Larry West

Larry West
Born	Gilbert Lorenzo West, Jr. December 13, 1931 USA
Died	November 24, 1989 (age 57)
Categories	Books by Larry West

Larry West (1931-1989) was a mail-order dealer/publisher with Arthur Emerson, specializing in packet tricks.

Biography

West became interested in magic at the age of eight when he received a Gilbert Mysto Magic Set for Christmas. Growing up, while visiting relatives in New Haven, Connecticut, he spent time with sleight-of-hand artist Rudy Reimer and manufacturer Todd Petrie.

During the 1960's while living in Schenectady, New York, he met Verne Chesbro with whom put out the first card book consisting entirely of tricks using the Elmsley Count, "Tricks You Can Count On" (1960).

West worked in the broadcasting business. After getting out of the service in the 1950's, he started in radio in Pittsfield, Massachusetts before moving up to television in Springfield, Mass. He produced and starred in a weekly show for over two years, as "Max the Mad Magician".

After working briefly for General Electric Broadcasting in Schenectady, New York, he moved to Washington, D.C., for the Voice of America as an announcer and director. While in D.C., he met Arthur Emerson and they formed "Emerson and West".

West invented and marketed many benchmark packet tricks of his own, all released by Emerson & West.

Marketed Packet Tricks

• ADD+IX (Emerson & West)
• Eight Ball (Emerson & West)
• Gourmet Mouse (Emerson & West)
• Sequence (Emerson & West)
• The (W)hole Thing (Emerson & West)
• Tra-Fix (Emerson & West)
• Wild Wild West (Emerson & West)

Books

• (1983) 'S Witch Craft (Emerson & West)
• (1982) Tell-Tale Timepiece (Emerson & West)
• (1960) Tricks You Can Count On (with Verne Chesbro)