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MagicArtShop New user Columbia, SC - Essex, England 8 Posts |
My name is Greg Edmonds.
With a couple of partners, I founded and own an online gallery (and will next year begin visiting magic conventions again) based in Columbia, South Carolina, USA and Essex, England, UK Our site: www.MagicArtShop.com, specializes in creating, finding, and selling, magic-related works of art, both the two and three dimensional varieties. We've recently added a few unusual props to the listings, and will soon be adding rare books along with video downloads. Our site will be updated on a roughly bi-weekly basis, especially the props and books sections. A little about me: As "Mister E" (Mister E's Mysteries), and employing my real first and last name (Gregory Edmonds), I performed close-up magic, small and large stage illusions, and did consulting for other performers for over 40 years, working in malls, schools (primary and colleges), upscale clubs and restaurants, corporate events and on the occasional cruise. As "Desmond Acardi," and later using my real first and MIDDLE names (Gregory Bishop), I worked as a mentalist, and did consulting for international television programs, for over 30 years. As Desmond (and later Gregory - call it an identity crisis!), I performed a comedy mind-reading and "clean" hypnosis act for decades, and performed a family-friendly, on-stage historical seance recreation show (and a scarier in-home version) called "Phantoms" for many years. In Phantoms, performed primarily at museums and on theater stages, I employed items actually associated with or once belonging to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini. I was a very close personal friend of, and agent to, Marie Hinson Blood, niece of Harry and Bess Houdini, and her husband for over two decades - I "re"introduced Marie to the Magic community, booking her at her first of many magic conventions and on television and radio programs, and having her appear in numerous print articles. I've been (due to Marie's health, and later my own) working on an on-again, off-again book project about Marie and her famous relatives, entitled "Harry and Bess - Marie Hinson Blood's Life with The Great Houdinis." The project is now, as I'll explain below, in the on-again mode, but going slowly for now. Marie's son Jeffrey is assisting with the project, which will hopefully see the proverbial light of day in late 2015 or 2016. I've been an IBM member for 40 years (Order of Merlin, Shield), and I appeared on the cover of the last issue of "The Linking Ring" magazine to be published in the old "saddle-stitched" (stapled) format. A young upstart named David Copperfield was on the cover of the issue immediately following mine, the first in the (then new) "perfect bound" format, and the first to have a full-color cover. Said cover (mine, not David's) also resulted in my being listed in Bart Whaley's "Who's Who in Magic and Magicians." I submitted two one-man "Parades" (numerous effects) to The Linking Ring, each of them won what is now called the "Howard Bamman Trophy" for excellence in magic literature contributed to the publication, and a Linking Ring award for best close-up effect, which was entitled "Attack of the Atomic Tomatoes." Under editor and then IBM President, Phil WIllmarth, I later worked as a LR contributing editor and as the first editor-in-chief of the IBM's Web Portal. I am a former book and monthly journal editor for the Psychic Entertainers Association (and a PEA member for over 20 years). In addition to various lay publications, I've also written for The Fellowship of Christian Magicians and many professional magic-related blogs and user sites. I created a limited edition product called the "MindSet" series, which sold out through dealers and on our previous Website (the now defunct www.ExclusiveMentalism.com), and I created and produced (along with a booklet of effects and handling techniques entitled "Rules of Thumb"), a device called the "RTW," (for "Retractable Thumb Writer"), which was popular among mentalists worldwide. I sold the rights to these latter two items to Mark Strivings. Mentalist Anthony Blake (the American, not the Spaniard, though he's s friend, too), now holds the rights to the MindSet series. I've been off the magic radar for nearly a decade now, after fighting a losing battle with spinal disease and resulting severe neuromuscular issues. I retired from performing nearly eight years ago, but am (primarily as a means of physical therapy) doing some close-up magic (and piano) exercises again. My arms and legs were essentially of little use for most of the last five or six years, but after 12 major neurosurgical procedures [operations] (everyone needs a hobby, right?), donated body parts and various electronic devices implanted in my back and spinal cord - I'm likely the closest thing around to a real "six million dollar man," I'm slowly (and hopefully) getting back at least some usage of my various appendages, and so am beginning work anew on the book project mentioned above (Marie Blood's story), and a couple of my own collected-works (with some new "stuff") books tentatively entitled "NeuroMagical Presentations - Exercises in Psychic Illusion," and "Incidental Magic - 'True' Stories and Magical Adventures." Early in my married life (I recently called my wife and companion of over 35 years now, our former "box-jumper-in-chief" on the Genii magazine forum), I was preparing for medical school and a career in trauma surgery; in fact, I met Marie Blood as an indirect result of my then job in the first ever trauma center in our area - but that's story for another time. When I fell increasingly in love (I know, "awwwwe"), with said wife, and our (now adult) children, I abandoned the medical vocation. Though I've now sold-off the majority of major pieces in my collection, I still do a little collecting of antique medical-related items and of course, magic effects and books. I'm particularly interested in the role "our" (performance) magic played in the history of "real" (ritual and ceremonial) magic, and said topic occupies the majority of my reading time, though I'm a supporter of the Magic Collector's Association, and genuinely enjoy reading about personalities and developers in the field from years past, as well. I also enjoy a good espionage book frome time to time. that's about it for now; if you know of any magic-related paintings, prints or sculptures you don't see on our MagicArtShop.com site now - bear in mind that the site's very much also a work-in-progress - please let me know, we're always hoping to expand the collection. More importantly, additionally bearing in mind that my capacity to type remains somewhat limited (though thanks in part to the most recent surgical interventions, I'm blessed to, at least for the present, be free of the neurotoxic, and mind-numbing, medication regimen I've been on for the last decade), I'll be happy to assist you if I can with any magic inspired questions I can answer, or with regard to any of my previously published or manufactured items. I look forward to communicating with you. Cheers, Greg Edmonds |
Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
Welcome MagicArtShop,
I'm not sure if you have enough experience to be a good addition here. LOL Your capacity to type seems just fine. Sorry your health has kept you from Magic for so long but very happy to hear that your new found clarity will allow you to take part in this forum and your book project. -Mary Mowder |
1KJ Inner circle Warning: We will run out of new tricks in 4385 Posts |
Welcome and thank you for joining.
KJ |
MagicArtShop New user Columbia, SC - Essex, England 8 Posts |
Hi Mary (we have a daughter who shares your name):
Thanks for your kind words. Those paragraphs, with at least one typo I did't catch before, took the better part of an hour to type, I could once have done it in just a few minutes. That's the best part at starting over near the bottom, things can only look up! Thanks to you too, KJ. I hope I can derive some mutual knowledge, too. Greg |
Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
So true about starting at the bottom.
I find that the most inspirational part of learning a new Juggling move is at the very beginning (When it is just horrible and I'm dropping a lot) because it is also when the progress is most rapid and clearly apparent. -Mary Mowder |
1KJ Inner circle Warning: We will run out of new tricks in 4385 Posts |
Greg,
In all those surgeries, did they give you any secret compartments? Seriously.. I really admire you for your fortitude in all this. Your life has an important purpose and it is admirable for you to be pushing through what must have been many difficult times. My hat is off to you. KJ |
MagicArtShop New user Columbia, SC - Essex, England 8 Posts |
Quote:
On Jun 6, 2014, 1KJ wrote: Thanks, KJ. I'm afraid I've not had much choice regarding the surgeries, it was either have them done or permanently lose the use of a hand, arm or leg. As to secret compartments, yes I do have a couple, but I can't access them. They contain small electronic devices which generate stimulation to my spinal cord. I'm a real riot at airports and other venues where I'm screened for hidden objects. I do appreciate your kind remarks. Greg |
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