May Magic Auction

Fisher, John. Massive Archive of John Fisher’s Magic Correspondence. 1960s – 2000s. Comprised of approximately 1,000 pages or more ALSs, TLSs, cards, sentiments, and related material sent to British television producer, historian, collector, and author John Fisher, the force behind many of the great televised magic shows spanning some three decades. Among the correspondents are Uri Geller, Eugene Burger, Peter Warlock, Marvyn & Carol Roy, Geoffrey Durham, Francis White, Ted Lesley, George Grimmond, Mike Caveney, Robert Sinclair, Alan Shaxon, John Wade, David Copperfield, Sorcar Jr., Jim Steinmeyer, Noel Britten, Harry Blackstone Jr., Charles Reynolds, David Berglas, John Gaughan, Silvan, and dozens more. Contents describe both the personal and professional interests of the writers, not the least of which are missives related to the various television programs Fisher was involved with (in some cases, the letters address specific elements of production, or ideas that would find their way to the screen), and on which many of the writers of these letters appeared or provided support or work. Included with many of the letters are scripts, drawings, and even schematics for various segments of these programs, among them The Best of Magic, and The Paul Daniels Magic Show. A significant number of the correspondents generally comment on the passing scene, providing historical data on magicians of yesteryear (as one example, in the case of Warlock, relating information about Buatier de Kolta and Walter Jeans, the subjects of two books he authored) or discuss matters of importance; other letters describe in great detail the segments of various shows (both live and televised), personal asides related to fellow entertainers or other show business personalities, and provide “color” on related people and matters. Generally speaking, the content is of a professional and personal nature, tending more toward the latter than the former. Generally well-kept, and, on the whole, a remarkable and important chronicle of nearly forty years of magic history and, ostensibly, broadcast history.