Introduction
Ever wondered about the connection between magic and detective fiction? As Neil Tobin reveals in his conversation on The Magic Book Podcast, "the literary academic world is suddenly as interested in magic as we are." This fascinating intersection has become the subject of serious academic study, with Neil noting a surprising historical connection:
"One of the first detectives in western literature was Inspector Bucket in 'Bleak House' by Charles Dickens, who was a performer of magic. Coincidence?"
Neil Tobin, a theatrical performer, writer, and historian, recently joined me to discuss everything from his magical journey to his groundbreaking work on magicians who doubled as detective fiction authors. In this blog post, we'll explore some of the highlights of their conversation, including Neil's creative performances, his academic essays, and how magic continues to shape his storytelling.
From Law School to the Stage: Neil Tobin's Magical Path
Neil's journey into the world of magic didn't follow a straight line. Like many magicians, his love for the craft began as a child, performing at birthday parties. But his magical pursuits took a hiatus during high school and college as he immersed himself in theater and music.
With a degree in English, Neil eventually set out for law school in Los Angeles—only to discover it wasn't his calling. During that difficult first year, a memory sparked his rediscovery of magic: "I remember... seeing photographs of Mark Wilson floating his wife in front of that magic castle... So I looked it up. And I called them up and asked if, you know, 'Hey, I'm a visiting magician from out of town' ... The next day I was at Hollywood Magic buying books again!"
This experience gave Neil an important perspective on performance: "Anybody who's listening, I'm here to tell you that if you're a performer, the time to step away from magic and gain some objective distance can be incredibly helpful. It completely changed how I approach it."
Mentorship and Magic: The Influence of Eugene Burger
Back in Chicago, Neil found inspiration and mentorship in Eugene Burger, one of the most influential magicians in the city. Neil credits Eugene's books, particularly "Spirit Theater" and "Mastering the Art of Magic," for shaping his approach to performance: "Of the books that I immersed myself in when I was rediscovering magic, the one that really hit me as the type of repertoire that I wanted to explore was in his book, Spirit Theater."
Eugene even attended one of Neil's early Supernatural Chicago performances and, in his signature sonorous voice, handed Neil a card with a simple suggestion: "Let's have lunch." Neil recalls, "The following week we had lunch, and he had written up pages of director's notes so generously shared with me. I mean, these are, magicians paid him money to do that, and he just did that out of the goodness of his heart."
Creating Magic in Unexpected Spaces
One of Neil's trademarks is his ability to create immersive, site-specific theater. Supernatural Chicago was staged in a historic, haunted location—the Excalibur nightclub—adding authenticity to the paranormal stories. Similarly, his show Near Death Experience explored mortality in a cemetery chapel.
Neil explains that site-specific theater offers something that can't be replicated in traditional venues:
"If you can be in a space with an authentic connection to the experience that you want to give your audience, you're able to provide a dimension that you can't get otherwise. You can spend a million dollars to try to turn a theater into something resembling that, but it still won't be as good. The audience knows the difference."
Magic Meets Mystery: Magicians as Detective Fiction Authors
Neil's scholarly work has uncovered the surprising influence magicians had on the golden age of detective fiction. His essays, published in "Magic, Magicians, and Detective Fiction," explore how magicians-turned-authors like Walter B. Gibson, Bruce Elliott, and Clayton Rawson used their knowledge of deception and misdirection to craft compelling mysteries.
Magicians and mystery writers share a common skill: the ability to create the impossible. Neil refers to Walter B. Gibson, Bruce Elliott, and Clayton Rawson as "the holy trinity of connectors between the two communities."
The skill set required to design a mind-bending magic trick—misdirection, meticulous planning, and the element of surprise—translates perfectly to crafting a good whodunit.
Neil's research revealed that many magician-authors used their stories to elevate the art of magic, showcasing its respectability and the incredible discipline behind the scenes:
"Magical authors writing mysteries figured out that they could use their proxies as a way to give readers a behind the scenes little, careful peek behind the scenes to increase their magical appreciation of what goes into it without exposing anything."
The Art of Decoy Exposures
One of the more amusing aspects Neil discovered was how magicians used "decoy exposures" in their stories—fake explanations for tricks that seemed plausible to the public but were completely impractical: "To the lay person, it seems plausible. But any magician reading it would laugh their heads off, because they're totally impractical. There's no way in hell."
Neil cites an example from Walter B. Gibson: "He wrote a pulp called 'Looks That Kill,' in which his lead character is a mentalist... and Gibson instead describes this switch box that could have been a Mission Impossible gadget that is just unbelievable... with the technology at the time, this was patently impossible. But to a layperson, 'yeah, okay, I can buy that.'"
Annotating The Great Merlini Mysteries
Clayton Rawson, one of the "holy trinity" of magician-authors, stood out in Neil's research. Rawson's four novels featuring the magician-detective The Great Merlini were hugely popular in the 1930s. Neil shares, "They were all extremely well received when they came out in the 30s... getting rave reviews from book reviewers. And not just in magic magazines like The Jinx, but in the pages of Time and major publications. Two of his novels ended up being made into films."
Neil is now working on annotating these novels: "I thought, you know, I've given the academic world enough. Let's annotate all four novels. Let's pull out all that information in the footnotes to create new doorways of appreciation for his work and get them published for a wider audience of people to enjoy and really rediscover his work as it deserves to be seen."
Favorite Magic Books and Advice for Aspiring Historians
When asked about his most cherished magic book, Neil singled out Eugene Burger's "Spirit Theater:" "I wouldn't be where I am without it, and my copy is extra special because he even signed it for me."
For those interested in researching magic history, Neil offers this advice:
"If you have a subject that you're passionate about, that you're excited about, that your brain won't let you stop obsessing about and you want to dig into it, I can't encourage you enough to do it now. Don't wait... just like a detective story, leads dry up if you don't follow them."
Looking Ahead: What's Next for Neil Tobin?
As Neil continues to work on annotating Clayton Rawson's novels, he's also passionate about sharing his findings with the magic community. Whether through essays, performances, or his upcoming annotations, Neil's work bridges the worlds of magic, literature, and mystery in ways that inspire and illuminate.
Conclusion
Neil Tobin's journey—from rediscovering magic to uncovering its hidden role in detective fiction—is a testament to the art's enduring appeal. Whether he's performing in historic venues or unearthing forgotten stories, Neil invites us to see magic not just as entertainment but as a lens through which we can explore history, literature, and the mysteries of the human experience.
Connect with Neil on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NeilTobinNecromancer/ for more updates on his work—and don't forget to subscribe to The Magic Book Podcast for more fascinating conversations. Next time, my guest is Rebecca Josephy, the editor of the book in which Neil's essays appear: "Magic, Magicians, and Detective Fiction": https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/Magic-Magicians-and-Detective-Fiction/
Timestamps
00:00 From Law to Advertising
06:15 Unwritten Magic: Co-Authoring Andruzzi
08:10 Houdini Séance at Haunted Nightclub
13:48 Beyond Immersion: Site-Specific Theater
17:01 The Magician Writing Mystery
19:57 Magicians and Authors: Uncovering Connections
24:38 Magic Perception and Respect Dynamics
27:06 Magic's Hidden Dynamics and Community
29:24 Decoy Exposures in Magic Mysteries
34:08 Linear Writing for Engagement
36:15 Annotating Classic Novels for Rediscovery
41:51 Rediscovering Magic: Eugene Berger's Impact
43:00 Pursuing Passion in Magic History
47:09 Final Words
Books and Articles Mentioned
Spirit Theatre by Eugene Burger
Mastering the Art of Magic by Eugene Burger
Unspeakable Acts: Three Lives and Countless Legends of Tom Palmer / Tony Andruzzi / Masklyn ye Mage by Jim Magus, Neil Tobin, and Terry Nosek
Magic, Magicians, and Detective Fiction: Essays on Intersecting Modes of Mystery edited by Rebecca Josephy
Protoplasm by Christian Painter
Para Lies by Joshua Quinn
Prism by Max Maven
Bleak House by Charles Dickens (referenced, not a magic book)
The Secret Society of Golden Age Magical Mystery Writers - article by Neil Tobin in Genii magazine, March 2023 issue