Magic on the Air

Ideas for radio magic, podcasts and ZOOM shows

Ian Fenn and Arthur Setterington

Radio is a powerful promotional vehicle for magicians that the magic press have long neglected. This book combines Ian Fenn’s research with the previously unpublished thoughts of Arthur Setterington to help you make the most of this challenging medium.

Hardcover, 273 pages

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Read the introduction and a full chapter free

The cover of Magic on the Air: white lettering and a radio with sparkles on a magenta background.

It’s unbelievable. It’s really fantastic. I’m sure there’s not been anything like it before. I can’t believe how much you’ve researched. Incredible.

David Berglas MBE, on the history section

About the book

Radio reaches thousands of listeners, yet the magic press has long neglected it as a way for magicians to win clients and audiences. Magic on the Air shows you how to use it.

Ian Fenn traces a century of magic on the wireless, from the first “tricks and patter” in 1922 to Sirdani, The Piddingtons and David Berglas, drawing on original scripts and broadcast archives. He turns what worked for them into practical advice: finding opportunities on air today, creating magic that works without pictures, and handling yourself in the studio.

The book also includes Arthur Setterington’s routine ideas from BBC Radio Humberside’s “Friday Pie”, published for the first time, with illustrations by Ken de Courcy.

It isn’t merely a book of tricks. It gives you what you need to create your own routines for radio, podcasts and Zoom that turn listeners into clients or live audiences.

273

pages, in hardcover

photographs

previously unseen illustrations by Ken de Courcy

routine ideas from “Friday Pie”

With a foreword by Jon Marshall of the Hull Magicians’ Circle.

Introduction Read free	9
History of radio magic From 2ZY Manchester in 1922 through Sirdani, The Piddingtons, David Berglas and John Wade.	13
Opportunities in radio today Interviews and straight talks.	127
Creating radio magic Words, sound, music, location and types of effect.	141
Elevating your radio magic Ten lessons, from making pictures and speaking to the individual to working with somebody else. Read free	153
At the radio studio	163
Routine ideas from “Friday Pie” Thirty routines in two series, including a newspaper prediction, the murder game, Houdini, the master magician, and catching a bullet.	171
Recommended reading	237
Bibliography	247
Appendix: David Berglas and “The Forces Show”	269

About the authors

Ian Fenn

Associate of The Inner Magic Circle

Ian Fenn is a former radio producer and a recognised historian of radio magic. He began researching the history of magic on the radio in February 2023.

Arthur Setterington

Member of The Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star

Arthur Setterington was a prolific inventor and writer of magic, and a member of the Hull Magicians’ Circle for over sixty years. He devised most of the tricks, routines and plots for the magic segment of BBC Radio Humberside’s “Friday Pie”. His other books include The Life and Times of the Great Lafayette (1991). He passed away in 2006, aged 81.

Illustrations by Ken de Courcy

The magician Ken de Courcy illustrated Arthur’s original manuscript. His 17 drawings appear here for the first time.

Get the hardcover

273 pages, with 20 photographs and 17 illustrations. Published by Chopstix Media Limited.