Posted 9 years ago
zguy2112
(110 items)
This is an extremely rare original pitch book from Claude Alexander (better known as Alexander, The Man Who Knows) from my private collection of Magic ephemera. copyright 1919
Pitch books were common among Magicians, Mentalists, and Psychic performers back in the day. They were created as a way of increasing income from audience members who wanted to take away something to remember the show. This is one of the more rare pitch books from Alexander and it is in EXCELLENT condition! This particular pitch book explores the interpretation of dreams astrological readings physiognomy. Alexander's home address was printed on the back cover:
C. Alexander
239 So. Oxford Ave.
Los Angeles, CAL., U.S.A.
Claude "Alexander" Conlin was perhaps the most successful professional theatrical mind reader of his generation. He made millions of dollars performing on the grandest vaudeville stages - nearly $240,000. in 1924 alone and retired at age 47.
Alexander admitted to killing four men, was married seven times, occasionally to more than one woman at a time, spent time in jails and prisons around the U.S. and counted some of the greatest magicians of his time as his close friends.
zguy , I am very impressed with your posts ! Beautiful works of art ! To go a little off subject have you ever come across any posters of Orson Welles as a magician ?
Paulmartin, thanks for the compliment and message, I am glad you enjoy my growing collection.
As far as Orson is concerned, I have a different love for the man as he was THE MASTER OF FILM in my eyes! A true Genius both behind and in front of the camera, a genius who is STILL ahead of our time!!
There are posters of Orsen Welles as a Magician and you can buy them online, but none that I know of that are original except for his Film posters such as "Black magic", etc. That said, I am very fortune to own a silver gelatin of the GREATEST photo EVER taken of Orsen Welles by Chicago photographer, Victor Skrebneski. Just google the 2 names and you will see the B&W photo I speak of, it is truly AMAZING!
stunning poster!!!
book sorry!!
zguy, how fortunate you are to own that photo of Mr. Welles ! You are right, that is the coolest picture I have seen of him ! I have seen that picture before but since you pointed it out specifically I would wholeheartedly agree with you that it is BEST ! And you are right about him being a Genius !!
Orson was born in my hometown and the 100th anniversary of his birth was recently celebrated all over town with various activities ranging from live re-enactments of War of the Worlds to limited tours of his boyhood home and activities at Greenridge Cemetary where some of his relatives are buried . Thanks again !
So cool you are from the same hometown. My father worked with Skrebneski back in the 70's and 80's so Skrebneski actually printed a silver gelatin of the Orson Welles portrait out of his own darkroom and gave it to my mother as a gift. She then gave it to me and it now hangs in my kitchen (I figure that's where Orson would have liked to be)
Orson Welles was an acting GENIUS, Voiceover GENIUS, and the GREATEST Film Director of all time, if not one of them! Such a collection of BRILLIANT talent and the man wasted NONE of it! "Touch of Evil" is one of my favorite Films.
Funny......just watched "Touch of Evil " four days ago !!! I could watch all of his movies on a continuous loop and never tire of seeing them . Thanks to you
I am now going to get a copy of that picture (not silver gel of course) and hang one in my home as well !! I cant wait to delve more into the Skrebneski collection . Thanks again for the enlightenment !!