Steve Short lecture "The Supreme Magic Company"
Hull Magicians’ Circle
April 2016
Reviewed by Jon Marshall


There must be so many older magicians around who used to wait with anticipation for the postman to deliver that brown parcel with a Bideford postmark bringing the latest tricks from Edwin Hooper’s Supreme Magic Company.

At Hull Magicians’ Circle Steve brought the experience back to life with his well researched and brilliantly illustrated talk on the founding and history of Supreme, from its inception, funded by profits from Edwin Hooper’s Punch and Judy shows, the invaluable contribution of Ian Adair, the cooperation of Percy Abbott, the production of the house magazines, Magigram and Trixigram, right through to the sad demise of the vast and once profitable company and the subsequent creation by Edwin of Edwin’s Magic Arts with his partner David Puzey. Steve had interviewed many involved in the Supreme business and his fascinating slides and film were interspersed with comment, humour and affection.

Steve’s second half performance of many original Supreme items demonstrated the range and quality of their products and many new tips on handling from Ian Adair and Sue de Courcy. It was interesting to hear the names of those who, in the background, worked with wood, silk, paint and metal to produce the tricks, puppets and books that still give pleasure to magicians and audiences around the world. It was fitting that in pride of place was the excellent Cube in a Tube prop, the origination of Hull Magicians’ Circle member and prolific magical inventor, Arthur Setterington.


Steve’s talk and show was greatly enjoyed by all members - those that remember Supreme and those younger members who now live in the internet age.

© Jon Marshall , May 2016

 

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