Jacobs's interest in magic started when he was so young he doesn't remember exactly how it began, but he was performing for family and friends at the age of five. By the time he was eight he had given school shows and was advertising his availability as a magician for parties and other entertainments.

Like most young magicians, Jacobs accumulated a lot of "extra stuff" - props and things he found he had no use for. Instead of stashing them away, he began selling them to other hobbyists. He was a part time magic dealer at the age of fifteen and was soon advertising in the magic magazines and renting counter space to display his wares at magic conventions.

Living some forty miles away from Pomeroy was the late Tommy Windsor, who became Jacobs's close friend while he was in his teens. He greatly influenced Jacobs, who still publishes and markets many of Windsor's effects. "Practically everything good I learned about selling magic I learned from Tommy Windsor", says Jacobs. "And I learned more about performing just from arguing with him than I did from anyone else".

When he finished school, Jacobs's interest in writing and literature led him for a time into a teaching career at Ohio University but he continued performing magic and dealing in it. As a magician and comedian, and sometimes as an illusionist or mentalist, he played private clubs, civic affairs, department stores and shopping centers. He also performed for business corporations and on television, in nightclubs and resort hotels. He gave lecture shows on magic, hypnotism and the Occult.

Meanwhile, as his publishing and magic supply business grew, Jacobs made a choice and left the classroom behind him to become a full-time dealer and performer. He writes some of the books and booklets he publishes, and markets selected books and tricks by others, together with used books and some collector's material. Included in his publishing output are a series on publicity and promotion for magicians, a directory of theatrical agencies and a detailed manual entitled 'The Real Methods and Secrets of the Challenge Escape from 75 feet of rope' - a feat he performed himself to generate headline making publicity. After these came, 'The Fitzkee Trilogy', 'The Lee Jacobs Productions Mental, Occult & Psychic Series', 'Bertram On Sleight Of Hand', 'The Magic & Methods Of Ross Bertram', 'Great Magicians In Great Moments: A Photo Album by Irving Desfor', 'Our Magic', 'Magic Without Apparatus', 'Sach's Sleight Of Hand', 'Rings In Your Fingers', 'The Birthday Magician's Handbook', 'Find The Stuff That's You'.

Lee Jacobs & Houdinki (called that because she was tiny and could escape from anything).

The most popular specialty of Lee Jacobs Productions though is the reprinting in large size and full rich colors of posters of famous magicians including :- Houdini, Thurston, Blackstone, Dante, Kellar, Chung Ling Soo, 'Le Roy*Talma*Bosco'  and many others. They are excellent reproductions sold at a fraction of the cost of the rare originals.

From Ramona Compton (Mrs Lee Jacobs):-

Lee passed away away peacefully at his home on Good Friday,2003 after a six month battle with a malignant brain tumor.

Lee had a love of magic for most of his life.  He gave his first magic performance at the age of 12 and I had the pleasure of being in the audience of family and friends gathered in his living room.  (I married the boy next door--some of you may have seen the pictures of our 'first' wedding).

Taking time out to study his way through the doctoral program in English at Ohio University, and then to teach there, Lee never gave up magic.  He even performed on stage at Ohio University while a student there.  His path eventually led him to New York where he became friends with the great Henny Youngman and remained friends with him until Henny's death.

Lee returned to his roots in Pomeroy to help his ailing mother and that is when he began publishing books for magicians and mentalists, combining his love of magic and his knowledge of English.

Lee became fascinated with the beautiful posters of the early magicians and began collecting them.  He realized that the posters were becoming so expensive that most people could not afford them and would never be able to enjoy their beauty.  This realization gave birth to the idea of reproducing posters and he proceeded to reproduce the first magic poster-- Houdini's KING OF CARDS.  This idea did not catch on at first, but eventually reproductions became quite popular.  This may have been Lee's greatest contribution to the field of magic.  And he had always wanted to be remembered for this contribution.

Lee could be a little abrasive at times, but I have also seen a very soft side of him when he had helped people, especially the young and the very old, to acquire something they were wanting.  He was one of the most honest, and stubborn, people that I have ever know and I have the greatest respect for him in building a successful international business from scratch.  He will be missed by many people in the magic community. His business will continue to operate as usual at this time (with the exception that I do not have his extensive knowledge of magic and will be a bit slower and unable to answer many questions).  My wish is that someone interested in magic would like to buy his business.