While this is not a comprehensive list of titles published by Harry Leat, here is an interesting selection of Leat books with some description of the contents:
This book contains a number of interesting apparatus effects and “humorous patter and short articles of general interest.” Leat makes an interesting statement in the introduction saying that it is not his intention to describe tricks that can be made inexpensively since the low cost will contribute to a tricks popularity making it too common for the serious performer.
“The Mysterious Box of Parvo” is the first and one of the more compelling effects and Leat describes it as “the greatest self-contained series of effects ever designed.” The magician shows a large wooden box in which is another wooden box fitting snugly inside is removed. Both are shown empty and then place at opposite end of a table. Two arms that are attached to lids of the boxes are then extended outward from which various items produced from the box are hung such as bird cages and various other production items. At the end, the table is full from the items produced for a very impressive display. The book also includes an “Improved Card Frame”, “Improved Passe Passe Bottles” and the “Real Magic Funnel”
The “Necromantic Mummy” involves the production of rice and a mummy from an apparently empty coffin. The size of this illusion can be built as either a small close-up effect or a larger sized illusion. “The Traveling Glass” is described modestly “as an unadulterated miracle, when seen for the first time.” A glass tumbler is examined and some personal effects are borrowed and placed inside. An ungimmicked cover is placed over the glass and a matching cover is place on the opposite end of the table. Upon lifting the covers, the glass and its contents have switch places and covers and glass can all be examined. “Super Divination” is a variation of the Massey trick explained in his book “New and Original Magic.” The improvement allows for the magician to tell which division in a box a rod is placed in addition to the color.
This is a book that again focuses on “mechanical magic” in which Leat assures the reader that “no space will be wasted on card tricks.” The “Organ Pipe Pagoda” uses the standard organ pipe effect with an interesting variation of the fake to allow for it to be produced as an elaborate pagoda after a large production is made. “The Ribbon Flag” is an intriguing effect where a flag is cut into strips, vanished, and then appears back on a specially prepared frame strip by strip. In the “Self-Locking Sand Frame”, Leat even covers the cleaning and dying of the sand for optimum performance and effect. “Shadows on the Blind” is where a minuture house is lighted and different shadows appear in the window blind.
The concept of the depot magic books is pretty radical by today’s standard in that Leat had agreement to publish the working of over 20 commercial effects by various makes from various US based magic manufacturers. The contributors to this book are Charles Brush, Chicago Magic, Gilbert, Carl Lowery, Leo Rullman, and Thayer Manufacturing Company. “The Penetrated Card” by Chicago Magic involves a card in frame which is penetrated by a wand and yet is revealed to be unharmed upon close examination. “Father Christmas” by Lowery is a holiday production effect with a replica of a chimney and a spring Santa. The Thayer section includes a 2 color Thayer logo and 4 effects: “Spooky-Ookum”, “Thayer Drop Model Production Cabinet”, “Thayer’s Great Balot Box Mystery”, and “Thayer’s Two Piece Table Top.”
Thoughtful Magic (1923) - 107 Pages
This book contains a number of interesting apparatus effects and “humorous patter and short articles of general interest.” Leat makes an interesting statement in the introduction saying that it is not his intention to describe tricks that can be made inexpensively since the low cost will contribute to a tricks popularity making it too common for the serious performer.
“The Mysterious Box of Parvo” is the first and one of the more compelling effects and Leat describes it as “the greatest self-contained series of effects ever designed.” The magician shows a large wooden box in which is another wooden box fitting snugly inside is removed. Both are shown empty and then place at opposite end of a table. Two arms that are attached to lids of the boxes are then extended outward from which various items produced from the box are hung such as bird cages and various other production items. At the end, the table is full from the items produced for a very impressive display. The book also includes an “Improved Card Frame”, “Improved Passe Passe Bottles” and the “Real Magic Funnel”
The “Necromantic Mummy” involves the production of rice and a mummy from an apparently empty coffin. The size of this illusion can be built as either a small close-up effect or a larger sized illusion. “The Traveling Glass” is described modestly “as an unadulterated miracle, when seen for the first time.” A glass tumbler is examined and some personal effects are borrowed and placed inside. An ungimmicked cover is placed over the glass and a matching cover is place on the opposite end of the table. Upon lifting the covers, the glass and its contents have switch places and covers and glass can all be examined. “Super Divination” is a variation of the Massey trick explained in his book “New and Original Magic.” The improvement allows for the magician to tell which division in a box a rod is placed in addition to the color.
Diversified Magic (1924) - 103 pages
This is a book that again focuses on “mechanical magic” in which Leat assures the reader that “no space will be wasted on card tricks.” The “Organ Pipe Pagoda” uses the standard organ pipe effect with an interesting variation of the fake to allow for it to be produced as an elaborate pagoda after a large production is made. “The Ribbon Flag” is an intriguing effect where a flag is cut into strips, vanished, and then appears back on a specially prepared frame strip by strip. In the “Self-Locking Sand Frame”, Leat even covers the cleaning and dying of the sand for optimum performance and effect. “Shadows on the Blind” is where a minuture house is lighted and different shadows appear in the window blind.
USA Depot Magic (1925)
The concept of the depot magic books is pretty radical by today’s standard in that Leat had agreement to publish the working of over 20 commercial effects by various makes from various US based magic manufacturers. The contributors to this book are Charles Brush, Chicago Magic, Gilbert, Carl Lowery, Leo Rullman, and Thayer Manufacturing Company. “The Penetrated Card” by Chicago Magic involves a card in frame which is penetrated by a wand and yet is revealed to be unharmed upon close examination. “Father Christmas” by Lowery is a holiday production effect with a replica of a chimney and a spring Santa. The Thayer section includes a 2 color Thayer logo and 4 effects: “Spooky-Ookum”, “Thayer Drop Model Production Cabinet”, “Thayer’s Great Balot Box Mystery”, and “Thayer’s Two Piece Table Top.”
Tragic Magic (1925)
Tragic Magic is a bit of different with some magic effects and collection of articles, ventriloquism ideas, poems and cartoons. Some of the effects include “Almost Magic” or “The Rainbow Waters” which is an any drink called for routine. Another full routine entitled “The Miser” or “The More you Have” is a miser’s dream type effect.
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