MAGIC STAGE ILLUSIONS, SPECIAL EFFECTS AND TRICK PHOTOGRAPHY
Compiled and Edited by Albert A. Hopkins
This book is one of the great magic classics, the standard work on stage illusions, special effeets and trick photography. This truly remarkable book has page after page of explanations for classic stage illusions, conjurers' tricks, ancient magic, stage scenery effects, automata and curious toys, and photographic diversions-. All described in complete detail, many of these illusions and tricks can be recreated by the talented reader; the more elaborate effects are of great historical interest.
You will find here behind-the-scenes information on illusions performed by such great magicians as Robert-Houdin,Bautier de Kolta,Heller, Herrmann, Maskelyne, and Kellar; how jugglers, acrobats, fire eaters, sword swallowers, ventriloquists, and mentalists achieve their effeets (including a complete unveiling of Robert Heller's famous "second sight" routine); details of puppet shows among the Greeks, the inachinery of temples, magical pitchers, perpetual lamps, and more ancient magic; descriptions of techniques for producing stage effects such as sunrise, stars, wind, thunder, lightning, snow, and more, and specific effects from operas and shows such as the swan in Lohengrin; the scientific apparatuses in automaton chess players, the money maker, the electrical rate course, and other automata and toys; and the simple principles behind trick photographic effects, magic photographs, composite photographs, chronophotography, etc.; plus additional tricks like the Trunk Trick and "Metempsychosis," and much more.
One of the best books ever written on these areas of magic, this book is unsurpassed in the range and clarity of its text. Illuminating many of the ingenious illusions even more, and giving superb reproductions of actual effeets, are over 400 exceptional illustrations. For the serious student of magic, this is an essential and absolutely fascinating volume
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Unabridged Dover (1990) republication of the first (1898) edition, originally entitled Magie: Stage Illusion and Scientific Diversions, Including Trick Photography. Introduction by Henry Ridgely Evans. Appendix of additional tricks. Bibliography. Index.
XII + 556 Seiten mit 446 Illustrationen, Paperback im Format 13,5 x 21,5 cm.
