Magic is a performing art that entertains an
audienceAn audience is a group of people who participate in a show or encounter a work of art, literature , theatre, music or academics in any medium...
by creating
illusionAn illusion is a distortion of the senses, revealing how the brain normally organizes and interprets sensory stimulation. While illusions distort reality, they are generally shared by most people....
s of seemingly impossible or
supernaturalThe term supernatural or supranatural pertains to an order of existence beyond the scientifically visible universe. Religious miracles are typically supernatural claims, as are spells and curses, divination, the belief that there is an afterlife for the dead, and innumerable others...
feats, using purely natural means. These feats are called
magic tricks,
effects or
illusions.
One who performs such illusions is called a
magician or an
illusionist.
Some performers may also be referred to by names reflecting the type of magical effects they present,
such as
prestidigitatorsSleight of hand, also known as prestidigitation or légèreté des mains , is the set of techniques used by a magician to manipulate objects such as cards and coins secretly....
, conjurors,
mentalistsMentalism is a performing art in which its practitioners, known as mentalists, use mental acuity, cold reading, hot reading, principles of stage magic, and/or suggestion to present the illusion of mind reading, psychokinesis, extra-sensory perception, precognition, clairvoyance or mind control...
,
escape artistsEscapology is the practice of escaping from restraints or other traps. Escapologists escape from handcuffs, straitjackets, cages, coffins, steel boxes, barrels, bags, burning buildings, fish-tanks and other perils, often in combination.Some escapologists' tricks are accomplished by illusionists'...
, and
ventriloquistsVentriloquism is an act of stagecraft in which a person manipulates his or her voice so that it appears that the voice is coming from elsewhere. The act of ventriloquism is ventriloquizing and the ability to do so is commonly called in English the ability to "throw" one's voice...
.
History
The term "Magic" is etymologically derived from the Latin word
MagiMagi is a term, used since at least the 4th century BCE, to denote a follower of Zoroaster, or rather, a follower of what the Hellenistic world associated Zoroaster with, which was – in the main – the ability to read the stars, and manipulate...
. Performances we would now recognize as conjuring have probably been practiced throughout
historyHistory is the study of the human past, with special attention to the written record. Scholars who write about history are called historians. It is a field of research which uses a narrative to examine and analyse the sequence of events, and it often attempts to investigate objectively the patterns...
. The same level of ingenuity that was used to produce famous ancient deceptions such as the
Trojan HorseThe Trojan Horse was a tale from the Trojan War, as told in Virgil's Latin epic poem The Aeneid. The events in this story from the Bronze Age took place after Homer's Iliad, and before Homer's Odyssey. It was the stratagem that allowed the Greeks finally to enter the city of Troy and end the...
would also have been used for
entertainmentAn entertainment is any activity which provides a diversion or permits people to amuse themselves in their leisure time.Entertainment is typically passive - as in watching opera or a movie. Activities which involve participating in games or sports are more often considered to be recreation...
, or at least for cheating in
moneyMoney is anything that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts. The main functions of money are distinguished as: a medium of exchange, a unit of account, a store of value, and occasionally, a standard of deferred payment...
games, since
time immemorial. They were also used by various religions from times ancient, and were even known as far back as the early 17th century to be used to frighten uneducated populi. However, the profession of the illusionist gained strength only in the eighteenth century, and has enjoyed several popular vogues.
In 1584,
Reginald ScotReginald Scot was the English author of The Discoverie of Witchcraft, which was published in 1584. It was written to show that witches did not exist, by exposing how feats of magic were done...
published
The Discoverie of Witchcraft. It was written to show that
witchesWitchcraft, in various historical, anthropological, religious and mythological contexts, is the use of certain kinds of supernatural or magical powers. Witchcraft can refer to the use of such powers in order to inflict harm or damage upon members of a community or their property...
did not exist, by exposing how (apparently miraculous) feats of magic were done. The book is often deemed the first textbook about conjuring. All obtainable copies were burned on the accession of
James IJames VI & I was King of Scots as James VI from 1567 to 1625, and King of England and Ireland as James I from 1603 to 1625....
in 1603 and those remaining are now rare. It began to reappear, in print, in 1651.
From 1756 to 1781,
Jacob PhiladelphiaJacob Philadelphia was a Jewish magician, physicist, mechanic, juggler, astrologer, alchemist, and Kabbalist.-Biography:He is believed to have been born on August 14, 1735 and given the name Jacob Meyer....
performed feats of magic, sometimes under the guise of scientific exhibitions, throughout
EuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus Mountains , and the Black Sea to the southeast...
and in
RussiaRussia , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia . It is a semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Modern entertainment magic owes much to
Jean Eugène Robert-HoudinJean Eugène Robert-Houdin was a French magician. He is widely considered the father of the modern style of conjuring.-Early life and entrance into conjuring:...
(1805-1871), originally a clockmaker, who opened a magic theatre in
ParisParis is the capital of France and the country's most populous city. It is situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in the 1840s. His speciality was the construction of mechanical automata which appeared to move and act as if they were alive. The
BritishThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
performer
J N MaskelyneJohn Nevil Maskelyne was an English stage magician and inventor of the pay toilet as well as many other important Victorian inventions...
and his partner Cooke established their own theatre, the Egyptian Hall in
London[]London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It has been a major settlement for two millennia, and the history of London goes back to its founding by the Romans, when it was named Londinium. London's core, the ancient City of London, the 'square mile', retains its medieval boundaries...
's
PiccadillyPiccadilly is a major London street, running from Hyde Park Corner in the west to Piccadilly Circus in the east. It is completely within the city of Westminster. The street is part of the A4 road, London's second most important western artery. St...
, in 1873. They presented stage magic, exploiting the potential of the stage for hidden mechanisms and assistants, and the control it offers over the audience's point of view.
The model for the look of a "typical magician" — a man with wavy hair, a goatee, and a tailcoat — was
Alexander HerrmannAlexander Herrmann was a French magician, better known as Herrmann the Great. He was part of the Herrmann family name that is known as the "first-family of magic". Those that witnessed Herrmann the Great perform considered him the greatest magician they ever saw.-Early years :Alexander Herrmann...
(February 10, 1844 – December 17, 1896) known as
Herrmann the Great. Herrmann was a French magician and was part of the Herrmann family name that is the "first-family of magic". Those that witnessed Herrmann the Great perform considered him the greatest magician they ever saw.
The escapologist and magician
Harry HoudiniHarry Houdini was a Hungarian American magician and escapologist, stunt performer, actor and film producer...
took his stage name from Robert-Houdin and developed a range of stage magic tricks, many of them based on
escapologyEscapology is the practice of escaping from restraints or other traps. Escapologists escape from handcuffs, straitjackets, cages, coffins, steel boxes, barrels, bags, burning buildings, fish-tanks and other perils, often in combination.Some escapologists' tricks are accomplished by illusionists'...
(though that word was not used until after Houdini's death). The son of a Hungarian rabbi, Houdini was genuinely skilled in techniques such as lockpicking and escaping straitjackets, but also made full use of the range of conjuring techniques, including fake equipment and collusion with individuals in the audience. Houdini's show business savvy was great as well as his performance skill. There is a Houdini Museum dedicated to him in
Scranton, PennsylvaniaScranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to figures released by the United States Census Bureau in 2000,...
. In addition to expanding the range of magic hardware, showmanship and deceptive technique, these performers established the modern relationship between the performer and the audience.
In this relationship, there is an unspoken agreement between the performer and the audience about what is going on. Unlike in the past, almost no performers today actually claim to possess
supernaturalThe term supernatural or supranatural pertains to an order of existence beyond the scientifically visible universe. Religious miracles are typically supernatural claims, as are spells and curses, divination, the belief that there is an afterlife for the dead, and innumerable others...
powers. There is a debate amongst people who perform
mentalismMentalism is a performing art in which its practitioners, known as mentalists, use mental acuity, cold reading, hot reading, principles of stage magic, and/or suggestion to present the illusion of mind reading, psychokinesis, extra-sensory perception, precognition, clairvoyance or mind control...
as to whether or not to perform their style of magic as if they have real power or if they can simulate this power.
The effects in the performance are
sleight of handSleight of hand, also known as prestidigitation or légèreté des mains , is the set of techniques used by a magician to manipulate objects such as cards and coins secretly....
(prestidigitation or léger de main), misdirection, deception, collusion with a member of the audience, apparatus with hidden mechanisms, mirrors, and other trickery (hence the illusions are commonly referred to as "tricks"). The performer seeks to present an effect that the audience perceives as impossible, even upon consideration. The sense of bafflement is part of the entertainment. In turn, the adult audience play a role in which they agree to be entertained by something they know to be a deception. Houdini gained the trust of his audiences by using his knowledge of illusions to debunk charlatans, a tradition continued by magicians such as
James RandiJames Randi is a stage magician and scientific skeptic best known as a challenger of paranormal claims and pseudoscience. Randi is the founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation...
, Arthur Ellison,
P. C. SorcarP.C. Sorcar was the stage name of Protul Chandra Sorcar, a famous Indian magician. He was an internationally active magician throughout the 1950s and 1960s, performing his Indrajal show before live audiences and on television...
, and Penn and Teller.
The magic show for much of the 20th century was marginalized in North America as largely children's entertainment. A revival started with
Doug HenningDouglas James Henning was a Canadian magician, illusionist, escape artist and politician. - Early life:...
, who reestablished the magic show as a form of mass entertainment with his distinctive look that rejected the old stereotypes and his exuberant sense of
showmanshipShowmanship, concerning artistic performing such as in Theatre, is the skill of performing in such a manner that will appeal to an audience or aid in conveying the performance's essential theme or message....
that became popular on stage and television specials.
Today, the art is enjoying a vogue, driven by a number of highly successful performers.
David BlaineDavid Blaine is an American illusionist and endurance artist. He is best known for his high-profile feats of endurance, and has made his name as a performer of street and close-up magic. He has set and broken several world records...
's performances are more a combination of Houdini-style escape tricks and physical endurance displays than the illusion magic performed by others. The mid-twentieth century saw magic transform in many different aspects. Some performers preferred to renovate the craft on stage (such as The Mentalizer Show in Times Square which mixed themes of
spiritualitySpirituality is relating to, consisting of, or having the nature of spirit; not tangible or material. Synonyms include immaterialism, dualism, incorporeality and eternity....
and
kabbalahKabbalah is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the mystical aspect of Judaism. It is a set of esoteric teachings that is meant to explain the relationship between an infinite, eternal and essentially unknowable Creator with the finite and mortal universe of His creation...
with the art of magic). Others successfully made the transition to TV, which opens up new opportunities for deceptions, and brings the performer to huge audiences. Most TV magicians perform before a live audience, who provide the remote viewer with a reassurance that the illusions are not obtained with post production
visual effectsVisual effects are the various processes by which imagery is created and/or manipulated outside the context of a live action shoot...
.
Many of the principles of magic are old. There is an expression, "it's all done with smoke and mirrors", used to explain something baffling, but effects seldom use mirrors today, due to the amount of install work and transport difficulties. For example, the famous
Pepper's GhostPepper's ghost is an illusionary technique used in theater and in some magic tricks. Using a plate glass and special lighting techniques, it can make objects seem to appear or disappear, or make one object seem to "morph" into another.-Illusion:...
, a stage illusion first used in 19th century London, required a specially built theatre. Modern performers have vanished objects as large as the Taj Mahal, Statue of Liberty, and the Space Shuttle, using other kinds of optical deceptions.
Categories of effects
There is discussion among magicians as to how a given effect is to be categorized, and disagreement as to what categories actually exist—for instance, some magicians consider "penetrations" to be a separate category, while others consider penetrations a form of restoration or teleportation. It is generally agreed that there are very few different types of effect. There has been disagreement between some magicians (such as
Dariel FitzkeeDariel Fitzkee was the pen name of Dariel Fitzroy. He was a semi-professional magician/author, born in Annawan, Illinois. His trilogy, known as The Fitzkee Trilogy is considered by many to be an important contribution to the theory of magic....
,
Harlan TarbellHarlan Eugene Tarbell was an American stage magician and illustrator of the early 20th century. He was the author of the well-known Tarbell Course in Magic....
, S.H. Sharpe) as to how many different types of illusion there are. Some of these are listed below.
- Production The magician produces something from nothing—a rabbit from an empty hat, a fan of cards from thin air, a shower of coins from an empty bucket, a dove from a pan
The dove pan is a classic magic effect in which a magician produces a dove from an empty pan. The illusion continues to be performed by professional and amateur magicians....
, or the magician him or herself, appearing in a puff of smoke on an empty stage—all of these effects are productions.
- Vanishing The magician makes something disappear—a coin, a cage of doves, milk from a newspaper, an assistant from a cabinet, or even the Statue of Liberty
Making the Statue of Liberty seem to disappear on live television in 1983 is one of David Copperfield's most memorable tricks. The illusion was a creation of Jim Steinmeyer and Don Wayne, and it is still unpublished...
. A vanish, being the reverse of a production, may use a similar technique, in reverse.
- Transformation The magician transforms something from one state into another—a silk handkerchief changes colour, a lady turns into a tiger
The tiger is a member of the Felidae family; the largest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera. Native to much of eastern and southern Asia, the tiger is an apex predator and an obligate carnivore...
, an indifferent card changes to the spectator's chosen card. A transformation can be seen as a combination of a vanish and a production.
- Restoration The magician destroys an object, then restores it back to its original state—a rope is cut, a newspaper is torn, a woman is sawn in half
Sawing a woman in half is a generic name for a number of different stage magic tricks in which a person is apparently sawn in half or divided into two.-History:...
, a borrowed watch is smashed to pieces—then they are all restored to their original state.
- Teleportation The magician causes something to move from one place to another—a borrowed ring is found inside a ball of wool, a canary inside a light bulb, an assistant from a cabinet to the back of the theatre. When two objects exchange places, it is called a transposition: a simultaneous, double teleportation.
- Escapology: The magician (an assistant may participate, but the magician himself is by far the most common) is placed in a restraining device (i.e. handcuffs
Handcuffs are restraint devices designed to secure an individual's wrists close together. They comprise two parts, linked together by a chain, a hinge or in the case of rigid cuffs, a bar. Each half has a rotating arm which engages with a ratchet that prevents it from being opened once closed...
or a straitjacketA straitjacket is a garment shaped like a jacket with overlong sleeves and which is typically used to restrain a person who may otherwise cause harm to him/herself and others...
) or a death trap, and escapes to safety. Examples include being put in a straitjacket and into an overflowing tank of water, and being tied up and placed in a car being sent through a car crusher.
- Levitation The magician defies gravity, either by making something float in the air, or with the aid of another object (suspension)—a silver ball floats around a cloth, an assistant floats in mid-air, another is suspended from a broom, a scarf dances in a sealed bottle, the magician hovers a few inches off the floor. There are many popular ways to create this illusion of even the magician himself being levitated.
- Penetration The magician makes a solid object pass through another—a set of steel rings link and unlink, a candle penetrates an arm, swords pass through an assistant in a basket, a saltshaker penetrates the table-top, a man walks through a mirror. Sometimes referred to as "solid-through-solid".
- Prediction The magician predicts the choice of a spectator, or the outcome of an event under seemingly impossible circumstances—a newspaper headline is predicted, the total amount of loose change in the spectator's pocket, a picture drawn on a slate. Prediction forms the basis for most "pick-a-card" tricks, where a random card is chosen, then revealed to be known by the performer.
Many magical routines use combinations of effects. For example, in "cups and balls" a magician may use vanishes, productions, penetrations, teleportations and transformations as part of the one presentation.
Famous stage illusionists
- Christian Farla
Christian Farla is a Dutch illusionist/magician whose homebase is in Barendrecht, near Rotterdam. Christian Farla is one of the few magicians who are specialized in mega-illusions. In 2006 and 2009, he won the Merlin Award, the highest international award for magicians.-Biography:Christian was born...
- Siegfried & Roy
Siegfried & Roy are two German-American entertainers known for their long running show of magic and illusion in Las Vegas, USA.The duo gave their final performance on February 28, 2009, after a hiatus of over five years....
- David Copperfield
David Copperfield is an Emmy Award-winning American illusionist described by Forbes in 2006 as the most commercially successful magician in history...
- Lance Burton
Lance Burton is a stage illusionist who performs nightly in his own show at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. He has appeared on numerous television programs, and also performed for Queen Elizabeth and President Ronald Reagan...
- Alexander Herrmann
Alexander Herrmann was a French magician, better known as Herrmann the Great. He was part of the Herrmann family name that is known as the "first-family of magic". Those that witnessed Herrmann the Great perform considered him the greatest magician they ever saw.-Early years :Alexander Herrmann...
- Harry Blackstone, Sr.
Harry Blackstone was a famed stage magician and illusionist of the 20th century. Blackstone was born Harry Boughton. He began his career as a magician in his teens and was popular through World War II as a USO entertainer. He was often billed as The Great Blackstone. His son Harry Blackstone, Jr...
- Harry Blackstone, Jr.
Harry Blackstone, Jr. was an American stage magician, author, and television performer.He received the Magician of the Year Award in 1979 and 1985. He appeared as a guest on The Tonight Show, Donahue, The Today Show, Reading Rainbow, and The Super Mario Bros. Super Show...
- Howard Thurston
Howard Thurston was a stage magician from Columbus, Ohio.-Life:Thurston had the largest traveling Vaudeville magic show for the time, requiring more than eight entire train cars to transport his props across the country.-The King of Cards:He is still famous for his work with playing cards...
- Chung Ling Soo
Chung Ling Soo was the stage name of American stage magician William Ellsworth Robinson . He is famous for dying when his bullet catch trick went wrong.- Biography :...
- Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini was a Hungarian American magician and escapologist, stunt performer, actor and film producer...
- The Pendragons
Jonathan and Charlotte Pendragon are an award-winning husband-and-wife team of American illusionists who call their work "physical grand illusion". They are widely known thanks to numerous national and international television appearances...
- P. C. Sorcar
P.C. Sorcar was the stage name of Protul Chandra Sorcar, a famous Indian magician. He was an internationally active magician throughout the 1950s and 1960s, performing his Indrajal show before live audiences and on television...
- P. C. Sorcar, Jr.
P. C. Sorcar, Jr. is an Indian magician based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. He is the son of legendary Indian magician P. C. Sorcar, and is today considered the most prominent magician in India...
- Gopinath Muthukad
Gopinath Muthukad is a world famous magician, escapologist, and stunt performer from Kerala, India.He employs magic as a medium to convey his messages to the society....
- Prahlad Acharya
Prahlad Acharya is a popular magician, illusionist, escapologist, and stunt performer from Udupi, Karnataka, India. Renowned for his escape acts, Prahlad has been termed Indian Houdini by the Indian media. Prahlad is also an entertaining ventriloquist, and an expert shadow play artiste...
- Derren Brown
Derren Victor Brown is an English magician, illusionist, mentalist, painter and sceptic. He was born in Croydon, South London, educated at Whitgift School, where his father coached swimming, and studied Law and German at the University of Bristol...
Secrecy
The purpose of a magic trick is to amuse and create a feeling of wonderment; the audience is generally aware that the magic is performed using trickery, and derives enjoyment from the magician's skill and cunning. Traditionally, magicians refuse to reveal the secrets to the audience. The reasons include the following:
- Exposure
Exposure in magic refers to the practice of making magical methods available to those who are not magicians. It is generally frowned upon as a type of spoiler that ruins the experience of magical performances for audiences.Standards vary for who should be counted as insiders...
is claimed to "kill" magic as an artform and transforms it into mere intellectual puzzles and riddles. It is argued that once the secret of a trick is revealed to a person, that one can no longer fully enjoy subsequent performances of that magic, as the amazement is missing. Sometimes the secret is so simple that the audience feels let down, and feels disappointed it was taken in so easily.
- Keeping the secrets preserves the mystery of professional magicians.
Membership in professional magicians' organizations often requires a solemn commitment to the "Magician's Oath" never to reveal the secrets of magic to non-magicians.
- The Magician's Oath (though it may vary, 'The Oath' takes the following, or similar form):
-
- "As a magician I promise never to reveal the secret of any illusion to a non-magician, unless that one swears to uphold the Magician's Oath in turn. I promise never to perform any illusion for any non-magician without first practicing the effect until I can perform it well enough to maintain the illusion of magic."
Once sworn to the Oath, one is considered a magician, and is expected to live up to this promise. A magician who reveals a secret, either purposely or through insufficient practice, may typically find him or herself without any magicians willing to teach him or her any more secrets.
However, it is considered permissible to reveal secrets to individuals who are determined to learn magic and become magicians. It is typically a sequential process of increasingly valuable and lesser known secrets. The secrets of almost all magical effects are available to the public through numerous books and magazines devoted to magic, available from the specialized magic trade. There are also web sites which offer videos, DVDs and instructional materials. In this sense, there are very few classical illusions left unrevealed, however this does not appear to have diminished the appeal of performances. In addition, magic is a living art, and new illusions are devised with surprising regularity. Sometimes a 'new' illusion will be built on an illusion that is old enough to have become unfamiliar.
Some magicians have taken the controversial position that revealing the methods used in certain works of magic can enhance the appreciation of the audience for cleverness of magic. Penn and Teller frequently perform tricks using transparent props to reveal how they are done, for example, although they almost always include additional unexplained effects at the end that are made even more astonishing by the revealing props being used.
Often, what seems to be a revelation of a magical secret is merely another form of misdirection. For instance, a magician may explain to an audience member that the linking rings "have a hole in them" and hand the volunteer two unlinked rings, which the volunteer finds to have become linked as soon as he handles them. At this point the magician may shove his arm through the ring ('the hole in the ring'), proclaiming: "See? Once you know that every ring has a hole, it's easy!"
Learning magic
Dedication to magic can teach confidence and creativity, as well as the work ethic associated with regular practice and the responsibility that comes with devotion to an art.
The teaching of performance magic was once a secretive practice. Professional magicians were unwilling to share knowledge with anyone outside the profession to prevent the laity from learning their secrets. This made it difficult for an interested apprentice to learn magic beyond the basics. Some had strict rules against members discussing magic secrets with anyone but established magicians.
From the 1584 publication of
Reginald ScotReginald Scot was the English author of The Discoverie of Witchcraft, which was published in 1584. It was written to show that witches did not exist, by exposing how feats of magic were done...
's
Discoverie of Witchcraft until the end of the 19th century, only a few books were available for magicians to learn the craft, whereas today mass-market books offer a myriad titles. Videos and DVDs are a newer medium of tuition, but many of the methods found in this format are readily found in previously published books. However, they can serve as a visual demonstration.
Nowadays, magicians can join
magic clubA magic club is any group of local magicians who meet together on a regular basis. Also sometimes known as a magic circle. A club can be open to all with an interest in magic or it may be only possible to join by invite or by meeting some sort of notability criteria...
s. Here magicians, both seasoned and novitiate, can work together and help one another for mutual improvement, to learn new techniques, to discuss all aspects of magic, to perform for each other — sharing advice, encouragement, and criticism. Before a magician can join one of these clubs, they usually have to audition. The purpose is to show to the membership they are a magician and not just someone off the street wanting to discover magical secrets.
The world's largest magic organization is the
International Brotherhood of MagiciansInternational Brotherhood of Magicians is the world's largest organization for professional and amateur magicians, with approximately 15,000 members worldwide. The headquarters is in St...
; it publishes a monthly journal,
The Linking RingThe Linking Ring is a monthly print magazine, published by the International Brotherhood of Magicians. It is also available in electronic form to members of the IBM. All members of the IBM are entitled to receive this periodical. It was first published in 1923...
. The oldest organization is the
Society of American MagiciansThe Society of American Magicians is the oldest fraternal magic organization in the world. Its purpose is "to advance, elevate, and preserve magic as a performing art, to promote harmonious fellowship throughout the world of magic, and to maintain and improve ethical standards in the field of...
, of which Houdini was a member and president for several years. In
London[]London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It has been a major settlement for two millennia, and the history of London goes back to its founding by the Romans, when it was named Londinium. London's core, the ancient City of London, the 'square mile', retains its medieval boundaries...
,
EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, there is
The Magic CircleThe Magic Circle is a British organisation dedicated to magic. Its headquarters are in London, and magicians who wish to join need to have known two members for a sufficient period of time...
which houses the largest magic library in Europe. Also
PSYCRETS - The British Society of Mystery Entertainers, which caters specifically to mentalists, bizarrists, storytellers, readers, spiritualist performers, and other mystery entertainers. The Magic Castle in Hollywood is home to the
Academy of Magical ArtsThe Academy of Magical Arts is a California non profit mutual benefit corporation organized and devoted to the promotion and development of the art of magic.Although begun in 1952 as a loose association of magicians by William Larsen, Sr...
.
Types of magic performance
Magic performances tend to fall into a few specialties or genres.
- Stage illusions
Stage illusions are large-scale magic tricks. As the name implies, stage illusions are distinct from all other types of magic in that they are performed a considerable distance away from the audience, usually on a stage, in order to maintain the illusion....
are performed for large audiences, typically within an auditorium. This type of magic is distinguished by large-scale props, the use of assistants and often, exotic animals such as elephants and tigers. Some famous stage illusionists, past and present, include Harry Blackstone, Sr.Harry Blackstone was a famed stage magician and illusionist of the 20th century. Blackstone was born Harry Boughton. He began his career as a magician in his teens and was popular through World War II as a USO entertainer. He was often billed as The Great Blackstone. His son Harry Blackstone, Jr...
, Howard ThurstonHoward Thurston was a stage magician from Columbus, Ohio.-Life:Thurston had the largest traveling Vaudeville magic show for the time, requiring more than eight entire train cars to transport his props across the country.-The King of Cards:He is still famous for his work with playing cards...
, Chung Ling SooChung Ling Soo was the stage name of American stage magician William Ellsworth Robinson . He is famous for dying when his bullet catch trick went wrong.- Biography :...
, David CopperfieldDavid Copperfield is an Emmy Award-winning American illusionist described by Forbes in 2006 as the most commercially successful magician in history...
, Siegfried & RoySiegfried & Roy are two German-American entertainers known for their long running show of magic and illusion in Las Vegas, USA.The duo gave their final performance on February 28, 2009, after a hiatus of over five years....
, and Harry Blackstone, Jr.Harry Blackstone, Jr. was an American stage magician, author, and television performer.He received the Magician of the Year Award in 1979 and 1985. He appeared as a guest on The Tonight Show, Donahue, The Today Show, Reading Rainbow, and The Super Mario Bros. Super Show...
.
- Platform magic
Platform magic is that aspect of magic that fits conveniently between stage illusions and close-up magic. It is more intimate than stage magic because it doesn't require expensive, large-scale stage equipment and can thus be performed closer to one's audience and while standing on the same level...
(also known as Cabaret magic or Stand-up magic) are terms used to describe magic performed for a medium to large audience. Night club magic and comedy club magic are also examples of this form. The use of illusionettes (small table top illusions) is common. The term Parlor magicParlor magic is done for larger audiences than close-up magic and for smaller audiences than stage magic. In parlor magic, the performer is usually standing and on the same level as the audience, which may be seated on chairs or even on the floor. According to the Encyclopedia of Magic and...
is sometimes used but is considered by some to be pejorative. This genre includes the skilled manipulation of props such as billiard balls, card fans, doves, rabbits, silks, and rope. Examples of such magicians include Jeff McBrideJeff McBride is an American magician. He is known for his sleight of hand skills and specializes in the manipulation of playing cards, coins, and other small objects. His stage performances blend elements of kabuki, a Japanese theater form, with traditional conjuring...
, Penn & TellerPenn & Teller is a double act consisting of Penn Jillette and Teller. The duo's act is an amalgam of illusion and comedy. Penn is a raconteur and Teller generally uses mime while performing, although his voice can occasionally be heard throughout their performance...
, David AbbottDavid Phelps Abbott was a magician, author and inventor who created such effects as the floating ball, later made famous by Okito. The best known of his books is Behind the Scenes With the Mediums , considered to be one of the best exposures of the methods used by psychics.-References:* * at The...
, Channing PollockChanning Pollock was an American magician and film actor.As one of the most sophisticated and charismatic practitioners of his craft; strikingly handsome with an enigmatic stage presence, he was best known for an act in which he would elegantly produce doves out of thin air and he was often billed...
, Black HermanBenjamin Rucker was an American stage magician, better known by his stage name Black Herman. He was the most prominent African American magician of his time....
, and Fred KapsFred Kaps , was a Dutch magician, famous for being the only magician to become FISM Grand Prix world champion three times. Fred Kaps (official name Abraham Pieter Adrianus Bongers), (June 8, 1926 – July 22, 1980) was a Dutch magician, famous for being the only magician to become FISM Grand...
.
- Micromagic
Micromagic or close-up magic or table magic is magic performed in an intimate setting usually no more than a ten-foot distance from one's audience and is usually performed while sitting at a table....
(also known as Close-up magic or Table Magic) is performed with the audience close to the magician, sometimes even one-on-one. It usually makes use of everyday items as props, such as cardsA playing card is a piece of specially prepared heavy paper, thin card, or thin plastic, figured with distinguishing motifs and used as one of a set for playing card games...
(see Card manipulationCard manipulation is the illusion of magic using a deck of playing cards. Card magic is commonplace in magical performances, especially in close up magic or parlor magic and street magic....
) and coinA coin is a piece of hard material, usually metal or a metallic material and sometimes made of synthetic materials, usually in the shape of a disc, and most often issued by a government. Coins are used as a form of money in transactions of various kinds, from the everyday circulation coins to the...
s (see Coin magicCoin magic is a general term for magical performances employing one or more coins which are manipulated to deceive and baffle the audience. Because coins are small, much coin magic is considered close-up magic or table magic, as the audience must be close to the performer to see the effects...
) and seemingly 'impromptu' effects. This is also called "table magic" particularly when performed as dinner entertainment. Ricky JayRichard Jay "Ricky" Potash , better known by the stage name Ricky Jay, is an American stage magician, actor, and writer. He is a sleight-of-hand expert and is notable for his card tricks, card throwing, memory feats, and stage patter.-Biography:Jay was born in Brooklyn, New York to a middle class...
and Lee AsherLee Asher is a close-up magician noted for originating new card tricks and hypnotic sleight of hand moves. -Biography:Lee Asher was born in Ft Lauderdale, near Miami in southern Florida, to Louise and her husband, Mark Horowitz. He is the eldest of two children and has a sister, Alexis...
, following in the traditions of Dai VernonDai Vernon , aka The Professor, was a Canadian magician. His expert sleight-of-hand technique and extensive knowledge garnered him universal respect among fellow magicians. His influence was considerable in the magic world, and he was a mentor to numerous famous magicians...
, Slydini, and Max MaliniMax Malini was a Jewish magician who at his peak performed for several U.S. Presidents, had command performances at Buckingham Palace, and received gifts from monarchs across Europe and Asia. Magicians are said to revere him for his skill and bold accomplishments.Malini's performance style was...
, are considered among the foremost practitioners of close-up magic.
- Escapology
Escapology is the practice of escaping from restraints or other traps. Escapologists escape from handcuffs, straitjackets, cages, coffins, steel boxes, barrels, bags, burning buildings, fish-tanks and other perils, often in combination.Some escapologists' tricks are accomplished by illusionists'...
is the branch of magic that deals with escapes from confinment or restraints. Harry HoudiniHarry Houdini was a Hungarian American magician and escapologist, stunt performer, actor and film producer...
is a well-known example of an escape artist or escapologist.
- Mentalism
Mentalism is a performing art in which its practitioners, known as mentalists, use mental acuity, cold reading, hot reading, principles of stage magic, and/or suggestion to present the illusion of mind reading, psychokinesis, extra-sensory perception, precognition, clairvoyance or mind control...
creates the impression in the minds of the audience that the performer possesses special powers to read thoughts, predict events, control other minds, and similar feats. It can be presented on a stage, in a cabaret setting, before small close-up groups, or even for one spectator.
- Theatrical Séances
Theatrical séances is that aspect of stage magic that pretends to contact the spirits of the dead.Theatrical séances are usually performed in either total or partial darkness to set the mood for the performance and to hide the "behind-the-scenes" goings-on of the magician and his assistants...
is that aspect of magic that simulates spiritualistic or mediumistic effects. This is meant purely as theatre and not meant to "conjure up spirits." This is an aspect of stage magic that is often misused by charlatans who pretend to actually be in contact with spirits.
- Children's magic
Children's magic is a specialized aspect of stage magic and is meant to entertain children. It is typically performed at birthday parties, churches, preschools, elementary schools, Sunday Schools or libraries. It is often the only type of magic most Westerners experience other than that seen on...
is performed for an audience primarily composed of children. It is typically performed at birthday parties, preschools, elementary schools, Sunday Schools or libraries. This type of magic is usually comedic in nature and involves audience interaction as well as volunteer assistants.
- Online magic tricks were designed to function on a computer screen. The computer essentially replaces the magician. Some online magic tricks recreate traditional card tricks and require user participation, while others, like Plato's Cursed Triangle are based on mathematical, geometrical and/or optical illusions. One such online magic trick, called Esmeralda's Crystal Ball, became a viral phenomenon that fooled so many computer users into believing that their computer had supernatural powers, that Snopes dedicated a page to debunking the trick.
- Mathemagic
A mathemagician is a mathematician who is also a magician.The name "mathemagician" was probably first applied to Martin Gardner, but has since been used to describe many mathematician/magicians, including Arthur T. Benjamin, Persi Diaconis, Chrystal Chan, and Raymond Smullyan...
is an aspect of stage magic that combines magic and mathematicsMathematics is the science and study of quantity, structure, space, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns, formulate new conjectures, and establish truth by rigorous deduction from appropriately chosen axioms and definitions....
. It is commonly used by children's magicChildren's magic is a specialized aspect of stage magic and is meant to entertain children. It is typically performed at birthday parties, churches, preschools, elementary schools, Sunday Schools or libraries. It is often the only type of magic most Westerners experience other than that seen on...
ians and mentalists.
- Corporate Magic or Trade Show Magic uses magic as a communication and sales tool, as opposed to just straightforward entertainment. Corporate magicians may come from a business background and typically present at meetings, conferences and product launches. They run workshops and can sometimes be found at trade shows, where their patter and illusions enhance an entertaining presentation of the products offered by their corporate sponsors. The pioneer performer in this arena is Eddie Tullock.
- Gospel Magic
Gospel magic is a specialized form of stage magic. It refers to the use of otherwise standard magic tricks and illusions to catechize those preparing for sacraments in the Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and Orthodox Churches or during general preaching, or during missions, in all branches of...
uses magic to catechize and evangelize. Gospel MagicGospel magic is a specialized form of stage magic. It refers to the use of otherwise standard magic tricks and illusions to catechize those preparing for sacraments in the Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and Orthodox Churches or during general preaching, or during missions, in all branches of...
was first used by St. Don Bosco to interest children in 19th century TurinTurin is a major city as well as a business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River surrounded by the Alpine arch...
, ItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic , is a country located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. Italy shares its northern, Alpine boundary with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia...
to come back to school, accept assistance and to attend church.
- Street magic
Street magic actually falls into two genres; traditional street performance and guerrilla magic.- Traditional street performance :The first definition of street magic refers to a traditional form of magic performance - that of busking. In this, the magician draws an audience from passers by and...
is a form of street performing or buskingBusking is the practice of performing in public places for tips and gratuities. People engaging in this practice are called buskers or street performers. Busking performances can be just about anything that people find entertaining...
that employs a hybrid of stage magic, platform and close-up magic, usually performed 'in the roundTheatre-in-the-round or arena theatre is any theatre space in which the audience surrounds the stage area. In 1947, Margo Jones established America's first professional theatre-in-the-round company when she opened her Theatre ’47 in Dallas....
' or surrounded. Notable modern street magic performers include Jeff SheridanJeff Sheridan is an American magician who started his career by specializing in street magic. Sheridan began working in New York City around 1967. He studied briefly at the School of the Visual Arts in NYC in the late 1960s...
and GazzoGazzo may refer to:* Gazzo , a town in the Italian province of Padua* Gazzo Veronese, a town in the Italian province of Verona* Monte Gazzo, a hill near the Italian town of Sestri Ponente* Michael V. Gazzo, Broadway Playwright and American Actor...
. The term "street magic" has recently (since the first David BlaineDavid Blaine is an American illusionist and endurance artist. He is best known for his high-profile feats of endurance, and has made his name as a performer of street and close-up magic. He has set and broken several world records...
TV special "Street Magic" aired in 1997) come to be used to describe a style of "guerilla" performance where magicians approach and perform for unsuspecting members of the public on the street. Unlike traditional street magic, this style is almost purely designed for TV and gains its impact from the wild reactions of the public. Magicians of this type include David BlaineDavid Blaine is an American illusionist and endurance artist. He is best known for his high-profile feats of endurance, and has made his name as a performer of street and close-up magic. He has set and broken several world records...
and Cyril TakayamaCyril Takayama is an illusionist of Ryukyuan and French descent. He is perhaps best known for his magic performances around Japan.-Early life:...
.
- Bizarre magic
Bizarre Magic, or Bizarre Magick, is a branch of stage magic, or conjuring, like stage illusions, sleight of hand, or children's magic. The major difference is that bizarre magic uses storytelling and word play to a much greater degree, and less emphasis is placed on the manual dexterity of the...
uses mystical, horror, fantasyFantasy is a genre that uses magic and other supernatural forms as a primary element of plot, theme, and/or setting. Many works within the genre take place on fictional planes or planets where magic is common...
and other similar themes in performance. Bizarre magic is typically performed in a close-up venue, although some performers have effectively presented it in a stage setting. Charles CameronCharles Cameron was a professional magician who specialized in a style known as bizarre magic.He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland.-External links:*...
has generally been credited as the "godfather of bizarre magic." Others, such as Tony AndruzziTony Andruzzi , born Antonio C. Andruzzi in Cheyenne, Wyoming, was a professional magician. From the 1950s to the early 1970s his performances were comedy illusions. He adopted the name Tom Palmer and had his legal name changed to Thomas S. Palmer...
, contributed significantly to its development.
- Shock magic is a genre of magic that shocks the audience, hence the name. Sometimes referred to as "geek magic," it takes its roots from circus sideshows, in which "freakish" performances were shown to audiences. Common shock magic or geek magic effects include eating razor blades, needle-through-arm
Needle-through-arm is a magic effect that was popularized by comedy actor/magician Harry Anderson. The trick can either be performed as part of a stage magic or a parlor magic routine...
, string through neck and pen-through-tongue.
Misuse of magic
In modern conjuring, it is not considered ethical to give a performance which claims to be anything other than a clever and skillful deception.
Fraudulent psychics or mediums have long capitalised on the popular belief in
ESPExtrasensory perception involves reception of information not gained through the recognized senses and not inferred from experience. The term was coined by German psychical researcher, Rudolf Tischner, and adopted by Duke University psychologist J. B...
and other
paranormalParanormal is a general term that describes unusual experiences that lack a scientific explanation, or phenomena alleged to be outside of science's current ability to explain or measure...
phenomena for financial gain. Controversy still surrounds the hugely successful 1970s illusionist
Uri GellerUri Geller is an Israeli British entertainer well known for his trademark television performances of spoon bending and other physical effects. Geller has throughout the years claimed that he achieves these effects through psychokinesis and telepathy, though critics say they are easily replicated...
and his ability to bend spoons, for instance. During the height of the vogue for Spiritualism and the wave of popularity for
séanceA séance is an attempt to communicate with spirits. The word "séance" comes from the French word for "seat," "session" or "sitting," from the Old French "seoir," "to sit." In French, the word's meaning is quite general: one may, for example, speak of "une séance de cinéma"...
s from the 1840s to the 1920s, many fraudulent mediums used conjuring methods to perform illusions such as table-knocking, slate-writing, and telekinetic effects. The great escapologist and illusionist
Harry HoudiniHarry Houdini was a Hungarian American magician and escapologist, stunt performer, actor and film producer...
devoted much of his time to exposing such fraudulent operators. Magician
James RandiJames Randi is a stage magician and scientific skeptic best known as a challenger of paranormal claims and pseudoscience. Randi is the founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation...
is involved in similar debunking today. Randi has, for example, shown how people have been taken advantage of by unscrupulous
faith healersFaith healing is a concept that religious belief can bring about healing—either through prayers or rituals that, according to adherents, evoke a divine presence and power toward correcting disease and disability in particular indicated individuals. Belief in divine intervention in illness or...
who, using simple sleight-of-hand, remove chicken-giblet "tumors" from the patient's abdomen. More recently, British magicians
Barry and StuartBarry Jones and Stuart MacLeod are a two-man magic act from Scotland. They are also sometimes known as the 2magicians. They are known for their dark and sinister performing style, weird and bloody tricks and for taking as inspiration the accounts of Biblical miracles to form the basis for some of...
used some of the Biblical accounts of miracles as inspiration for the tricks they presented in two TV specials.
Con menA confidence trick or confidence game is an attempt to defraud a person or group by gaining their confidence...
and grifters often use techniques of conjuring for fraudulent goals. Cheating at
card gameA card game is any game using playing cards as the primary things with which the game is played, be they traditional or game-specific. Countless card games exist, including families of related games...
s is an obvious example. Other scams continue to defraud the innocent, despite having been exposed and
debunkedThe Real Hustle is a BBC television series made by Objective Productions and written by Alex Conran and Paul Wilson. The show demonstrates confidence and magic tricks, distraction scams and proposition bets performed on members of the public by presenters Conran, Wilson and Jessica-Jane...
. The card trick known as "Find the Lady" or "
Three-card MonteThree-card Monte, also known as the Three-card marney, Three-card trick, Three-Way, Three-card shuffle, Menage-a-card, Triplets, Follow the lady, Find the lady, or Follow the Bee is a confidence game in which the victim, or mark, is tricked into betting a sum of money, on the assumtion that they...
" is an old favourite of street hustlers, who lure the victim into betting on what seems like an easy and obvious win. Another example is the
shell gameThe shell game is portrayed as a gambling game, but in reality, when a wager for money is made, it is a confidence trick used to perpetrate fraud...
, in which a pea is hidden under one of three walnut shells, then shuffled around the table (or sidewalk) so slowly as to make the pea's position seemingly obvious. Although these are well-known as frauds, people are still fooled enough to lose money on them.
See also
- American Museum of Magic
The American Museum of Magic in Marshall, Michigan, houses a large collection of magical paraphernalia and illusions, including an extensive collection of devices that once belonged to famed magician Harry Blackstone, Sr., .-Museum collection:...
- Indian magicians
India, designated as Land of Magic. Stage or street magic has a long history in India. Magic is mentioned in the Hindu holy books, the Vedas and Upanishad.From God Indra's Jaal the word Indrajaal derived....
- List of magicians
- List of magic publications