Will Goldston

Will Goldston
Born	William Goldston September 23, 1878
Died	February 24, 1948 (age 69)
Categories	Books by Will Goldston

Will Goldston, (1878-1948), was originally a stage magician then became a magic dealer, publisher, agent and author.

Biography

There are uncertanties to where he was born, usually quoted as Liverpool, England. But, it is more likely that he was born near Warsaw, Poland. Goldston became interested in the subject of magic at the age of eleven. Originally employed as a dental technician this did not last long and at the age of sixteen he made his professional debut as a magician. Using the stage name of Carl Devo. At the age of twenty-one he was topping the bill at provincial theatres with his Black art act. His career in the Music Hall did not last many years and he was subsequently employed as manager-buyer of Gamage's Theatrical and Entertainment Department in central London, 1905-1914. During this time he edited the Magician Annual (1907-1912), Magician Monthly (1904-1913) and in 1912, Exclusive Magical Secrets (an edition of one thousand that was republished in 1977).

Later he became involved in the merchandising of "magic tricks" as William Goldston Ltd. based in Aladdin House, off Leicester Square, in London.

Goldston also edited Magazine of Magic (1914 - 1930) and Goldston's Magical Quarterly (1934 - 1940).

Goldston was an early member of the Magic Circle, but later resigned. He then initiated the creation of the Magicians' Club of London. He was a close friend of many magicians, Houdini and Chung Ling Soo amongst many. However, his relationships always appeared to run hot and cold as on occasions he upset many magicians by revealing their methods in his publications allegedly either without permission or attributing the originator.

Later in his life he was noted as the person who cracked the "Zancigs Code" used by the Danish illusionists of that name and was employed to 'prove' the authenticity of mediums and similar people.

His brother James Mayer Goldston (1882? - 1905), professionally known as "Mokana", died at the early age of 23 years of malarial fever in Calcutta while touring india with the Coronation Circus. Mokana is attributed to inventing the hollowed out shoe heel that swivels to reveal a secret space.

Another of his brothers, Reuben Goldston, was also a magician, but unlike the others he remained in the north-west of England.

Goldston was buried in the Jewish Cemetery at Dover, England.

Davenports & Co. later bought the business William Goldston Ltd.

It is generally believed that Arthur Ainslie was the ghost-writer for some Goldston books.

Books

• Secrets of Magic (1903)
• Latest Conjuring (1905)
• Crystal Gazing (1906)
• Tricks and Illusions (1908)
• The Young Conjurer (1910)
• Stage Illusions (1912)
• Exclusive Magical Secrets (1912)
• Modern Card Tricks Without Apparatus (1915)
• Paper Tricks (1919)
• More Exclusive Magical Secrets (1921)
• Further Exclusive Magical Secrets (1927)
• Sensational Tales of Mystery Men (1929)
• Tricks You Should Know (1930)
• Great Magicians' Tricks (1931)
• Goldston's Who's Who in Magic (1934)
• Tricks That Mystify (1934)
• Tricks of the Masters (1942)

References

• Cover American Magician March 1911
• Photo Genii 1951 May
• The Glorious Deception: The Double Life of William Robinson, aka Chung Ling Soo, the "Marvelous Chinese Conjurer" by Jim Steinmeyer (2005) ISBN 0-7867-1512-X.
• The Magic Circular Jan 2007, v101 iss1086 p20 'Further Glimpses of Goldston'

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