In terms of close-up you get an OK version of the “Ambitious Card”, a couple of versions of four object assemblies including aces and coins. It is a smoke from nowhere! I used to buy the corncob pipes by the gross and go through a couple of gross a year. This is a trick where you get volumes of smoke from two pipes without flame or tobacco. Plus it has the “Razor Blade” trick and a trick that I used to perform in every club (small venue) engagement I managed to get. The book also has a very capable “Billiard Ball” routine and a nice “Cups and Balls” routine (that is the traditional three cups and balls version) as well as an impromptu coffee cup cups and balls. Dean is pretty much unknown to most of today's magicians. This is after the wine is drunk of course (to prove it real)! Sadly Mr. Dean starts with the production of a wine glass full of wine and then uses the wine glass as the “bucket” to drop the magically produced coins into. This is the brilliant Club performer Wally Dean's version. It is fairly easy and can be done surrounded. It also has perhaps the most elegant and beautiful “Misers Dream” found anywhere. There is also Roy Benson’s version of the “Egg Bag” a novel and different approach and the version I tend to perform. In it is just about the only easily found and clearly written published version of Roy Benson’s “Bowl” routine (the Don Alan handling at that!). Frankly I would give up my “Greater Magic” before I gave up my 'Classic Secrets'. Heck, I also have backup copies of both books! I have maybe three or four copies (one is an English paperback version) of 'Classic Secrets' and no I will not sell any.

I still have the original copies of both books. I got it in 1958 second Hand! It was published in 1953. It was the first magic book I ever bought with my own money.

It is the second magic book I ever got (the first being Hilliard’s “Greater Magic” given to me used by my Uncle). Nothing else is needed but a few props (cards, coins, etc.)! Plus it was published for the general reading (youth) market, not for magicians! I think that it was produced more readable (i.e., in simple English!) than many of the magic books being published for the magic/magician market during the same time period.įrom it you can build a very creditable, entertaining, and magical close-up and/or stand-up (cabaret/club, stage/platform) act. You'll find that it doesn't cost half as much as many of the magic books being published today (you probably got it cheaper than a copy of 'Magic for Dummies'!). In fact it is out there in both hardback and soft cover versions. In my opinion Bruce Elliott’s “Classic Secrets of Magic” is arguably one of the best all around, general magic books available! Yes it is difficult to find but it is out there.

Classic secrets of magic bruce elliott