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gerard1973 Special user Michigan, U.S.A. 688 Posts |
I am curious. Who is U.F. Grant?
I've seen many magical tricks by this person. All I know about him is that U.F. Grant has many ingenious magic tricks. Has he written any books? I've heard that General Grant of the Civil War fame was also a magician. Is this U.F. Grant related to him? I can't find any information about U.F. Grant. Does anybody know anything about U.F. Grant?
"Confusion is not magic."
Dai Vernon |
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docdazzal Veteran user San Tan Valley, AZ 360 Posts |
Hi gerard1973...
U.F. "Gen" Grant was born in 1901 and passed away in 1978. He was a magic genious to put it mildly. Many of his magical innovations are still in production today via his daughter Mary Ann King i.e. MAK Magic. U.F. Grant had a sort of monopoly on the magic market during the 30's, 40's, 50's, & most of the 60's with his Popular Line of Magic Catalogs. In fact, his was basically the only line of magic apparatus that most magic shops carried during those decades. A couple of years ago, Magic Magazine listed U.F. Grant as one of the 100 most influential men of magic. Hope this gives you an insight of a great man we magicians owe a lot to. Have a magical day... Believe In Your Own Magic, Doc Dazzal |
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gerard1973 Special user Michigan, U.S.A. 688 Posts |
Thank you docdazzal for the information about U.F. Grant I appreciate it. I knew that U.F. Grant just had to be influential in the world of magic. I see so many of his effects advertised.
I do not hear too much about him and I wonder why he is not well known? Does anybody know if U.F. Grant wrote any books?
"Confusion is not magic."
Dai Vernon |
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
U. F. Grant was also Jimmy "MAK Magic" King's father-in-law. Grant wrote many books, most of which were mimeographed pamphlets that were stapled together, but some of these are classics. There were books on mentalism, illusions, all sorts of topics.
He may not be well known to you, but to us old geezers, he was a major source of magic props. Much of the MAK Magic line was his invention. He did some of his best thinking during the Depression. I was always under the impression that he purchased paint and some of his other supplies as distressed merchandise, because some of his color schemes were, to say the least, quite unusual. I think he probably made more tricks out of masonite, tin tubes and cardboard than any other human being on the face of the earth. Go to the MAK Magic web site and you will see many of his creations. He was also responsible for one of the most persistent typos in all of magic -- "TIME FLYS."
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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Kjellstrom Inner circle Sweden, Scandinavia, Europe 5203 Posts |
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Julie Inner circle 3936 Posts |
It's virtually IMPOSSIBLE to read any of U.F. Grant's mauscripts and not learn something "new" and/or come away with a really great effect you just can't wait to try on someone. (...and his Magic is very direct and easy to perform...GREAT STUFF!)
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Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
Bill Palmer writes (of U.F. Grant): "He was also responsible for one of the most persistent typos in all of magic -- "TIME FLYS."
As one "old geezer" to another, you're "right on!" Even as a kid, I got a kick out of that typo! The Temple Screen production device is still around today, complete with the same Chinese characters. They say, "Smoke more, it's good for you" or words to that effect! R.I.P. |
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Hushai Elite user St. Louis, Missouri, USA 459 Posts |
There's a tribute to U.F. Grant in the introductory material in "Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic." Some of the tricks in that book are credited to Grant, too, of course.
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Dr_Stephen_Midnight Inner circle SW Ohio, USA 1555 Posts |
My first book on escapes when I started at age 13 was a Grant book: "Grant's Rope, Chain and Box Escapes."
Steve
Dr. Lao: "Do you know what wisdom is?"
Mike: "No." Dr. Lao: "Wise answer." |
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Rick Fisher Elite user Rick Fisher 471 Posts |
Just read this posting - Living here in Colon and operating a magic company we find lots of great trivia...UF Grant first started with Percy Abbott and in fact you can find lots of old photos of him performing in the old Abbott catalogs 6,7,8,9....Grant invented quite a bit while working for Percy and Percy was actually UF Grants best man at his wedding......just my two cents..Rick Fisher, The FAB Magic company.
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gfajuri Regular user 120 Posts |
Hello All,
Indeed, U.F. Grant did work for the Abbott Magic Company of Colon - for about 1 year. He was born in Massachusetts, and opened his first magic shop in that state (Pittsfield, I think). Later, he moved to New York City, where he operated a small magic shop, too. It was from there that he moved to Colon to work for Percy Abbott, in 1940, if I recall correctly. While working for Abbott's, Grant invented a host of remarkable tricks, including (or so many believe, even if his name is not on it), the venerable Super-X. Grant was one of many idea men to work for Abbott's over the years, including Winston Freer, Jesse Thornton, and Arturo. Grant wrote a number of booklets for Abbott's, several of which are still in print. Grant did not last long at Abbott's, however, and moved to Ohio during WWII, I believe to Columbus (though I could be wrong about that). It was from Columbus that he would operate for the rest of his life, and where, to this day, MAK magic is operated. Regards, Gabe Fajuri |
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hugmagic Inner circle 7655 Posts |
Yes, he moved to Columbus.
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
I always suspected that U.F. Grant would have produced an entirely different kind of magic had it not been for the Depression. Many of the things he produced were made of cardboard, masonite, cloth tape, tin cans, tin pipe, and they were generally stencilled with what must have been overrun paint.
But they all worked! And that was what made his stuff great. He made magic for people who couldn't afford Thayer and the other expensive things. You could earn a living with an act consisting entirely of U.F.Grant magic.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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saranacbo New user 74 Posts |
Several years ago in the Linking Ring there was a product review of a UF Grant pea can--a new product, a limited run, each one numbered.
I never used a pea can because they were just so crappily made, but on a whim and knowing the UF Grant name, I ordered one. It's technically a beautiful prop (looks great too) and is just a joy to use. I realize a lot of people think the pea can is just too hokey and childish and all the rest; nonetheless, it always gets a laugh and it's a puzzler to the audiences as well. My only caveat is when I pour it out, I pour it on the floor, not the volunteer's hand. That way you've got the sudden appearance of the water, and they get the pun, but there's really nothing offensive about it. Anyhow, I looked on the MAK website and the pea cans they advertise now are not the one I ordered, but are a commercial item. They're brass, though, and I assume they're a whole lot better than the cheapos. |
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Paul Chosse V.I.P. 1955 - 2010 2389 Posts |
As long as you're talking about Pea Cans, do you know about the JG Thompson routine? It is worth working on. The effect is that you put a grain of rice in the can, cork it, make your magic pass, and the rice multiplies. You dump out a full "can" of rice, put one piece back in, and snap your fingers again. Uncork and now - water! Sort of a "Rice Bowls in Miniature"... You need two sets to do the trick. Well, actually two inserts and corks, one can. I read this when I was in my early teens. Couldn't find a decent Pea Can, so I had my father make me a set. He was a machinist, so it was easy to have him make up all kinds of things. In fact, we had a lathe and milling machine, drill press and sanders in the basement and I eventually learned to use the stuff myself. I still have the first set of O-Kort-o Boxes I ever made...
Best, PSC
"You can't steal a gift..." Dizzy Gillespie
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cardone Special user 860 Posts |
He was a genius !!!
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Dr_Stephen_Midnight Inner circle SW Ohio, USA 1555 Posts |
My favorite Grant prop was the Potato Box. Instead of a potato and borrowed ring, I used an apple and a torn-and-restored card.
Steve
Dr. Lao: "Do you know what wisdom is?"
Mike: "No." Dr. Lao: "Wise answer." |
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coupcoupdaddy Inner circle 2466 Posts |
U.F. Grant's name invokes powerful memories for me. My father would take me to his shop in Columbus once a year to spend the money I had saved doing $5.00 magic shows. It was like visiting an elf--very archetypal. Mr. Grant would always demonstrate the newest products of his genious without any condenscension to the novice pre-teen I was. He was very humble, patient, and always remembered me. Don Tanner was also there for some of those visits and I treasure his instruction and memory as well.
foreign correspondent, z and lt
inner being worker |
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gerard1973 Special user Michigan, U.S.A. 688 Posts |
Are there any magic books that contain U.F. Grant’s magic tricks?
Did U.F. Grant ever publish a magic book? I thought that I saw a booklet written by him many years ago but I could have been mistaken. Please let us know if you know whether he wrote a book or not. Gerard
"Confusion is not magic."
Dai Vernon |
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coupcoupdaddy Inner circle 2466 Posts |
I'm pretty sure you can track down some of his manuscripts.
foreign correspondent, z and lt
inner being worker |
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