Gravatt, Glenn G.
(1899-1984)
Glenn Gravatt became interested in magic as a child growing up in Kansas. At the age of 8 years he was already demonstrating magic for his friends and family. From Kansas, he went to California, where he worked as a newspaper reporter. He wrote " Encyclopedia of Self Working Card Tricks" (2 volumes, 1936 and 1937; later published under the byline of Jean Hugard under the title " Encyclopedia of Card Tricks." In writing the "Jap Box Tricks" in 1937, Gravatt effectively named this box for all time.
Invented: Extratour, Rope Appear, Visible Silk on Rope Appearance, Flying Silk and Ropes, Visible Rope and Ring Penetration, Rope-Silk-Bracelet Combination, Coat-Rope-Rings, No Clue Divination (1977),Five Cube Divination (1977), Psychic Spot (1976), Thimble Fantasy (1960), Card and Dagger (1956), Spooky Paper (1945), Multiple Match (1956), Magical Horse Race (1956), Percepo (1960), Close-up Cup Suspension (1958), The Antique Medallion, Color Ring Transpo, The Mystery of the Seven Veils, Super Penetration, Tube to Cigarettes, Color Riddle, 20th Century in Reverse, Ideal Solid Thru Solid, Dual Silk Production, Kondax (1921).
Compiled: Thayer Quality Magic Volumes 1-4 (1978-1981), Encyclopedia of Self-Working Card Tricks (1936-37)
Wrote: 50 Modern Card Tricks, 50 More Modern Card Tricks, Gold Mine of Magic, Jap Box Tricks (1937)
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Thayer, Floyd G.
(1877-1959)
Born in Jacksonville, Vermont, Thayer moved to California with family in 1891. Thayer was a builder of fine magic props and illusions that were prized by magicians the world over, and still are (as antiques and collectables) today. At his residence, studio and Magic Theatre, located at 929 So. Longwood Ave., Los Angeles, CA, the magicians of the world gathered to meet, socialize and create magic.
Invented: Commando, Color Changing Billiard Ball, Diminishing Billiard Ball, Billiard Ball Stand, Banner Nest of Boxes, Talking Buddah, Rice Orange and Checkers, Reappearing Clock, The Headless Lady Illusion, Reincarnation.
Both Carl and Henry Owen got their start as illusion builders at Thayer's. William Larsen purchased the Thayer house and studio in 1942.
Published the Magic Bulletin.
Jay Leslie remembers: "Thayer was manufacturing puzzles out of wood. He drove into the desert and collected various species to give his puzzles a unique look. He also did not use a 'Tracer' lathe; in other words, all of the billiard balls were cut on the lathe, by eye and caliper measurements. Jim Swoger told me that,on one visit, Floyd cut a perfectly round ball and put the lines in it, taking him around three minutes, without measuring anything."
