Robert Harbin
Encyclopedia
Robert Harbin was a British
magic
ian and writer
. He is noted as the inventor of a number of classic illusions, including the Zig Zag Girl
. He also became an authority on origami
.
toy shop. He began performing in music hall
s under the title "Ned Williams, the Boy Magician from South Africa". By 1932 he was appearing in the Maskelyne's Mysteries magic show in various London theatres. He was the first British illusionist to move from stage performing to television, appearing in the BBC TV show Variety in 1937 and in his own show which began in 1940. He developed a number of new tricks, including the Neon Light and the now ubiquitous Zig Zag Girl
. His lesser know inventions include the Aztec Lady
, The Blades of Opah, and Aunt Matilda's Wardrobe.
Much of his inventive genius was put into written form and he is known as one of the most prodigious authors on the subject of magical effects. However, although Harbin was brilliantly creative in the field of magic he was not a particularly good writer and his friend and associate Eric C Lewis has stated that many of Harbin's titles were ghost written for him.
In about 1952 Harbin appeared in a minor part as a magician in the film The Limping Man, produced by Cy Endfield
. In 1953, Harbin and a friend of Endfield, Gershon Legman
(1917–1999), discovered a common interest in the Japan
ese art of paper-folding. Harbin wrote many books on the subject, beginning with Paper Magic (illustrated by the young art student, the Australian Rolf Harris
who in the middle of the project, caught the origami idea and contributed several intricate models himself) in 1965, and was the first President of the British Origami Society
. He was the first Westerner to use the word origami
for this art-form. He also presented a series of origami programmes for ITV
in its "Look-In" magazines for children in the 1970s.
His grave is at Golders Green Crematorium
in London
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
magic
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
ian and writer
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
. He is noted as the inventor of a number of classic illusions, including the Zig Zag Girl
Zig Zag Girl
The Zig-Zag Girl illusion is a magic trick akin to the more famous sawing a woman in half illusion. In the Zig-Zag illusion, a magician divides his or her assistant into thirds, only to have the assistant emerge from the illusion at the end of the performance completely unharmed.Since its invention...
. He also became an authority on origami
Origami
is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, which started in the 17th century AD at the latest and was popularized outside Japan in the mid-1900s. It has since then evolved into a modern art form...
.
Career
The young Ned Williams first got interested in magic after an unknown ex-serviceman appeared at his school with a magic show later described as "rather poor". Williams came to London at the age of 20 and began by working in the magic department of GamagesGamages
Gamages was a department store in Central London. It began in 1878 in a rented watch repair shop and, after quickly becoming a success amongst its customers, was established as a London institution. In time it was to grow large enough to take up most of the block on which it was situated...
toy shop. He began performing in music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
s under the title "Ned Williams, the Boy Magician from South Africa". By 1932 he was appearing in the Maskelyne's Mysteries magic show in various London theatres. He was the first British illusionist to move from stage performing to television, appearing in the BBC TV show Variety in 1937 and in his own show which began in 1940. He developed a number of new tricks, including the Neon Light and the now ubiquitous Zig Zag Girl
Zig Zag Girl
The Zig-Zag Girl illusion is a magic trick akin to the more famous sawing a woman in half illusion. In the Zig-Zag illusion, a magician divides his or her assistant into thirds, only to have the assistant emerge from the illusion at the end of the performance completely unharmed.Since its invention...
. His lesser know inventions include the Aztec Lady
Aztec Lady
The Aztec Lady is a stage illusion designed by British magician Robert Harbin. It is a classic "big box" illusion that involves an assistant in a cabinet and is probably best categorised as a restoration-type illusion.-Description:...
, The Blades of Opah, and Aunt Matilda's Wardrobe.
Much of his inventive genius was put into written form and he is known as one of the most prodigious authors on the subject of magical effects. However, although Harbin was brilliantly creative in the field of magic he was not a particularly good writer and his friend and associate Eric C Lewis has stated that many of Harbin's titles were ghost written for him.
In about 1952 Harbin appeared in a minor part as a magician in the film The Limping Man, produced by Cy Endfield
Cy Endfield
Cyril Raker Endfield was an American screenwriter, film director, theatre director, author, magician and inventor, based in Britain from 1953.- Biography :...
. In 1953, Harbin and a friend of Endfield, Gershon Legman
Gershon Legman
Gershon Legman was an American cultural critic and folklorist.-Life and work:Legman was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania to Emil and Julia Friedman Legman, both of Hungarian/Romanian Jewish descent; his father was a railroad clerk and butcher...
(1917–1999), discovered a common interest in the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese art of paper-folding. Harbin wrote many books on the subject, beginning with Paper Magic (illustrated by the young art student, the Australian Rolf Harris
Rolf Harris
Rolf Harris, CBE, AM is an Australian musician, singer-songwriter, composer, painter and television personality.Born in Perth, Western Australia, Harris was a champion swimmer before studying art. He moved to England in 1952, where he started to appear on television programmes on which he drew the...
who in the middle of the project, caught the origami idea and contributed several intricate models himself) in 1965, and was the first President of the British Origami Society
British Origami Society
The British Origami Society is a registered charity , devoted to the art of origami . The Society has over 700 members worldwide and publishes a bi-monthly magazine called British Origami...
. He was the first Westerner to use the word origami
Origami
is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, which started in the 17th century AD at the latest and was popularized outside Japan in the mid-1900s. It has since then evolved into a modern art form...
for this art-form. He also presented a series of origami programmes for ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
in its "Look-In" magazines for children in the 1970s.
His grave is at Golders Green Crematorium
Golders Green Crematorium
Golders Green Crematorium and Mausoleum was the first crematorium to be opened in London, and one of the oldest crematoria in Britain. The land for the crematorium was purchased in 1900, costing £6,000, and was opened in 1902 by Sir Henry Thompson....
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
On origami
- Paper Magic: The art of paper folding, Oldbourne, 1956, ISBN B0000CJG8R
- Paper Folding Fun, Oldbourne, 1960, ISBN B0000CKUYQ
- Secrets of Origami, old and new: The Japanese art of paper-folding, Oldbourne, 1963, ISBN B0000CM4YW
- Teach Yourself Origami, Hodder, 1968, ISBN 0-340-05972-9
- Origami 1: The Art of Paper-Folding, Coronet, 1969, ISBN 0-340-10902-5
- More Origami, The art of paper-folding no.2, Hodder, 1971, ISBN 0-340-15384-9
- Origami 2: The Art of Paper-Folding, Coronet, 1971, ISBN 0-340-15384-9
- Origami 3: The Art of Paper-Folding, Coronet Books/Hodder, 1972, ISBN 0-340-16655-X
- Secrets of Origami, Octopus, 1972, ISBN 0-7064-0005-4*Origami: Art of Paper Folding (Teach Yourself), Hodder, 1973, ISBN 0-340-16646-0
- Origami Step by Step, Hamlyn, 1974, ISBN 0-600-38109-9
- Have Fun with Origami, ITV, 1975, ISBN 0-900727-26-8
- Origami: Art of Paper Folding (Illustrated Teach Yourself), Picture Knight, 1975, ISBN 0-340-19381-6
- Origami A/H, Hodder Arnold, 1976, ISBN 0-340-27950-8
- Origami 4, Robert Harbin, 1977, ISBN 0-340-21822-3
- Have Fun with Origami, Severn Ho., 1977, ISBN 0-7278-0225-9
- Origami: Art of Paper Folding (Coronet Books), Hodder Headline Australia, 1977, ISBN 0-340-21822-3
- New Adventures in Origami, 1982, Harper & Row, ISBN 0-06-463555-4
On magic
- Something New in Magic, Davenport, 1929
- Psychic Vision, Davenport, 1930
- Six Card Creations, Davenport, 1930
- Demon Magic, Davenport, 1938
- How to Be a Wizard, Oldbourne, 1957, ISBN B0000CJUT3
- How to Be a Conjuror, Sphere, 1968, ISBN 0-7221-4322-2
- Magic of Robert Harbin, C.W. Mole and Sons, 1970 - This was published with a run of only 500 copies, after which Harbin had the plates destroyed.
- Magic (Illustrated Teach yourself), Treasure, 1983, ISBN 0-907812-39-2
- Magic (Illustrated Teach Yourself), Knight, 1976, ISBN 0-340-20502-4
- The Harbin Book, M. Breese, 1983, ISBN 0-947533-00-1
- Harbincadabra, brainwaves and brainstorms of Robert Harbin [i.e. N. Williams]: From the pages of Abracadabra, 1947-1965, R. Harbin
Other subjects
- Waddington's Family Card Games, Elm Tree, 1972, ISBN 0-241-02111-1
- Waddington's Family Card Games, Pan, 1974, ISBN 0-330-23892-2
- Party Lines, Oldbourne, 1963, ISBN B0000CLQIH
- Instant Memory: The Way to Success, Corgi, 1968, ISBN 0-552-06091-7
Further reading
- Eric C. Lewis, The genius of Robert Harbin: A personal biography, Mike Caveney's Magic Words (1997), ISBN 0-915-18130-8
External links
- Robert Harbin page at Whirligig 1950s TV Nostalgia site