
Of New York's greatest sleight-of-hand workers, including Dr. Hugard began this stage in his life by taking on a roster of students that included some But alas, it seems he has runĪfould of the New York money-changers! It certainly is disheartening." -Eddie Clever, writing in The Tops in response to the publication of Modern Magic Manual by Jean Hugard, and reprinted in Jean Hugard by James B. Ideals of magic, it was the author of this book. If there was ever a person that I thought would remain true to the

Gentlemen, a few more books for the masses and there will be no places to Interested in magic can learn to take the places of 'us oldtimers'." Well To link his name with those who have written for the layman.Īnd this book's definitely "slanted" for the layman's trade, "so that those

"It hurts to see a man of whom one had always felt the highest regard fall by Later, Hugard made his living giving private magic lessons and writing and editing Alfredson explains, ".until his death 22 years The role by which most magicians know him today, as one of the great teachers andĪuthors in the literature of magic! As Mr. Only then, as it turns out, does he step into Stellar success as a professional performer. There is muchĭetail to be had in this little volume, but the stunning fact is that by 1935, then in hisĮarly 60s, Hugard, more by circumstance than by choice, had retired from his less than In the Coney Island off-season, working variety and even carnival gigs. Pseudo-Asian mysteries as (it appears) "Chin Sun Loo." Hugard booked what he could There, Hugard rented his own little theater where he presented his Performing career here, eventually working at Luna Park, one of the great Coney IslandĪmusement parks. Making his way soon thereafter to New York City, Hugard struggled throughout his Leaving a wife and two sons behind forever-and emigrated to the United States, arriving Hugard eventually, and rather suddenly, departed his native land in 1916. Upon the young Hugard that he promptly copied much of the latter's act, right down to He saw William Robinson perform as Chung Ling Soo, which had such a profound effect For the next decade he performed around Australia, during which time


Youth, at an age of somewhere between 22 and 24 years he turned to magic Born John Gerard Rodney Boyce in Australia, Hugard worked forĪ time in banking and then in the meat business. Here is an unexpected treat, a compact but refreshing little biography of magic's great Reviewed by Jamy Ian Swiss (originally published in Genii July, 1997)
