Maurice Fogel

“An illustrated history of good old-fashioned entertainment from names like Tessie O’Shea, George Formby, and the early days of Bruce Forsyth.” —Yours As one of the richest sources of diversion for the people of Britain between the end of the First World War and the 1960s, the variety theater emerged from the embers of music hall, a vulgar and rambunctious entertainment that had held the working classes in thrall since the 1840s. Music hall bosses decided they would do better business if a man going to theaters on his own could take his wife and children with him, knowing they would see or hear nothing that would scandalize them. So variety, a gentler, less red-blooded entertainment was gradually established. At the top of the profession were Gracie Fields, a peerless singer and comedienne, and Max Miller, a comic who was renowned for being risqué, but who, in fact, never cracked a dirty joke. They were supported by acts that matched the word variety: ventriloquists, drag artists, animal acts, acrobats, jugglers, magicians and many more. But the variety theater was constantly under threat, first from revue, then radio, the cinema, girlie shows, the birth of rock ’n’ roll and finally television. By the end of the 1950s, the variety business seemed to have given up, but the recent and extraordinary popularity of talent shows on television has proved the public appetite is still there. Variety could be about to start all over again. “A priceless record of the people who entertained several generations between the wars and, for a brief time, after WWII . . . thoroughly entertaining.” —Books Monthly

Since the early nineteenth century, mesmerists, mediums and psychics have exhibited extraordinary phenomena. These have been demonstrated, reported and disputed by every modern generation. We continue to wonder why people believe in such things, while others wonder why they are dismissed so easily. Extraordinary Beliefs takes a historical approach to an ongoing psychological problem: why do people believe in extraordinary phenomena? It considers the phenomena that have been associated with mesmerism, spiritualism, psychical research and parapsychology. By drawing upon conjuring theory, frame analysis and discourse analysis, it examines how such phenomena have been made convincing in demonstration and report, and then disputed endlessly. It argues that we cannot understand extraordinary beliefs unless we properly consider the events in which people believe, and what people believe about them. And it shows how, in constructing and maintaining particular beliefs about particular phenomena, we have been in the business of constructing ourselves.

Poverty to Paradise, by Rocky Mason is a story of courage, fear, deprivation and humour. There are times when you will laugh out loud and others when you will weep. It's the definitive autobiography of a man who has been there, done that and still proudly wears the T Shirt. It's an eventful life of tough childhood wartime experiences, a successful amateur boxing career of 69 straight wins in 87 fights only to move from "Gumshield to Greasepaint" and a life in showbiz working for the "Holiday Camp King," Billy Butlin. Drawing on a multitude of sources Rocky offers a compelling account of those six gruelling years 1939 - 45. Food shortages, conscientious objectors, head lice, visits of the nit-nurse, rationing, nightly air raids and his own personal experience of evacuation to an atrocious boys camp. During what was a 30 year association with Butlins, Rocky became a personal friend of almost every showbiz star in the country, many of whom have contributed to this book. .

Pull back the curtain on the real history of magic – and discover why magic really matters If you read a standard history of magic, you learn that it begins in ancient Egypt, with the resurrection of a goose in front of the Pharaoh. You discover how magicians were tortured and killed during the age of witchcraft. You are told how conjuring tricks were used to quell rebellious colonial natives. The history of magic is full of such stories, which turn out not to be true. Behind the smoke and mirrors, however, lies the real story of magic. It is a history of people from humble roots, who made and lost fortunes, and who deceived kings and queens. In order to survive, they concealed many secrets, yet they revealed some and they stole others. They engaged in deception, exposure, and betrayal, in a quest to make the impossible happen. They managed to survive in a world in which a series of technological wonders appeared, which previous generations would have considered magical. Even today, when we now take the most sophisticated technology for granted, we can still be astonished by tricks that were performed hundreds of years ago. The Secret History of Magic reveals how this was done. It is about why magic matters in a world that no longer seems to have a place for it, but which desperately needs a sense of wonder.

What if you could embark on an extraordinary journey of psychic exploration and self-discovery, unlocking the hidden potential of your intuitive abilities within the pages of a single comprehensive guide? In a world where the unseen and intuitive realms hold great fascination, this Psychic Development for Beginners is your ultimate gateway to unraveling the mysteries of psychic abilities. Whether you're entirely new to the realm of psychism or seeking to deepen your understanding, this complete beginner's guide is your go-to manual for navigating the vast landscape of psychic potential. Drawing from expert insights and personal experiences, this guide unveils the step-by-step process to awaken and nurture your innate psychic abilities, such as intuition, telepathy, clairvoyance, and more. From grounding techniques to conducting psychic readings, you'll gain the tools and techniques necessary to embark on an empowering journey of self-discovery and psychic growth. Inside this transformative guide, you'll discover: - Techniques to enhance your intuition and harness your psychic senses. - How to differentiate between psychic signals and ordinary thoughts. - Practical exercises to strengthen your telepathic connections and energetic communication. - Ways to interpret psychic impressions and gain clarity in your readings. - How to set energetic boundaries to protect your energy during psychic exploration. - Techniques for channeling your psychic abilities into healing and guidance for yourself and others. - Insights into different psychic modalities and finding the one that resonates with you. In addition to the enriching content, you'll gain access to a bonus course covering every aspect of honing your empathic and psychic skills. So even if you are new to this field you will find a mini-course, not to get overwhelmed, that walks you through everything step by step. You’ll find everything explained in plain English, free from any specialized language. Moreover, you'll join a supportive community of like-minded individuals, where you can seek guidance and share experiences on your path to empowerment. Have questions? Reach out to us via email and will reply to you.