Alex Elmsley
Encyclopedia
Alex Elmsley was a British Magician and Computer programmer. He was notable for his invention of the Ghost Count or Elmsley Count, creating mathematical card tricks, and for publishing the mathematics of playing card shuffling.
He began practicing magic in 1946, as a teenager. He studied physics and mathematics at Cambridge University; whilst there he was also secretary of the Pentacle Club
. His day job was as a patent agent, and later computer expert.
Otherwise, he was an amateur card and close-up magician. He was awarded an AMA
Creative Fellowship in 1972.
He created a number of magic tricks, including the Ghost Count, Between Your Palms, Point Of Departure and Diamond Cut Diamond.
He wrote Elmsley's 4 Card Trick (1967) and Cardwork (1975), and was the subject of The Collected Works of Alex Elmsley (vol. 1 1991, vol. 2 1994).
The special count used in Elmsley's 4 Card Trick was a great invention to the magical world and was renamed after him as the Elmsley Count
He began practicing magic in 1946, as a teenager. He studied physics and mathematics at Cambridge University; whilst there he was also secretary of the Pentacle Club
Pentacle Club
The Pentacle Club is one of the world's oldest magic societies, famous amongst amateur and professional magicians for its long history and sequence of famous members.-Origins:...
. His day job was as a patent agent, and later computer expert.
Otherwise, he was an amateur card and close-up magician. He was awarded an AMA
Academy of Magical Arts
The Academy of Magical Arts is a California non profit mutual benefit corporation organized and devoted to the promotion and development of the art of magic.Although begun in 1952 as a loose association of magicians by William Larsen, Sr...
Creative Fellowship in 1972.
He created a number of magic tricks, including the Ghost Count, Between Your Palms, Point Of Departure and Diamond Cut Diamond.
He wrote Elmsley's 4 Card Trick (1967) and Cardwork (1975), and was the subject of The Collected Works of Alex Elmsley (vol. 1 1991, vol. 2 1994).
The special count used in Elmsley's 4 Card Trick was a great invention to the magical world and was renamed after him as the Elmsley Count