9 (Billiards, Magic Style) and the Ambitious Card from Chapter 11 (The Ambitous Card!). Very few props are required, the sleights are straight forward, and the magic is beautiful. However, if you were to thoroughly study and learn the magic and routines contained within these chapters and nothing more, ever, you would have enough material to last a lifetime of magical performances. Bruce Elliott’s Classic Secrets of Magic is a small book by modern standards: it has only twelve fairly short chapters, with each chapter focusing on a single basic effect and some variations. … I believe this would be a very worthy contender. If you could choose just one book on magic … Review by Andy Martin for Classic Secrets of Magic by Bruce Elliott Overall a worthwhile relaxing read, from one of the most wonderful ladies in Magic.Ĭlick here for more information. This section is certainly filled with the real meat and potatoes for performing to children and is worth checking out if you plan on performing to this difficult, but rewarding, age group. Of particular interest is the section on the Chicago Magic Bar scene which gives a glimpse into a world that I certainly have never experienced and would like to.Īlso, there is a very helpful section on performing to kids. I don’t know if such things continue to happen as the magic community has been watered down over the last twenty years or so but I hope there are similar parallels today. It has many anecdotes of famous and not so famous magicians which help you relive the past golden years of magic. It’s not as informative or detailed as her other one, $link(1895,You Don’t Have To Be Crazy), but it still makes for interesting, light reading. This is the second book I’ve read by Frances Ireland (Marshall) written in 1952. Amusing anecdotes and great Kid Show Advice