Magical Sparks

For this posting we’ll discuss magical Sparks. Not the kind that come from the fingertips but one that comes from England. We’re talking about Harry G. Sparks, a creative and talented magician and gentleman who contributed much to the conjuring profession including the scaling card below.

 

The two-color card shows Sparks inside of a heart
and the text identifies him as, “An Ace for Entertainment.” His address is given as 1. Flambard Rd., Harrow, Middlesex. Included at the bottom is a quote about him from “Vide:- London Newspapers,” reading, “A star turn with a style of his own.” The back features a plaid pattern in red, black and grey.

Sparks was a frequent contributor to The Magic Wand in the 1930’s and 40’s and had a column titled, "Flashes From the Forge” in which he provided routine effects with patter. One was “Proclamations,” involving large playing cards and a game of Whist. Cards magically transform into the cards the magician names. Another was “Lady Lightning,” which involves taking a doll dressed in a costume in a paper bag and placing it on display on stage. The magician then shows an empty shoe-box and some other doll dresses. One is freely selected by the audience and at a pistol shot from the magician, the bag containing the doll is crushed and thrown out to the audience, the empty box is opened and there is the doll wearing the dress chosen by the audience. A third was, “Vanishing Varnish” and involved a clumsy assistant who spills vanishing liquid on props and tables with comical results.

He also authored a well-received booklet on card magic called, “Pack a Deck” which was published and sold as Magic Wand Brochure No. 2. It contained tricks involving the Sand Frame, ribbons and cards, a card effect called “Three-Repeat Tenner,” and more. The Magic Wand said this of the booklet, “The casual, properly-timed movement which carries the double cargo of naturalness and deception, is nearer the workable truth than is the lightening-like and mostly fictitious quickness of hand.” Translation…they liked it.

Unfortunately, Sparks was killed in battle during World War II and died on January 4, 1945. He fought, as well, in World War I as part of the Field Ambulance Corps of the R.A.M.C. His obituary notes that he also authored a charming book of verse, and was always welcoming at social events and at his church in Kenton. The Magic Wand continued to print his conjuring ideas for some time after his death.