Movies Would Spoil Illusion, Says Nicola

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 34, 3 February 1939, Page 3

Movies Would Spoil Illusion, Says Nicola

RT of Nicola the Great, which has to be seen to be believed, will never be depicted on the sereen, "The streen allows too much of fakery already," Nicola told the "Record." People who went to the movies did not troudle te think, they accepted everything thrown on the seveen. Camera-fakery was acknowledged as an _ inevitable part of a picture performance, and no one worried about it. "if the illusions 1! perform were shown upon the screen," said Nicola, "tney would lose all their value. Picture-goers would at once look upon them as other examples of screen fake, and would not give any credit where credit was due." The ‘Record’s" hint that some idea of how the remarkable iilu-. sions were performed might be whispered confidentially was greeted with a pleasant smile-but no more. Despite Nicola’s quiet, unassuming manner, when the "Record" reporter offered the magician a cigarette, he kept an eagle eye on the packet lest it suddenly disappear or be converted into a brace of ducks. Nothing happened, somewhat to the reporter’s disappointment.