TONY CORINDA
(1930 – 2010)The Enigmatic Author Behind 13 Steps to Mentalism
A Legendary Name in Mentalism
In mentalism, a few names echo louder than others: Annemann, Dunninger, Fogel—and, of course, Corinda. Tony Corinda, the man behind the seminal 13 Steps to Mentalism, is a towering figure whose influence on art cannot be overstated. To this day, if you ask any respected mentalist for a recommended book, it's almost guaranteed that 13 Steps to Mentalism will be mentioned.
Yet, despite his legendary status, surprisingly little has been written about the man himself. Corinda, like many mind readers, was intensely private, enigmatic, and perhaps even a little misunderstood. His true story is far more complex than that of a one-book wonder.
From Mill Hill to the Magic World
Born Thomas William Simpson on 16 May 1930 in Mill Hill, North London, Corinda grew up during the turbulent years of the Second World War. Schools frequently closed due to air raids, and he left education early, without qualifications, at just 13 years old.
By 14, he was working at the National Institute for Medical Research. Later, he transferred to the Central Public Health Laboratories in Colindale. At 18, he was conscripted into the Royal Army Medical Corps and posted to a research lab in the Egyptian desert.
It was here, of all places, that his interest in magic took root. Entertaining wounded soldiers at a nearby hospital, Corinda repeatedly performed the handful of tricks he knew. Fortunately, he met a patient who happened to be a competent magician. This stranger taught him more advanced techniques—including the centre tear and a 3-Kings stacked deck—and gave him a magic dealer's catalogue.
Corinda was hooked. He wrote to London dealers, including Max Andrews of Vampire Magic and later Davenports, and studied magic with newfound intensity. His fascination shifted from sleight of hand to mentalism, and he began building a repertoire that would later define his legacy.
Reinvention and the Birth of "Corinda"
Inspired by German magic author and dealer Conradi, he adopted the pseudonym Corinda, an anagram of the name. At 20, he had rebranded himself, choosing a name that would eventually become one of the most revered in mentalism.
After leaving the army, Corinda briefly returned to medical research but had lost all interest. He drifted through various laboratory jobs before leaving science for good. Seeking something different, he moved to Dover to stay with chess champion and friend Pete Hammerton. Here, he found a strange intersection of influences—Pete's mother was a spiritualist, which deepened Corinda's interest in the occult.
To support themselves, the two men took jobs at a children's holiday camp. Corinda became the resident magician and mentalist, while Pete was the clown. Though unprepared for the scale—2,500 children and 500 carers—the experience was formative. Corinda's skills sharpened as he adapted his act to different age groups and audiences.
"At the finish of the effect look at the audience: if they have gone white in the face, froth at the mouth with excitement, shake at the knees or get down on the floor and salaam you - it is quite a fair trick."
Soho, the Fairgrounds, and a Growing Empire
In the early 1950s, Corinda worked at London's Battersea Pleasure Gardens, where he operated a small stall selling magic and performing tricks. After two years, he moved to Soho's Berwick Street, where he ran a tiny store focused on psychic and occult items. He met David Berglas, who would become a key mentor and collaborator.
With Berglas's help, Corinda moved his business to Mortimer Street, upgrading his image and clientele. He worked with Berglas on various radio and TV shows, gaining insight into professional stagecraft. Unlike other dealers like Harry Stanley or Ken Brooke, Corinda focused almost exclusively on mentalism. His studio quickly became a magnet for serious performers.
He later took over The Magic Shop on Oxford Street (run initially by Dick Chavel) and also operated the magic concession at Hamleys, London's most famous toy store. By the late 1950s, he had built a small retail empire, employing around 40 people and running multiple West End outlets.
Audacity and Ingenuity: Corinda the Marketer
Corinda was as much an entrepreneur as he was a mentalist. He placed weekly adverts in Abra magazine and always sought bold ideas. On one occasion, he ran an ad for a trick he hadn't invented yet—The Khan Dictionary Test. He quickly visited mentalist Maurice Fogel, and together, they devised the routine using a gimmicked chalk box and switched dictionaries.
It was daring, brilliant marketing—and it worked.
Despite his reputation, Corinda was not a frequent stage performer. However, he worked as a demonstrator for Cheval Magic Shop and Gamages department store, where he estimated he demonstrated the Svengali deck over 18,000 times during Christmas.
The Birth of a Masterwork: 13 Steps to Mentalism
In 1958, Corinda began writing the first "Step" of what would eventually become his magnum opus. At first, he intended to create just a few booklets. But with encouragement from Berglas—who favoured the number 13 for its mystical appeal—Corinda expanded the idea into a complete system for mentalists.
Each "step" tackled a different branch of mentalism, from billets and book tests to blindfolds, pendulums, and two-person codes. He received key contributions from Jon Tremaine and Eric Mason, who also illustrated the booklets. Some of the routines were adapted from Berglas's TV and radio performances—sometimes with permission, sometimes not.
Sold initially as individual courses, the entire collection was published in 1964 by D. Robbins and Co. as Corinda's Thirteen Steps to Mentalism. Corinda had initially priced the combined volume at 130 shillings—a steep price. Although few copies sold at that rate, a price drop led to enormous success. The book has since been translated into multiple languages and reprinted countless times, including a popular hardback edition by Harry Clarke.
2011, the entire work was included in The Encyclopedia of Mentalism and Mentalists. It was later adapted into video format by Richard Osterlind and continues to be the gold standard for mentalists worldwide.
Inventions and Influences
Corinda was not just an author. He also created many effects and marketed dozens of products, including:
- The Khan Slate Test
- The Khan Dictionary Test
- Psychosight
- Fata Morgana
- Paradox
- Birds of a Feather
- The Spirit Telephone
- Blind Date
- One-in-a-Million Newspaper Test
- Powers of Darkness (his personal favourite)
- Q5 Pocket Index (with Pat Page)
He collaborated with Fogel on several routines, including the visual Fantasy in Flame. These items were produced in limited runs and are now prized collector's pieces.
"Good timing is invisible. Bad timing sticks out a mile."
Was He a Strong Performer?
This remains a matter of debate. Corinda insisted that no magic dealer could succeed without being a strong performer. However, few saw him perform regularly. One notable exception was a fake séance at The Magic Circle headquarters, which he executed with the help of Pat Page and Mitch Devano.
Despite this mystery, Corinda's reputation as a thinker and teacher of mentalism is beyond question.
Final Years and Quiet Legacy
Corinda was made a Member of the Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star in 1959—one of the youngest recipients. He also held a Life Membership Diploma from the Psychic Entertainers Association (PEA), where he regularly published Vibrations in the members' journal.
Eventually, tired of the London lifestyle, he retired to Norfolk, becoming a virtual recluse. He maintained contact with only a few trusted friends, including Pat Page, Martin MacMillan, and Chris Woodward.
Corinda died on 1 July 2010, aged 80. His funeral was held two weeks later in King's Lynn on a rainy, windswept day. Only two dozen people attended, most of them unaware they were laying to rest a man who had transformed the world of mentalism. No magicians were present—except Martin MacMillan.
References:
* Atmore, Joseph, “13 Steps to Mentalism”, Magic Magazine, Vol. 17, No. 7 (March 2008): 26-34.
* Berglas, David, Magic Week. (July 2010).
* Woodward, Chris, “Tony Corinda. Beyond the 13th Step”, Magic Circular, (March 2008). 74-75
* Woodward, Chris, Obituaries, Magic Circular, (October 2010): 302
Thank you to David Berglas for some background information and Alexander Crawford for references.
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