Top 5 posts in February 2022

There were 24 posts at Canada's Magic this month.  Here are the 5 most viewed posts in the past 30 days: 

5. Remembering The Amazing Jonathan - Our sincere condolences to Anastasia Synn.

4. Request for photos of Doug Henning and Breathless (Jeff Plewman) - Send any leads you have to Neil McNally.

3. Big Trick Energy Live on tour! - Guaranteed to be a high energy show!

2. Renée-Claude Auclair re-elected CAM President - Thank you for all you do for CAM!

and the most viewed post this month  ...

1. Celetic Illusion Reimagined: Canadian Tour dates [March & April] - Let us know your thoughts on the show!

Kickstarter: Shawn Farquhar's Hidden Wonders Playing Cards

From the Shawn Farquhar Hidden Wonders Playing Cards Kickstarter:

When I was young I discovered Stud playing cards that were made by Walgreens. They quickly became my favourite, but sadly they have changed.  In my quest to find a perfect deck of cards I have collected more than 3000!  I was looking for a classic look to the back, a deep elegant rich colors for the court cards as I feel the bright yellow and blues makes the cards look better suited for a Carnival than an elegant lounge.  I didn't want to change the classic art of the court cards, as the common person recognizes them and accepts them easily, but I did want to add some class.

Since I was unable to find a deck I loved, I've decided to make my own!

This is where you come in and hopefully agree.  If you are looking for a classic deck of cards with thin crushed stock that is traditionally cut to make doing a Faro shuffle with the cards face down easy... then this is the deck for you!  The deck will be fifty-four cards in an awesome tuck box, with individually numbered seals. 

Read more.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shawn Farquhar (@magichampion)

Quebec City: Jonathan Allen's Magic Banknotes

From Manif d’art:

A hundred “magicians’ bills” are displayed on shelves in a wall showcase in the small Œil de Poisson gallery. These records, now esoteric but once abundant in the pockets of prestidigitators of old, played a double role as magic trick accessories and tools of self-promotion. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the golden age of theatrical illusionism, magicians seeking fame and fortune produced these types of notes adorned with their own images. On one excellent example from 1885, magician Signor Alfred Bosco emblazoned his bills with the grandiose inscription, “Bank of the Great Wizard of the World.”

Read more.

 

From the February 22nd Facebook post by Connie Boyd: 

The final list of new contributors for The Ancient Order of Illusion comprised of Jeanette Andrews, Marisa Carnesky, Billy Kidd, Anchal Kumawat, Laura London, Inés la Maga, Ursula Martinez, Shreeyash Palshikar, Fay Presto, Carolyn Sadowska and Sylvia Sceptre, Connie Boyd, Arturo Brachetti, Jeff McBride, Mary Ann Campbell, The Centre for Tactical Magic, Ian Saville, and Troy Von Scheibner.

Etobicoke: Jeff Hinchliffe, Charles McBurney and Jim Byrnes [Mar 9]

From the February 16th Facebook post by Jeff Hinchliffe:

I will be giving my first public live performance in almost two years! Along with my good friends and colleagues Charles McBurney and Jim Byrnes, it will be an evening of fun, food, and lots of fooling!

Won't you join us?

 

 

Remembering The Amazing Jonathan

We were saddened to learn of the passing of Johnathan Szeles (Amazing Johnathan) on February 22nd.  Our sincere condolences to Jonathan's family and friends.  Sending love and light to Anastasia Synn.

 

February 23rd Facebook post by Matt Disero:

 

 

February 23rd Facebook post by James Harrison:

 

February 23rd Facebook post by Ben Train:

 

February 23rd Instagram post by Murray SawChuck:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Murray SawChuck (@murraysawchuck)

 

 

February 23rd Facebook post by Eric Leclerc:

 

 

 

Doug Henning in the Toronto Star

From the February 20th article "Remembering Doug Henning, superstar illusionist turned politician" by ey Tong in the Toronto Star:

Seven “Doug Henning’s World of Magic” TV specials aired throughout the late ’70s and early ’80s, helping to make Henning a household name. He also made guest appearances on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson and “The Muppet Show.”

Despite his enormous success in the US, Henning always considered Canada his home and was proud to tell people that he was Canadian, Nancy says. He returned often to visit family and to do the occasional performance. “He was always pleasantly surprised by the reception,” Nancy says. When their mother was diagnosed with cancer, he spent several months caring for her in Toronto.

Read more.

Renée-Claude Auclair re-elected CAM President

Felitications Renée-Claude!

 

From the February 17th Facebook post by Renée-Claude Auclair:

Toronto: WonderPhil at the Wychwood Theatre [Mar 5 & 6]

From the February 11th Facebook post by WonderPhil Magic:

BIG NEWS! You can see WonderPhil's Magic Show LIVE at Wychwood Theatre!
March 5th & 6th, TYT Toronto is hosting WonderPhil's family magic show, which is great for kids 4 and up.

Tickets are on sale now at http://wonderphil.eventbrite.ca

I'm so excited to be back in a theatre! Expect some amazing and memorable magic, and some huge laughs.

 

Big Trick Energy Live on tour!

Updated March 31st to add:

•  The BTE Tour has morphed into the Magic & Comedy tour (Live Taping with Wes Barker and Chris Ramsay)!

From WesBarker.ca:

• CALGARY - MAY 1 - Tickets
• VANCOUVER - MAY 2 (on sale soon)
• VICTORIA - MAY 3 - (on sale soon)
• WINNIPEG - JUNE 15 - Tickets
• TORONTO - JUNE 17 - (on sale soon)
• MONTREAL - TDB
  

Check back for updates!

 

 

Tickets available at Modo Live.  (See Tweet below for presale code.)  Dates include:

• May 4 - Vancouver
• May 5 - Victoria
• June 16 - Toronto
• June 18 - Calgary

Check back for more dates!

 

From the February 16th Tweet by Alex Boyer:

OMG!!!! 🤩😱
It’s happening!!!!! 🤯
Come see us four idiots LIVE!!!
Presale Code: BTE 🤫😉
(Link in bio) pic.twitter.com/anFecFoqYS

— Alex Boyer (@AlexBoyerMagic) February 16, 2022

 

 

 

Billy Kidd in Bath Life

From the February 14th Tweet by Bath Life:

Billy Kidd moved to Bath in 2007 to make it as a professional magician. She went from street performer to having her own regular magic theatre @Krowdkeepers where she performs every Friday & Saturday

In the latest issue she shares her story https://issuu.com/mediaclash/docs/bl463_final/14

 

 

Billy Kidd moved to Bath in 2007 to make it as a professional magician. She went from street performer to having her own regular magic theatre @Krowdkeepers where she performs every Friday & Saturday

In the latest issue she shares her story https://t.co/vVRiD53nQC@Billykiddshow pic.twitter.com/X4ievxiWjC

— Bath Life (@BathLifeMag) February 14, 2022

 

Montreal Magic Jam hosts Jared Kopf virtual lecture [Feb 25]

From the Montreal Magic Jam:

Friday Feb 25th

Jared Kopf performs magic and interprets symbols all over the world. Sometimes, he and a company of
wizards create practical effects for plays, films, and TV shows such as “The Eye Ball,” A Ghost Story, and National Geographic’s Breakthrough. Other times, he pretends to be someone else on a stage or in a movie. Once, in Changchun, he found the philosopher’s stone and turned lead into gold. Occasionally, he reads the tarot for free outside a café on Greenville Avenue, just down the street from his home in Dallas, Texas where he lives with the sorceress Elayna Mitchell and their son Martin, who draws people’s dreams in a notebook.

Read more and buy tickets.

 

Dean Gunnarson on the The Weekend Morning Show (Manitoba) with Nadia Kidwai

Listen to the February 12th episode "International Brotherhood of Magicians celebrating 100th anniversary!" 

Remembering Ivan Reitman

Updated February 19th to add:

• a link to the February 18th article "THE SCOOP | The Royal Alexandra Theatre To Dim Lights In Honour Ivan Reitman" by Michael Vincent in Ludwig Van Toronto.
  
• a link to the February 16th post "Jim Steinmeyer Reflects on Ivan Reitman and 'Merlin'" by Neil McNally in The Doug Henning Project.
  

 

Updated February 16th to add: 

• a link to the February 15th article "The king of ‘slobs vs. snobs’: Ivan Reitman reinvented a Hollywood genre, then did it again" by Jaime Weinman in The Hamilton Spectator.
• a link to the February 15th post "Brian Lumley Reflects on Ivan Reitman" by Neil McNally in The Doug Henning Project.
  

 

Updated February 15th:

• at 1:45pm to add Peter Mennie's Facebook post from February 14th.
  
• at 8am to add a link to Neil McNally's post February 14th post "Ivan Reitman (1946-2022)" at The Doug Henning Project.
  

 

Ivan Reitman passed away on Saturday, February 12, 2022.  

You may know that the Toronto-raised filmmaker directed blockbusters such as Ghostbusters and Meatballs.  

We were reminded by Peter Mennie that Ivan was friends with Doug Henning.  From Neil McNally at The Doug Henning Project: "It was said that Ivan fronted him (Doug) the money to purchase the props to create his stage show which became known as Spellbound."

Ivan went on to produce and direct Spellbound at Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre.  (Neil has uploaded an image of the Spellbound pamphlet.)  In addition Ivan co-produced Doug's The Magic Show on Broadway.

Our sincere condolences to Ivan's family and friends.

From the February 14th Facebook post by Peter Mennie:

Read more about Ivan:

• "THE SCOOP | The Royal Alexandra Theatre To Dim Lights In Honour Ivan Reitman" by Michael Vincent in Ludwig Van Toronto.
  
• "Jim Steinmeyer Reflects on Ivan Reitman and 'Merlin'" by Neil McNally in The Doug Henning Project.
• "Brian Lumley Reflects on Ivan Reitman" by Neil McNally in The Doug Henning Project.
  
• "The king of ‘slobs vs. snobs’: Ivan Reitman reinvented a Hollywood genre, then did it again" by Jaime Weinman in The Hamilton Spectator.
• "Ivan Reitman (1946-2022)" by Neil McNally at The Doug Henning Project.
  
• "Ivan Reitman, acclaimed Canadian producer and director of Ghostbusters, dead at 75" at the CBC.
• "Ivan Reitman just might be the most influential Canadian filmmaker of all time" by Barry Hertz at The Globe and Mail.
• "Director Ivan Reitman remembered as comedy heavyweight, champion of Canadian film" at CityNews.
  

 

 

Ring 17 hosts Magic Christian virtual lecture [Feb 17]

Thursday, February 17, 2022

 

From IBM Ring 17:

In February, we will be joined live from Austria by performer and author Magic Christian. Magic Christian has won numerous awards, including a Performers Fellowship from the Magic Castle in Hollywood, California. He recently completed two mammoth tomes about the life and magic of the legendary Viennese conjurer Hofzinser.  

Read more.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hat & Rabbit Club, Toronto (@hatandrabbitclub)

 

Marty Chan in the Edmonton Journal

From the February 4th article "Edmonton authors Natasha Deen and Marty Chan dominate the young-readers realm" by Justin Bell in the Edmonton Journal:

Now, the acclaimed author is shepherding his three newest publications to release. Chan’s first new book, Kylie the Magnificent, about a girl who wants to be a magician but is pigeonholed into being a magician’s assistant, came out last December. It’s for kids 9-12.

Willpower, about a girl with powers hiding from authorities and also for kids 9-12, comes out this month. Final Cut, the story of a boy and a video project gone wrong, comes out in August. It’s for readers over the age of 12. All three are from Orca Book Publishers.

Small age differences can make a big difference in language, tone and subject matter for young readers. But when it comes down to it, it’s all about story and character.

“The thought process is the same. It always comes down to story and character,” says Chan. “I still have to come up with a believable and strong character. The second thing I think about is what are the stories? What are the characters that are relevant for that particular age? When kids are reading, they tend to read up in terms of age and issues they are facing.”

Read more.

 

 

 

Eric Leclerc on the Reddit Studio LIVE broadcast [Feb 12]

From the February 11th Instagram post by Eric Leclerc:

Tune in TOMORROW night at 8pm EST for our Reddit Studio LIVE broadcast. I’ll be performing to the one and only T-PAIN! Don’t miss it! 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Eric Leclerc 🇨🇦 (@magic4yourbrain)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Eric Leclerc 🇨🇦 (@magic4yourbrain)

 

 

Toronto: Hocus Jokus [Feb 23-24]

Catch Ben Train, Jonah Babins, Chris Westfall, and Wes Barker at Yuk Yuk's! 

 

From the January 27th Instagram post by the Toronto Magic Company:

Is this Toronto’s funniest magic show or Toronto’s most magical comedy show? 🤔

Trick question - it’s BOTH! 🙌

Toronto’s funniest magicians have joined forces to create a 90 minute show jam packed with laughs and mind-blowing amazement. They’ll read your mind, predict the future, and do all sorts of other crazy sh*t you won’t believe unless you see it with your own eyes!👀

And it’s happening for two days only - February 23rd and 24th.‼‼

So get off the couch and join us for an incredible night of comedy, magic, and fun that you’ll never forget.🙌

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Toronto Magic Company (@torontomagiccompany)

Penn and Teller: Fool Us casting for season 9 - deadline extended!

From the February 8th Facebook post by Connie Boyd:

Penn and Teller: Fool Us SEASON 9 have extended their CASTING DEADLINE to FEBRUARY 28TH !!
Please read and share !! 👇👇
This could be enough time for anyone with a genius idea they just couldn't finish before - to get it in for consideration!!

Send the clip (preferably unlisted through YouTube or Vimeo) to: fooluscasting@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Penn & Teller: Fool Us (@ptfoolus)

 

 

 

Request for photos of Doug Henning and Breathless (Jeff Plewman)

From the February 8th post "'Nash the Slash' DOCU Needs Your Help with Doug Photos" by Neil McNally at the Doug Henning Project:

Brunton and his team are working on a documentary on the late Canadian musician Jeff Plewman. Plewman, better known as Nash the Slash, was a multi-instrumentalist pioneer in progressive rock music. The film “Nash the Slash Rises Again” will be the first extensive look at Plewman’s life and career. 

It just so happens that Plewman and Doug worked together in their early days.  Doug frequently used local rock bands as back up during his shows, and Plewman’s then band “Breathless” was one of them. 

The film is looking for any photos of Doug and Breathless on stage together during this time. If they exist I haven’t seen them, so I’m looking to you the reader to help if you can.

Read more and learn how to email Neil with leads.

Thank you to our personal sponsors for February 2022!

A quick reminder of our earlier Mail as Medicine request for Katie Hunt.  If you have the time, Katie and Doug would both benefit from hearing from their friends!

 --

Thank you to John Harrison, Richard Lyn, Joan Caesar, Ian Crawford, Matt DiSero, Doug Hunt, John Smithman, Richard Hough, Robin Dawes, Eric Bedard, Loran, Peter Mennie,  Gordon Precious, Colin Geddes, Graeme Reed, Gwyn Auger, Chris Gowen, and Cam Dix, for being Friends of Canada's Magic!

It's good to have friends like you.

You too can Be Our Friend for only $20 per year! 

Donations of any size are always welcome.

 

 

Edmonton: Chris Gowen at Sherwood Park [Feb 14]

From the January 28th Instagram post by Gowen Entertainment:

Treat your partner this Valentines Day to some great food and mind blowing magic @buffetroyalecarvery in Sherwood Park!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chris Gowen (@gowenentertainment)

 

 

London: Keith Brown & Friends Vol. 3 [Feb 18-19]

From the Keith Brown & Friends Vol. 3 Facebook event:

Join me and my friends, for an evening of incredible magic and entertainment!

Hosted by Keith Brown
Featuring Graemazing & Chris Mayhew

Friday, February 18th
AND
Saturday, February, 19th

WHERE: Sommerville 630
630 Dundas St, London, ON 

Read more and buy tickets.

 

Celetic Illusion Reimagined: Canadian Tour dates [March & April]

Buy tickets at Celtic Illusion.  

Tours stops include:

• Lethbridge, AB - 31 March
• Prince George, BC - 2 April
• Abbottsford, BC - 6 April
• Penticton, BC - 8 April
• Red Deer, AB - 10 April
• Edmonton, AB - 11 April
• Calgary, AB - 12 April
• Saskatoon, SK - 13 April
• Regina, SK - 14 April
• Winnipeg, MB - 16 April
• Thunder Bay, ON - 17 April
• Sault Ste. Marie, ON - 18 April
• Oshawa, ON - 19 April
• Montreal, QC - 21 April
• Sudbury, ON - 22 April
• London, ON - 23 April
• Hamilton, ON - 24 April
• Toronto, ON - 25 April
• Ottawa, ON - 26 April
• Kitchener, ON - 28 April
• Kingston, ON - 29 April

 

From the February 1st article "Hybrid Irish dance-magic show Celtic Illusion coming to Prince George" in the Prince George Citizen:

Celtic Illusion a modern Irish dance and magic show is beginning a North American tour in 2022 and stopping in Prince George.

The stage show is created by, choreographed by and stars Anthony Street from Lord of the Dance.

The show fuses contemporary Irish dance with magic and grand illusions and features a cast of champion and internationally acclaimed dances, including performers from both Riverdance and Lord of the Dance.

Read more.

 

 

Thank you to our February 2022 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 - Life Member, Canadian Public Relations Society,
• Jeff Pinsky, owner of The Browser's Den of Magic,
• Michael Close, author of the new Paradigm Shift ebooks, the Workers series and others,
• Ty Reveen, 
  
• Brent Smith, owner of The Vanishing Rabbit Magic Shop,
• Ryan Pilling's "Tips & Tricks for Magicians" newsletter, and
• the "Magicians Talking Magic" podcast!
  

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

 

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