Description
Effect: The story of the Davenport family, the oldest family magic dealers in the world, continues from where Volume 1 ended. It is not only a saga of courage and determination by the players involved but a story of survival. It begins at the outset of World War II which could have seen the end of Davenports but, by good fortune, the one person that was capable of ensuring its survival was spared active service.
The reader is given a vivid picture of his constant battle to provide goods for customers whilst also seeking to provide for the family midst shortages and bombings.
The story also follows the rise of the top magical performers who, for the most part, were friends of the family. These included the likes of The Great Lyle, The Great Levante, Murray, Chefalo, The Great Carmo, Robert Harbin, Channing Pollock, Dante, Kalanag, Maurice Fogel, Ali Bey, Albert Goshman and Paul Daniels.
Within these stories, the reader experiences how television gradually impacted on the performing arts. The resultant sea change in the demands of magicians as television’s impact increased provides the reader with a clear picture of the reality of dealing in magic today.
Also interwoven into this volume is a frank account of the family’s actions to secure the preservation of their fabled collection of magical memorabilia for posterity. This is a quest which was initiated by the third generation and continues through to the fourth.
Contents:
Acknowledgements
Foreword ii
Contents iii
Chapter 1
War & Peace (1939 -49) 1 – 115
Picture Gallery 93 -115
Chapter 2
The End Of An Era (1950 – 62) 116 – 223
Picture Gallery 190 – 223
Chapter 3
The Page Boy (1963 – 75) 224 – 282
Picture Gallery 268 – 282
Colour Section 283 – 298
Chapter 4
Metamorphosis (1976 – 84) 299 – 356
Picture Gallery 330 – 356
Chapter 5
The Fourth Generation (1985 -98) 357 -445
Picture Gallery 425 – 445
Chapter 6
Into The Second Century (1999-2010) 446 – 511
Picture Gallery 491-511
Appendix One – Davenports Pre War German Suppliers 512-513
Appendix Two – Shows Performed by Gus Davenport, 1941-42 514-516
Appendix Three – Subscribers to “Magic Circle Magic” & 517
The Mechanics of the Topit Vanisher 518
Appendix Four – “Illusions” Programmes 1984 – 1985 519 – 520
Appendix Five – Davenport Shop Locations 1898 – 2010 521 – 522
Index 523 – 530
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