Ralph W. Hull

{{Short description|American magician}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Ralph W. Hull

| birth_name = Ralph W. Hull

| nationality = American

| known_for = sleight of hand, card magic

| birth_place = Crooksville, Ohio

| birth_date= {{birth-date|July 5, 1883}}

| occupation = magician, author

| death_date = {{death-date and age|May 20, 1943|July 5, 1883}}

}}

Ralph W. Hull (July 5, 1883 – May 20, 1943) was born in Crooksville, Ohio{{cite web|url=http://ase.tufts.edu/cogstud/papers/explainingmagic.pdf |title=Explaining the 'Magic' of Consciousness |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221180832/http://ase.tufts.edu/cogstud/papers/explainingmagic.pdf |archivedate=February 21, 2008 }} and grew up to be an American magician (specialty card magic) and magic author who invented a number of commercial effects, including the Mirage Deck (1934), and the Mental Photography Deck / Nudist Deck (1934).{{cite web |url=http://www.magicnook.com/forum/bioHIJ.htm |title=Biographies Page H-I-J}}

He was also involved in his family business, the Hull Pottery manufacturing company out of Ohio.{{cite web |url=http://www.magictricks.com/bios/whoswho-h.htm#HullRalph |title=Who's Who in Magic - Letter H}} He is best known for the mechanical decks he developed using his rough and smooth principle.{{cite web |url=http://geniimagazine.com/wiki/index.php/Ralph_W._Hull |title=Ralph W. Hull MagicPedia entry}}

Ralph W. Hull was also a performer at Coney Island as the Chautauqua & Lyceum headliner.{{cite web |url=http://www.floraco.com/lyceum/ |title=Chautauqua & Lyceum Magicians}}