Kickstart the Can-eh-diana deck

The previously mentioned Can-eh-diana deck is now an official KickStarter project.

From KickStarter:

I have been a deck collector for quite a while now, and have yet to find a Canadian deck that isn't filled with stock photos of scenery (basically a souvenir deck).   So, having combined that fact and my passion for playing cards, I have designed a deck of playing cards with a Canadian theme.

The deck will feature maple leaves instead of the the typical spade suit.  The suit colours will be two shades of red (bright red, and maroon), instead of red & black like in a typical deck of cards.

The most customization for the deck can be found on the court cards.  I have featured nine world famous Canadian magicians.

Read more and pledge.

Rogers TV: Behind the Magic with James Harrison

From Rogers TV:

Using some of Barrie's well known facilities, James Harrison entertains us with his magic. You may even learn a trick or two.

Read more.

Ottawa: David Merry at the Canadian Comedy awards

I have it on good authority that David Merry [warning: sound] is part of the "and more" listed in the blurb below!

From Canadian Comedy:

October 4, 2013
Canadian Comedy All Stars Show

Hosted by Alan Thicke and featuring Harland Williams, Nikki Payne, Mark Forward, Sean Cullen and more! These Canadian comedians spin comedic gold right before your eyes! When else will you get to see these old favourites and rising stars all in one place? Here's a show not to miss!

Read more and buy tickets.

Vancouver: The Music, The Magic, and The Movement

From the Global Speakers Summit:

The evening of Monday, December 9, 2013 will be a CAPS Foundation Fundraising event that includes entertainment, fellowship, and auctions, all in a good cause. We invite our CAPS members and our GSF guests to actively participate in this Foundation Fundraising event.

Read more.

The magic will be provided by:

• Anders Boulanger
• Sheldon Casavant
• Shawn Farquhar
• Richard Tremblay and
• Etienne Vendette

 via:

Here's a great event where you can see five magicians from across Canada in one single night. Tickets will sell... http://t.co/Zh6WWTn4fJ
— Shawn Farquhar (@magiChampion) September 8, 2013

Broken wand: Daniel McIlroy

From Obits for Life:

DANIEL ROBERT McILROY (Retired TTC Driver, Member of Bobcaygeon Baseball and Dunsford Food Bank volunteer) Entered into rest suddenly on Saturday, January 28, 2012. Dan was the beloved husband of the late Rose Ann (nee Carter). Loving father of Robbyn (Terry Moore), John (Dorothy), Donald (Nuala), Kimberly, and David. The loved uncle of Edgar "Eddie" Tonna. Dear companion of Shirley Read. Adored grandfather of Krystal Rose, Kati (Lauren Hassard), Devlin, Hilary, Shane, Monica, Michael, and Jack. Cherished great grandfather of Camdyn, Caleb, and Grace. Predeceased by his sister Irene. He was a chivalrous gentleman, a magician, a family man, who always had a fantastic story or joke to tell. He loved the theater, symphony, crosswords, old movies, sports and relaxing with his family at the cottage. He was notorious for showering his grandchildren with toys and cookies.

Read more.

[via The Linking Ring, Vol 93, #8, August 2013]

Once upon a time, Doug Henning hired a struggling comedian

Post by All About Magicians .com.

Toronto: Free magic club meeting

From the Browser's Den Facebook Group:

THIS SATURDAY/SEPTEMBER 7, AT 'BROWSER'S DEN' IS OUR NEXT...(free)MAGIC CLUB MEETING. All interested in talking/showing magic are welcome! .

Read more.

Toronto: Tyler Wilson and James Alan

Added a new show Oct 4 & 5 with @UnrealTyWilson & @james_alan "Illusions of Grandeur" http://t.co/AE5j4CUIKT
— Abracadabaret (@Abracadabaret) August 30, 2013

Thank you to our September sponsors!

Thank you to our sponsors for their generous support.  We're pleased to have the support of:

• Clive Court - The Fun-da-Mentalist,
• Ryan Pilling author of Finding The Funny, 
• Evelyn & Phil Matlin, owners of Perfect Magic and
• Jeff Pinsky, owner of The Browser's Den of Magic!

The next time you see them, let them know you saw their sponsorship here!

 

 

 

For more information about purchasing Sponsored Posts or about our Platinum, Gold, or Silver level sponsorships, please visit our Sponsorship page.

 

Toronto: James Alan, Chris Mayhew, Jason Palter and Nick Wallace

From Abracadabaret:

September 29, 2013

Featuring: Jason Palter, Chris Mayhew and  Nick Wallace. 

Hosted by James Alan.

Read more and buy tickets.

Montreal: Steve Reynolds lecture

From Montreal Magic Jam:

Sunday September 15th

What do Bill Malone, Jon Racherbaumer, Allan Ackerman and Lance Pierce have in common?

They all agree about one thing: If you want to transform how you think about magic and how you can be the performer you were meant to be, you MUST spend quality time with Steve Reynolds.

Those magicians who do not consider themselves technical virtuosos choose Steve’s versions of their favorite effects because they are easy to do and fun to perform. Technicians also choose these same methods because they create the clearest effect on their audiences. However, Steve will not just be teaching his effects, he will be teaching The Monks Way: his philosophy on how to create great magic and how to become a great magician in order to truly entertain and fool your audiences.

Read more and buy tickets.

[via Perfect Magic]

Update to the Johnny Giordmaine tribute site

From the curator of the Johnny Giordmaine tribute site:

Just uncovered: a rare 1930s promotional postcard from Johnny Giordmaine, Canada's most beloved children's magician (1898 to 1974). It has not been seen by anyone for perhaps almost 80 years. Come check it out! The site continues to celebrate its fifth anniversary online with twelve new pages of material honouring the legacy of this late, great Canadian magician. Your memories of Johnny are also always most welcome.

The website is here: http://www.johngiordmaine.com

Edward Stone predicts Review headline

From Niagara Falls Review:

How is it possible for someone to know weeks in advance what a newspaper’s top headline will be?

Illusionist mentalist Edward Stone will prove it, so he says.

Stone, who has travelled throughout North America performing for thousands during his 90-minute Seeing is Believing show, has written his predictions for the front-page headlines on the Sept. 28 editions of the Niagara Falls Review and Buffalo News.

The two predictions have been sealed inside a locked chest hanging from the roof of the Trailside Bar and Grill on Ridge Rd. in Ridgeway.

Read more.

Rounding the Western rings in September

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.  

City	Club	Event(s)
Calgary, AB	Ring 66 (Calgary Magic Circle, Les Brocklesby Ring)	- Cameron Francis lecture
Edmonton, AB	Edmonton Magic Club	- n/a
Winnipeg, MB	The Magic Club of Winnipeg	- Cameron Francis lecture
Vancouver, BC	Ring 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle)	- n/a
Vancouver, BC	SAM 95  (Carl Hemeon Assembly)	-
Victoria, BC	Ring 183 (Victoria Magic Circle)	- n/a

 

Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.

Rounding the Ontario rings in September

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.

Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- n/a
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- Anthony Lindan lecture:  "I’m So Old, I’m New Again"
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)	- Bizzare Night
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- n/a
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- Steve Reynolds lecture
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- Michael Close lecture

 

Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.

Rounding the Eastern rings in September

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.

Halifax, NS	Ring 316 (Conjourer's Court)	- n/a
St. John, NB	Magic Circle of St. John	- n/a

Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.

Use it or lose it

Two Canadian magic institutions shuttered their stores on the very same weekend. It sends shivers down my spine.

Again I urge you to support our local brick and mortar magic shops. It's the first place many kids get bitten by the magic bug. It's a place they can go for encouragement and coaching, by people in the know. A nurturing community is formed in a local shop, which can't be duplicated through the internet.

Don't have brick and mortar shop in your area? Consider supporting one through their online shops. (I direct your attention to two of the wonderful sponsors of this blog, Perfect Magic and
The Browser's Den of Magic!)

If you don't use it, you'll lose it.

Goodbye to Morrissey Magic -- the end of an era in Toronto

On Saturday August 24th, after 54 years in the industry, Morrissey Magic closed its doors for the very last time.

Founded by Herb Morrissey in 1959, Morrissey Magic's niche product was his "Morrissey Cups."  His retail shop opened in 1964 with a second shop opening in Toronto in 1978.  Some time later, the entire operation settled in Toronto.

Morrissey Magic was the first real magic shop I'd ever experienced.  I can't tell you how many hours I've spent there.  Or how many pay cheques.  (The numbers are likely higher than I'd care to admit.)  Being in their store always felt like home to me -- no matter the location.  Their anniversary parties were the perfect combination of celebration, community and entertainment!  (I will never forget the impromptu performance by Richard Lyn a few years back!)  I feel fortunate that I was able to share my love of the store, and the people who ran it, with my family.

Thank you to Dan, Phoebe, Mike, Luiz, Richard and of course Herb, for the wonderful contributions you've made to my life.  Dan and Phoebe, I wish you all the very best as you begin a new chapter in yours!

Daniel Steep interviewed by Sean McGaughy

I interviewed @danielsteep after his #agrimagic show at #cne2013 @LetsGoToTheEX https://t.co/K1aiEuUdxY
— Sean McGaughey (@Sean_McGaughey) August 26, 2013

Toronto: Jay Scott Berry lecture

From the Browser's Den:

BONUS LECTURE - JAY SCOTT BERRY!
Date: Sunday, September 29

Dear Magic Friends,

We have arranged to squeeze in one more lecture for this September.  We agreed because JAY SCOTT BERRY is an exceptional magician from Australia that will be touring North America during this time. A true smooth as silk pro!

It has been ten years since he gave a lecture in Toronto.

Read more and buy ticktes.