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Jack McMillen: Difference between revisions
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| birth_day = April 19, | | birth_day = April 19, | ||
| birth_year = 1911 | | birth_year = 1911 | ||
| birth_place = Stockton,California | | birth_place = Stockton, California | ||
| death_day = February 14, | | death_day = February 14, | ||
| death_year = 1993 | | death_year = 1993 | ||
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| misc = | | misc = | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Jack McMillen''' (1911-1993), an amateur magician, specialized in gambling demos and cards and coins. | '''Jack McMillen''' (b.1911-d.1993), an amateur magician, specialized in gambling demos and cards and coins. | ||
== Biography== | == Biography== | ||
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* ''[[My Best]]'' by [[J. G. Thompson]], 1945, pp. 64-66 | * ''[[My Best]]'' by [[J. G. Thompson]], 1945, pp. 64-66 | ||
* ''Genii'', Vol. 50 No 1, [[Genii 1986 July|July 1986]], p. 50 | * ''Genii'', Vol. 50 No 1, [[Genii 1986 July|July 1986]], p. 50 | ||
* ''[[Page Wright's Manuscript]]'' by T. Page Wright, 1991, pp. 259-262 | * ''[[Page Wright's Manuscript]]'' by [[T. Page Wright]], 1991, pp. 259-262 | ||
* ''[[Jack McMillen (ebook)]]'' by [[Michael Landes]], 2011, pp. 68-75 | |||
'''"The Obedient Rising Cards"''' | '''"The Obedient Rising Cards"''' | ||
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* ''Genii'', Vol. 50 No 1, [[Genii 1986 July|July 1986]], pp. 50-52 | * ''Genii'', Vol. 50 No 1, [[Genii 1986 July|July 1986]], pp. 50-52 | ||
== | == Publications == | ||
=== ''Jack McMillen'' by Michael Landes (2011) === | |||
According to [[Michael Landes]], Jack McMillen had for several years considered writing a book about magic. The tremendous amount of work involved in putting together a short set of lecture notes (''[[Jack McMillen#Sleights & Swindles (1981)|Sleights & Swindles]]'') in 1981 changed his mind. Several years later, McMillen's good friend, Paul Chosse, suggested having Landes write the book. Landes started working on the project in 1989, but when McMillen passed away the next year, he dropped the idea. Six years later, he decided to resume working on the book, and finished it in 1998. It was not published until 2011, when [[Lybrary.com]] released it as an ebook, titled simply ''[[Jack McMillen (ebook)|Jack McMillen]]''. It is the largest and most complete collection of McMillen's work in print. | |||
=== ''Sleights & Swindles'' (1981) === | |||
'''''Sleights & Swindles''''' is a set of lecture notes written by McMillen and self-published in 1981 for his lecture at [[The Magic Castle]]. | |||
Contents: | |||
* "The Barbary Coast Scam" | |||
* "Shade Work" | |||
* "The Old Gambler" | |||
* "From Another Deck" | |||
* "The Voodoo Card Rise" | |||
* "Witchcraft Updated" | |||
* "Quicksilver" | |||
* "Coin, Ring, and Silk" ([[Senor Mardo]]) | |||
* "The San Francisco Shuffle" | |||
* "Don't Ever Bet On A Sure Thing" ([[Three Card Monte]]) | |||
=== ''Take a Card'' (1928) === | === ''Take a Card'' (1928) === | ||
'''''Take a Card''''' was McMillen's first publication. It was a collaboration with [[Judson Brown]], published in 1928 by [[William W. Larsen, Sr.|Larsen]] and [[T. Page Wright|Wright]]. | '''''Take a Card''''' was McMillen's first publication. It was a collaboration with [[Judson Brown]], published in 1928 by [[William W. Larsen, Sr.|Larsen]] and [[T. Page Wright|Wright]]. | ||
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* "A New Reverse Location" | * "A New Reverse Location" | ||
=== ''Expert Card Technique'' (1940) | == Other Works == | ||
=== ''Expert Card Technique'' (1940) === | |||
McMillen also contributed material to [[Jean Hugard|Hugard]] and [[Fred Braue|Braue]]'s ''[[Expert Card Technique]]'', published in 1940: | McMillen also contributed material to [[Jean Hugard|Hugard]] and [[Fred Braue|Braue]]'s ''[[Expert Card Technique]]'', published in 1940: | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
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|} | |} | ||
Note: All material listed as "uncredited" is according to the bibliography in ''[[Jack McMillen (ebook)|Jack McMillen]]'' by [[Michael Landes]] (ebook, 2011, p. 263). | |||
=== ''The Braue Notebooks'' === | |||
Some of the material that Fred Braue got from Jack McMillen didn't make it into ''Expert Card Technique''. When [[Jeff Busby]] published some of [[Braue Notebooks|Braue's notebooks]], a few items by McMillen were included. | Some of the material that Fred Braue got from Jack McMillen didn't make it into ''Expert Card Technique''. When [[Jeff Busby]] published some of [[Braue Notebooks|Braue's notebooks]], a few items by McMillen were included. | ||
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=== ''Mental Mysteries With Cards'' (1942) === | === ''Mental Mysteries With Cards'' (1942) === | ||
McMillen's "mental" items from the first year of ''Genii'' were compiled in a book by [[William W. Larsen, Sr.|William Larsen]] in 1942 called ''[[Mental Mysteries with Cards]]'' (see [[Jack McMillen#Items in Magazines]]): | McMillen's "mental" items from the first year of ''Genii'' were compiled in a book by [[William W. Larsen, Sr.|William Larsen]] in 1942 called ''[[Mental Mysteries with Cards]]'' (see [[Jack McMillen#Items in Magazines|Items in Magazines]]): | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
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| 38 | | 38 | ||
|} | |} | ||
=== ''Page Wright's Manuscript'' (1991) === | === ''Page Wright's Manuscript'' (1991) === | ||
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[[de:Jack McMillen]] | |||
[[Category:Biographies]] | [[Category:Biographies]] | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:MacMillen, Jack}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:MacMillen, Jack}} |
Latest revision as of 23:51, 13 February 2024
Jack McMillen | |
Jack McMillen doing his Plunger Card Rise for Ron Bauer, circa 1989 | |
Born | April 19, 1911 Stockton, California |
---|---|
Died | February 14, 1993 (age 81) |
Categories | Books by Jack McMillen |
Jack McMillen (b.1911-d.1993), an amateur magician, specialized in gambling demos and cards and coins.
Biography
In the 1940s, he was employed as a railroad agent as an undercover detective whose job it was to patrol the line for cardsharps and cheats.
In 1936 when Genii began publishing, he contributed many of his card effects.[1]
McMillen created the Plunger Principle for the Card Rise which along with other (credited and uncredited) items were published in Expert Card Technique.
He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Fellowship from the Academy of Magical Arts in 1991.[2]
The Plunger Principle
McMillen is best known as the originator of the Plunger Principle for the Rising Cards, which he used in his "J. M. Rising Card" and "Obedient Rising Cards."
"The J. M. Rising Card"
- Genii, Vol. 1 No. 1, September 1936, p. 10
- Encyclopedia of Card Tricks by Jean Hugard, 1937, pp. 328-329
- Greater Magic by John Northern Hilliard, 1938, pp. 400-402
- My Best by J. G. Thompson, 1945, pp. 64-66
- Genii, Vol. 50 No 1, July 1986, p. 50
- Page Wright's Manuscript by T. Page Wright, 1991, pp. 259-262
- Jack McMillen (ebook) by Michael Landes, 2011, pp. 68-75
"The Obedient Rising Cards"
- Genii, Vol. 1 No. 1, September 1936, pp. 10-12
- Genii, Vol. 50 No 1, July 1986, pp. 50-52
Publications
Jack McMillen by Michael Landes (2011)
According to Michael Landes, Jack McMillen had for several years considered writing a book about magic. The tremendous amount of work involved in putting together a short set of lecture notes (Sleights & Swindles) in 1981 changed his mind. Several years later, McMillen's good friend, Paul Chosse, suggested having Landes write the book. Landes started working on the project in 1989, but when McMillen passed away the next year, he dropped the idea. Six years later, he decided to resume working on the book, and finished it in 1998. It was not published until 2011, when Lybrary.com released it as an ebook, titled simply Jack McMillen. It is the largest and most complete collection of McMillen's work in print.
Sleights & Swindles (1981)
Sleights & Swindles is a set of lecture notes written by McMillen and self-published in 1981 for his lecture at The Magic Castle.
Contents:
- "The Barbary Coast Scam"
- "Shade Work"
- "The Old Gambler"
- "From Another Deck"
- "The Voodoo Card Rise"
- "Witchcraft Updated"
- "Quicksilver"
- "Coin, Ring, and Silk" (Senor Mardo)
- "The San Francisco Shuffle"
- "Don't Ever Bet On A Sure Thing" (Three Card Monte)
Take a Card (1928)
Take a Card was McMillen's first publication. It was a collaboration with Judson Brown, published in 1928 by Larsen and Wright.
Contents:
- "A Retrieved Error"
- "From Another Pack"
- "The Joker Location"
- "Another Joker Location"
- "A New Reverse Location"
Other Works
Expert Card Technique (1940)
McMillen also contributed material to Hugard and Braue's Expert Card Technique, published in 1940:
Title | Pages |
---|---|
Double Lift (uncredited) | 5-6 |
"The Middle Deal" (uncredited) | 23-24 |
"Emergency Card Stabbing" (uncredited) | 120-121 |
"The Witchcraft Card Rise" | 212-213 |
"Mind Mirror" | 223-225 |
"Lazy Man's Card To Pocket" | 313-315 |
"The Psychic Stop!" (uncredited) | 330-331 |
"A Quick Reversal" (uncredited) | 341-342 |
Note: All material listed as "uncredited" is according to the bibliography in Jack McMillen by Michael Landes (ebook, 2011, p. 263).
The Braue Notebooks
Some of the material that Fred Braue got from Jack McMillen didn't make it into Expert Card Technique. When Jeff Busby published some of Braue's notebooks, a few items by McMillen were included.
The Fred Braue Notebooks, Vol. 1 (1985)
- Page 25 "Card Control"
The Fred Braue Notebooks, Vol. 2 (1985)
- Page 17 "Card Reversal - A Peek"
- Page 17 "Card Reversal - Another Peek"
Mental Mysteries With Cards (1942)
McMillen's "mental" items from the first year of Genii were compiled in a book by William Larsen in 1942 called Mental Mysteries with Cards (see Items in Magazines):
Title | Page |
---|---|
"Mind Mirror" | 32 |
"Nth Sense" | 35 |
"Astral Vision" | 38 |
Page Wright's Manuscript (1991)
Page Wright's Manuscript: Sixty Years of Lost Secrets, a collection of material from T. Page Wright, was published in 1991.
It contained several contributions by McMillen, most of which had been published in the late thirties by Larsen in Genii after Wright's death in 1930 (see Jack McMillen#Items in Magazines):
Title | Pages |
---|---|
Artistic touch for L.W. False Shuffle | 91-92 |
"Spring Force" | 98-99 |
"Improved Knife Force" | 99-100 |
"McMillen Change" | 109-112 |
"A Cut at Any Number Throughout The Deck" | 167-168 |
"A Card Reversed At Any Number" | 170-171 |
"A Quick Reverse" | 204-205 |
"Instant Speller" | 220-221 |
"J. M. Rising Card" | 259-262 |
Psychological force | 279-280 |
"A Simplified Five Card Problem" | 292-293 |
Items in Books
Title | Book Title | Author | Year | Pages |
---|---|---|---|---|
"Ghost Ring" | The L.W. Pocket and Parlor Mysteries | Larsen and Wright | 1928 | 5 |
"The Prophesied Leaper" | The L.W. Card Mysteries | Larsen and Wright | 1928 | 11-12 |
Card pushed through pack changes | Page Wright's Notebook | T. Page Wright | 1933 | 9 |
"The Continuous Spelling Trick" | More Card Manipulations No. 1 | Jean Hugard | 1938 | 16-17 |
"The Triple Discovery" (with Charlie Miller) | More Card Manipulations No. 3 | Jean Hugard | 1941 | 29-30 |
"Ghost Ring" (uncredited) | The Tarbell Course in Magic, Vol. 3 | Harlan Tarbell | 1943 | 306-309 |
"The Key To The Draw" (with Charlie Miller) | Card Tricks Without Skill | Paul Clive | 1946 | 145-146 |
"Mirror of the Mind" | The Royal Road to Card Magic | Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue | 1951 | 34-35 |
Edge Work | The Secret of the Palmettos | Jeff Busby | 1998 | 31-32 |
"One-Way Glass" (with Jeff Busby) | The Secret of the Palmettos | Jeff Busby | 1998 | 64-64 |
Items in Magazines
Title | Magazine Title | Vol. | No. | Date | Pages |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
"The Mysterious Handkerchief" | The Sphinx | 25 | 5 | July 1926 | 140 |
Needles from Mouth on Thread | The Sphinx | 27 | 4 | June 1928 | 190 |
"X-Ray Vision" | The Sphinx | 27 | 12 | Feb. 1929 | 577-578 |
"The Transformer Card" | The Sphinx | 28 | 1 | Mar. 1929 | 25 |
"The Mystic Touch" | The Sphinx | 28 | 2 | April 1929 | 65-66 |
"The Futuristic Camera" (with Judson Brown) | The Sphinx | 28 | 3 | May 1929 | 97-98 |
"The Perplexing Penny" | The Sphinx | 28 | 6 | Aug. 1929 | 210-211 |
"Fathom" | The Sphinx | 28 | 7 | Sept. 1929 | 235 |
"Something For Slickers" (with Judson Brown) | The Sphinx | 29 | 7 | Sept. 1930 | 275 |
"Controlled Cubes" (with Judson Brown) | The Sphinx | 29 | 8 | Oct. 1930 | 308-309 |
"Typewriter Telepathy" | The Sphinx | 30 | 1 | Mar. 1931 | 42 |
"Mental Photography" | The Sphinx | 30 | 1 | Mar. 1931 | 42 |
"Sinister Vision" | The Sphinx | 30 | 1 | Mar. 1931 | 42-43 |
"Ghost Eyes" (with Judson Brown) | The Sphinx | 32 | 10 | Dec. 1933 | 297 |
"The Specter Envelope" (with Judson Brown) | The Sphinx | 32 | 11 | Jan. 1934 | 339 |
"Telltale Color" (with Judson Brown) | The Sphinx | 33 | 1 | Mar. 1934 | 12 |
"Poker Artistry" | Genii | 1 | 3 | Nov. 1936 | 17 |
"Mind Mirror" | Genii | 1 | 4 | Dec. 1936 | 12 |
"'Nth' Sense" | Genii | 1 | 5 | Jan. 1937 | 11 |
Artistic touch for L.W. False Shuffle | Genii | 1 | 6 | Feb. 1937 | 11-12 |
"Astral Vision" | Genii | 1 | 7 | Mar. 1937 | 7-8 |
"Ghost Eyes" (with Judson Brown) | The Sphinx | 36 | 1 | Mar. 1937 | 6 |
"The Spring Force" | Genii | 1 | 8 | April 1937 | 8 |
"The Improved Knife Force" | Genii | 1 | 8 | April 1937 | 8 |
"The McMillen Change" | Genii | 1 | 10 | June 1937 | 11 |
"A Cut at Any Number" (uncredited) | Genii | 2 | 3 | Nov. 1937 | 80 |
"A Card Reversed At Any Number" | Genii | 2 | 6 | Feb. 1938 | 198 |
"The Diving Card" | Genii | 3 | 1 | Sept. 1938 | 12 |
"A Quick Reverse" | Genii | 3 | 7 | Mar. 1939 | 222 |
"Turnover Reverse" | Genii | 3 | 8 | April 1939 | 254 |
"Tell Tale Color" (with Judson Brown) | The Sphinx | 39 | 10 | Dec. 1940 | 247 |
"Mental Photography" (with Judson Brown) | The Sphinx | 39 | 11 | Jan. 1941 | 292 |
"Tip-Over Change" (with Judson Brown) | The Sphinx | 39 | 11 | Jan. 1941 | 293 |
"I'll Match You" | Genii | 9 | 8 | April 1945 | 290 |
"Impromptu Salt Vanish" | Genii | 9 | 8 | April 1945 | 290 |
"A Twist On The Color Change" | Genii | 9 | 8 | April 1945 | 290 |
"The Counterfeiter" | Genii | 9 | 12 | Aug. 1945 | 427 |
"Easy Openers" | Genii | 10 | 1 | Sept. 1945 | 12 |
"Spectral Envelope" (with Judson Brown) | The Conjurors' Magazine | 1 | 8 | Sept. 1945 | 28 |
Coin vanish | Magicana (Woodfield) | 2 | June 1946 | 8 | |
"The Ghost Ring" (uncredited) | Genii | 11 | 6 | Feb. 1947 | 182 |
"Gambler's Coin Vanish" | The Conjurors' Magazine | 3 | 7 | Sept. 1947 | 40 |
"The Inverted Aces" (with Charles Nyquist) | Genii | 14 | 2 | Oct. 1949 | 43 |
"The San Francisco Shuffle" (with Charles Nyquist) | Genii | 14 | 3 | Nov. 1949 | 12 |
"Slip Slide Sleight" | Genii | 33 | 5 | Jan. 1969 | 204-205 |
"Karate Kontrol" | Genii | 46 | 5 | May 1982 | 308-309 |
Coin vanish | Genii | 56 | 5 | Mar. 1993 | 310 |
References
- ↑ Obit, Magic, April 1993
- ↑ William Larsen, Jr., "Genii Speaks," Genii, Vol. 54 No. 6, April 1991, p. 368