Robert Harbin - *MAGIC LEGENDS presented by Lee Asher*

[Lee Asher]

ROBERT HARBIN

Robert Harbin (1909 - 1978) though originally born in South Africa, was a noted British magician and writer. Robert Harbin is the inventor of a number of classic illusions, including his most famous - the Zig Zag Girl.

Robert Harbin was the first magician to appear on television in Britain beginning in 1940. He was able to bring magic to peoples homes and entertain huge audiences establishing his name as one of the pioneers of television magic.

Watch Robert Harbin perform the Zig Zag (his original illusion).




Watch Robert Harbin perform cigarette manipulations and a unique illusion with a drawing of the Venus de Milo.




You are encouraged to learn more about Robert Harbin by visiting his official Wikipedia Page.

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MAGIC LEGENDS

Watching professionals only increases the chances of you improving your own magic. It also helps educate you about magic's rich past. In turn, the art of magic advances. Magic Legends a free resource for you to use, study and benefit from.

Read more about Magic Legends here.

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[Shawn Mullins]

Thanks for posting Lee! Great videos!!!!!

[Ty Lee]

Good call Aaron,

Love his work in magic and I have a couple of his books on Origami. A lot of us older people remember his daughter, Sheri Lewis. Lambchop was a puppet staple on Saturday morning TV for quite some time. A great artist in several rights and a great performer. And don't forget Kookla, Fran and Ollie................

[Lee Asher]

Good call Aaron

I'm Lee Asher. It's ok. It happens more than I care to admit.

A lot of us older people remember his daughter, Sheri Lewis. Lambchop was a puppet staple on Saturday morning TV for quite some time.

I'm not sure Sheri Lewis was related to Robert Harbin. I believe Sheri Lewis' father was Peter Pan the Magic Man (Dr. Abraham Hurwitz).

However, Sheri Lewis, Peter Pan the Magic Man and Robert Harbin are all names that everyone should get acquainted with. They are all MAGIC LEGENDS.

Thanks for watching and responding Ty.

Cheers,
Lee Asher
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[Ty Lee]

Could have sworn Lewis was his daughter. But hey, I'm old, and memory fails me sometimes. However, Harbin did have some nice books on Origami out. I read those long before I knew his connection to magic. Now to put that connection to good use in my act. Thanks for reminding me.

[Lee Asher]

Harbin did have some nice books on Origami out. I read those long before I knew his connection to magic. Now to put that connection to good use in my act.

Yes he did! If you visit Robert Harbin's wiki page, there's a listing for some of those books. That's really neat you knew him for paper folding long before you knew he was one of the greatest magicians of the 20th century!

Thanks for reminding me.

The pleasure is all mine. So far the MAGIC LEGENDS project is 1 for 1!

Asher
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[Goudinov]

Lee, seeing this classic stuff reminds me... did you make it to the "Magic: the science of Wonder" exhibit at the Houston Museum of Natural Science? It was absolutely awesome to see the classic props that I've previously only read about.

[Lee Asher]

Did you make it to the "Magic: the science of Wonder" exhibit at the Houston Museum of Natural Science?

No. I wish. Couldn't get to Texas for it. I've seen photos of the exhibit but I bet they don't do it any justice.

How awesome was it?

Asher

[Ty Lee]

I also love Origami. I'm still trying to figure it into my act, though. Thinking a levitation/animation of some kind. And since you wrote "The Paper Engine", I was wondering if you played with something like that. Another good book, if you like Origami, "Creative Origami" by Kunihiko Kasahara. A lot of good stuff in there.

[Shawn Mullins]

I also love Origami. I'm still trying to figure it into my act, though. Thinking a levitation/animation of some kind. And since you wrote "The Paper Engine", I was wondering if you played with something like that. Another good book, if you like Origami, "Creative Origami" by Kunihiko Kasahara. A lot of good stuff in there.

Dude if you like origami magic...

All I have to say is....


tenebrio

[Lee Asher]

And since you wrote "The Paper Engine", I was wondering if you played with something like that.

Ty. Brother. You're killing me. The Paper Engine was written by Aaron Fisher, not me.

I can also assure you there's no origami magic within its pages.

However, the closest I've ever come to bringing something like Origami into my magic is a routine where I tear a card into another card (it's more of a topological presentation rather than a Origami piece).

Asher
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[Ty Lee]

Senility is the key, it allows you to get away with a lot of stuff, ha ha ha ha................Just ask RJ.

I was kidding about the book, but the origami question was serious. Been playing with Ishi Blacks Butterflies and other paper related stuff and wondered what you'd come up with.

[Lee Asher]

Senility is the key, it allows you to get away with a lot of stuff, ha ha ha ha................

I'm still laughing!

Asher
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[Shawn Mullins]

Ty. Brother. You're killing me. The Paper Engine was written by Aaron Fisher, not me.

I don't see the resemblance haha

but it's true to note that the Zig Zag is never performed that well anymore. It's sad really. It's a good illusion but today's magicians have a flair of cheese along with it (from what I've seen recently). Plus a lot of modern zig zags look like something from a bad 80's music video.

Ahhh the classic videos... love watching these

[Ty Lee]

I'm still laughing!

Asher
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Like how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsiepop, the world may never know.