Help us get to over 8,756 articles in 2024.
If you know of a magician not listed in MagicPedia, start a New Biography for them. Contact us at magicpediahelp@gmail.com
Genii Magazine
| Genii | |
 First issue | |
| Editors | William Larsen, Sr.(1936-1953) Bill Larsen, Jr. & Irene Larsen (1953-1990) |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Monthly |
| First issue | September 1936 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Website | geniimagazine.com |
Genii, The Conjurors' Magazine is the longest-running independent magazine devoted to magic and magicians in the history of the art. It was founded by William W. Larsen, Sr. in 1936, and run by his descendents until 1998, when it was sold to The Genii Corporation, headed by well-known magic author Richard Kaufman. Genii is now a glossy color monthly and is edited by Richard Kaufman, with associate editor Dustin Stinett.
- See also: Genii index.
Columnists
The columnists under The Genii Corporation began with adding Guy Hollingworth, Luke Jermay, Eugene Burger, and Harry Lorayne. Continuing columnists included David Acer, Michael Close, Bob Farmer, Jim Swain, Jon Racherbaumer, Jamy Ian Swiss, Eric Mead, David Oliver, David Regal, Danny Orleans, Dustin Stinett, Joe M. Turner and many others.
History
1930s
In September of 1936, William Larsen, Sr. starts publishing Genii, competing with John Mulholland’s the Sphinx, a magazine that Larsen was hoping to take over.
The original print run was 750 copies, downsized to 500 for issues two and three.[1]
1940s
By the 1940s, the subscriptions had grown to several thousand throughout the world. In 1941, S.A.M. awarded Genii with the contract to print their M-U-M as part of the magazine. This took away some of the Sphinx readership.
In 1942, Larsen purchased Floyd Thayer’s Magic Company. Genii did not turn into a "house organ" for the company but remained independent, even limiting the amount of advertising space given to Thayer’s. Even with having to devote time to the magic shop, shows, lectures, and his legal profession the magazine kept prospering.
In November, 1949, Genii absorbed The Conjurors' Magazine.
1950s
The Larsen's sold Thayer’s in 1950 and on July 5, 1953, Bill Larsen Sr. died suddenly at the age of 48. Gerrie, Bill Larsen Jr., and Milt Larsen kept the magazine going.
1960s
Bill and Milt both became involved in the new television industry and in 1962, The Academy of Magical Arts and The Magic Castle, originally Bill Sr.’s dream, were created. All Genii subscribers were automatic members. Genii, however, stayed independent of the Academy and the Castle.
1990s
Bill Larsen, Jr. became ill and the editorship of Genii was passed first by Dante Larsen (the son of Irene and her first husband John Daniel) and then to his daughter Erika Larsen. The magazine eventually started to falter as evident when only three issues were published in 1998.
In October 1998, the Larsens sold Genii to a new company headed by Richard Kaufman. Beginning with the issue published by the newly formed Genii Corporation in January, 1999, Genii has been on time every single month.
Genii Index
The original Genii Open Index is lost. Work is currently underway to transfer it here. See Category:Genii for list of available Genii issues with table of contents on MagicPedia.[2]
You can search just the genii issues in MagicPedia by added "category:genii" (in quotes) to the search: Max Maven's Monthly Inquisition "category:genii"
You can search by year too: Max Maven’s Monthly Inquisition "category:genii 2008"
Effects by performer
References
- ↑ 75 Years of Genii by Max Maven, Genii 2012 November December
- ↑ http://www.geniimagazine.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=2007&Number=20548#Post20548