Extending Magic Beyond Credibility (J. Booth) (John Booth)

His thirteenth (and possibly best) book on magic, looks back on his more than 70 years of experience with the conjuring arts and considers some of its most enduring mysteries, intriguing questions and fascinating personalities.

From legendary effects such as Robert-Houdin's Light & Heavy Chest and the Indian Rope Trick to the origins of dove magic, ventriloquism and automata, Extending Magic Beyond Credibility has the famous Booth blend of secrets, biography, philosophy and romantic history.

Whether you're a student of magic history or simply one fascinated with the art and its many facets, you'll find Extending Magic Beyond Credibility is more than just a book of magic history.
It's a captivating read you'll find difficult to put down, written by a man who not only knows his subject... but who lived it as well.

Contents:

• WAKE UP MAGIC!

1 Magic that jolts audiences: Richiardi Jr
2 Kevin James: Master of shock magic
3 Todd Robbins: The sideshow world
4 Silveser the Jester: The Self-mayhem principle


• HARRY HOUDINI AND MAX MALINI

5 Revelations about "Houdini's Hollywood Estate"
6 Malini and his violin


• FOUR BRIEF PIECES TO PONDER OR ENJOY

7 Aloha: final tribute to Dai Vernon
8 Do morality or ideology affect art in magic?
9 That FATAL signet ring: a short short story
10 Book reviews


• BRILLIANT MAGIC WITH BEAUTIFUL BIRDS

11 centuries of developùent unfolded
12 Thurston: a truly great magician
13 Magic's most famous waltz: the zenda
14 Memorable music for master magicians


• AVERTING CATASTROPHE: MAGIC AND POLITICS

15 The legendary Rober Houdini light and heavy chest examined


• FASCINATING OPPORTUNITIES IN VENTRILOQUISM

16 Ventriloquial stunts: from pactolus to today
17 The illusion of voice throwing
18 Dolls that smoke: bodiless heads that talk
19 New era ventriloquism: the hamills


• THE PUPPET BRANCH OF WIZARDRY

20 Puppetry accross the spectrum
21 The duck that made John Salisse famous
22 His left hand is his fortune


• AUTOMATA

23 Machines that "think" and perform like humans and birds


• THE GREAT INDIAN ROPE TRICK

24 When, where and how the reports began
25 My experiences in India and Tibet searching for a rope miracle
26 Illusionists who have attempted to do it
27 The last word: myth or reality?

Language: English, Hardcover book with 272 illustrated pages.