GARY SCOTT

The Best Effect….

There are so many great routines out there in so many different genres...

I have heard that you still consider Tommy Wonder's Cups and Balls to be one of the very best ever...

( I would wholeheartedly agree )

What do you believe to be the best magic/mentalism effects that you have ever seen and by what performers?

What do you feel makes these effects so engaging?

MAX MAVEN

"Best of" lists are always problematic, as inevitably one forgets things. Having said that, the best magic for me is always that which truly astonishes. A list of such would surely include Tommy's Cups & Balls routine. I would also mention Del Ray (almost everything he did), Rene Lavand (particularly the breadcrumbs), Al Goshman (the full act), Harry Blackstone Jr. doing the Floating Lightbulb...

As I have mentioned before, perhaps the greatest magic I've ever seen was Jay Marshall doing "Lefty." That's not a joke. I understand the technical workings of ventriloquism, but how Jay made that rabbit come alive is a wonderful mystery.

FOXTALBOT

The Piddingtons

Some time ago I saw footage of the Piddingtons performing their brand of mentalism in 1949, and was struck by how fresh and entertaining it still is.

How highly would you rate them, and do you think they were ahead of their time?

MAX MAVEN

I rate the Piddingtons very highly indeed. I never had the chance to see them work live (although I met Leslie Piddington two years ago), but based on the films and audio clips, there's no question that they were fantastic, and deserved the celebrity status they had in Britain back then.

Do I think they were ahead of their time? No, I think their act is timeless.

PENNJARR

On Writing

You are known to many as a prolific writer, there sometimes appears to be few publications out there that you have not made a contribution too. I am curious as too why?, is it altruistic, does it pay the bills, maybe you are a workaholic, to be blunt 'what’s in it for you?'.

and If I may probe further, I am always interested to read your contributions, and am grateful that you continue to share your thoughts and expertise. Through your writing how would you like the magic community to see you?

MAX MAVEN

Writing for magic magazines does not pay the bills -- I have never received payment for a single trick I've contributed to a magic magazine.

I suppose on a minor level it's altruistic, but in a sense that is a side-product. I invent a lot of material because I enjoy the process, and because the process helps me grow.

You ask: "Through your writing how would you like the magic community to see you?"

An interesting query, and I'm not sure I know the answer. I guess I would like to be seen as someone who is immersed in this stuff, and cares about it.

HOUTJES

Birds of Prey series

On your Videomind DVD's there are some routines from the so called "Birds of prey series" could you please tell us some more about that series?

Is it still available or is there more to find about it?

MAX MAVEN

Decades ago, in The Jinx, Annemann had an "impossible location" effect called "The Eagle Location." In the late 1970s I devised a similarly impossible effect that, in homage, I dubbed "The Vulture."

Over the years, I've given similar titles to a number of creations that seem to fit. "The Hawk" and "The Mockingbird" were published, then included on the Videomind tapes. Still unpublished are "The Vulture," "The Falcon," "The Vicious Hummingbird" and "The Giant Canary."

HOUTJES

Thank you very much Mr. Maven.

I hope they'll all be published one day!

GARY SCOTT

Just to take this a bit further...

What were the specific reasons for including 'The Mockingbird' and 'The Hawk' in the Videomind series over any of the other ' Birds of Prey' series...

I would go along with Houtjes by saying that the ' Birds of Prey' series would be a very welcome addition to the magic publishing world.

MAX MAVEN

What I chose to include on the tapes was determined by trying to select material that was good, and that lent itself to the video medium.

The other "Birds of Prey" routines are, at least for now, items that I have opted to keep for my personal use.