The Armed Forces Magicians Association

Surprisingly, the US Armed Forces had its own magicians association, founded by Opie Houston, an Air Force Sergeant. The publication At Ease served as the official organ of the Armed Forces Magicians Association from July 1966 to January 1975, though its release schedule was irregular.

Notable contributors to this publication included Opie R. Houston, William E. Clover, Erwin M. Storke, Vernon Weiss, Bob Ford, Don Guilmain, Dave Richards, Harvey Turner, Kent Cummins, Ed Middleton, Prince Kazar, Jim Williams, Chas Crowley, John Guthrie, Arthur Estes, Ron Bonneau, John Oakley, Mike Rogers, Roland Jarvis, David B. Schwilk, Wiley Porter, Jerome Maciejewski, Oscar Pittman, Al Forwood, and many others.

This collection is not exhaustive but is likely more complete than most existing files. Even Alfredson’s and Daily’s Bibliography of Conjuring Periodicals in English lists an incomplete version. Some issues not found there are included in this digital edition, although volume 2 is entirely missing. The included issues are as follows:

• Volume 1

  • No. 1 (July 1966)
  • No. 2 (August 1966)
  • No. 3 (September 1966)
  • No. 4 (October 1966)
  • No. 5 (November/December 1966)
  • No. 6 (January 1967)
  • No. 7 (February 1967)
  • No. 8 (March 1967)

• Volume 3

  • No. 1 (July 1969)
  • No. 2 (August 1969)
  • No. 3 (September 1969)
  • No. 4 (October 1969)
  • No. 6 (January 1970)
  • No. 7 (February 1970)
  • No. 8 (March 1970)
  • No. 9 (April 1970)
  • No. 10 (May 1970)
  • No. 11 (June 1970)

• Volume 4

  • No. 1 (July 1970)
  • No. 2 (August 1970)
  • No. 3 (September/October 1970)
  • No. 4 (November 1970)
  • No. 5 (October 1971)

• Volume 5

  • No. 1 (November 1971)
  • No. 2 (December 1971)
  • No. 3 (January 1972)
  • No. 4 (February 1972)
  • No. 5 (March 1972)
  • No. 6 (April 1972)
  • No. 7 (May 1972)
  • No. 8 (June 1972)
  • No. 9 (July 1972)
  • No. 10 (August 1972)
  • No. 11 (September 1972)
  • No. 12 (October 1972)

• Volume 6

  • No. 1 (November 1972)
  • No. 2 (December 1972)
  • No. 3 (January 1973)
  • No. 4 (February 1973)

• Volume 7

  • No. 5 (March 1973)
  • No. 6 (April 1973)
  • No. 7 (May 1973)
  • No. 8 (June 1973)
  • No. 9 (July 1973)
  • No. 10 (August 1973)
  • No. 11 (September 1973)
  • No. 12 (October 1973)

• Volume 8

  • No. 1 (November 1973)
  • No. 2 (December 1973)
  • No. 3 (January 1974)
  • No. 4 (February 1974)
  • No. 5 (March 1974)
  • No. 6 (April 1974)
  • No. 7 (May 1974)
  • No. 8 (June 1974)

• Volume 9

  • No. 1 (October/November 1974)
  • No. 2 (December 1974/January 1975)

• My Magic Coloring Book