5. Manitoba museum an honour to son
4. Broken wand: Sandy Gregory
3. Goodbye to Morrissey Magic -- the end of an era in Toronto
2. Random thoughts about Ring 17 Members' Night
1. [Guest post] An open letter from the president of Ring 17
Appearing at Wizards in Orlando Monday! Grab a ticket and let me know if you're coming. @wizardzmagic http://t.co/wFXExIowjS
— Bill Abbott (@billabbottmagic) March 30, 2014
June 21st, 2014
Tyler Wilson Lecture
with special guest Chris Mayhew
Read more.
April 3rd
One of the things we enjoy most about organizing these lectures is being able to introduce you to new up-and-coming magicians, so we’re very excited to be bringing Chris Westfall to Montreal. Chris is a true student of magic as well as a worker in every sense of the word. With thousands of performances under his belt in a multitude of venues, Chris has developed a style and repertoire suited for the real world. Chris’s material has been published in Magic, Genii and M-U-M, and he was an invited speaker at the acclaimed 2013 Magi-Fest convention.
Read more (également en français) and buy tickets.
pic.twitter.com/2dTXs9Hro1
— Chris Westfall (@westfallmagic) January 7, 2014
Working with agency MacLaren McCann, Wendy’s auditioned 10 different magicians and asked them to incorporate the burger into their routines. The stunt was filmed, with each of the 22 magic tricks shot in one take, and uploaded to Facebook and YouTube over several weeks as part of the “Wendy’s Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger Magic Show.”[via Reality Based Magic]
Read more.
Since most of us are talking as much about the weather as we are about our latest sleight of hand moves I am pleased to report that I will make a prediction.
As popular is mentalism these days it was never of much interest to me for most of my formative years studying magic. Though I do appreciate it more now than then...I still enjoy scarves changing colour and canes changes to candles, linking rings and coins and cups and balls, etc.etc.
That being said, I have decided that I will make a prediction regarding our weather. The cold will disappear by the time I write my next Blog!
Read more.
Murray Sawchuck LIVE: Sunday Mar 23rd
Who is he?
Murray’s star power has exploded onto the entertainment scene with the charisma, personality and talent of an entertainer born to be on stage and screen, after his successful run as a semi-finalist on NBC-TV’s “America’s Got Talent.”
The #1 network summer series was viewed by over 22 million fans nationwide. Murray dazzled the judges: Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne and Howie Mandel by producing a Ferrari from thin air, transforming a girl locked in a cage into a 450 pound tiger and did the largest trick ever on “AGT” by vanishing an entire 1918 steam train locomotive in mere seconds.
All of these illusions took place before a “live” and national “TV” audience, and brought standing ovations from the judges.
Read more and buy ticket.
Through our Tony Eng Youth Fund, Magicana sponsored two young people to attend the John Carney Lecture in Toronto on Feb 15, 2014.
The pair are actively part of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Toronto – an organization near and dear to Magicana as past partners in our My Magic Hands program. Through a happy coincidence, Big Brother, Mike Johns, happened to hear about the lecture and thought it would be the perfect outing with his Little, Wes.
Wes is a budding 12-year old magician with a huge interest in magic and his Big, Mike – equally interested in magic – thought it would be the perfect outing for the two of them. But, limited funds proposed a challenge. Resourcefully, Mike reached out to Magicana and through our Tony Eng Youth Fund, we were able to make their attendance possible. After all that’s what the fund is all about – to motivate and inspire young people who are passionate about magic.
Read more.
Upcoming Screenings
Tribeca Screenings (New York City, USA)
FRI 4/18
SUN 4/20
WED 4/23
FRI 4/25
Hot Docs Screenings (Toronto, Canada)
Wed Apr 30 at Hart House Theatre
Thu May 1 at TIFF Bell Lightbox 1
Sat May 3 at TIFF Bell Lightbox 1
Jeff and Tessa Evason left everyone completely gobsmacked as they delved into minds, pulling out the information they needed.
It’s absolutely impossible to explain how they did what they did.
Read more.
Unless I’m much mistaken, there will be a few hundred people like me still wondering: How on earth did she do that?
The apparent mind-reading ability of Tessa Evason of The Evasons prompted a standing ovation to conclude this final South Tyneside International Magic Festival in style.
Read more.
Winner of the 2014 "Performer of the Year" award by Festivals & Events Ontario! pic.twitter.com/RAqMw6anUQ
— Mike D'Urzo (@MikeDurzo) March 3, 2014
We would like to make a prediction... or perhaps reveal a prediction:
After reading the subject line, fifty percent of you are saying, "Who's Dustin Diamond?" And fifty percent are saying, "Who's Glenn Ottaway?"
For those born after 1985, Glenn Ottaway is the godfather of comedy magic in Toronto. Mostly retired at the moment, you may have seen him at the Morrissey Magic anniversary parties or at our own comedy magic workshop a few years ago.
For those born before 1985, Dustin Diamond was "Screech" on Saved by the Bell (1989-1993), one of the great television nerds of all time.
This Saturday night (March 15), there is a special comedy gala headlined by Dustin Diamond and hosted by the legendary Mr. Ottaway himself at Dave & Busters (Highway 400 &7).
Read more.
Wednesday, 30 April 2014
French champion of magic, Vincent Hedan, will be joining us in Toronto for one night only for a performance of his new show The Wish. Vincent has performed in Europe, Australia, and Asia and has performed for Fortune 500 companies including Calvin Klein, Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz. This is his first public performance in North America.
Read more and buy tickets.
Hello to all Magic Lovers, the moment is finally here.
In the evening of April 26th , 2014, “[A1] Chinese Radio” is giving out opportunities to the magic lovers in Toronto! Bringing along with own incredible skills, the candidates will enter into an exciting competition held on a magical platform in Market Village.
Same as the previous years, this magic contest will gather all of professionals and entertainers within the magic scope and the qualified contestants will compete among themselves. After all, they are going to the same stage to compete for the fame of Top Magician in Toronto. It is absolutely an extraordinary experience to give yourself a chance to present your talent.
Date: April 26, 2014 (Saturday)
Time: TBA
Contestant: All Ages, All Genders (The show will be hosted in Cantonese. However, English and other language speakers are welcomed.)
Performance: Stage Magic or Close-Up Magic. For stage magic, it does not have to be “big stage illusion; any magic that can be performed on stage is fine, such as producing a rabbit from an empty hat etc.)
Venue: Market Village (Steeles & Kennedy)
Audition: We will start with YOUTUBE audition right away. From now till March 22nd, all participants only need to submit a roughly 2-minute video to: starz@classicforce.com. All videos should be titled as “Best Magician Contest 2014 1st Audition: XXXXXX (the title of your performance)”. (P.S. Video editing is permitted; HOWEVER, no editing on the MAGIC PERFORMANCE. Two minutes are including the effect AND all of the editing.)
• By submitting your video before March 16th, 2014, the entry fee will be automatically waived. Any video(s) submitted after March 16th, 2014, a $20 entry fee will be applied.
• When submitting the video, please provide us your name and contact, so we can contact you.
• ONE video entry per contestant.
The winner of the competition will be receiving the following:
a. “Best Magician 2014” trophy,
b. Your chance to perform live at CNE on July 1st, 2014 Canada Day.
c. Gift(s) from our main sponsor(s).
Look forward meeting you guys, See you all at there!!
SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 2014
Dear Magic Friends,
It is time for another fun-filled and bargain-filled magic auction!!
This is the time of the year when you our dear customers get to bid on magic equipment, tricks, books and DVDs at fantastically low prices.
For those of you who would like to bring in items to be auctioned off… Please bring in those items to the shop anytime between March 10 and April 3.
Please note that you may bring in no more than 3 LOTS. However, a LOT may consist of more than one item. Please try to make sure that everything has directions and is in good working order.
Read more.
Excited to announce the debut of "Wonderz @ Whistler's". It's a hilariously elegant and intimate magical experience hosted and performed by yours truly in this unique set up last Monday of the month! It's magical and delicious! Tickets officially for sale so reserve now at: http://www.chriswestfallmagic.com/public-events/whistlers/
Read more.
Recollections by past president, Dick Joiner:
Jack L. Bateman, 95, of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, died February 17, 2014, in a local hospital. He was a former member of the I.B.M. (1945-1965), and Ring 17 (Toronto).
He became interested in magic as a schoolboy after watching a performance by magician "Laurante," and magic became a passion the rest of his life. He always carried props in his pockets so he could practice wherever he went. In his youth he developed his comedic talents and an illusion show, featuring his own versions of a "sub trunk" and "cut the lady in six." He invented many tricks, some still on the market, such as "Rub-a-dub-dub," featured on a Bill Malone video.
He also was a teacher of magic; one of his pupils was Doug Henning. He was the Technical Supervisor for Outside Broadcasts for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He developed the first mobile television broadcast units for the CBC.
When he died in the hospital, there was a paddle at his bedside, no doubt to entertain the nurses.
Check out @westfallmagic on Murphy's Free Trick Friday http://t.co/HvKLqfUTzi
— Hat & Rabbit Club (@IBMring17) March 7, 2014
Wednesdays from 12th March, 8.00pm & 8.30pm
BREAKING MAGIC is back for another season of jaw-dropping illusions and mind-blowing tricks. Performed by an international, all-star cast of the freshest magic talent, including British Ben Hanlin, alongside Wayne Houchin, Billy Kidd, and newcomer Nate Staniforth, each week the stellar cast perform phenomenal street magic, across London, New York and Warsaw, baffling bystanders and audiences at home alike.
Read more.
Alexander Payson (Sandy) Gregory, former Saint John city councillor, died on Tuesday of natural causes in the Saint John Regional Hospital. He was 91.
Most commonly known as Sandy, he was a man that wore many hats. If he wasn’t serving the city through council he was putting on a magic show, or becoming the founder of a scuba diving club.
Read more.
Alexander Payson "Sandy" Gregory of Rothesay, husband of Mildred A. (Monteith) Gregory, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at the Saint John Regional Hospital. Born in Saint John on March 10, 1923, he was a son of the late Hugh and Elsa (Payson) Gregory.
Read more.
GREGORY, ALEXANDER “SANDY” – Alexander Payson “Sandy” Gregory of Rothesay, husband of Mildred A. (Monteith) Gregory, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at the Saint John Regional Hospital. Born in Saint John on March 10, 1923, he was a son of the late Hugh and Elsa (Payson) Gregory. Sandy was a graduate of Rothesay Collegiate School and the University of New Brunswick.
Read more.
According to Mark Lewis' posting on Facebook, the the lecture sucked so it was, in principle, a complete success. And more importantly, through the evening, we raised $400 for the Mosquitoes Suck Tour, which translates to 40 bed-nets, which will protect up to 200 people for up to five years. So we are extremely grateful for your support.
I am in great dread that it may not just be the mosquitos that suck.
Only half of it sucked. Naturally I am far too tactful to say which half.
| City | Club | Event(s) |
| Calgary, AB | Ring 66 (Calgary Magic Circle, Les Brocklesby Ring) | - Michael Ammar lecture. |
| Edmonton, AB | Edmonton Magic Club | - n/a |
| Winnipeg, MB | The Magic Club of Winnipeg | - Michael Ammar lecture. |
| Fraser Valley, BC | IBM Ring 387 (Fraser Valley Magic Circle) | - General Meeting we'll be hosting special guest lecturer Michael Ammar! - Third Monday Magic |
| Vancouver, BC | Ring 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle) | - Comedy competitions. |
| Vancouver, BC | SAM 95 (Carl Hemeon Assembly) | - n/a |
| Victoria, BC | Ring 183 (Victoria Magic Circle) | - Michael Ammar lecture. |
| Hamilton, ON | Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club) | - n/a |
| London, ON | Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild) | - Dollar store magic. |
| Kitchener, ON | Ring 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle) | - Possible exchange night with Hamilton & London Clubs. |
| Ottawa, ON | Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians) | - Stand-up Magic |
| Ottawa, ON | Ottawa / Gatineau magicians | - n/a |
| Toronto, ON | Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club) | - Members' night. |
| Halifax, NS | Ring 316 (Conjourer's Court) | - check out their great new website! |
| St. John, NB | Magic Circle of St. John | - n/a |
It's been operating for 22 years in the RM of Ste. Anne and believed to be the only museum of its kind in Western Canada, but most Manitobans have never heard of it.The article goes on to discuss how "performers who provided items were Gunnarson, Lance Burton, Doug Henning and Peter Reveen." In addition they mention a piece on display which includes something once owned by Houdini himself!
"We're a hidden treasure out here," Marilyn Hornan said Wednesday morning.
Philip's Magical Paradise is a magic museum that opened south of Winnipeg in the village of Giroux in 1991. It's a tribute to Marilyn and Gordon Hornan's youngest son, Philip Hornan.
Philip had been a magician since he was a youngster and his love for magic only grew as he got older.
"Unfortunately, cancer took him at the age of 15," Gordon said. "His request was to create a room for everyone to enjoy, to keep the magic in life."
Read more.
#Fun Will you join me, @Kranzo, @cardjon, Harry Anderson, and many others for one of the best kept secrets in magic? http://t.co/ai1l2qjj3K
— Lee Asher (@LeeAsherMagic) February 20, 2014