Joe Karson

Joe Karson (1912- November 6, 1980) was born Joseph Alexander Chrzanowski in Providence, Rhode Island. He changed his name after his parents separation.

Early on, he performed for several years with a Chinese magic act called "Chan Lin and Company."

In the late 1930s, he started a mail order business "Karson Xclusives" and a had magic shop in Springfield, Massachusetts where he built much of the magic he sold. Joe was also one of the founding members of the Magic Dealers’ Association

Joe's most famous invention was the Zombie illusion. The inspiration came to him when he was fooling around with the simple impromptu trick where the magician interlocks the fingers of both hands and a lighted match appears to magically suspend in air behind it. He patented the Zombie in 1940.

Due to alcoholism, he started to slip into obscurity, loosing touch with the magic community starting in late 1950’s.

Contributions

• Zombie
• Vodoo - A one-man routine for the dancing handkerchief
• The Magic Vision Tester
• Chinese Egg Bag
• Rubberneck (Head Twister)
• Submerged Card Mystery
• Mismaide Girl Illusion
• The Witch of the Pumpkin Illusion
• Tea Chest Illusion
• Mystery of the Open Screen
• Battle of the Toy Soldiers

Books

• Illusion Secrets
• Karson – Complete Club Act (1933)
• World's Fastest Card Trick (1948)
• Hypnotricks
• Chan Lin Chinese Magic Mystery Series
• Complete Club Act
• Complete Mental Club Act
• Illusion Magic
• Karson's Rope Thru Body
• Magic A La Mode
• Mentalia Superba
• Miniature Mysteries
• On the House
• Sensational Poison Swallowing Act
• Tips on Zombie
• Trix with Round Cards

• Joe Karson - Beyond Zombie By Michael E. Rose

References

• http://home.comcast.net/~crosewl/karson.html