John Nicholls Booth (7 August 1912 – 11 November 2009) was an American professional magician and prolific author on the history of magic performance. He was recognized for his work, and is also known for having the longest running membership in the International Brotherhood of Magicians.
Booth was born in Los Alamitos, California in 1912. His interest in magic began at age 10 with a magic set, and began performing semi-professionally at age 15.[3] In 1928, Booth joined the International Brotherhood of Magicians and began publishing a serial column on magic history called "Memoirs of a Magician's Ghost" in their publication, The Linking Ring.[2]
In 1934, Booth completed his college education at McMaster University and focused on magic performance as his profession. He began doing performances in high schools, but eventually was able to perform for nightclubs and hotel shows. Around this time, Booth began to write his first two books, Forging Ahead in Magic and Marvels of Mystery, which had later become classic reference works for magicians.[2]
Later, Booth stopped doing show performances and left to become an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister in 1942.[3] From personal accounts, Booth reported that he had been interested in becoming a minister, but was reluctant to begin seminary due to concerns about his own temperament. He said, "Finally, in 1940, my misgivings evaporated. I closed a two week engagement as a magician in the Schroeder Hotel in Milwaukee (now the Hilton) and went directly to the Meadville Theological School now located in Chicago, the seminary of my father 30 years earlier."[2] He spent over 30 years as a minister in the Universalist Unitarian Church.
In 1986, Booth published the book Psychic Paradoxes. The book debunked the tricks of fraudulent mediums and psychics and was published by Prometheus Books.
Afterwards, Booth incorporated magic topics into personal lectures and produced historical documentaries on magic, and retired at the age of 88.[2] Booth died at age 97 in 2009.[2]
Legacy
Booth is noted to be experienced as a nightclub magician who performed at premier hotels and venues,[2] but his enduring contributions to magic were as a magic historian, as he documented magic performance through his own travels and experiences.[4] He was purported to be one of the first to create documentaries for presentations and lectures on magic.[5] One such account was about finding a genuine performance of the Indian rope trick, where he attempted to find a performer by paying for newspaper advertisements, but was ultimately unsuccessful at finding a true performance.[5]
Marvels of Mystery: A Professional Magician's Textbook of Conjuring Masterpieces (1941)
Fabulous Destinations (1950)
The John Booth Classics (1975)
Psychic Paradoxes (1986)
Dramatic Magic (1988)
Wonders of Magic: A Veteran Magician's Book of Original Tricks, Concepts, Pictures, Memoirs, and Conjuring History (1986)
Extending Magic Beyond Credibility (2001)
Awards
In 1937, early in his career, Booth was given the Sphinx Award in category of Professional Magician from the magazine The Sphinx.[7] The award was given for his notable "Can You Tie It?" effect submitted to and published in an earlier issue of the magazine, and noted its novelty and the subtlety of its methodology.[7] Booth was awarded with the "John Nevil Maskelyne Prize" by The Magic Circle in 1987 for his literary contributions to magic performance.[8] He was also honored by being added to the Society of American Magicians' Hall of Fame.[9]
References
^Mulholland, John (1931). "The Sphinx". 30 (1). Society of American Magicians: 2. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^ abcdefgWarren, Bobby. . International Brotherhood of Magicians. Archived from the original on 26 June 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
^ abWhaley, Barton (1990). Who's who in Magic: An International Biographical Guide from Past to Present. Jeff Busby Magic, Incorporated.
^Coleman, Earle J. (1987). Magic : a reference guide. New York: Greenwood Press. p. 165. ISBN0313233977.
^ abSmith, Bruce (2000). Great Rope & Ring Tricks. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. p. 107. ISBN0806971797.
^Booth, John (January 1931). "Booth's perfected die tube mystery". Linking Ring. 10 (11): 1400.
^ abMulholland, John (1937). "The Winners for 1937 of The Sphinx Award". The Sphinx. Society of American Magicians. p. 7.
^Dawes, Edwin; Michael Bailey (2005). Circle Without End the Magic Circle 1905. Jeremy Mills Publishing. ISBN0954648498.
^"Society of American Magicians Hall of Fame and Magic Museum". Society of American Magicians. 3 November 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
May 04, 2023
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John Nicholls Booth 7 August 1912 11 November 2009 was an American professional magician and prolific author on the history of magic performance He was recognized for his work and is also known for having the longest running membership in the International Brotherhood of Magicians John BoothJohn Booth pictured in Marvels of Mystery pulling a rabbit out of a hat BornJohn Nicholls Booth7 August 1912Meadville Pennsylvania 1 Died11 November 2009 2009 11 12 aged 97 Los Alamitos California 2 Resting placeLakeside Cemetery Colon MichiganKnown forMagician author lecturer Contents 1 Biography 2 Legacy 3 Publications 4 Awards 5 ReferencesBiography EditBooth was born in Los Alamitos California in 1912 His interest in magic began at age 10 with a magic set and began performing semi professionally at age 15 3 In 1928 Booth joined the International Brotherhood of Magicians and began publishing a serial column on magic history called Memoirs of a Magician s Ghost in their publication The Linking Ring 2 In 1934 Booth completed his college education at McMaster University and focused on magic performance as his profession He began doing performances in high schools but eventually was able to perform for nightclubs and hotel shows Around this time Booth began to write his first two books Forging Ahead in Magic and Marvels of Mystery which had later become classic reference works for magicians 2 Later Booth stopped doing show performances and left to become an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister in 1942 3 From personal accounts Booth reported that he had been interested in becoming a minister but was reluctant to begin seminary due to concerns about his own temperament He said Finally in 1940 my misgivings evaporated I closed a two week engagement as a magician in the Schroeder Hotel in Milwaukee now the Hilton and went directly to the Meadville Theological School now located in Chicago the seminary of my father 30 years earlier 2 He spent over 30 years as a minister in the Universalist Unitarian Church In 1986 Booth published the book Psychic Paradoxes The book debunked the tricks of fraudulent mediums and psychics and was published by Prometheus Books Afterwards Booth incorporated magic topics into personal lectures and produced historical documentaries on magic and retired at the age of 88 2 Booth died at age 97 in 2009 2 Legacy EditBooth is noted to be experienced as a nightclub magician who performed at premier hotels and venues 2 but his enduring contributions to magic were as a magic historian as he documented magic performance through his own travels and experiences 4 He was purported to be one of the first to create documentaries for presentations and lectures on magic 5 One such account was about finding a genuine performance of the Indian rope trick where he attempted to find a performer by paying for newspaper advertisements but was ultimately unsuccessful at finding a true performance 5 Publications EditMagical Mentalism 1931 6 Forging Ahead in Magic 1939 Marvels of Mystery A Professional Magician s Textbook of Conjuring Masterpieces 1941 Fabulous Destinations 1950 The John Booth Classics 1975 Psychic Paradoxes 1986 Dramatic Magic 1988 Wonders of Magic A Veteran Magician s Book of Original Tricks Concepts Pictures Memoirs and Conjuring History 1986 Extending Magic Beyond Credibility 2001 Awards EditIn 1937 early in his career Booth was given the Sphinx Award in category of Professional Magician from the magazine The Sphinx 7 The award was given for his notable Can You Tie It effect submitted to and published in an earlier issue of the magazine and noted its novelty and the subtlety of its methodology 7 Booth was awarded with the John Nevil Maskelyne Prize by The Magic Circle in 1987 for his literary contributions to magic performance 8 He was also honored by being added to the Society of American Magicians Hall of Fame 9 References Edit Mulholland John 1931 The Sphinx 30 1 Society of American Magicians 2 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help a b c d e f g Warren Bobby Broken Wand John Booth International Brotherhood of Magicians Archived from the original on 26 June 2010 Retrieved 14 September 2013 a b Whaley Barton 1990 Who s who in Magic An International Biographical Guide from Past to Present Jeff Busby Magic Incorporated Coleman Earle J 1987 Magic a reference guide New York Greenwood Press p 165 ISBN 0313233977 a b Smith Bruce 2000 Great Rope amp Ring Tricks Sterling Publishing Company Inc p 107 ISBN 0806971797 Booth John January 1931 Booth s perfected die tube mystery Linking Ring 10 11 1400 a b Mulholland John 1937 The Winners for 1937 of The Sphinx Award The Sphinx Society of American Magicians p 7 Dawes Edwin Michael Bailey 2005 Circle Without End the Magic Circle 1905 Jeremy Mills Publishing ISBN 0954648498 Society of American Magicians Hall of Fame and Magic Museum Society of American Magicians 3 November 2011 Retrieved 14 September 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Booth magician amp oldid 1118879767, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
