The magician explains that he has six playing cards on which are printed the titles of six popular songs. The cards are shuffled and a member of the audience takes one and looks at the tune on it. Immediately the band starts playing that tune. Davenports publicity for the trick tells us that it has been presented by Robert Harbin at the Savoy Hotel with Geraldo’s Band and was a great success. Complete with instructions.
These 40 or so blocks look brand new and it is clear they have not been used to print anything. It seems they must be spare blocks, in case they were needed during the print-run of the book. The images shown here include the halftone blocks for Robert Harbin and Charles Bertram. There is also a PDF which lists all of the magicians included on these blocks and explains how the pages of illustrations were printed.
What was Lewis like as a person? John Davenport paints a picture of his grandfather.
The printer’s date is 28 November 1932.
The bill for this Magic Circle show included Gus Davenport with his sister Wyn in a “Shady Act”. The act made use of George Sylvestre’s sunshade act, which the Davenport family had purchased, along with some other tricks.
The bill includes Robert Harbin.
The Gala Week was from 27 March 1933 to 1 April 1933. This poster is in the Paul Kieve Collection. We are grateful for his permission in 2019 to display it on this website.
The bill includes Robert Harbin and Jasper Maskelyne. Other magicians on the bill include Francis Watts, although his name is incorrectly printed as Frances Watts.
The photographs are of Arthur Margery, Herbert Milton, HRH Princess Mary at Milton’s performance, Robert Harbin, John Mulholland, Arnold Crowther and Leslie Wilson. The artwork appears in the book next to page 37.
This double sided poster gives an outline of all performers in the two series of The Best of Magic, produced by John Fisher for Thames TV. Published by Marvin’s Magic.