#Jim Steinmeyer

[scottwellsmagic]

748: Alex Ramon - Part Two - Cold Shock

Cold Shock is an actual physical response that often results in death. It is a series of neurogenic cardio-respiratory responses caused by sudden immersion in cold water. In cold water immersions, such as by falling through thin ice, people will often quickly inhale which results in drowning by inhaling water.

We pick up this week with the second and final episode of our series with Alex Ramon where he talks about his “brush with death” by performing a live, online underwater escape from Lake Tahoe. He goes through his entire mindset from start to end and discusses all the many, many hurdles he had to overcome to do this extreme stunt.

Alex talks about not only his preparation for this stunt, but the many stories leading up to why he did this stunt and his daily training to drop in under freezing water. Imagine your fingers going numb so fast that you can hardly feel the lock pick in your hand to unlock the lock. Alex also gives additional advice on how to work with your fan base to increase your bottom line then talks about his future plans.

Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Stitcher by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here..If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

[andrewlloydwebber]

okay so the three "major" disney produced productions of beauty and the beast... essentially all have the same creative team plus or minus a few people. rob roth directed the first 2 major productions, while matt west has choreographed all 3 and took over as director for the newest version. ann hould-ward designed all the costumes, stanley meyer designed all the sets, natasha katz is always the lighting designer, same with hair and makeup (david h lawrence) and illusions (jim steinmeyer). so basically, the same people have come together 3 times now to completely redesign the show.

disney theatrical is pretty much creatively bankrupt, much like its parent company. they would NEVER produce anything like the lion king musical today, despite the fact that taking bold risks like that is the reason it's made them a billion plus dollars and become the most successful theatrical event of all time or something. please look at frozen the musical for an example. these cut and paste, cookie cutter adaptations (but with added padding songs that don't go anywhere) are just so disappointing. hercules at least looks visually stunning but i'll hold my breath on the libretto being any good.

wouldn't it be nice to create an entirely new production of beauty and the beast instead of a rehash? why not give bring in some fresh blood, some new creative energy. why does the library have to be a projection? what's with the faux feminism where they say "belle doesn't wear an apron because she's not serving anyone"? can anyone explain why cogsworth now has blue hair? please help me

[popculturelib]

Haunted States of America: Ohio

Ghost Hunter's Guide to Haunted Ohio (2000) by Chris Woodyard

You may recognize this author's name from our introductory post to this series: Chris Woodyard, from whose Invisible Ink Collection most of these books come. Woodyard is the author of the popular Haunted Ohio series, as well as a variety of history books about death and death culture in the Victorian era. She describes herself as a Fortean, named after Charles Fort, an American researcher known for his interest in anomalies and skepticism in the scientific method as the source of all knowledge of the universe. For more about Woodyard, visit her website at http://hauntedohiobooks.com/.

Ghost Hunter's Guide to Haunted Ohio focuses on haunted places in the state that are accessible to the public, such as Mansfield's Ohio State Reformatory, the Golden Lamb Restaurant & Hotel in Lebanon, OH, and the Taft Museum of Art in Cincinnati.

Our collection has the first four Haunted Ohio books (I, II, III, IV) by Woodyard, as well as her Spooky Ohio: 13 Traditional Tales (1995). For books about ghosts in Ohio by other writers, check out:

Ohio Ghost Stories (1993) by Shelley Pearsall

Tristate Terrors: Famous, Historic, Female Ghosts of Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky (1996) compiled by Anne Oscard

Ghost Stories of Ohio (2001) by Edrick Thay

If you would like to know more about Charles Fort and Forteans, we have the books:

The Complete Books of Charles Fort (1974) introduction by Damon Knight

The Fortean Times Book of Close Shaves and Amazing Luck (1999) compiled by Steve Moore

Charles Fort: The Man Who Invented the Supernatural (2008) by Jim Steinmeyer

as well as multiple magazines and fanzines:

Doubt: The Fortean Society Magazine (1970s-)

Fortean Times (1976-)

INFO (1970s-) by the International Fortean Organization

The Browne Popular Culture Library (BPCL), founded in 1969, is the most comprehensive archive of its kind in the United States.  Our focus and mission is to acquire and preserve research materials on American Popular Culture (post 1876) for curricular and research use. Visit our website at https://www.bgsu.edu/library/pcl.html.

[mahdithemagician]

A Real Magic Love Spell

MAGICIAN USES REAL MAGIC LOVE SPELL

I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU.

I first heard about Howard Thurston's mantra from Jim Steinmeyer and became obsessed with it. What did he say? Why did he say it?

Audley Dunham met Howard Thurston and in his youthful enthusiasm, asked Thurston,

"When the curtain rises and the music stops and you raise your arms halfway—you say not a word and you look up at the gallery, then the balcony, then the main floor and you look like you're going to say something, but you don't till you start the show."

Thurston interrupted Dunham and said,

"Oh my boy, I DO say something. From the gallery to the main floor I am saying across the footlights,

'I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU.'

I am sending my love across the footlights each and every show I do."

Excerpt from Conjurors and Cornfields: Magic on the Indianapolis Stage By Thomas A. Ewing

Howard Thurston was one of the famous and successful performers alive in his day. Very few people remember him today yet there is an ongoing debate in the magic world whether he was as famous or even more famous than Harry Houdini when they were both alive.

WHY WAS THE FIRST THING

HE DID WHEN HE CAME OUT ON STAGE SOMETHING THAT NO ONE IN THE AUDIENCE KNEW ABOUT OR EVER REALIZED?

WHY DID HE TELL PEOPLE WHO WOULD NEVER HEAR HIM THAT HE LOVED THEM?

Let's see what people who knew him had to say...

"I have stood in the wings many times as he began his performance. When he appears on the stage, the music is playing loudly. Quickly, and seemingly from nowhere, Thurston produces huge, dripping fish-bowls, bouquets of flowers, and ducks that quack and flap their wings. Dur-ing this first assault upon the attention of the crowd, Thurston is looking smilingly across the footlights and saying

"I LOVE YOU ALL — EVERY ONE OF YOU."

No one out front hears him, but he has a theory that the emotion which he evokes in himself spills out over the orchestra pit and establishes an instantaneous entente cordiale. It sounds sentimental, but Thurston's box-office receipts are quite realistic."

Excerpt from Illustrated Magic By Ottokar Fischer

ACCORDING TO OTTOKAR FISCHER THE REASON WHY THURSTON WHISPERED INAUDIBLY, IS THAT IT

SOMEHOW

HAD AN EFFECT ON HIS AUDIENCE.

"Dad would stand in the wings as our overture was being played by the orchestra, jump up and down to "rev" up his psyche, and quietly tell his waiting audience,

"I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU!"

Then he'd stride joyously onstage to stand in the spotlight exuding that love...

AND HIS AUDIENCE LOVED HIM RIGHT BACK!

IT

NEVER

FAILED HIM."

Jane Thurston (his daughter) in M-U-M

HE NOT ONLY DID THIS ONSTAGE BUT ALSO

BEHIND THE CURTAIN

WITH

THE SAME EFFECT!

Thurston's daughter, Jane believed that the audience could

FEEL

THE LOVE

RESONATING

FROM HOWARD

AND THAT THEY RESPONDED BY

LOVING HIM BACK!

"Many people recalled his graciousness on stage; he was, after all, famous for standing behind the curtain, just before each performance, whispering over-and-over, "I love you" to his audience, an effort to express his affection, drawing them in from the first moments of his show."

Jim Steinmeyer in Genii

He stood behind the curtain during each overture, hidden from the audience but whispering to them his pre-show mantra, "I love you all.... I love you all...." He realized that his success was expressing that love on the stage.

Jim Steinmeyer in Hiding the Elephant

WHAT WAS HAPPENING HERE?

HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?

In a presentation by Jim Steinmeyer at the 75th Anniversary Genii Bash, Jim recounts this story about Howard Thurston but goes into more detail.

HOWARD WOULD NOT ONLY SAY THAT HE LOVED THEM BUT EXPLAIN TO HIMSELF WHY HE LOVED THEM.

I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU.

I LOVE YOU FOR COMING TO MY SHOW THIS EVENING OR I WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE A SHOW.

I LOVE YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO DO WHAT I LOVE TO DO FOR A LIVING.

I LOVE YOU FOR LETTING ME TRAVEL THE WORLD AND MAKE MY OWN DREAMS COME TRUE.

THURSTON WOULD FIND REASONS TO LOVE HIS AUDIENCE

AND

EXPRESS THEM.

DURING MY RESEARCH INTO THURSTON I STUMBLED UPON HIS PRESENTATION FOR THE LEVITATION OF PRINCESS KARNAC WHICH SHED SOME LIGHT ON ALL OF THIS...

THE EFFECT IS SIMPLE. THURSTON COVERS THE PRINCESS WITH A CLOTH AND MAGICALLY MAKES THE HER FLOAT. AT THE HEIGHT OF DRAMATIC TENSION HE PULLS QUICKLY AT THE CLOTH TO SHOW THAT SHE HAS VANISHED IN MID-AIR.

Here is a short partial video of Thurston performing this effect from the 1930s.

Thurston's presentation of the Levitation is one of magicdom's all-time highspots.

SETTLE BACK AND VISUALIZE THURSTON WALKING TO THE FOOTLIGHTS.

"On the seventh day of the seventh month in Allahabad, in Agra and Delhi, a High Priest in the Temples of Love places a young lady in the air just as I shall place this young lady in the air. Then lovers, lovers from all over the country who are not satisfied with their love affairs, who would like some mystic spell cast over the one they love or the one who loves them, gather into these temples for the blessings of the High Priests.

"We have brought with us from Allahabad, by special arrangement with the British Government, a High Priest from the Temples of Love. Hitherow, Abdul, Hitherow.

(Abdul enters from second left entrance.)

"Speak, Abdul, speak as you spoke in the Temples of Love in Allahabad, and around you and this young lady I cast the mystic spell. Speak.

(Abdul makes a speech and kneels down.)

"Rise, Fernanda, rise.

In the name of the Yogi and the wise men of the Orient, I command you to rise.

Safely, securely, rise Fernanda. Rise,

(Abdul makes short speech. I walk under Fernanda and pointing to her say—)

"Rest, Fernanda, rest. With nothing above, nothing below, rest.

(Then usual talk on Levitation, passing hoop around and then out to the audience.)

"For more than ten years I have presented this marvel in public and I have learned that a great many people believe that the young lady is held in place by means of wires, that wires are holding her up there, or that electromagnets are holding her or that she is a dummy figure inflated.

None of that is true.

This is such a strange weird wonderful affair and I am so anxious to convince you that she actually floats in space without any support that this evening I shall ask on the stage a number of ladies and gentlemen.

Anyone may come.

Lawyers, doctors, scientists,students, those interested in the occult or mysterious. Come right down the aisle and on the stage. Come as quietly as you can please. Start right away for in a few moments there will be so many coming, you can't come.

(Committee on Stage.)

"Now if I can convince these gentle-men that this young lady actually floats in space with nothing above and nothing below, that she rests in air like a balloon, does it not resemble a miracle? I ask you? If we drop a feather from our fingers no known power will prevent that feather from eventually coming to the ground.

This young lady weighs more than a hundred pounds and she could remain there as long as the mystic spell is over her.

"Now, if I can do one wonderful thing, why not another? I say this for the reason that the old High Priest in Allahabad with whom I spent three years in study in the mountains, said to me

'THURSTON SAHIB, THURSTON SAHIB,

KEEP IT A SECRET FOR TEN YEARS AND REMAIN TRUE TO THE FAITH, MIND, I SAY TRUE TO THE FAITH

AND YOU SHALL HAVE THE SURAKABAJA BLESSING!

SURAKABAJA MEANS,

AMONG OTHER THINGS,

THAT THOSE WHO LOVE SHALL BE LOVED.

THAT ANY ONE TOUCHING THE MYSTIC RING PLACED ON THE FINGER OF THE YOUNG LADY BY THE OLD HIGH PRIEST IN ALLAHABAD

AND MENTIONING THE NAME OF THE ONE THEY LOVE

AND SAYING 'I LOVE YOU'

AS I SAY SURAKABAJA THREE TIMES,

AND THAT PERSON WILL LOVE YOU AND YOU WILL LOVE THEM AS LONG AS YOU LIVE.

IT IS TRUE IN INDIA, TRUE HERE.

"Give me your hand, sir

(Man walks to me)

What is the name, the first name of the young lady you love? Don't laugh. We are all in love, everyone of us, whether we love our wives, our husbands or our sweethearts. Come sir, what is her first name? Alice.

The young man will step forward, touch the mystic ring, raise his right hand and say 'Alice, I love you' as I say Surakabaja three times and Alice will love him and they will love each other as long as they live. True in India, true here.

(Lead man to the ring.)

"The ring, sir, placed on her finger by the old High Priest in Allahabad. The ring of love, the ring of life, the ring of luck, the ring of health. Touch it gently. Touch it. Now place your hand above her, below her. Raise your right hand in the air. I want you to walk around her. Look up, look below, look everywhere. Now face the audience, raise your right hand in the air and say as loud as you can 'Alice, I love you' as I say Surakabaja, Surakabaja, Surakabaja. Give my regards to Alice.

(Man takes his position at side of stage).

"Now this concerns everyone in the audience, so hear what I say. As the next person touches the ring, raises his right hand in the air and mentions the name of the one they love and says I love you, then everyone in the audience who are in love, and we are all in love, every one of us whether we love our wifes, our husbands or our sweethearts, mention earnestly the name of the one they love and they just say to themselves 'I love you' then that person will love you and you will love them as long as you live. True in India, true here. Give me your hand sir,

(Repeat the action of the first man with the second.)

(When man raises his hand in the air I say)

Hear me, hear me,each of you, I bring to you now the love blessing from India. Now is the chance to cause the one you love to love you. Seal your love for eternity by mentioning the name of the one you love, when I say Surakabaja, Surakabaja, Surakabaja

(Man takes his place)

"Now if you gentlemen have any idea or explanation as to how the young lady is kept in space, I ask you to explain it to the audience, and if you would like to examine it further you may do so, I say this with the knowledge that you cannot, not unless you have lived in India and understand the Yogi philosophy.

(Have the committee walk to left side of stage and say—)

Abdul, Abdul, Hitherow. Speak. Abdul speaks and gives your love blessing to all those who have gazed upon this wonderful sight.

(Girl is lowered and brought to life while Abdul speaks. Girl remains on stage and I say—)

"For more than twenty years I have searched this world in every civilized country and most uncivilized countries looking for mystery for I have learned by experience that the American public demands of a magician mystery bordering on the supernatural. We have searched diligently. Been blessed by the old High Priest in Allahabad and now, ladies and gentlemen, comes the hour of my ambition, to present to you a miracle or what resembles a miracle right in the center of this stage surrounded by these gentlemen on all sides and challenge them to discover any deception.

"Allow me to present Fernanda. Many of you have read of Fernanda. She has been the subject of the discussion in scientific circles for several years. No one knows the secret. Born of Italian parents, raised in the Temples of Love in India and the only white woman ever permitted to leave those temples with a knowledge of the Yogi power. Come, Fernanda, Come.

"Rest Fernanda. Dream Fernanda. Sleep Fernanda. Dream of the banks of the Ganges. Of the wise men of the Orient. Rest, Fernanda.

(Try to put her to sleep. Step behind her expecting her to fall. She stands still. Shake her gently by the shoulder. She looks in the audience and nods her head.)

A very sensitive young lady. A wonderful psyche. She can scent your very mental conditions. She says there is a disturbing influence in the audience. Someone is thinking to themselves and probably saying, 'That's one of Thurston's tricks. Nothing supernatural about that". We don't ask you to believe there is anything supernatural about it. We would be amazed if you did. But there is something mighty strange and mysterious about it and I want you to watch carefully and closely.

(Bring two men from committee and stand them in front of Fernanda)

Now gentlemen I ask you to watch carefully and closely. Try to discover, if you can, anything that looks like deception or illusion and if you do, raise your right hand and stop the performance and I'll give you $1,000 and I'm going to present a miracle right in the center of the stage.

Fernanda sleep, sleep Fernanda. By the power of my right hand, I command you to rest and sleep.

(Fernanda falls back, caught by two assistants)

"Rest Fernanda. Dream of the banks of the Ganges, and sleep Fernanda, sleep. Watch Fernanda's face, gentle-men, watch her face. Rest Fernanda, rest. While your spirit flies out over the mountains and seas back to the Temples of Love in India. Dream of the banks of the Ganges, of the wise men of the Orient. Rest. Rest

Give me your hand, sir. I want you to see that she is breathing naturally. Careful, don't disturb her. She is half dead, half alive. Gentlemen, I want you to form a human circle around the young lady. Take hold of one another's hands and walk right around coming a complete circle.

(I go in the circle and say—)

Now gentlemen, whatever may happen to you... whatever you may see or feel or hear, I ask you in the name of the High Priest, and for your own safety and the safety of the young lady hold tightly to each other's hands and do not break the mystic circle and watch, watch.

In all our lives from our childhood, there are certain events that stand out in our minds that we cannot forget. I am to show you something now, ladies and gentlemen, that you will remember as long as you live. If anyone should describe to you and tell you what you have seen here this evening unless you had seen it with your own eye, you could not believe it. For it cannot be performed except in the mystic circle. Join the mystic circle.

(I place the hands of the men together and step inside of the circle and say—)

Now, gentlemen, hear me while I talk. You are all strangers to me and I want you to watch carefully and closely and learn if you can, something of the strange power that surrounds this stage. See what becomes of the young lady. Watch, watch, I say, and if you discover any secret I will give you one thousand dollars. You, sir, at her head, and you at her feet, and you in the circle. Look up, look below, look everywhere. Behold a miracle.

Surakabaja, Surakabaja, Abdul, Fernanda, Allah, Allah, GO!

Edited Excerpt from Hugard's Magic Monthly

AS SOON AS I READ THIS PRESENTATION I REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THE RITUAL THURSTON IS EXPLAINING IN THE LEVITATION OF THE PRINCESS KARNAC IS NOT JUST A PRESENTATION TO HIM.

IT IS HIS LIFE!

SURAKABAJA IS NOT GIBBERISH, IT IS A MAGIC WORD.

THE SPELL HE IS TRYING TO CAST IS REAL.

AND HE BELIEVES IN IT'S POWER.

HE REPEATS THE MAGIC WORDS,

I LOVE YOU,

I LOVE YOU,

I LOVE YOU,

THREE TIMES.

JUST LIKE IN THE HIS STORY. HE BELIEVES THAT THE WORDS HAVE POWER. IT IS SOMETHING THAT HE BELIEVES SO PASSIONATELY IN THAT HE ACTS IT OUT, REAL-LIFE IMITATING FICTION EVERY NIGHT, TRYING TO CAST A SPELL OVER HIS AUDIENCE.

IN HIS SHOW, THE WORDS ARE A FALSE EXPLANATION OF THE MAGICAL EFFECT WHILE IN REALITY THEY ARE THE SECRET TO HIS SUCCESS AND HIS MAGIC.

THE MAGIC WORDS WORK...

ALL BECAUSE HE BELIEVED, PRACTICED THEM IN SECRET, AND REMAINED FAITHFUL TO THEM...

THE SPELL HAD BEEN CAST...

MAGIC IS REAL.

NOW MY FRIENDS, IF YOU EVER SEE ME OFF TO A DISTANCE AND MY LIPS ARE MOVING, KNOW THAT I'M NOT WHISPERING "SURAKABAJA, SURAKABAJA, SURAKABAJA" BUT "I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU" IN THE HOPES THAT YOU'LL LOVE ME TOO.

[rafaelgmagic]

Dos magos que no conoces

En estas semanas, terminé de leer un libro sobre el mago Howard Thurston escrito por Jim Steinmeyer. Puede que no conozcas el nombre de estas dos personas y te sorprendería el hecho que no lo supieras. De eso se trata, de mostrarles cómo el mundo de la magia llega a ser tan amplio a partir de estos dos nombres. Howard Thurston era, en su época, el mago más conocido en los Estados Unidos. Su acto…

[simsalabim62]

Windshear Martin original version

Windshear illusion, as designed by Jim Steinmeyer and Alan Wakeling, and expertly built by Bill Smith Magic Ventures in Las Vegas,

La mente creativa di ogni illusionista ha sempre cercato di  creare  l' impossibile ....un corpo solido che: non solo attraversa un altro corpo solido....ma addirittura  lo fa, attraversando le pale alari elicoidali , di un gigantesco ventilatore industriale.....la versione che vedete in foto èritenuta unanimamente la Cadillac di ogni tipo di effetto che faccia attraversare la materia attraverso la materia......#BILL SMITH MAGIC VENTURES - Las Vegas#VENTILATORE#conclea#MagicMartin

[travsd]

The Glorious Deception: The Double Life of William Robinson a.k.a Chung Ling Soo

Today being the birthday of magician William Ellsworth Robinson a.a. Chung Ling Soo (1861-1918) whom we first wrote about here. Seems a fitting time for a little plug for Jim Steinmeyer’s 2005 book The Glorious Deception: The Double Life Life of William Robinson, a.k.a Chung Ling Soo, the “Marvelous Chinese Conjurer” — a Christmas present from my wife, which I’ve held off on reading for this…

[bigtickhk]

The Secret History of Magic: The True Story of the Deceptive Art by Peter Lamont and Jim Steinmeyer https://amzn.to/2LvGtbp

[books-in-media]

Selena Gomez, (Instagram, March 22, 2021)

—Magic: 1400s–1950s, Noel Daniel (Editor), Mike Caveney, Ricky Jay, Jim Steinmeyer (2009)

—In The Spirit Of Beverly Hills, Nancie Clare (2013)

[otc-dramaturgy]

Magic is a collection of tiny lies, in words and deeds, that are stacked and arranged ingeniously to form the battlement for an illusion. It’s a delicate battle of wits—an audience that welcomes being deceived, then dares to be fooled, alternately questioning, prodding, and surrendering.

Jim Steinmeyer, Hiding the Elephant (1958)

[scottwellsmagic]

747: Alex Ramon - Part One

Alex Ramon has been performing in Lake Tahoe, California for over a decade with a residency where he has headlined in every local casino showroom. There is no one better who fits the title of “Mr. Tahoe” having been seen by hundreds of thousands of people who visit this vacation destination all year long. He also found success performing virtual shows during COVID which he still performs today. But he has developed a unique model of “touring” by performing consecutive nights in different locations across the U.S. in venues from theaters to people’s driveways and garages. All of this promotes his brand and results in big financial success.

In this first of a two part series featuring Alex Ramon, he talks about building a fan base, why not to offer “free” shows, plus how he successfully pivoted during COVID to earn six figures in one year by performing Zoom shows. He goes into some detail, too, about how he developed a touring structure that he can make serious income by having his shows sponsored by the fan base he developed.

Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Stitcher by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here..If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

One of the books recommended by Alex Ramon in this week's episode.

How to build your fanbase. This was another book discussed in this week's episode.

[romanticizingmurder]

So I took a class on Dracula in college and I think you all would like to know that Bram was so obsessed with his theater director friend that upon receiving a photo of the friend he wrote a letter saying it made him weep and had "unmanned him",

(Source: Who Was Dracula? By Jim Steinmeyer)

[silelda]

[He] now appreciates the difference between knowing how a trick is done and knowing how to do it."

David Devant (1868--1941)

Src: Hiding the Elephant: How magicians invented the impossible and learned to disappear by Jim Steinmeyer

[jimrmoore]

The Secret’s Out: Authors’ Deception Undoes New Magic History Book

The Secret’s Out: Authors’ Deception Undoes New Magic History Book

!!! A Vaudevisuals Magic Exclusive Expose !!!

 Exclusive Expose By Frank Joglar, Jr.

When does the history of sleight-of-hand begin? “If you read a standard history of magic you learn that it began in ancient Egyptwith the resurrection of a goose in front of the Pharaoh… the history of magic is full of such stories which turn out not to be true,” state authors Peter Lamont and Jim Steinmeyer in…

[gayhistoryarchive-blog]

"The Marquess of Queensberry planned to ruin the opening of Wilde's fourth comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest, on February 14, 1895. He would wait until Wilde was called to the stage at the conclusion, then stand in the audience and denounce him as a dangerous, immoral man, hurling a bouquet of rotting vegetables. Bosie heard about the plan, and Wilde alerted the police. The marquess, and his bouquet, were denied entrance."

— The Marquess of Queensberry's original plan for outing Oscar Wilde. (Source: Jim Steinmeyer, Who Was Dracula? Bram Stoker's Trail of Blood)