Willard: A Life Under Canvas

Here is the untold true story of the Willard family and the four men who toured rural America as Willard the Wizard. Besides scouring old magazines, newspapers, letters, scrapbooks and photographs, author David Charvet had the full cooperation of Eugene, Madeline and Frances Willard who grew up backstage on the Willard the Wizard show. Here [...]

MAGIC, 1400s – 1950s

This book celebrates more than 500 years of the dazzling visual culture of the world’s greatest magicians. Featuring more than 1,000 rarely seen vintage posters, photographs, handbills, engravings and paintings, this 650-page volume traces the history of magic as a performing art from the 1400s to the 1950s. Combining sensational images with lucid and incisive [...]

Erdnase: Bible Edition

Chung Ling Soo would call it a Gift from the Gods. The Professor would say it is heaven sent. After 105 years, your prayers have finally been answered. The Conjuring Arts Research Center is proud to announce the publication of a brand new edition of S.W. Erdnase’s landmark 1902 book The Expert at the Card [...]

When in Doubt – Ask Alexander

The following article, written by Mike Caveney, first appeared in the Conjuring Arts Bulletin: Vol.1, No.2 During the first couple of decades of the twentieth century “ask Alexander” meant drop a question (along with a dollar bill) into an envelope and send it to 239 South Oxford Avenue in Los Angeles. By return mail your question [...]