Magicians of the past - British Pathé

Magicians Of The Past

Magicians.. I would advise viewing this collection the last film first. All film description are work of British Pathe. Here we have old footage of magicians from the past.. some we may have heard of some we haven't.. some footage has sound some doesn't.. There is footage of jugglers & ventriloquist..Circus performers..The great Marlow the mentalist, who buries his step daughter, in a grave, to see if she can still pick up on his thoughts.. Most film has a magic or magician connection..be it the name on the side of a boat. I know you will enjoy seeing the names.. that some of us may of heard of.. and never had the chance to enjoy.. have fun.. Please pass on your invite to this site.. to other magic fans and come back often. I thank each of you.. for making the hours spent putting these magic/performer clips.. all in one collection.. all worth while.. richard. (When you have watched your selection, use the back key in your browser to view more from my workspace.. or select to watch random choice of old footage, by clicking on a picture link below player..)

: How Magician Produces A Medium AKA How Fake Mediums Work (1929); Great story shows how a magician makes a person appear inside a trunk!

: The O'gorman Brothers (1932); The two comedians the O'Gorman Brothers provide comical entertainment.

: The Quickness Of The Hands (1929); Magic tricks are demonstrated by Giovanni a musician from the Piccadilly Cabaret.

: Can You Do These?; Magic tricks involving corks and string are demonstrated.

: The Shuffler (1931); Professor Collins demonstrates fancy shuffling and card tricks - some slow motion footage.

: That's How It's Done (1933); Magician Max Waldorf shows us some magic tricks.

: Ups And Downs (1932); Footage of clown the Three Bonos performing stunts and tricks.

: Cards Issue Title - The Play's The Thing! (1941); A good item about fortune telling with playing cards.

: Dance Doings (1933); Adagio dancers Gaston and Andree perform in the studio.

: The Derby (1962); Larkspur wins Derby, good sequence showing other entertainment on offer at Epsom Downs.

: Billy Bennett (1930); Comedian Billy Bennett does some tricks and tells jokes in the studio.

: Beaute De Femmes (1936); A sneak preview of the new revue at the Prince of Wales Theatre - chorus girls, magicians and tap dancing.

: The Mellotron (1965); Personalities Eric Robinson & David Nixon introduce us to the musical instrument the Mellotron, London.

: Howard De Courcy Issue Title All Set (1942); Illusionist Howard De Courcy does tricks with newspaper and rope to aid the salvage drive.

: Silhouette Artist (1946); American Silhouette artist cuts profile of a person in seconds.

: Silhouette Portraits (1946); Ex-G.I. Sebastian Ross from USA makes silhouette portraits.

: Woman Magician (1959); Magician Claudine Chandler at her home in Kent. Good quality throughout.

: Bird Virtuosos (1931); Trained birds perform various tricks.

: Performing Pigeons AKA Performance Pigeons (1936); A Northumberland man shows off his pigeon circus.

: The India Rubber Lady (1933); Dancer Hilda Heath demonstrating suppleness of her body.

: How Did They Do It? (1932); Early acrobatic act is updated with 1930s intertitles. Female contortionists.

: Strong Man; Various feats of strength are demonstrated by a French strong man.

: Tommy Cooper's Stamps (1960); Bizarre stamp-covered objects in the 'stamp room', owned by comedian Tommy Cooper, Chiswick.

: Chinese Dresses (1956); Chinese robes and accessories seen at the Balham home of magician Col Ling Soo (Herbert Collings).

: Illusions (1938); An item showing how the eye is affected by certain illusions.

: The Vanishing Lady (1897); Early trick film from Robert W. Paul - A statue comes to life and the sculptor falls in love with his creation.

: Diddling Issue Title Blitz And Pieces (1941); Item all about con artists, some good pieces performed by actors, one plays a spiv!

: Frenchman Is Buried Alive For 286 Hours (1956); Yva dug up, his face from above, helped out and carried away.

: Escape Stunt (1967); Steve Baker recreates escape stunt originally performed by Houdini.

: Meaney Back From Grave (1968); Mike Meaney brought to surface after 61 days spent inside coffin underground.

: Duke's Magic Lunch Date (1955); Comedian Tommy Cooper has as an assistant Prince Philip at Variety Club luncheon.

: Duke With 'variety' (1964); Prince Philip meets with members of the Variety Club at a lunch at the Savoy Hotel.

: The More You Look - The Less You See! (1926); The secret of a magic trick is shown to the viewer by the conjuror Percy Rossiter.

: Picette No. 5 - Chimps Champs & Chumps Record A (1948); Compilation of funny stories - performing chimps, making movies, flea circus, tightrope walking etc.

: Boy Clown (1962); A young boy learns the tricks of the trade as a circus clown apprentice.

: Buskers (1947); Accordion player accompanies two shabby men doing a turn to entertain theatre queue.

: Can You Do This?; Magic trick is demonstrated and secret revealed.

: Super Boy (1933); 8 year old boy does strongman stuff including balancing a motorcycle on his knees!

: The Human Ostrich! (1940); A man eats glass and razor blades, lies on a bed of nails and bends an iron bar with his teeth.

: The Elastic Dancer (1933); Funny india rubber man dance performed by "Le Danseur Elastique".

: Buskers Concert At Royal Albert Hall (1969); Buskers perform at a concert and outside a cinema.

: Picture Curiosities (1920); Compilation of stunt footage and "curiosities" - unusual people, Hollywood extras etc.

: The Great Fogel (1966); Illusionist Maurice Fogel hypnotises people for entertainment at Butlin's in Pwllheli.

: Striking Items From Pathe Sound Magazine Numbers 21 & 22 (1929); Lengthy item where Walter Lindrum demonstrates several billiard tricks and breaks.

: Skittle Wizardry! (1937); American skittles champion, Andy Varipapa, demonstrated trick bowling shots.

: Sidecar Boys Side-Car Boys (1955); Two ten years old boys ride a motorcycle and sidecar with fascinating skills - dangerous!

: Round The World With The Pictorial Cameraman On The "Empress Of Britain" (1933); Performing elephants are made to do all sorts of tricks in India.

: Howard De Courcy (1940); Conjurer Howard De Courcy does some tricks with hoops and half crowns.

: Balancing Bill (1930); Performing sea lions do some tricks.

: A Writing Phenomenon! (1935); 18-year-old John Bowd writes different things with both hands simultaneously.

: Trick Dogs (1956); John and Mary Holmes' dogs perform tricks with the help of some rabbits, ducks and goats.

: Table Tricks! (1935); American players perform clever billiard tricks.

: Queer Cards (1932); Nice item giving a brief history of the playing card.

: Uri Geller (1973); Psychic Uri Geller and another man bend spoons with the power of their minds.

: Indian Peeps (1930); Indian performers and entertainers including snake charmers, dancers, musicians and a fakir.

: Stunts Reel 1 And 2 (1920); Cavalcade of car stunts featuring the Reg Kavanagh Crash Squad.

: Bantam Pack - Dizzy Daredevils (1950); Quirky stuff - probably designed for children - a high diver and an escape artist. c. 1950

: Circus Girl (1955); A girl learns to become animal trainer - Gloria Smart learns to train ponies in her father's circus.

: Joan Beech (1942); Hi Li champion Joan Beech demonstrates her technique with bat and ball.

: Knife Thrower (1949); Martin Collins and his wife Elizabeth perform a knife throwing act at Hackney Empire, London.

: Flea Circus (1950); Footage of flea circus at Bingley Hall, Birmingham.

: Dog Issue Title Is This England (1943); Trainer André asks Mick the dog various questions which he answers in barks.

: Cineviews In Brief No. 42; Father and son William Tell shooting act and clay pigeon shooting in Austria.

: More Tricks Of The Trade; Magic trick demonstration by Mr Rossiter.

: Magician On A Motorcycle (1954); Motorcyclist going round and round in circles in a large basket suspended from a frame.

: A Matter Of Interest - War Savings (1943); A Government Official film to promote the sale of National Savings Certificates

: Magicians Meet In Paris (1969); Magicians, hypnotists and mediums show-off talents on Paris streets.

: Trick Shots! (1940); Billiards experts trade trick shots.

: Ernest Dillon (1943); Ernest Dillon does his trampoline act in the studio.

: Silhouettes (1933); Clever silhouette show - birds, rabbits, snails, two men boxing and Charlie Chaplin are demonstrated.

: Shadowgraphy (1931); Professor Wully Lindsay makes amazing shadow pictures on a wall with his hands.

: Multiplication & Subtraction (1926); The secret of a magic trick is shown to the viewer by the conjuror Percy Rossiter.

: One Minute News Beware - Other Items Share This Title (1946); Magicians go to Brighton, Halifax bomber crashes in Yorkshire, Judges' Procession in London.

: Artful Angle (1930); Trick shots by a billiards expert.

: Prague: Trick Cyclist (1946); A Czech trick cyclist performing acrobatic feats on a bicycle.

: Clown With Small Children (1972); Two clowns put on a clowning workshop for children during their school holidays.

: Circus Training School (1960); Mr. Savinac and his Wild West circus performers practice at farm in Boksburg, S. Africa.

: Xmas Time's Good Time AKA Christmas Time's Good Time (1961); Great colour story of the build up to Christmas in London.

: Voltaire (1950); Magician Voltaire makes lightbulbs light up just by touching them.

: Robert Harbin (1939); Magician Robert Harbin performs some clever disappearing tricks.

: Our Morning Revels; Slapstick stuff from the girls of the Piccadilly Revels' Cabaret who fool around by the river.

: Save Paper And Bones (1946); Trailer asking people to save paper and bones for recycling.

: Sutherland Felce (1938); Entertainer Sutherland Felce keeps up a comic banter whilst performing a trick with string and wooden posts.

: Francis White Issue Title - Should Auld Acquaintance ... (1938); Magician Francis White performs in Pathe Studios.

: Erikson (1942); Erikson the conjuror does a routine with handkerchiefs and cards whilst pretending to be drunk.

: Jimmy Rogers (1939); Magician Jimmy Rogers does tricks with cigarettes and cigars.

: Sutherland Felce (1937); Sutherland Felce delivers comic monologue whilst doing magic tricks.

: Jasper Maskelyne (1937); Illusionist, Jasper Maskelyne, delivers comic monologue whilst swallowing razor blades.

: Erikson Issue Title Is Seeing's Believing (1941); Conjuror Erikson performs tricks and illusions with help of glamorous assistant.

: Ed Morelle (1937); Magician Ed Morelle performs a few tricks and cracks some jokes.

: Girl Magician (1953); Glamour girl magician June McComb does her act at the Stork Room club in London.

: Girl Magician AKA Girl Conjuror (1951); Woman magician June McComb performs tricks in front of her baby son.

: Kitchen Magic (1953); Magician Billy McComb has fun doing tricks in the kitchen. Edgware, London.

: The Famous Comedy Juggler (1937); Dead pan comic juggler, Rebla, performs some juggling tricks unenthusiastically!

: Collinson And Dean (1931); The comedians Collinson and Dean perform a sketch for the camera.

: Arthur Prince (1940); Ventriloquist Arthur Prince performs a routine with his sailor boy dummy.

: Arthur Prince (1934); Ventriloquist Arthur Prince and his puppet in a Navy routine.

: Arthur Prince (1933); The ventriloquist Arthur Prince with his puppet in naval uniform.

: The Joker (1936); Joker Paul Clive demonstrates some jokey gadgets - quirky.

: Jimmy Rogers Birds (1939); Magician Jimmy Rogers doing tricks with birds.

: Great Marlo (1952); Psychic the Great Marlo projects thoughts to girl in box buried in ground.

: Harry Kahne (1938); Mental marvel Harry Kahne doing several things at the same time.

: Erickson AKA Erikson Magician (1937); Erikson (Erickson ?) the magician performs slight of hand tricks with different coloured balls.

: Blindfold Man Issue Title - Back To The Front (1937); Harry Baker Brown hammers nails, rides motorbike and a bicycle, all whilst blindfolded.

: Howard De Courcy On Sleeve As Howarde De Courcy Issue Title Going Gay (1938); Magician De Courcy performs card tricks, some are shown in slow motion.

: Hanky Panks! (1931); Magic tricks are demonstrated then their secrets are revealed.

: De Biere (1933); French magician De Biere shows us how to do a trick with an egg and a bag.

: Tricks Of The Trade (1933); Secrets of three magic tricks are revealed by Professor Warren.

: Dave And Dusty Magic Shop (1946); Duplicate of story of same name found in NP 120 - see separate record for details.

: Howard De Courcy Issue Title Is Good Grounds (1944); Conjuror Howard De Courcy does magic tricks with playing cards and coins.

: Tricky Tricks (1928); Secrets of some magic tricks are revealed by Mr Goldston.

: Swedish Magic Circle (1947); Members of the Swedish Magic Circle gather for a conference.

: Magic For You Beware - Other Colour Pics Share This Title (1960); One of a series showing the secrets behind simple magic tricks using telephone books and tableware.

: Sheer Trickery! (1935); A man does sleight of hand tricks with two American coins.

: Newman Mond AKA Norman Bond Item Title Is Ancient And Modern (1939); Conjuror Newman Mond does trick with pack of cards and billiard ball.

: Lucille Barnette; 14 year old conjuror Lucille Barnette performs with rope.

: Amusing The Youngsters; Magic tricks are demonstrated and the secrets revealed.

: A String Trick (1933); A magician shows the secret behind a sleight of hand trick.

: Illusions ...And Something About 'em; Magic tricks are demonstrated by Professor Hunter.

: Tricks Of The Trade By Prof. Warren; The magician Professor Warren demonstrates the secret behind a magic trick.

: Giovanni (1933); Footage of the pickpocket Giovanni demonstrates skills to Policemen, United States of America.

: Magicians Convention (1941); Magicians arrive for their conference in Seattle and perform some tricks on the tarmac. USA.

: Miss Honeywell (1968); Robot girl Miss Honeywell demonstrates computer equipment at an Olympia Exhibition.

: Buried Alive Endurance Record (1968); Michael Meaney buried alive for an endurance record.

: Shadowgraphy (1936); Max Templeton of the Magic Circle makes clever shadow characters on the wall with his hands.

: Out Takes / Cuts From Cp 485 - The Magic Circle And Homes To Be AKA Ideal Homes Exhibition (1964); Out takes (rushes, cuts) for stories in CP 485.

: Crazy Cafe (1959); Magician chef cooks egg shells, makes coffee out of nothing and toast by heating paper bag - great!

: Before Your Very Eyes (1960); Magicians have fun at their convention in Hastings, East Sussex.

: Magicians Week At Brighton (1962); Britain's best magicians converge on Brighton

: Plastic Bag Magician (1960); Swedish illusionist Carbonita escapes from a plastic bag while partner Carboni holds a modesty curtain.

: Balance On Broom AKA Brotherhood Of Magicians Duplicate Transfer (1960); Illusionists Carboni and Carbonita perform a balancing trick atop a department store in Hastings.

: Erickson Conjuror AKA Erikson Conjuror (1936); Magician Erikson performs some fancy tricks with cards.

: Magicians At Harrogate (1961); A look at some of the high jinks at the International Magic Conference in Harrogate.

: Handcuffs - And How To Get Rid Of Them (1925); Secrets of a magic trick revealed - how to release yourself from handcuffs.

: London After Midnight! (1939); Excellent look at the entertainment on offer at London's Paradise Cabaret Club.

: Pictorial Revue Of 1943 - Reel 1 (1935); Turns compilation: comedians Collinson and Dean, pianist Percival Mackey and juggler Rebla.

: The Underwater Man (1933); Underwater man Monsieur de Lalyman plays the violin, eats and drinks then falls asleep - all at the bottom of a swimming pool!

: Sirdani The Indestructible! (1934); Indestructible man Sirdani jumps on broken glass then eats a record.

: Are You A Libra? (1932); Superb story about the characteristic of those born under the star sign Libra.

: Your Eyes; Astrologer and Psychologist Gabriel Dee tells us how to judge character by looking at a person's eyes.

: Gabriel Dee (1932); The astrologer Gabriel Dee talks about facial characteristics.

: "Bumps" By Gabriel Dee, The Well-Known Astrologer And Psychologist (1932); Funny, quirky item about phrenology - reading the bumps of the head.

: The Magic Circle (1964); The Magic Circle invites photographers to expose the secrets behind the tricks.

: Magic For You Beware - Other Colour Pics Share This Title (1959); Magician Alan Alan shows us the secrets behind some simple tricks - try the pencil one!

: Magic Circle (1968); Earl Mountbatten visits Magic Circle and sees various magicians in action.

: Gaston Palmer (1939); Gaston Palmer juggles with sticks, hats and cigars amongst other things.

: The Famous Wallendas (1937); Amazing acrobatic stunts on the high wire performed by the famous Wallendas.

: Bert Wright (1940); Bert Wright juggles and does acrobatics routine.

: Frank Marx And Iris (1940); Frank Marx and Iris perform their balancing and juggling act with Russian (?) commentary.

: Montreals (1942); The Montreals perform a variety of acrobatic stunts on their bicycles.

: Larry Kemble (1940); Larry Kemble performs tricks on his unicycle.

: Cal Mccord (1934); Cowboy Cal McCord spins ropes and tells jokes.

: Bennett And Williams (1941); Comedians Bennett and Williams perform a routine as air raid wardens.

: Minor Magic (1946); Children perform tricks and are made junior members of Institute of Magicians. London.

: Vaudeville Cocktail On Sleeve As Vauderville Cocktail (1937); Cabaret at Piccadilly Hotel: big bands, dancing, singing, conjuring and acrobatics.

: Magic For You Beware - Other Colour Pics Share This Title (1960); The secrets behind some simple magic tricks involving cigarettes, matchsticks and matchboxes.

: Tricks Of The Trade By Professor Warren (1933); A sleight of hand trick is demonstrated in close up by the magician Professor Warren.

: The Quickness Of The Hand (1932); A young boy demonstrates a magic trick.

: A Match Or Two - Two Little Tricks By The Houston Sisters (1926); A magic trick involving a coin and matches is demonstrated by the Houston Sisters.

: Ill Rewarded Conjurer; Early comedy film using photographic tricks. A magician uses his skills to help a beggar.

: Kalanag - World Famous Magician (1959); German magician Kalanag performs some of his tricks for camera.

: 5th Congress Of Jugglers (1960); Congress of Jugglers and Magicians at meeting in Bologna, Italy.

: Italian Magicians (1962); Italian magicians gather for a convention and show off their skills.

: The Troubles Of A Conjuror On Sleeve As Troubles Of A Colourer; An annoying man in a monocle wrecks the magic act of comedian conjuror Gordon Freeman.