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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