Stage Illusions by Will Goldston

The Author’s Introduction: THERE is an old and very wise saying which states that half a loaf is better than no bread. The saying occurred to me when I was putting the finishing touches to this little volume. I am sure that the man who does not possess the volumes of “The Magician” and the “Magician Annuals” will find this “half loaf” of magic very acceptable. It is certainly better than no magic at all. I turn, in imagination, to all those who already possess the volumes of “The Magician” and the “Magician Annuals.” Do I abase myself before those gentlemen because I have made up this little volume from matter which they already possess? No – very far from no. I feel that I have done all those gentlemen a good turn, because I have arranged the information in this volume in such a way that it can be acquired with the greatest ease. This is an age in which, in order to succeed, one must specialise. One conjuror will specialise in thought-reading tricks, another in silent illusion acts, another in sleight-of-hand tricks, another in the presentation of what I may call “large apparatus” tricks. This book will appeal primarily to illusionists, but I fancy that other magicians will find that it is well worth perusal. I have heard of illusionist who have produced some of their best effects by merely enlarging small sleight-of-hand tricks, and I have no doubt that some sleight-of-hand performers have been equally successful in devising new tricks by merely watching illusionists at work and ” reducing “the illusions to drawing-room size. Therefore, whether you are an illusionist or a sleight-of-hand performer, I trust that you will find something to think about in this little volume