Top 5 posts in September 2014

As we close out another month at Canada's Magic, let's have a look at the the most viewed posts:

5. David Copperfield talks about Doug Henning - An oldie but a goodie.

4. Toronto: The Ghost Experience with Jamie Stam - Was there a Groupon recently released for this?

3. Video: Shawn Farquhar Fool Us REVEALED - Fun idea.  Seems to be popular.

2. [Guest post] Kreskin at the CNE - Thank you again to The Magic Demon for this popular guest post!

and the most viewed post this month  ...

1. Goodbye to Morrissey Magic -- the end of an era in Toronto - Over a year later and I still can't believe it's true.

Ryan Pilling on Road-worthy Wine Glasses

From Playing Big:

Here’s a practical tip from the road if you use a wine glass for your show. If you do, chances are you’ve opened your case at some point to find it broken. Never again, I say! I found these travelling wine glasses in a camping store.

They are 100% plastic, though they look like high quality glass. Made for the rugged life of camping and backpacking, these aren’t going to break easily. Better yet, they unscrew in the middle, and snap into themselves for storage.

Read more.

Carnival Diablo Terror Tour

From Scott McClelland's Facebook page:

Post by Scott McClelland.

Artwork for Dean Gunnarson's new TV series Escape or Die

From Clive Court's Facbook page:

Post by Clive Court.

Gerry Frenette: The psychology of magic

From Gerry Frenette's Twitter feed:

Happy that I will be doing my lecture on the psychology of magic May 13, 2015 in Boston for the local Society of American magician's group.
— Gerry Frenette (@gerryfrenette) September 19, 2014

Michael Close on Channel 8

From Michael Close's Twitter feed:

Check out this video clip from 1997. Absolutely no stooging. http://t.co/mU5culpSnU
— Michael Close (@MikeCloseMagic) September 10, 2014

Peter Mennie on Daytime

From Peter Mennie's Twitter feed:

My latest TV appearance: http://t.co/UHt8ovWJxw @RTVLondon @DaytimeLondon
— Peter Mennie (@petermennie) September 26, 2014

Review: Magic, comedy and Vaudeville

From The Revelstoke Current:

This past Saturday afternoon, I was privileged to spend an afternoon with my kids and wife watching two great magician entertainers, James Jordan and Ryan Pilling. My kids are still talking about it!

Prior to the show, my daughter was arguing profusely that “magic is not real!” After the show she kept asking me “Why didn’t you tell me that magic was real?!”

Although the show wasn’t packed — 82 people total —  it should have been. It seems there are a lot of Revelstokians and their children who missed out on a very memorable show. Those who were there had a blast!

Read more.

Toronto: Al Grose coin workshop

From The Browser's Den Facebook group:

FREE COIN WORKSHOP COMING UP!!! 

Dear Denizens, 

We hope many of you will be interested and have the opportunity to come to:
FREE AL GROSE COIN WORKSHOP AT Browser's Den 

When: Saturday, September 27
Topic: 3 Fly Coin Effect (Coins vanishing from one hand and reappearing in the other hand)

Read more.

Matt DiSero at Canada's Walk of Fame Festival September 22-24

From Newswire:

TORONTO, Sept. 17, 2014 /CNW/ - Canada's Walk of Fame, along with National Premier Partner RBC, announces three days of free programming as part of Canada's Walk of Fame Festival, presented by Tim Hortons. Taking over Toronto's David Pecaut Square from September 22 – September 24, the Festival features an all-Canadian lineup of multi-disciplinary acts, from musical performances to book readings, stand-up comedy to breakdancing routines.


From 12 p.m. through to 11 p.m. each day, the Festival's free programming spotlights a talented collection of Canadian performers including 19-year-old rapper Wali (Flo) Shah who uses music and poetry to spread awareness about social issues; comedians Matt DiSero and Glen Foster; book readings from acclaimed authors Maureen Jennings and Kelley Armstrong; musical performances by Toronto-based acappella group Eh440, roots rockers The Treasures, renowned bluegrass duo The Abrams Brothers; Coquitlam, B.C.'s Tyler Shaw; JUNO Award winner Tomi Swick and chart-topping musician Karl Wolf. Plus the seven winners of this year's RBC Emerging Artist Music Mentorship Prize are scheduled to take the stage, including Grand Prize winner NEFE.

Read more.

Kreskin in the Globe and Mail

From The Globe and Mail:

Pick a god, any god.

The Amazing Kreskin is on the phone, and the parlour-trick performer and sometime predictor is riled up. “Something has happened in our culture,” he says, calling from New York. “Years ago, whether you were Jewish or Christian or just brought up well by your family, it meant something when you gave your word. But people don’t have as much guilt today.”

Read more.

Linking Ring (v94, 8) round-up

For those of you who haven't flipped through the August Linking Ring, here's some of the Canadiana inside this issue:

• Page 19, "The President's Page," by Shawn Farquhar
• Page 21, "Board of Trustees Nominations, 2015-2016," lists Alex Seaman
• Page 24, "Kickoff Show With the Stars of FFFF," with photos of Shawn
• Page 28, "Stage Contest Finals," with photos of Trevor and Lorena Watters and
• Page 30, "The Close-Up Finals," with a photo of Shin Lim

Dave Attwood interviews Trevor & Lorena Watters

If you listen carefully, you can hear them mention Sorcerers Safari and Clive Court.

From Attwood Magic Episode 69, 2014-09-13, about 16 minutes in:

This week we were so fortunate to have this year's recipients of FISM North American Champions Of Stage Magic, Trevor and Lorena Watters call into the studio to talk about their experience in the competition and them getting ready for next year's trip to Italy to showcase for July 15th FISM.

From the Dave Attwood Show Twitter feed:

Make sure you check out this week's episode of TDAS featuring Trevor & Lorena Watters http://t.co/69t4ambWnx
— Dave Attwood Show (@DaveAttwoodShow) September 15, 2014

Dean Gunnarson in the Winnipeg Free Press

From the Winnipeg Free Press:

Manitoba's own Dean Gunnarson, known as the "World's Greatest Escape Artist," is the star of a new Canadian-made television series called Escape Or Die! which will premier on OLN in spring of 2015.

Each of the 12 episodes will begin in Manitoba at Gunnarson's rural home near Riding Mountain National Park and follow him and his team as they begin preparations in his production shop, travel to exotic international locations and perform a daring escape at the end of each show in major centres around the world.

Read more.

Toronto: Browser's Den anniversary party

From the Browser's Den of Magic:

Sunday, November 16, 2014 

Dear Magic Friends,

All of us here at Browser's Den would like to personally invite you to attend the beginning of our 40th year in business. Many of you have been customers of ours since the beginning back in 1975. We could not have done it without all of our dedicated customers both old and new. And in appreciation of this special relationship we have a full day of fun events planned for you.

This is also the day that we remember our founders Len and Bernice Cooper. Jeff Pinsky purchased Browser's Den from Len and Bernice in 1995. Len passed away in 2003. And since then each Anniversary Party we hand out in Len's memory a full set of eight Tarbell Course in Magic books to someone under 26 years of age who has shown a dedication to the art of magic.

We are so pleased that Bernice Cooper will be at the party to witness this year's worthy recipient. 

PLUS - In appreciation of your devotion to our shop this is the only day of the year where EVERYTHING in the shop is on sale all day long! Everyone who comes to the shop gets to choose a playing card from a deck. On that card will be a number that represents the percentage discount on any non-auction items you buy during the day. You may use the card as many times as you wish. Discount cards range from 10% to 20% off. 

Read about the auction, trivia quiz and more!

Broken wand: Phil Willmarth

This just in from Dennis Schick, the editor of the Broken Wand in the International Brotherhood of Magician's magazine, The Linking Ring.  While I can't conjure up a Canadian connection, I expect many of you knew Phil.  In my brief dealings with Phil, he was always friendly and helpful.  My thoughts are with his family.

BROKEN WAND: PHILIP R. WILLMARTH 

Philip Reed Willmarth, 83, of Durham, North Carolina, died September 16, 2014. He was International President of the I.B.M. 2007-08, and prior to that was Assistant Editor for fourteen years (1978-1992) and Executive Editor for fifteen years (1992-2007), of The Linking Ring. He was a member of the Order of Merlin Shield (thirty-five years a continuous member of the I.B.M.). He also was a member of Ring 199 (Raleigh, North Carolina), Ring 326 (Burbank-Glendale-Eagle Rock-Pasadena, California), Ring 2100 (The Universe), the Society of American Magicians, and the Magic Circle (MIMC with Gold Star). Born in Pennsylvania, his father gave him a magic book by Will Lindhorst and that hooked him on magic for life. He owned a marketing research company and performed as a part-time professional magician since 1959. He also was a popular emcee and lecturer throughout the country. He was author of several books and booklets, including “The Magic of Matt Schulien” (1959), “Fun With a Handershief” (1969), “The Ring and Rope Book” (1975), “Jim Ryan Close-up” ( Four volumes, 1980-81), “Trevor Lewis ESOLC” (1981), “The Knot Collector” (1989), and “The Impostress Princess Expanded” (2011). He also published several books by other authors. Among survivors are his wife, Robbie; his children, Janet and John; and her children, Eldridge and Lelia, and their families.   

Wizard Wars episode 4 (with Billy Kidd) recap

You can watch Episode Four, "Blown Away" at Space.

From Liberty Voice:

After the calculator in the balloon trick, Kidd mentioned that being Canadian meant that she loved maple syrup, a container of which had been sitting on the stage in front of a trashcan since the act’s beginning. Giving the bottle of sealed syrup to wizard Gregory Wilson, who confirmed that it was sealed, she and Leon began their finish.

Taking four leaves, Leon asked Penn & Teller to sign one of them and he then put all four in the leaf blower to be ejected so that Billy could skewer the autographed leaf with a single chopstick. This did not work and the payoff was that the object was in the sealed bottle of syrup. Cue real excitement from not just the audience but the judges and wizards as well.

Read more.

SPOILER ALERT ! ~~ SPOILER ALERT !

Post by Billy Kidd Magician.

Wizard Wars episode 1 (with Chris Funk and Ekatarina) recap

You can watch Episode One, "Spam-Tastic!" at Space.

From Liberty Voice:

In the first episode, the two teams consisted of Kyle Marlett and Dalton Wayne who were team one and team two was made up of Canadian duo Chris Funk and Ekatarina (formerly from Russia). Each team had to make use of the same three items as a major portion of their magic act.

Both team one and team two had a large element of humor in their presentation and Funk made the most of being the “ditzy” member of his act. The Canadians actually impressed the judges with a new trick that none of the four had seen before.

Read more.

Félicitations Luc Langevin!

From the Fonds médias Canada Twitter feed:

Le prix #galagémeaux Meilleure direction photo ou éclairage est remis à @LucLangevin : Aux limites de l’illusion 3
— Fonds médias Canada (@CMF_FMC_FR) September 11, 2014

To view the list of all the winners, visit the page Gagnants aux prix Gémeaux 2014.

Clive Court to introduce Les Beaux Frères

From Clive Court's Facebook page:

Post by Clive Court.

Tony Chris in The Tri-Cities Now

From The Tri-Cities Now:

Tony Chris produced the ultimate in magic competitions last month: he pulled a silver medal out of his hat. And then a gold.

For Chris, a professional magician who lives in Coquitlam, it wasn't an easy feat. The other acts at the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians were good, he says.

So good that he assumed he hadn't even placed.

Besides that, impressing the judges at the annual gathering requires a whole other kind of showmanship than entertaining the public, he adds. The judges, who are all professional magicians and past officers of the association, pretty much all knew how the illusions are accomplished. They're judging how well the illusion is performed, based on several criteria including ranging from the artist's wardrobe to their "magicality" and entertainment value.

Read more.

[via Perfect Magic]

Murray SawChuck in the Las Vegas Sun

From the Las Vegas Sun:

Tropicana magician Murray Sawchuck, a regular on “Pawn Stars,” joins forces with fellow illusionist Jan Rouven from the Riviera to shoot a new TV series in Las Vegas this week.

“Sons of Houdini” will air on the Reelz cable network starting Sept. 26 featuring young magicians following in the footsteps of the famed and respected magician Houdini.

Read more.

[via iTricks]

Watch David Merry on CTV Ottawa

From the CTVOttMornLive Twitter feed:

ICYMI, @davidmerry dropped by CTV Morning Live as part of Canadian Comedy Awards Festival. http://t.co/Y6O5pJv46M
— CTVOttMornLive (@CTVOttMornLive) September 12, 2014

Toronto: MAYhew MAYhem lecture

From the Browser's Den of Magic:

Sunday October 5th

Just back from a whirlwind west coast lecture tour, and a super successful week at the the world famous Magic Castle in Los Angeles, California, Chris Mayhew has an abundance of new material to share with you.

Magic is not only a profession for Chris Mayhew, it's a way of life. Throughout the past decade Chris Mayhew has developed a beautifully unique way to create, perform and entertain with magic which has garnered him a reputation, world-wide. He will disarm you, charm you, and make you laugh out loud with his uniquely entertaining brand of magic.

Read more and buy tickets.

David Merry to be on CTV Ottawa Morning Live

From the Canadian Comedy Awards Twitter feed:

Tomorrow morning #CCA15 nominee @davidmerry LIVE on @CTVOttMornLive show! David performs TONIGHT 8.30 @YukYuksOttawa pic.twitter.com/A2jATeyg45
— CanadianComedyAwards (@canadiancomedy) September 11, 2014

Billy Kidd in Mississauga Life

From Mississauga Life:

In the summer of 2004 Billy Kidd saw a magician entertain a crowd on the streets in Canada. Two years later Billy left her job, friends and country to become one of the few female magicians working in the world today.

Read more.

Watch a YouTube clip of Billy performing in Poland this past summer:

James Randi in the Miami Herald

From the Miami Herald:

For a guy who has spent most of the past 40 years busting treacherous telepaths, spurious spoon-benders and fake faith-healers, James Randi can do some pretty impressive psychic tricks himself. When I visited his home in Plantation last week, he read my mind.

“Pick any two books off the shelves,” he said, waving at his library of 4,000 volumes on UFOs, witchcraft, the Kennedy assassination and pretty much any subject that lends itself to exploitation by grifters and wackos.

Read more and watch videos.

[via iTricks]

Clive Court asks "who is the Best Magician on Canadian TV?"

From Clive Court's Facebook page:

Post by Clive Court.

Toronto: Bill Abbott's Every Trick in the Book

From Ben Train's Facebook page:

Post by Benzi Train.

From Bill Abbott's Twitter feed:

Debuting my new show at Dave & Busters in Toronto next Friday Sept.12 https://t.co/nkXMGjvbgl
— Bill Abbott (@billabbottmagic) September 5, 2014

HWDYKM answers: part 4

The fourth and final post in a short series of answers to those true or false questions asked in the post "How well do you know me?"


Question twelve:  True or False?

The person behind the curtain at Canada's Magic has created and marketed at least one original magic effect.

Two of you (33%) correctly guessed that I mustered the courage to put something on the market.  It's called The Fools' Monte.  I'm grateful to Harry Anderson for his permission to follow through with the idea.  I'm also grateful to Jeff McBride for his encouragement.  Special thanks to the folks who lent their support for the final product:  Dan Morrissey, Richard Olsen, Tony Eng, Jeff Pinsky, and Murray Hatfield.


Question thirteen:  True or False?

The person behind the curtain at Canada's Magic has been involved in the magic community for more than 10 years.

Two of you think that I've been plugged in for more than 10 years.  While that is technically accurate, there's another more accurate answer.


Question fourteen:  True or False?

The person behind the curtain at Canada's Magic has been involved in the magic community for more than 20 years.

One of you correctly guessed that this is the most accurate answer.  I've been a member of the IBM for over 20 consecutive years.


Question fifteen:  True or False?

The person behind the curtain at Canada's Magic has been involved in the magic community for more than 30 years.

All of you got this one right.  I hope it to be true someday!


Question sixteen:  True or False?

The person behind the curtain at Canada's Magic has two X chromosomes (making them either female or a male with Klinefelter's syndrome)

Five of you (83%) correctly guessed that I've got two X chromosomes.
.
Hi!  I'm Nicole.  I'm the person behind the curtain.

How did you score?

Was anyone out there surprised with the results?

Paul Pacific and the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

A reminder that donations to ALS research can be made at ALS.ca

Watch the video at Paul Pacific's Facebook page.

Review: Murray Celebrity Magician

Read Wayne Kawamoto's review at About:

From his TV appearances on "Pawn Stars," and “America’s Got Talent,” and from his trademark mop of blonde hair to those designer glasses, you may think that you know Murray the magician (aka the Celebrity Magician). But it's not until you attend his Las Vegas magic show that you can truly experience the magic of this talented entertainer. His show, which runs at the Tropicana, is an hour of baffling magic and illusions, comedy and fun.

Read more.

Toronto: Free magic club

From the Browser's Den Facebook group:

Magic Club-Saturday, September 6 from 2:30pm until 5:00pm...all welcome! 

Read more.

Review: James Jordan's Vaudevillian

From The Marble:

James Jordan has Vaudeville in his veins, and what he puts together is a magical, humorous, and enjoyable spectacle for the whole family.

Jordan stars in Vaudevillian, a show featuring original magic tricks, some inspired by the notes of his real life great-grandfather who himself was a magician in the days of Vaudeville. Jordan begins the show with some simple tricks with his hat, then slowly ramps things up with new twists on classic tricks, and even the world’s most dangerous card trick to top it all off.

Read more.

Keith Brown on Shaw TV Edmonton

Watch Keith Brown on Shaw TV Edmonton's YouTube channel:

David Merry and Ray Anderson at the First Annual Peace Country Comedy Festival

From Peace Country Comedy Festival:

September 18th-20th, 2014

• David Merry
• Ray Anderson 

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)	- Francis Menotti lecture - Red Deer swap meet and Greg Dodds lecture
Edmonton, AB	Edmonton Magic Club	- n/a
Winnipeg, MB	The Magic Club of Winnipeg	- Francis Menotti lecture
Fraser Valley, BC	IBM Ring 387 (Fraser Valley Magic Circle, Celeste Evans Ring)	- n/a
Vancouver, BC	Ring 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle)	- Annual auction.
Vancouver, BC	SAM 95  (Carl Hemeon Assembly)	- n/a
Victoria, BC	Ring 183 (Victoria Magic Circle)	- Francis Menotti lecture

 
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)	- n/a
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)	- n/a
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- n/a
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- n/a
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	-  Bobby Motta 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	- This link has expired.  Does anyone have the a new link for this group?

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

Grateful for our September sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors for their generous support.  This site would not be possible without their backing.

We're grateful to have the support of:

• Clive Court - The Fun-da-Mentalist,
• 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.

Or you can Be Our Friend for only $20 per year! 

Donations of any size are always welcome.

Who's where September 2014

Leave a comment on this post to let us know where you're going to be this month!

I'll be headlining @absolutecomedy Sept. 24-28 during @JFL42. Details following this colon: http://t.co/97nZI5Ue76

— David Acer (@David_Acer) September 2, 2014

In Ottawa for Canadian Comedy Awards next week. Show schedule and Award night hosted by Tom Green http://t.co/6jdoIbkKQ5

— David Merry (@davidmerry) September 4, 2014

Hope u enjoyed @james_alan & @chrismayhew1 but im on my way home form Las Vegas @McSorleysGrill see ya Wednesday. 6-9pm!! #magiclife

— Chris Westfall (@westfallmagic) September 3, 2014

Featured on @SyfyTV #WizardWars Sept 9 @ 10PM. Tune in after @nbcagt @nbcagt_fans @LeonandRomy @Billykiddshow pic.twitter.com/eVxsX6hIh0

— Leon Etienne (@LeonEtienne) September 3, 2014

Ron Guttman at St. George Applefest and Brighton Applefest Sept 20 and 27th respectively.

Tomorrow tomorrow night with @chrismayhew1 & @james_alan is sold out! We're back in September with more great shows: http://t.co/fVX6ehN6Lo
— Abracadabaret (@Abracadabaret) August 30, 2014

All shows @ Danspace. Aug. 30 @ 2:30 PM Sep. 1 @ 3:45 PM Sep. 2 @ 8 PM Sep. 5 @ PM Sep. 6 @ 3:30 PM Sep. 7 @ PM pic.twitter.com/v5fkWoeypk
— Michael James (@MichaelJMagic) August 29, 2014