"What happens to magic dealers when they retire?" asked Donald Bevan in the magicians' weekly 'Abracadabra'.
He was especially interested in what Edwin Hooper was doing.
"Edwin," he wrote, "built the great Supreme Magic empire from one-room beginnings in the 1950's to his retirement in 1986.
"In business, Edwin was a go-getter but beneath the Goliath exteriorlay a friendly and energetic character, the perfect host to visitors, with a true love of the magic world and its inhabitants. As a past president of the British ring of the International Brotherhood of Magicians and long-serving member of its committee, Edwin demonstrated devotion, integrity, and hard work beyond the usual call."
In 1986 Edwin's eventful life story appeared in two giant volumes. They were acclaimed as "The books of the year." Also in that year Edwin presented a first-ever star lecture which was one of the hits of the Scarborough IBM Convention. Edwin received a standing ovation and this led to other appearances in Holland, Paris, Cornwall, Malvern and with many bookings lined up for 1990 including Ipswich, Spain, Belgium, Stamford, Connecticut and the Goodliffe Memorial Lecture for the British Magical Society.
"A Host of Surprises" contains -
84 great tricks fully detailed in 14 chapters, including "Tricky Rope Tricks," "Kiddie-Rama," "Silky Things," and "Micro Mysteries."
PLUS a whole chapter "King of the Kids", packed with hints, tips, and PRACTICAL INFORMATION for today's children's entertainer.