Gerald Kosky

Gerald Kosky (February 27, 1907 - April 29, 1987) was born in Oil City, Pennsylvania. He specialized in cards and mentalism.

During his youth, he lived all over the world (England, Canada, Argentina, New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Houston and San Francisco). In 1921, he finally settled down in Los Angeles, California.

Gerald was never a full time professional performer but did work some night club and cruises. He developed two specialty acts, Mr. O'So (a Japanese magician) and Professor 'Iggins' (an English magician).

He was the Assistant Editor for the first few issues of Genii and was on the cover of Genii 1937 February (Volume 1, Number 6).

He was very active in magic societies . He helped form the "Los Magicos" with Caryl Fleming in 1936 and served as president for many magic organizations over the years including PCAM.

He contributed to many magazines including The Sphinx, The Jinx, The Linking Ring, The Magic Wand, The Cardiste, Abracadabra, The Gen, Hugard's Magic Monthly, The Phoenix, The Bat, and MUM.

Some of his most popular effects

• One at a Time Assembly Genii 1951 December
• Applause Card Disclosure aka Clap Revelation in Genii 1965 January, Vol. 29, No. 5, page 266.
• Invisible Card Change (1955)
• Kosky's Card Control
• Kosky's Coin Vanish in Genii 1953 June, Vol. 17, No. 10.
• Kosky's One At A Time Aces in Genii 1966 May, Vol. 30, No. 9.

Before his death he lived just half a block from the Magic Castle and performed there many times.

He was given a Literary Fellowship by the Academy of Magical Arts in 1982.

Books

• The Magic of Gerald Kosky (1975)

References

• Cover Genii 1937 February
• Cover Genii 1949 July
• Cover Genii 1973 January
• Cover Genii 1977 February