Deveen with his trademark mask was a clever manipulator of cards and cigarettes performing between 1920 and 1960. He made many visits to Hull’s variety theatres. Pictured here with two of his “New York Blondes” who Arthur Setterington says sometimes appeared nude in the dying days of variety when posing shows and nude revue were tried to attract dwindling audiences. Arthur says he only watched the magic! The picture is inscribed “To Fred with all good wishes, Deveen, 1946”. Fred of course being Bert Dexter’s real name. David Deveen’s real name was A W Parsons he was born in London in 1900 and died in 1989. He wrote two books on cigarette manipulation. In 1929 and 1932.