The Sphinx: An Independent Magazine for Magicians

The Sphinx (subtitled: An Independent Magazine for Magicians) was a magic-related US periodical published from March 1902 through March 1953.

History and profile

The magazine was started in Chicago by William Hilliar and moved to Missouri in 1904 when a Kansas City physician, A. M. Wilson, took over as editor (Vol. 3 No. 8). The number of pages per issue varied from twelve to fifty or more.[1][2][3][4]

In 1906, Houdini started his own magazine Conjurers' Monthly Magazine in competition to The Sphinx, but they went out of business after only two years.[5][6]

The 28 years of Dr. Wilson's ownership, the magazine covered one of the golden ages of magic. Vaudeville was at its height, bringing a variety of magicians from all over the world to the larger cities of North America.

With Volume 1 Number 9, The Sphinx became the western organ of the Society of American Magicians and starting with Volume 8, it become the official organ of the Society of American Magicians.[7]

When Wilson died in April 1930, William Larsen had entertained hopes of taking over The Sphinx. Instead, that honor went to John Mulholland of New York.[8]

Annemann attempts to buy the Sphinx in 1938 can be seen in his Jinx magazine.[9]

Some of the many contributors over the years were: Theodore Annemann, Al Baker, Milbourne Christopher, Joseph Dunninger, Robert Harbin, Ed Marlo, John Scarne, Harlan Tarbell and Martin Gardner (his first publication, at age 16).

A complete set would contain 52 volumes, 597 issues, and almost 17,000 pages.[10]

Editors

List of magicians featured on the cover

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sphinx, March 1902
  2. ↑ Sphinx, October 1904
  3. ↑ Sphinx - MagicPedia. Genii Magazine (February 11, 2012). Retrieved March 23, 2014.
  4. ↑ Sphinx1994
  5. ↑ Conjurers' Monthly Magazine, September 1906
  6. ↑ Conjurers' Monthly Magazine - MagicPedia. Genii Magazine (October 29, 2012). Retrieved March 23, 2014.
  7. ↑ Sphinx, Vol 1, No. 9, November 1902.
  8. ↑ Genii: A Retrospective" by David Charvet
  9. ↑ The Jinx No. 95, No. 114, and No. 115.
  10. ↑ Conjuring Arts Research Library. Conjuring Library. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Cover page". The Sphinx. Sphinx Publishing Corporation. 24 (9): 1. November 1945.
  12. ↑ "Cover page". The Sphinx. Sphinx Publishing Corporation. 51 (1): 1, 3. March 1952.
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