Goodliffe's Abracadabra: Difference between revisions
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| ⚫ | {{Infobox periodical|image_file=Goodliffe's_Abracadabra.jpg|firstdate={{Start date|1946|02|02}}|finaldate={{End date|2009|03|28}}|finalnumber=3,296}}'''''Abracadabra''''' was a British weekly magic magazine whose publication life spanned sixty-three years. The first issue was published on 2 February 1946; the last issue was published on 28 March 2009; a total of 3,296 issues.<ref name="MagicPedia">[http://www.geniimagazine.com/wiki/index.php/Abracadabra ''MagicPedia'' Entry on Goodliffe's Abracadabra]</ref> |
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| ⚫ | ''Abracadabra'' was a British weekly magic magazine whose publication life spanned sixty-three years. The first issue was published on |
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== Name == |
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Although the magazine name was ''Abracadabra'', it was also known as '' |
Although the magazine name was ''Abracadabra'', it was also known as '''''Goodliffe's Abracadabra''''' and the readers nicknamed it '''''Abra'''''. |
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== Origins == |
== Origins == |
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The weekly magazine |
The weekly magazine ''Abracadabra'' was created by Charles Goodliffe Neale (1912 – December 26, 1980).<ref name="MagicPedia2">[http://www.geniimagazine.com/magicpedia/Goodliffe ''MagicPedia'' Entry on Goodliffe]</ref> He was a magician and author. From the very first issue, Goodliffe (as he preferred to be called) gave the magazine the cover tag line of "The Only Magical Weekly in the World". |
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Goodliffe was a man of strong views and the magazine became the arena of many controversial debates about magic and magicians, sometimes initiated by the readers themselves through their contributions and letters.<ref name="Lamb">''Magic: Illustrated Dictionary'' by Geoffrey Lamb, Kaye & Ward Ltd (London), 1979</ref> |
Goodliffe was a man of strong views and the magazine became the arena of many controversial debates about magic and magicians, sometimes initiated by the readers themselves through their contributions and letters.<ref name="Lamb">''Magic: Illustrated Dictionary'' by Geoffrey Lamb, Kaye & Ward Ltd (London), 1979</ref> |
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== After |
== After Goodliffe's death == |
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After |
After Goodliffe's death, Davenports (one of London's oldest family run magic shops) and Rabbi Sam Gringras (''Magico'' of New York) put together a rescue package and the magazine continued its publication uninterrupted.<ref name="MagicPedia"/><ref name="iTricks">[http://itricks.com/news/2009/03/abra-magazine-passes-to-new-hands-after-63-years/ ''iTricks Magic News'' Entry on Goodliffe's Abracadabra]</ref> |
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== |
== Editors == |
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All the editors have been professional magicians. |
All the editors have been professional magicians. |
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Originally, Goodliffe himself was the principal editor with the help of associate editor Fabian (Ernest Raymond Griffiths, |
Originally, Goodliffe himself was the principal editor with the help of associate editor Fabian (Ernest Raymond Griffiths, 1912–1965).<ref name="MagicPedia3">[http://www.geniimagazine.com/magicpedia/Fabian ''MagicPedia'' Entry on Fabian]</ref> |
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The next editor, who continued as editor after Goodliffe's death and kept ''Abracadabra'' running, was Donald Bevan<ref name="MagicPedia4"> |
The next editor, who continued as editor after Goodliffe's death and kept ''Abracadabra'' running, was Donald Bevan.<ref name="MagicPedia4">[http://www.geniimagazine.com/magicpedia/Donald_Bevan ''MagicPedia'' Entry on Donald Bevan]</ref> |
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The final editor was Walt Lees.<ref name="MagicPedia" |
The final editor was Walt Lees.<ref name="MagicPedia"/><ref name="iTricks"/> |
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== |
== Contributors == |
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Over the decades the magazine not only included articles from its regular readers but also from television magicians such as [[David Nixon]], [[Wayne Dobson]], [[Paul Daniels]] and [[Jerry Sadowitz]]. In its later years, contributions came from authors such as |
Over the decades the magazine not only included articles from its regular readers but also from television magicians such as [[David Nixon (magician)|David Nixon]], [[Wayne Dobson]], [[Paul Daniels]] and [[Jerry Sadowitz]]. In its later years, contributions came from authors such as Paul Gordon and John Helvin. The contents of the magazine was news, reviews, magic tricks and articles on magic as a performing art and its history; the quality of the content varied over the years. |
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== |
== Demise == |
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In issue 3295, on March |
In issue 3295, on 21 March 2009, the Davenport family announced that ''Abracadabra'' was to change owners. The new owner would be a "magical enthusiast" named Stephen Martin.<ref name="Abra1">''Goodliffe's Abracadabra'', 3295, 21 March 2009, ISSN 0001-3269</ref> However, for undisclosed reasons, the deal fell through and the next issue of ''Abracadabra'' announced its closure as a publication. In his final editorial Walt Lees wrote "…when I took over the job, it was made clear to me that ''Abra'' was struggling. Times were changing and with the growth of so much internet traffic, the demand for a hardcopy weekly was falling off dramatically." Lees was initially given a year to salvage the magazine, which became two years. Lees wrote "… I did my best. Sadly my best wasn't good enough."<ref name="Abra2">''Goodliffe's Abracadabra'', 3296, 28 March 2009, ISSN 0001-3269</ref> For some, this statement made it appear that Lees was taking the blame for the magazine's demise and articles were written in his defence by people, such as John Helvin.<ref name="LaBaL1">''The Last Incantation'' by John Helvin in The LaBaL, April 2009</ref> and Al Smith,<ref name="LaBaL2">Editorials by Al Smith in The LaBaL, April 2009</ref> which highlighted contributing factors to the magazine's demise which were beyond Walt Lees' control. |
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== Since the Demise of Goodliffe's Abracadabra == |
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It is only in hindsight that it is being realised that Goodliffe's magazine is a document charting sixty-three years of [[social history]] regarding magic as a performing art in the United Kingdom. <ref name="MystMag">Editorial by Walt Lees in ''Mystery Magazine'', November 2009, volume 1, number 1, monthly magazine published by Magic Books By Post</ref> |
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<references /> |
<references /> |
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{{The Magic Circle - The Maskelyne Award}} |
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[[Category:Hobby magazines published in the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:Weekly magazines published in the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:Defunct magazines published in the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:Magic periodicals]] |
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[[Category:Magazines established in 1946]] |
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[[Category:Magazines disestablished in 2009]] |
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Latest revision as of 05:02, 24 August 2020
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| First issue | February 2, 1946 |
|---|---|
| Final issue Number | March 28, 2009 3,296 |
Abracadabra was a British weekly magic magazine whose publication life spanned sixty-three years. The first issue was published on 2 February 1946; the last issue was published on 28 March 2009; a total of 3,296 issues.[1]
Name
[edit]Although the magazine name was Abracadabra, it was also known as Goodliffe's Abracadabra and the readers nicknamed it Abra.
Origins
[edit]The weekly magazine Abracadabra was created by Charles Goodliffe Neale (1912 – December 26, 1980).[2] He was a magician and author. From the very first issue, Goodliffe (as he preferred to be called) gave the magazine the cover tag line of "The Only Magical Weekly in the World". Goodliffe was a man of strong views and the magazine became the arena of many controversial debates about magic and magicians, sometimes initiated by the readers themselves through their contributions and letters.[3]
After Goodliffe's death
[edit]After Goodliffe's death, Davenports (one of London's oldest family run magic shops) and Rabbi Sam Gringras (Magico of New York) put together a rescue package and the magazine continued its publication uninterrupted.[1][4]
Editors
[edit]All the editors have been professional magicians. Originally, Goodliffe himself was the principal editor with the help of associate editor Fabian (Ernest Raymond Griffiths, 1912–1965).[5] The next editor, who continued as editor after Goodliffe's death and kept Abracadabra running, was Donald Bevan.[6] The final editor was Walt Lees.[1][4]
Contributors
[edit]Over the decades the magazine not only included articles from its regular readers but also from television magicians such as David Nixon, Wayne Dobson, Paul Daniels and Jerry Sadowitz. In its later years, contributions came from authors such as Paul Gordon and John Helvin. The contents of the magazine was news, reviews, magic tricks and articles on magic as a performing art and its history; the quality of the content varied over the years.
Demise
[edit]In issue 3295, on 21 March 2009, the Davenport family announced that Abracadabra was to change owners. The new owner would be a "magical enthusiast" named Stephen Martin.[7] However, for undisclosed reasons, the deal fell through and the next issue of Abracadabra announced its closure as a publication. In his final editorial Walt Lees wrote "…when I took over the job, it was made clear to me that Abra was struggling. Times were changing and with the growth of so much internet traffic, the demand for a hardcopy weekly was falling off dramatically." Lees was initially given a year to salvage the magazine, which became two years. Lees wrote "… I did my best. Sadly my best wasn't good enough."[8] For some, this statement made it appear that Lees was taking the blame for the magazine's demise and articles were written in his defence by people, such as John Helvin.[9] and Al Smith,[10] which highlighted contributing factors to the magazine's demise which were beyond Walt Lees' control.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c MagicPedia Entry on Goodliffe's Abracadabra
- ^ MagicPedia Entry on Goodliffe
- ^ Magic: Illustrated Dictionary by Geoffrey Lamb, Kaye & Ward Ltd (London), 1979
- ^ a b iTricks Magic News Entry on Goodliffe's Abracadabra
- ^ MagicPedia Entry on Fabian
- ^ MagicPedia Entry on Donald Bevan
- ^ Goodliffe's Abracadabra, 3295, 21 March 2009, ISSN 0001-3269
- ^ Goodliffe's Abracadabra, 3296, 28 March 2009, ISSN 0001-3269
- ^ The Last Incantation by John Helvin in The LaBaL, April 2009
- ^ Editorials by Al Smith in The LaBaL, April 2009