Books

Floyd Thayer - The Man and his Art
Number sixteen in a series of Magical Pro-Files
Author: Fred Rickard
7 by 10 inches
168 pages printed in full color on art matte paper
200 photographs
Printed end-sheets
$220

The Book

Because of Fred Rickard’s enduring friendship with Floyd Thayer, this is a very personal biography. The many stories recorded here are the result of countless hours Fred spent at the Thayer Manufacturing Company in downtown Los Angeles, at the shop and studio Floyd built at his famous home, Brookledge, and finally in Floyd’s last shop at his Pasadena home, where his career had started some fifty years earlier.

To augment Fred’s manuscript, within the files of Egyptian Hall Museum, I found an article written by Fred about his life in magic, and another manuscript typed by Floyd about his own early life. No trace of the apparatus photographs were found but through the kindness of Jim Olsen, John Gaughan, and David Copperfield, I was able to photograph every one of the items Fred discussed in his manuscript. Furthermore, I have annotated the entire book and included more than 200 rare photos from Egyptian Hall Museum. The book contains 167 pages measuring eight by ten inches, printed end-sheets, and a cover and spine stamped with copper foil. This book is number sixteen in our long-running series of Magical Pro-Files. It is a feast for the eyes and I couldn’t be happier with the final result.

The Deluxe Edition

I thought long and hard about how I might produce a deluxe copy of this book. I had a hand-tinted photo of Floyd and Jennie taken for their 40th wedding anniversary in 1951 at their Pasadena home. This photo appears on the limitation page. Also included is a reproduction of a brochure advertising souvenirs Floyd and his father produced, even before they started making magic. Napkin rings, pin cushions, gavels, bread boards, and other items were available at wholesale prices to the many tourist locations in Pasadena. Then I thought, “If Floyd Thayer were here today, what would he do for a deluxe edition?” And then it hit me. Floyd would make a slipcase out of wood and that’s exactly what we’ve done. Hand-crafted from beautiful walnut, with a laser-etched image on the cover, this unique book will stand out on your bookshelf like no other. This deluxe edition is limited to 200 copies and once they are gone, there will be no more.

Deluxe edition: $220

A Recent Review

“Who knew Fred Rickard was such a wonderful writer? For that matter, who knew Fred Rickard at all? I certainly didn’t and through his writing we're introduced to Rickard and his subject, his friend Thayer and Thayer’s work. It’s a gorgeous book filled with stunning photos (look no further than page 116). The detailed footnotes aren’t just academia, they really add color and detail that makes the book sing. A pleasure to read.”

A. Boyce

Floyd Thayer - The Man and his Art
Number sixteen in a series of Magical Pro-Files
Author: Fred Rickard
7 by 10 inches
168 pages printed in full color on art matte paper
200 photographs
Printed end-sheets
$75

The Story Behind the Book

Fred Rickard was a long time fixture in the Southern California magic scene. He was a performer, historian, owner of a fabulous library, an employee at Merv Taylor’s and later at Owen Magic Supreme. For thirty-two years he was close friends with Floyd Thayer.

I met Fred while I was still a teenager and he watched me grow as a performer and book publisher. In the mid 1980s, Fred started working on a book about Floyd’s life in magic which would include photos of the many wood-turned pieces of Thayer apparatus in his collection. Fred always said he wanted me to publish his book which I was more than happy to do. I never saw a finished manuscript and then, in 1989, Fred passed away. For the next thirty-six years, that’s where this story ended.

In 2025, Gabe Fajuri was doing some work for the SAM Hall of Fame and I was helping out. The Hall of Fame Museum had spent more than twenty years in storage and the decision was made to sell some items. During a long day of digging, we unearthed a small, black, hand-written notebook. The title page knocked me for a loop: “Floyd Thayer - The Man and His Art by Fred Rickard.” The last page knocked me out of my chair: “This book will be designed and published by Mike Caveney in Pasadena, California.” I hadn’t seen my old friend for over three decades and here he was speaking to me from the grave. A promise made is a promise kept.

The Book

Because of Fred’s long friendship with Floyd Thayer, this is a very personal biography. The many stories recorded here are the result of countless hours Fred spent at the Thayer Manufacturing Company in downtown Los Angeles, at the shop and studio Floyd built at his famous home, Brookledge, and finally in Floyd’s last shop at his Pasadena home, where his career had started some fifty years earlier.

To augment Fred’s manuscript, within the files of Egyptian Hall Museum, I found an article written by Fred about his life in magic, and another manuscript typed by Floyd about his own early life. No trace of the apparatus photographs were found but through the kindness of Jim Olsen, John Gaughan, and David Copperfield, I was able to photograph every one of the items Fred discussed in his manuscript. Furthermore, I have annotated the entire book and included more than 200 rare photos from Egyptian Hall Museum. The book contains 168 pages measuring eight by ten inches, printed end-sheets, and a cover and spine stamped with copper foil. This book is number sixteen in our long-running series of Magical Pro-Files. It is a feast for the eyes and I couldn’t be happier with the final result.

Regular edition: $75

‍ ‍ A Recent Review

“Who knew Fred Rickard was such a wonderful writer? For that matter, who knew Fred Rickard at all? I certainly didn’t and through his writing we're introduced to Rickard and his subject, his friend Thayer and Thayer’s work. It’s a gorgeous book filled with stunning photos (look no further than page 116). The detailed footnotes aren’t just academia, they really add color and detail that makes the book sing. A pleasure to read.”

A. Boyce

Escaping Obscurity

Author: John Cox
9 by 12 inches
373 pages printed in full color on art matte paper
260 photographs
Printed end-sheets
$125

Author: Mike Caveney

Mike Caveney Wonders
Foreword by Mac King
9 by 11½ inches
456 pages printed in full color on art matte paper
570 photographs
Printed end-sheets with color frontis-piece
3-color foil stamping on the cover

The Conference Illusions
Foreword by Jim Steinmeyer
9 by 11½ inches
256 pages printed in full color on art matte paper
330 photographs
Printed end-sheets
2-color foil stamping on the cover

Both books are housed in a matching slipcase with foil stamped side
Sold only as a set
First edition published in 2013. Second edition published in 2024.

Author: Darwin Ortiz
Introduction by Michael Skinner
270 pages
8½ x11 inches
Hardbound with dust jacket
Published in 1991

Author: Dai Vernon
392 pages
9 x 11½ inches
Hardbound with dust jacket
Published in 2008

Author: William Kalush and Larry Sloman
333 pages
6 x 9 inches
Illustrated with 70 photos, programs, posters and advertisements
Hardbound with full color dust jacket
Sold in a slip case with The Secret Life of Houdini
Published in 2007

Author: William Rauscher
#9 in the Magical Pro-File series
192 pages
7 x 10 inches
Tipped-in color frontispiece.
Hardbound with dustjacket
Published in 2000

Author: Anne Davenport and John Salisse
#10 in our series of Magical Pro-Files
475 pages
175 photographs (18 in full-color)
Hardbound with dust jacket
Limited to 1,000 numbered copies

Author: Earl Nelson
Introduction by Dai Vernon
151 pages
Hardbound with dust jacket

Author: Frank Simon
Introduction by Cy Enfield
228 pages
Hardbound with dust jacket

Author: David Charvet
#14 in our series of Magical Pro-Files
300 pages
11 x 8½ inches
Lavishly illustrated with 276 photographs, and 8 pages in full color
Limited to 1,000 numbered copies
Published in 2008
Price: $85.00 + postage
Deluxe Edition: $195 + postage

Author: Tina Lenert
Published in 2012

Author: Tina Lenert
Published in 2012

Author: Edwin A. Dawes
#13 in our series of Magical Pro-Files
300 pages
8x10 inches
Lavishly illustrated with 100 photographs, programs, advertisements including 12 pages of full color
Hardbound with full color dust jacket
Published in 2005

Author: Eric Lewis
358 pages
8x10 inches
Lavishly illustrated with 150 photographs, programs, and advertisements
Hardbound with full color dust jacket
Published in 1997