Jasper Maskelyne toured London and provincial variety theatres almost constantly from the mid-1930s through to 1950. The only significant breaks he took were for military service during World War Two, the occasional holiday and, in the post-war period, Easter, summer and Christmas residences at a London theatre with his own show. While bookers avoided getting acts back to the same venue too often, acts would likely visit the same theatres every year or so. One theatre Jasper

This image is an original version of magic dealer Jack Hughes' 'Ball in Glass' or 'Pentra-Spheres' trick. Designed in 1937, it was later also called 'Hole in One.' A modern version, still available today, is known as the '19th Hole.' Jasper Maskelyne received one of the first of these tricks to be made, as the note by Jack Hughes shows. The Great Levante and Arthur Dowler, another magician, also got one of the initial batch. Effect: Six different coloured balls are placed on

A playbill for an early summer variety show at the London Palladium featuring magician Jasper Maskelyne. Jasper headlined this 1931 production, which was his first appearance at the iconic Palladium. #magician #warmagician #jaspermaskelyne

General Johann von Ravenstein’s 21st Panzer Division was engaged in counterattacks against the Allies during Operation Crusader in World War Two. While travelling to visit a neighbouring division, his staff car was ambushed by soldiers of the 2nd New Zealand Division. He was taken prisoner and sent to the Combined Services Detailed Interrogation Centre (CSDIC) in Cairo. Jasper Maskelyne was working for the CSDIC at the time, as part of his military service in North Africa. He

In late 1942, while serving with the British Army in North Africa, Lieutenant (later Major) Jasper Maskelyne joined the regional branch of MI9. This was a secret military intelligence department set-up to help service personnel evade capture and, if captured, to escape. MI9’s formal aims were to aid escapers by providing them with tools and training to escape; to train potential evaders to evade; to encourage secret routes along which either could travel; and to glean such in

A trick performed by magician Jasper Maskelyne (probably invented by Oswald Williams). While Williams held a tray, Maskelyne said: “If the King of Siam bought a motor car, what sort of motor car would the King of Siam buy, if he bought a motor car?” Williams replied: “It would depend on what he could afFORD.” At that moment Williams turns the tray over so that the audience see the words A FORD. While the audience laughs at this play on words, the flat tray instantaneously tra

John Nevil Maskelyne (1839-1917) is buried, with his wife and mother, in the family plot in Brompton Cemetery in London. John Nevil started the Maskelyne dynasty of magicians and was Jasper Maskelyne's paternal grandfather. #jaspermaskelyne #warmagician #magician

Jasper Maskelyne starred in a musical show at the Royal Opera House in Cairo during World War Two. Presented by the Cairo Amateur Dramatic Society and Musical Society, it was called 'Revue Order' and played from 26 December 1941 to 3 January 1942. Profits from ticket sales went to British War Charities. #jaspermaskelyne #warmagician #magician

British actor and former RAF officer, Christopher Lee (famous for playing Dracula and other movie villains), tells how Jasper Maskelyne taught him about escape aids during World War Two. Clip taken from 'In the Mind of David Berglas' (series 1) (1986) (Channel 4). #jaspermaskelyne #warmagician #magician #dberglas

Jasper Maskelyne performing 'The Sands of the Desert trick'. Originated in the early 19th Century, it sees the magician stir different colours of dry sand into a bowl of water, before reaching in and bring out fistfuls of dry sand, in their original colours. Jasper performed this at the Royal Variety show in 1932. Also known as ‘Sands of the Ganges’ or the 'Hindu Sands'. #jaspermaskelyne #magician #warmagician

In the late 1930s, Jasper Maskelyne was recruited to promote clothing company Harry Hall Ltd. Dressed in their suits, he appeared in newspaper and magazine adverts and on posters around the London Underground. Established in 1891, Harry Hall is still in business. #magician #jaspermaskelyne #warmagician #harryhallriding

On 3 December 1937, Jasper Maskelyne appeared as a talking head on a B.B.C. radio broadcast titled 'Entertainment at St. George’s Hall, 1867-1937'. A celebration of St. George’s Hall in its 70th anniversary year, the programme took listeners on a journey through the history of St. George's, including its 28-years as the home of Maskelyne and Devant's Mysteries and Maskelyne’s Theatre of Mystery. Image credit: B.B.C. Radio Times. #jaspermaskelyne #warmagician #magician

On 7 February 1925, Jasper Maskelyne got engaged to 20-year old Evelyn Home-Douglas, one of his on-stage assistants. The photo below was taken on the day of their engagement, in Regent's Park, London. They married on Midsummer's Day, 24 June 1926. #jaspermaskelyne #warmagician #magician