$12.50
ESTATE Condition Good
Published by the iconic Supreme Magic Company in 1968, The Joe Smith Mysteries by Arthur Setterington is a slim but highly clever 20-page booklet containing 12 "magi-monologues."
Rather than focusing on heavy sleight of hand or grand illusions, the book is built entirely around character-driven storytelling, utilizing a fictional persona named Joe Smith.
Core Concept & Structure
The overarching premise is to present a series of magic effects woven together by a continuous narrative or spoken monologue. The character of Joe Smith originally debuted in magic magazines before Setterington compiled these specific routines into a single performance framework.
Because the text relies heavily on storytelling, situational presentations, and simple props, it fits perfectly into the traditional theater style of magic that prioritizes audience engagement, charm, and scripting over raw digital dexterity.
Notable Routines Included
The 12 effects cover a mix of classic methodology adapted to whimsical or mysterious plotlines:
Joe Smith – Magician: A structured card routine where the Ace of Spades repeatedly rises to the top of the pack before cleanly swapping places with a completely different card isolated inside the performer's pocket.
The Amateur Gardener: A highly visual, multi-phase routine using simple envelopes and cards illustrated with flowerpots. As the story progresses, the first pot visibly grows larger, the second suddenly sprouts flowers, and the third features a flower that visibly grows right out of the card.
By Royal Command: A historical storytelling piece featuring cards representing Queen Victoria and the Duke of Wellington. A chosen Three of Diamonds vanishes from a sealed envelope and impossibly reappears sandwiched directly between the two historical figures.
Bewitched, Bothered & Befuddled: A classic platform effect using a mirror box where three silks cleanly appear. Adding a layer of situational comedy, one silk arrives with a knot in it, which magically dissolves the moment the performer blows on it.
The Indian Rope Trick: A stylized, narrative-driven rope routine where knots repeatedly appear and disappear on command while the performer recites the lore of the legendary myth.
Joe's Master Mystery: A clean, multi-method mentalism/parlor effect where five multi-colored balls are placed into a bowl. A spectator freely selects one color, and all the remaining balls instantly vanish.
Practical Value for Performers
Setterington was a master of making magic straightforward to construct and highly entertaining to watch. The routines in this booklet are excellent examples of how to take standard utility props (like a two-way envelope, a mirror box, or a simple forcing stack) and elevate them into memorable theater through distinct character work and tight scripting.
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