The Association of International Magical Spectators (AIMS) Proudly Presents

Magic Magazines Exposed!

s publishers of the World's Foremost (and only) Newsletter, written exclusively for magical spectators, we feel it is our duty to expose normal people to the peculiarities of magicians and their magazines. Professor Eddie Dawes, the Honourable Historian of the prestigious Magic Circle, wrote in THE MAGIC CIRCULAR for May 1988, "one comes to the irresistible conclusion that in every conjurer there lurks an urge to write or publish a magic magazine." In issue No. 1 (Nov. 1992) of our Association's newsletter, THE MAGICAL SPECTATOR, we wrote:

        Our problem is we are breaking new ground. We don't have an early spectator's magazine to compare ourselves against (and to steal ideas from!). So, we will do the next best thing by seeing if the ideas expressed in the first issues of some earlier magicians' magazines are applicable.
         There have been over 2,000 periodicals published for magicians since H. Lemoine's The Conjuror's Magazine appeared in 1791. Here are three different extracts that fill the bill. Did these magazines fold overnight, or did they go on to make a lasting impression on the world of magic? Have a guess and then check your rating below.

  1. - "...the necessity of some publication for those members prevented by circumstances from attending meetings... it is hoped, the nature of the contents will always justify a pleasurable anticipation..." This magazine first appear in 1906.
    What happened to it?

  2. - "...We will not start off with an apology over the size, appearance or get-up of the magazine...will not be a monthly magazine, but will be published 'now and then'...The success depends upon member's contributions...will be sent to members only..." This magazine was first sent to members in 1922.
    Did the members contribute?

  3. - "...this is not a magazine...an information sheet...the editor (also head office boy)...at times the grammar may be bad..." The first issue was produced in 1934.
    What happened to the editor?

YOU GOT THIS MANY RIGHT:
4 or more
3
2
1 or less
Stop Cheating !
1st Class
Not bad
You should have cheated !


NOTE:
For further information on magic magazines refer to the definitive work by James B. Alfredson and George L. Daily, Jr. A Bibliography of Conjuring Periodicals in English: 1791-1983. For further information on Jim and George, and their famous collections, refer to John Booth's column in THE LINKING RING for February 1995.

(FOOT NOTE):
Yes, the rumours you heard are true! As a clever marketing ploy, (No, it was not a mistake!) the picture accompanying the item by George Daily in our Issue No. 11 was, in fact, that of his collaborator Jim Alfredson. Yes, that issue of THE MAGICAL SPECTATOR has become a collectors' item (known as The Alfredson Picture Issue). Yes, magical collectors take every opportunity to subtly remind Alfredson/Daily of that issue, including the production of a fake MAGICAL SPECTATOR by that Krazy Kollector from Kalamazoo, Bruce Dunn. No, we have not yet forgiven Mr. Dunn. No, we will not sell you a copy of The Alfredson Picture Issue. It's sold out! (Oh, all right. Seeing it's you, we'll send you the last one, but don't tell anyone we still had any!)

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