{{For|the central religious text of Islam|Quran}} {{More citations needed|date=October 2018}} {{short description|British mentalist}} '''Al Koran''' (1914–1972), real name '''Edward Doe''', was a British mentalist, author and inventor.<ref name=genii>{{cite web|url= http://www.geniimagazine.com/wiki/index.php/Al_Koran|title=Al Koran information|accessdate=January 24, 2010|date=June 6, 2008|work=geniimagazine.com| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100212094507/http://geniimagazine.com/wiki/index.php/Al_Koran| archivedate= 12 February 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref name=elmwood>{{cite web|url= http://www.elmwoodmagic.com/full/Magic-Tricks-Magic-Books-Magic-DVDs-1-Al-Koran-In-Performance-CD-Al-Koran__3403.htm|title=Al Koran in performance CD|accessdate=January 24, 2010|date=October 23, 2009|work=elmwoodmagic.com}}</ref><ref name=bresse>{{cite web|url= http://themagicwarehouse.com/BA4297/Magic-of-Al-Koran-by-Martin-Breese.html|title=Al Koran's Legacy|accessdate=January 24, 2010|work=themagicwarehouse.com| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100118144854/http://themagicwarehouse.com/BA4297/Magic-of-Al-Koran-by-Martin-Breese.html| archivedate= 18 January 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> He invented the ''Ring Flite'' and popularised a version of the Bagshawe deck which became known as the Koran deck.
==Life and career== Edward Doe was born in London in 1914.<ref name="copperfield-2021">{{Cite book |last1=Copperfield |first1=David |title=David Copperfield's history of magic |last2=Wiseman |first2=Richard |last3=Britland |first3=David |date=2021 |isbn=978-1-9821-1291-2 |location=New York, NY |oclc=1236259508 |author-link1=David Copperfield (illusionist) |author-link2=Richard Wiseman}}</ref> Doe became interested in magic at an early age and became skilled at sleight of hand.<ref name="copperfield-2021" /> During World War II he served in Stars in Battledress and later in the Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom). After World War II, he became a hairdresser, but later became a professional magician and mentalist.<ref name="copperfield-2021" /> He was billed as "The World’s Greatest Mind Reader", and performed for Winston Churchill, Elizabeth II, and Grace Kelly.<ref name="copperfield-2021" />
Koran appeared many times on ''The Ed Sullivan Show''. He emigrated to the United States in January 1969, first to Cleveland, Ohio, and then later settling in Chicago, Illinois. After his death from cancer, his ashes were handled by his friend and fellow magician Billy McComb.<ref name="copperfield-2021" />
In 1958 ''Fitness'' magazine wrote of him: "... he is as great a psychologist as he is a magician, and has lectured at Cambridge University and before many distinguished audiences. In its relation to physical health, he believes that fitness of the mind plays an all-important part."<ref>Fitness magazine, October 1958</ref>
Koran published a self-help book titled ''Bring Out the Magic in Your Mind'' in the 1960s.<ref name="copperfield-2021" />
==Publications== * ''Mastered amazement: Mainly for the manipulator'' (1947) * ''(How to) Bring Out the Magic in Your Mind'' (1964 in UK,<ref>Amazon listing: https://www.amazon.com/Bring-Out-Magic-Your-Mind/dp/0854540024/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1408982914&sr=8-3&keywords=Al+Koran+1964</ref> 1965 in US and Canada,<ref>Amazon listing: https://www.amazon.com/How-Bring-Magic-Your-Mind/dp/B000QJIWSM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408982713&sr=8-1&keywords=Al+Koran+1965</ref> since reissued;<ref>Fell listing: http://fellpub.com/portfolio-items/bring-out-the-magic-in-your-mind-al-koran-16-00/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826161328/http://fellpub.com/portfolio-items/bring-out-the-magic-in-your-mind-al-koran-16-00/ |date=2014-08-26 }}</ref> ghosted by June Kynaston<ref>Amazon review: https://www.amazon.com/review/R3A1F6S9PSPLIO/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0722511817&nodeID=283155&store=books</ref>) * ''Al Koran's Professional Presentations'' (1967) * ''The Magic of the Mind in Action'' (1972)
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120331192945/http://www.all-about-magicians.com/al-koran.html Al Koran profile at All About Magicians]}} *{{IMDb name|1539886}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Koran, Al}} Category:1914 births Category:1972 deaths Category:British magicians Category:Place of death missing Category:Mentalists