Life of the party A visual history of the SS Adams Company Pranks & Magic New Mt For Sale

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Life of the party A visual history of the SS Adams Company Pranks & Magic New Mt:
$95.00

Life of the party A visual history of the SS Adams Company Pranks & Magic 100 yr

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION:
Life of the Party: A Visual History of the S.S. Adams Company Makers of Pranks & Magic for 100 Years
On AMAZON for $75!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! when it rarely appears..


By Kirk Demarais
S.S. Adams
2006, 200 pages, 12.4 x 9.7 x 0.9 inches

For over 100 years, the S.S. Adams Company of Neptune, New Jersey has been selling joy buzzers, sneezing powder, exploding cigars, fake vomit, extra salty salt water taffy, toy smoking monkeys, magic tricks, and hundreds of other inexpensive novelties loved by children and adults who act like children.

The S.S. Adams company gave Life of the Party author Kirk Demarais unprecedented access to its archives of tricks, gags, and ephemera dating back to the company’s humble beginnings as a manufacturer of Cachoo sneezing powder. Samuel Sorenson Adams sold 150,000 bottles of the stuff at ten cents each. The FDA eventually banned the powder, which contained a toxic ingredient called dianisidine. Undaunted, Adams went on to invent over 700 other practical jokes (many of which were awarded patents).

The photos of the many different magic tricks in Demarais’s book are the most appealing to me. Many of them are made from metal or wood and are beautiful and mysterious. I’m not a collector of anything, but I could become a collector of old magic tricks like this if I didn’t check myself. For now, I will content myself with this lavishly illustrated homage to a company that could only have thrived in an earlier century, when pleasures were simpler, and humor was broader.

The foreword is written by Acme Novelty Library cartoonist Chris Ware

This book is fabulously printed on high stock colorful glossy paper and would be a wonderful addition to any collection of books on magic and gags. Would make a wonderful gift. Will come brand new and pulled from an original case of them we had.

Below are some of the reviews I have received about this book in the past...

5 star

If you love old magic shop and dime store tricks and novelties, and Johnson & Smith novelty catalogs, or the ads in old comic books... you will love and want this lavishly illustrated book. I grew up in the 70s going to Walt Disney World with my family. I made a bee line for the magic shop on Main Street USA, where you could buy whoopee cushions, fake vomit, glow in the dark skulls and an assortment of Adams’ company gags. This book is a fabulous look at all the classic gags and tricks, including rare items from the company vaults. Must have!

5 star

WOW. Better than I imagined!! Almost coffee table sized! I thought it would be fairly small but was delighted it's a large book! Bright and colorful, perfect for an old time practical joke lover! I still own a few of my original Adam's gags (am a woman in my 60's who grew up on jokes, bubble gum, comic books, Mad magazine and magic shops)and this book validated the fact that the old time gags are awesome! Loved all the historical and personal details about the Adam's family and associates. This book is a must have for old time true gag lovers! I priced around since the book was published and median price was around 75.00! Great bargain at 25 plus shipping! Great packaging and fast shipping! Definately purchasing from this seller again!

5 star

WOW! This book is PACKED! Vastly exceeded any expectations, and sold at a great price, shipped quickly from this awesome seller. Wooo!

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