Black hermans secrets of magic, mystery, and legerdemain lulu. Black herman was a groundbreaking and prominent africanamerican magician in the early 1900s. Benjamin rucker june 6, 1889 april 15, 1934 was an american stage magician, better. One night in 1934, black herman collapsed on stage and died. Black hermans secrets of magic, mystery and legerdemain by. Black hermans secrets of magic, mystery and legerdemain herman, black on. When black herman, a famous africanamerican magician in the 1900s died after collapsing on stage during a performance, his audience refused to. Black herman s secrets of magic, mystery and legerdemain herman, black on. Black hermans secrets of magic, mystery, and legerdemain by.
Marketing tips to help you create and sell your books more effectively. Professor and doctor, which adorned his books, magazines, and promotional literature. There were a couple of inaccuracies in gates essay so i was curious about his source material. Black herman was the most prominent african american magician of his time, wellknown for his street and closeup magic. Herrmanns book of magic black art fully exposed a complete and practical guide to drawingroom and stage magic for professionals and amateurs, including a. The first black magician and said to be the countrys first successful magician. Conjure doctors, spiritual mothers, rootworkers and root. It was from mystics in india that professor black herman, the worlds greatest negro magician, learned how to resurrect someone who had been placed in a deathlike trance and buried for a week. He published a book, ghosted by a man named young some sources state that black herman could not read or write, called secrets of magic, mystery, and. Black herman went on to become perhaps the most famous africanamerican stage magician of his time, if not also in present times. He was born benjamin rucker in amherst, virginia on june 6, 1889. Rucker, who was the most prominent africanamerican magician of his time, combined magic with a strong separatist and militant political message. A contemporary of harry houdini, benjamin rucker made a name for himself during the 1920s and 1930s as arguably the nations leading african american touring magician. Herrmanns book of magic alexander herrmann 18441896 was a prominent stage magician in the latter half of the nineteenth century.
Its a nice counter to the kind of fantasy that ive been seeing published lately. He got his start with a white magician that went by prince herman, and the two would peddle tonics and elixirs on the road along with performing magic hand tricks. This book is a facsimile reprint and may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Benjamin rucker june 6, 1889 april 15, 1934 was an american stage magician, better known by his stage name black herman. Benjamin rucker 18921934 was an american stage magician, known by his stage name black herman. An announcement on the books title page, black herman comes through every seven years, referred to hermans pattern of returning to venues. The deck has been overseen by tarot masterdirector alejandro jodorowsky and up until now has only been available at king khan shows. An earlier edition of this book is titled black hermans easy pocket tricks.
My husband is the greatgrandson of black herman so this book has alot of meaning to him and myself. Buy black hermans secrets of magic, mystery and legerdemain at. Another name for benjamin herman rucker, a magician and illusionist born in amherst, virginia. Besides, the scientific ebooks will certainly additionally be the very best need to select, particularly for. Reading black herman s secrets of magic, mystery and legerdemain pdf online with di a cup coffe. The reading book black herman s secrets of magic, mystery and legerdemain is the best in the morning. Black herman went on to become perhaps the most famous africanamerican stage magician of his time, if not also in present. Rucker originally mentoredpartnered with one prince herman from whom he learned many of the secrets of his craft. Born in paris, the son of samuel herrmann, a german physician who also toured europe as a conjuror, he was a secondgeneration magician.
Black herman 18891934, born benjamin rucker in amherst, virginia. Remember black herman, the worlds famous magician, master of legerdemain and great king of mysteries comes through once every seven years. Throughout history and as long as the magician has been showcasing his magic show, there has been the skeptical, insecure, or simply immature spectator who hoped to muck up the magic show and cause the magician failure. His mission was to promote his view of black power by attracting attention and support using stage magic, occult magic and superstition. Black herman s secrets of magic, mystery and legerdemain. His unique shows, which traveled across the country, combined european magic with african hoodoo, folk religion, and gospel. Black hermans popularity was so great that he skirted the jim crow segregation laws of his day and performed for mixraced crowds.
This pdf black herman s secrets of magic, mystery and legerdemain book is best seller in book store. The black magician trilogy follows the story of trudi canavans black magician trilogy, on first glance, is pleasant, uncomplex, and nostalgic. Benjamin black herman rucker 18881934 find a grave. Empire publishing, 1938 african american entertainers 126 pages. Buy black hermans secrets of magic, mystery and legerdemain by black herman online at alibris. He was one of the most prominent african american magicians of his time.
Cabinet black hermans african american magical synthesis. A lengthy complaint purports to tell black hermans method of. Black herman was an africanamerican magician who combined magic with a strong separatist and militant political message, and became one of the most important black magicians in history. Coast to coast black herman george patton 51511 an interview with george patton jr. Black hermans secrets of magic, mystery and legerdemain by black herman, march 1, 2007, kessinger publishing, llc edition, paperback in english.
Black herman s secrets of magic, mystery and legerdemain book. Benjamin rucker was an african american magician, better known by his. Black herman was a master of conventional magic techniques and legerdemain, but he also drew from black vernacular traditions. In 2009 the book black jack was published by iuniverse, author george patton tells the story of the great illusionist, mentalist and harlem renaissance figure benjamin black herman rucker. Benjamin rucker was an african american magician, better known by his stage name black herman.
From robert houdin to chung ling soo to black herman and harry houdini, the world of magic and magicians has always found a place in books. According to popular, fictionalized accounts, black herman learned the art of staged illusions from a performer called prince herman, who was first his teacher and later his. Nashville billy kersands minstrels blackface makeup black herman black herman mail order course of graduated lessons in the art of magic black magicians black patti company black richard ring black star line. Black hermans secrets of magic, mystery and legerdemain book. I also possess a copy of ruckers book, although admittedly its a cheap reprint. Days later, herman would rise from the dugup coffin and lead the audience into the theater. When prince herman passed away in 1909, rucker continued the act and adopted the name black herman. Gates and the authors for not doing their homework.
This may seem like general information, but cavendish has done a great job of extracting the black magic portion out of these different practices. Herrmanns book of magic black art fully exposed a complete and practical guide to drawingroom and stage magic for professionals and amateurs, including a complete exposure of the black art. The magician and the pickpocket are together the second oldest profession as the magic show aids the pickpockets goal. Pitch book for one of the most celebrated magicians of his day. Patton was inspired to write his book about black herman, when he learned that the magician was actually his great uncle, benjamin rucker. He was the most prominent africanamerican magician of his time. Buy black hermans secrets of magic, mystery, and legerdemain by black herman. As a young boy growing up in his hometown of amherst, virginia, he met and became the apprentice to a magician and tonic salesman named prince herman. This book was originally published before black hermans death in 1934, for sale at his stage shows. Although he claimed to have been born in the dark jungles of africa, he was not the first person of african descent to utilize the medium of magic in public performance.
Black herman worlds greatest magician black herman was the alleged author of secrets of magic, mystery, andlegerdemain, a book published in 1925 that contains his semifictionalized autobiography, directions for simple illusions suitable to the novice stage magician, advice on astrology and lucky numbers, and a sampling of african american hoodoo folk. Black hermans secrets of magic, mystery and legerdemain. When his mentor died in 1909, rucker took over the show at the age of seventeen, set up his home base in harlem, new york, and to honor his teacher. Black hermans secrets of magic, mystery and legerdemain by herman, black and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Black herman was a master of conventional magic techniques and. Black herman was the most prominent african american magician of his time. This book, titled black hermans secret of magic mystery and legerdermain, claims to contain some of the lastest and best pocket tricks and secrets of the occult uncovered by black herman the magician. The world of the black magician, names and numbers, cabala, alchemy, astrology, ritual magic, the worship of the devil these are the chapters. With all the books that have been published on the major magicians, it is amazing that the only history of perhaps the most famous magician of the 19th century was written 110 years ago, just a year after alexander herrmanns death. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Black herman 18891934, born benjamin rucker in amherst, virginia, was an american stage magician. Books, story book, as well as various other amusing books come to be so preferred now.
Black hermans secrets of magic, mystery and legerdemain by black herman. An announcement on the books title page black herman comes. Black hermans secrets of magic, mystery, and legerdemain. Black herman learned the art of staged illusions from a performer. This book contains some of the latest and best pocket tricks and secrets of the occult uncovered by black herman the magician. Black herman was the stage name of benjamin rucker, a virginian who became one of the most prominent african american magicians of the. Each chapter discusses one part of black magic folklore. He was born benjamin rucker in virginia in 1892 and came of age in the shadow of an itinerant african american showman and street peddler by the name of prince herman alonzo moore, who took in.
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