FOREWORD
Theo Hardeen
My brother Houdini and I knew Jean Hugard before the turn of the century. We worked on bills together all over the world. We knew and respected him as a man and as a performer, and I am very happy I was asked to write the Foreword of this book. While Mr. Hugard as a performer specialized in Chinese magic and Oriental effects, as an individual, off stage, he experimented with every branch of magic.
Famous magicians all over the world gave him their secrets knowing that he would respect the confidence in which they were imparted. Now that all of the old famous magicians such as Houdini, Kellar, Hermann, Thurston, and Powell have passed on, Mr. Hugard felt free to release some of their secrets.
As the last of the illusionists of the “Old School,” although I believe that I am more modern than many of the younger magicians before the public today, I am glad to say for myself and my fellow-conjurers that Jean Hugard is the one man capable of having written this book for the present generation of magicians—and for the generations to come.
I have been playing on Broadway with Olsen & Johnson in “Hellz-A-Poppin” for many months, and during the stretches between my performances, I have read Mr. Hugard’s manuscript. Every effect in it is a good one, workable under any and all circumstances if you rehearse sufficiently. I am glad that Mr. Hugard was willing to write a book that the public could read because in the past he confined himself only to writing for magicians.
There have been no standard textbooks of magic for magicians since those written by “Prof. Hoffman” in the 1890’s. These books are still being printed and reprinted but this book by Mr. Hugard brings up to date magic and illusions so that those now interested magic can learn how to take the place of “us old timers,” who are rapidly nearing the time when the Supreme Magician will call us, and the Final Curtain must fall.
I suggest that you carefully read the Introduction by my old and dear friend, Julien J. Proskauer, who succeeded to the Presidency of the Society of American Magicians after Houdini, Thurston, and I had served our terms. Although Mr. Proskauer is an amateur, he is one of the foremost magicians of today. He is the only magician in the world I taught to do the famous Houdini Milk Can Escape, the secret of which he and I will carry to our graves. If one amateur can succeed in that fashion, so can you.
In magic, amateur and professional alike meet on a common ground, that of love of an Ancient and Honorable Art. To one and all I send greetings and best wishes with the hope that in this book you will find just the type of magic that you can do best. Good luck!
Winter Garden Theatre
New York.
Website Content: © Copyright 2024 by Trickshop.com.