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Sphinx
| Sphinx | |
 First issue | |
| Publisher | William Hilliar, Dr. A. M. Wilson, John Mulholland |
|---|---|
| First issue | March 1902 |
| Final issue | March 1953 |
| Total issues | 597 |
The Sphinx, the long-established independent journal of the magical arts, ran from March 1902 to March 1953.
It was started in Chicago, Illinois by William Hilliar and moved to Missouri in 1904 when the Kansas City physician, Dr. A. M. Wilson, took over as editor (Vol. 3 No. 8). The number of pages per issue varied from twelve to fifty or more.
In 1906, Houdini started his own magazine partly in an effort to disparage and destroy The Sphinx, but the Conjurers' Monthly Magazine went out of business after only two years.
During the 28 years of Dr. Wilson's ownership, the magazine covered one of the golden ages of magic. Vaudeville was at its height, bringing a variety of magicians from all over the world to the cities and towns of North America.
With Volume 1 Number 9, "The Sphinx" became the western organ of the Society of American Magicians, and starting with Volume 8, it become the official organ of the entire Society of American Magicians.
Dr. Wilson died in April of 1930. William Larsen, who had idolized the doctor, had entertained hopes of taking over The Sphinx. Instead, that honor went to John Mulholland of New York. Mulholland established The Sphinx Publishing Corporation in New York City to assume the liability of producing the The Sphinx magazine around 1930.
Annemann's attempts to buy the Sphinx in 1938 are detailed in his Jinx magazine (No. 95, No. 114, and No. 115).
Some of the many contributors over the years included: Ted Annemann, Al Baker, Fred Braue, Victor Farelli, Milbourne Christopher, Joseph Dunninger, Ade Duval, Karrell Fox, Robert Harbin, Guy Jarrett, Dr. Stanley Jaks, Ed Marlo, John Scarne and Harlan Tarbell.
A complete set would contain 52 volumes, 597 issues, and almost 17,000 pages.
The UK equivalent of The Sphinx was The Magic Wand.
See also: M-U-M.
Editors
- Vol. 1 — No. 1 to 7 : William J. Hilliar.
- Vol. 1 — No. 8 to 9 : The Sphinx Publishing Company (M. Inez/E. M. Vernelo)
- Vol. 1 — No. 10 to Vol. 3 — No. 2 : M. Inez (E. M. Vernelo)
- Vol. 3 — No. 2 : M. Inez (E. M. Vernelo) A. M. Wilson, M. D., Associate Editor.
- Vol. 3 — No. 8 - Vol 29 No. 2 : A. M. Wilson, M. D.
- Vol 29 - No. 3 - Vol 52 : John Mulholland