Ken Brooke And Friends by Derek Lever

From the introduction:

He was a rare magician, born with a wonderful sense of humour, good looking, with the 'gift of the gab' tinged with a Yorkshire accent that was his trademark. A quick mind, which could retain much information and a sharp and ready wit enabled him to climb up the magical ladder in leaps and bounds.

Of course many would say that Ken was blunt to the point of rudeness, pig-headed, short-tempered and a very difficult man to get on with.

They would be right! He almost certainly did have all those faults, but he was also a kind and generous man who jealously guarded and protected his friends and those he cared for.

If I was asked to use just two words to describe Ken it would be 'DEDICATION' and 'RESPECT'. He dedicated most of his life to the art of magic - for, it should be said, very little reward in financial terms. The hours spent labouring over a move to iron out the snags, the days spent making fake cards and special packs .... was it really worth it? Ken's answer would have been a resounding 'Yes'. But his Bank Manager and Doctor would almost certainly say 'No'.

He earned the respect of magicians throughout the world by his honesty and ability and by not being afraid to speak his mind.

1st edition 1986, 1st digital edition 2013, 318 pages.

Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION

   PART ONE

2. Ken Brooke The Early Days
3. The Early Years
4. Beer from a Balloon
5. Dennelson's Ridiculous Rupert
6. Robbery on 5th Avenue
7. Robot Three Shell Game
8. "The Return to Karnak"
9. Mind Your Mind
10. The Monkey Tells
11. Diddle the Gaffer
12. Alan Milan's Topper Tray
13. Alan Milan's Your Selection
14. Benson Dulay's Spin-a-Dart
15. Rope Miracle
16. Spot Sticks
17. Passing Coins Through a Spectator's Hand
18. The Three Card Trick
19. The Note Under Cup
20. Egg & Bag Routine
21. Nudist Pack
22. Card to Pocket
23. The Gipsy Necklace
24. Flim Flam
25. Jumbo Crazy Cards
26. Trigon 19
27. Trigon Twin
28. A Rope, A Ring & A Hat
29. Repeat Rope Trick
30. Diddle the Middle
31. The Endless Chain
32. Impossible
33. The Enchanted Bottle & Rope
34. Ju-Ju Stick
35. Ring off Wand
36. Amazing Ring
37. Ring off the String

    PART TWO Ken Brooke and Comedy

38. The Ken Brooke Sense of Humour

    PART THREE Ken Brooke's Favourite Card Magic

39. The Repeat Joker Trick
40. Magnet Card
41. Think of a Card
42. Comedy Cards Across
43. The Miracle Speller
44. Double Climax
45. The Jumping Jack

    PART FOUR Ken Goes Mental

46. Magazine Test
47. Psychic Vision Newspaper Test
48. The Himber Wallet
49. Telephone Directory Divination

    PART FIVE The Ken Brooke Stage and Cabaret Act

50. The Dancing Cane
51. Ken's Crazy Kard
52. Chase the Ace
53. Visual Gags
54. The Chinese Rings
55. The Slydini Rope Trick
56. The Colour Changing Silk
57. Paper Balls Over the Head
58. The Passe Passe Bottles

    PART SIX The Friends

59. The Flaming Matchbox
60. The Pound Note Counting Routine
61. Ken Brooke
62. Sweet Silver
63. Easy, Easy Mindreading
64. Ken Brooke by Wayne Dobson
65. Extravaganza
66. Obliteration
67. Arthur Day
68. My Friend Ken Brooke
69. Audition
70. Cover Up
71. Ken Brooke by Andrew Galloway
72. Smash Vanish
73. Paul Green
74. Left Handed Card To Wallet For Right Handers
75. Coins through a Book
76. On the Level
77. Compere Gags
78. Ken and the Compass
79. "M1" Traffic Road Sign
80. Absolutely Impossible
81. Ken Brooke by Roy Johnson
82. Champion
83. Comedy Routine for Dippy Duck
84. Mental Mania
85. Ken Brooke by Simon Lovell
86. Credit Card by Bob Ostin
87. Ken Brooke by Johnny Paul
88. My Torn & Restored Card Trick
89. Roth's Brand New Card in Wallet
90. Smash Glass
91. Comedy Handkerchief
92. Knickers to the Egg Bag
93. Confabulation Plus

94. THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING FOR HELPING TO MAKE THIS BOOK POSSIBLE