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michaelvincent V.I.P. 567 Posts |
My first Magic Shop was Hamleys Toy Shop in Regents Street. This is the largest Toy Shop in the world. My first visit was around 1978, at the time they had a magic department in the basement and the magician demonstrating was Duncan Trillo. Duncan is one of Great Britain's finest magicians and he sold me a Svengali Deck.
Two blocks from Hamleys on Wardour Street was “The Ken Brookes Magic Place”. Ken Brookes was a fantastic magician and his shop was on the first floor of a tall building. At the time, he ran his business with his partner Frank Farrow. I spent a lot of time there and money on tricks. As time went by, I become aware of a Magic Shop opposite of “The British Museum”. This shop was run by the famous Davenport family. On my first visit to the shop, I met a very kind man by the name of Jake Evans, he was shuffling a deck of cards with one hand. This really caught my attention, I asked him ‘“how do you do that?”. He proceeded to teach me The Howard De Courcy “One Hand Riffle Shuffle”, I was about 14 years old. From that moment on, Jake and I would enjoy a great friendship over thirty years. He sadly passed away this year. Magic shops played a very important role during this time because it meant meeting other magicians and expanding my awareness of magic as a craft. I was really looking for something but couldn't quit put my finger on it at the time. Now, in retrospect, I can see that I was looking for some sort of guidance. Where would we be without our magic shops and dealers? Ken Brookes, Hamleys, Davenports have become institution in the UK. Across the pond Tannens, Denny and Lee have become wonderful outlets for magicians to explore magic.
Magic for the 21st Century
"Why be mediocre, when you have excellence as an option" Mastering Magic Elegant Decpetions Learning Tools The All Cards Blog The Vincent Academy of Magic |
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Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
I agree, Ken Brooke's Magic Place and Davenport's were my second homes when I visited the UK. Actually, my first London shop was Harry Stanley's Unique Studio.
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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tabman Inner circle USA 5946 Posts |
There was a wonderful small shop in DC that was run by Harry Baker and his wife Dolly; Baker Magic. It's long gone but Baker looked every inch the magician and was always kind to us boys when we visited. My grandmother and Dolly were friends so we visited there often in the 50s. Baker's is the shop I will always remember and wish I could visit one more time.
-=tabman PS: And don't forget Al Flosso's shop.
...Your professional woodworking and "tender" loving care in the products you make, make the wait worthwhile. Thanks for all you do...
http://Sefalaljia.com |
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DanGarrett Regular user Atlanta, GA 169 Posts |
Sadly, the weekly 'gaggle' of magicians hanging out at the local magic shop has all but disappeared from our society. That's a shame, because I owe a lot to those times in shaping my magic, and desire to pursue it to the point of excellence (as do all above who contributed to this thread). I would hang out weekly in Atlanta with the likes of Doty? and Tom Mullica, with Duke Stern behind the counter keeping us entertained, enlightened, and leaving us with just enough money in our pockets to have lunch! The shop was Harris Magic Shop. Later, I managed a shop called "M&M Magic Emporium" in south Atlanta, but the 'hangout time' was never the same, even then.
Dan Garrett
www.dangarrettmagic.com SAM National President 1994-1995 MIMC with Gold Star - London email request to dangarrett@aol.com to receive a free catalog |
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tabman Inner circle USA 5946 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-08-07 12:26, DanGarrett wrote:...I managed a shop called "M&M Magic Emporium" in south Atlanta, but the 'hangout time' was never the same, even then. Dan, M & M Magic Emporium was an excellent shop. When I was on the road doing music I would stop in there every time Id pass through. I bought a bunch of the Johnson coin stuff from yall. Great shop. There's not a week that goes by that I don't lament the long gone great shops. Our bass player lived in an apartment that belonged or was managed by Doty (how do you type an upside down question mark?). I always thought that was very cool. I wish you'd write a book about those days in the Altanta metro area!! -=tab
...Your professional woodworking and "tender" loving care in the products you make, make the wait worthwhile. Thanks for all you do...
http://Sefalaljia.com |
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Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
My first shops were Morcom's in Oakland, Calif., (where I eventually worked) and they had an upstairs little theater. Then House of Magic in San Francisco where I got to know Emile Clifton (my main mentor and a WWII hero as one of the Tuskeegee Airmen).
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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tabman Inner circle USA 5946 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-08-07 12:26, DanGarrett wrote:... The shop was Harris Magic Shop.... Dan, did you ever know Homer Hulse in Atlanta? He advertised in the back of the mechanics magazines in the 50s. He was my first real exposure via letter. I'm back in the swamp where I grew up near Cordele and the Magic down here is limited to Saturday night and BBQ. If it wasn't for this internet thingy I'd be out of luck. -=tabman
...Your professional woodworking and "tender" loving care in the products you make, make the wait worthwhile. Thanks for all you do...
http://Sefalaljia.com |
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Jay Mahon Special user 983 Posts |
I too am seeing the hanging out in my local shop dying down, the kids just don't see the value in coming to a magic shop... Sad really.
J |
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michaelvincent V.I.P. 567 Posts |
Gentleman,
Thank you for your wonderful stories, I thought I was the only one who felt the magic of magic shops was a dying thing. I felt the inspiration when I lectured for Denny last year, it was wonderful to be in his shop and feel the positive vibe of magicians just hanging out and sharing. I want to pay tribute to Peter Nardi of Alakazam. Alakazam is an online business but if you pay a visit to Peter's shop in the Kent country side, you will feel very much at home and part of his magical family. Great stories and thanks for sharing. Mike
Magic for the 21st Century
"Why be mediocre, when you have excellence as an option" Mastering Magic Elegant Decpetions Learning Tools The All Cards Blog The Vincent Academy of Magic |
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tabman Inner circle USA 5946 Posts |
Great thread. Thanks for thinking it up!!
I hope more stories like this pop up. Thanks again and congrats for being on the hot seat this week. -=tab
...Your professional woodworking and "tender" loving care in the products you make, make the wait worthwhile. Thanks for all you do...
http://Sefalaljia.com |
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DanGarrett Regular user Atlanta, GA 169 Posts |
Michael, there are a few 'holdover' brick and mortar magic shops left where you can hang out. Denny and Lee's is certainly one of those. But they are rare. Few can claim owner-operators as knowledgeable as Denny Haney. As I said, Harris Magic had Dukey (Duke Stern) and that made a big difference. I never met Peter Nardi, but I'm reviewing one of his effects/DVD's in an upcoming M-U-M. I really like what I saw of him on video.
Tabby, Doty's son Gary is a bass player; you probably know that. Doty¿ always uses the question mark after his name, because he says that's the way people would always pronounce it first. What's your name? Doty. ...Doty? (and on a Mac you can easily type the question mark upside down by using option-shift-?). I never med Homer R. Hulse, he was before my time. I think he died before I came to Atlanta. However, our SAM Assembly 30 is named after him.
Dan Garrett
www.dangarrettmagic.com SAM National President 1994-1995 MIMC with Gold Star - London email request to dangarrett@aol.com to receive a free catalog |
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DanGarrett Regular user Atlanta, GA 169 Posts |
Doty usually signs his name with a reverse ?
I can't tell you how to type that without using graphics or designing your own font. Or InDesign. Or PhotoShop, etc. And now... back to magic!
Dan Garrett
www.dangarrettmagic.com SAM National President 1994-1995 MIMC with Gold Star - London email request to dangarrett@aol.com to receive a free catalog |
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tabman Inner circle USA 5946 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-08-07 21:45, DanGarrett wrote: If Im ever in Atlanta when yall meet Id love to drop by just to honor Homer. -=tab
...Your professional woodworking and "tender" loving care in the products you make, make the wait worthwhile. Thanks for all you do...
http://Sefalaljia.com |
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TRUMPETMAN Special user Naples, FL 705 Posts |
M&M was AWESOME ! I visited several times as a kid, when we would travel from Alabama to Atlanta to visit relatives in Dunwoody and Kennesaw. My biggest hang though was Martinelz Magic Mart in St Petersburg, FL., run by retired Canadian magi Martin Elz. Right next door to the huge Maas Bros. downtown. Mr. Elz would never let me purchase a trick till I could show him I had learned the last one I bought from him ! Started me on Cups and Balls at the tender age of 9.
Imagine a salesperson taking that attitude today.... :) Mark
Mark Pettey
Naples, FL facebook.com/robbietheringmaster |
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michaelvincent V.I.P. 567 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-08-07 22:41, TRUMPETMAN wrote: Alan Alan ran The Magic Spot in London and he would refuse to sell a trick if he felt it wouldn't you any good. Mike
Magic for the 21st Century
"Why be mediocre, when you have excellence as an option" Mastering Magic Elegant Decpetions Learning Tools The All Cards Blog The Vincent Academy of Magic |
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Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
Ken Brooke was the same. BTW Alan Alan taught me the greatest close-up trick I have ever used... a variant on Edward Victor's Bat Trick. This was when he was at Stanley's Unique Studio.
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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tabman Inner circle USA 5946 Posts |
There were some good shops in the states too scattered around the country. Don't forget the old Magicland in Dallas and Eagle Magic in Minneapolis. And Chicago too but I never made it up there during the hayday.
-=tabman
...Your professional woodworking and "tender" loving care in the products you make, make the wait worthwhile. Thanks for all you do...
http://Sefalaljia.com |
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Kjellstrom Inner circle Sweden, Scandinavia, Europe 5203 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-08-08 12:05, Pete Biro wrote: Can you explain the effect? |
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tabman Inner circle USA 5946 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-08-09 14:05, Kjellstrom wrote: Pete showed it to me two decades ago if I remember right. It used Ed Victor's bat I think since I made him up a couple but Pete's memory is a lot better than mine. -=tabman
...Your professional woodworking and "tender" loving care in the products you make, make the wait worthwhile. Thanks for all you do...
http://Sefalaljia.com |
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michaelvincent V.I.P. 567 Posts |
The Cricket Bat routine is credit to Edward Victor with various ideas by Jimmy Rogers.
A lot of magic with a Black Bat and a piece of chalk. Mike
Magic for the 21st Century
"Why be mediocre, when you have excellence as an option" Mastering Magic Elegant Decpetions Learning Tools The All Cards Blog The Vincent Academy of Magic |
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