Chris Ramsay, green backed cards, and cardistry

A fabulous combination if I've ever heard one.  Don't believe me?  Have a look at this video he posted to Instagram last week:

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Just having fun. #cardistry // jacket: @fairplaybrand

A post shared by Chris Ramsay (@chrisramsay52) on Nov 14, 2019 at 5:32am PST

Merry Fool Us and Masters of Illusion Christmas Magic

From the November 12th post "Penn & Teller: Merry Fool Us: CW Announces Holiday Episodes and Specials" by Regina Avalos in TV Series Finale:

It is about to look real holiday like on The CW. The network announced for all their upcoming holiday specials, and it looks like Penn & Teller: Merry Fool Us will help kick things off. A new holiday special featuring the pair will air on November 29.

also ...

The CW will broadcast the holiday special MASTERS OF ILLUSION: CHRISTMAS MAGIC 2019 Wednesday, December 18 (9:00-10:00pm ET). This special from Associated Television International and hosted by Dean Cain features some of today’s hottest magicians. An encore presentation of MASTERS OF ILLUSION: CHRISTMAS MAGIC 2019 will air Tuesday, December 24 (8:00-9:00pm ET).

Read more.

From Michael Close's Facebook post:

Scott Hammell on "Shoulders of Giants"

From PodTail:

OELC/CASO: Shoulders of Giants focuses on the extraordinary achievements of OELC alumni. Nathan Adams interviews these “Giants” to discuss the impact their time at the Ontario Educational Leadership Centre had on their journey.

Episode 2 - Scott Hammell (magician, escape artist and leader):

In this episode Nathan interviews Scott Hammell.   Scott shares his unique perspective on leadership and facing fear as well as the impact OELC/CASO has had on his life.

Scott Hammell, the four-time Guinness World Record holder has hung upside down from a hot air balloon while locked in a straitjacket and chains at 7 200 feet (World’s Highest Suspension Straitjacket Escape), dangled by his ankles and juggled for over a minute and a half (Longest Inverted Juggling Duration), successfully completed a card trick while skydiving (World’s Fastest Moving Card Trick) and jumped from an airplane to skydive while blindfolded and handcuffed (Highest Blindfolded Skydive). 

Seattle: "Bridging the Gap" with Billy Kidd

From Billy Kidd's Facebook post:

Hey all, I'm bringing the show I did in Pittsburgh " Bridging the Gap" to Seattle for limited run at Hales Ales Palladium Nov 8,9, 15, and 16th. Get your tickets ASAP if you want to hang out for a couple of hours:) Here is a review of the show from the summer

From the June 13th article "BWW Review: BILLY KIDD: BRIDGING THE GAP Fuses Magic, Comedy, Surrealism at Liberty Magic" by Greg Kerestan at Broadway World:

To avoid spoilers for the magic show, this review will be brief. Billy Kidd, the actor and magician, is almost certainly playing a character, the (fictionalized) magician Billy Kidd. "I have issues," she jokes at the beginning of the show, and the whole evening's loose plot revolves around this: our narrator has deep-seated, unresolved issues about growing up. A Peter Pan complex is not that unusual in a magician, but part of the charm of the Billy Kidd character is the way her neuroses not only fuel the banter and monologue sections, but at times begin to impact the tricks and stunts as well.

Read more.

Michael Close's November 2019 newsletter

Just finished reading the November newsletter from Michael Close.  You may be interested in:

• A couple of Stephen Bargatze stories that are very entertaining, especially if you hear Michael's voice reading them to you!
• Michael tips us to a film to begin shooting in Toronto and Buffalo next year.
• Michael Close has a podcast for subscribers, titled "Conversations with Close."   This month's guests are Merrill and Bargatze. 
• Michael wrote up a fabulous review of the recent Ontario Week of Wonder Magic Convention.
• From the playing card patent files by Lee Asher.
• The Magic of Science 
• It's Not Magic... But
• The Art of Conjuring by Mick Ayres.
• A nice shout out to Jonah Babin's Discourse in Magic interview with Ryan Hayashi. 
• A Ricky Jay tribute by Tom Zito.
• Technically Speaking by by Bruce Kalver.
• and many other newsworthy tidbits from the magic community!

Sign-up at MichaelClose.com to receive Michael's newsletters. 

Dean Gunnarson recreated Houdini's 1915 suspended straitjacket escape

From the August 18th post "Dean Gunnarson recreates Houdini's L.A. escape in 1987" by John Cox at Wild About Harry:

On October 29, 1987, escape artist Dean Gunnarson recreated Houdini's 1915 suspended straitjacket escape in Los Angeles to promote the live Halloween television special, The Search for Houdini. Dean was introduced as James Randi's protege, and Randi was on hand to assist in the stunt.

Read more.

Regina: Oliver, the ventriloquist dummy made in the 1910s

From the October 17th article "Black Museum exhibit in Regina shows off creepy side of Canada's true crime history" by Samanda Brace in CBC News:

One of those creepy items is Oliver, the ventriloquist dummy made in the 1910s by an RCMP member who was a magician and ventriloquist that put on shows for children.

Unfortunately, Oliver hasn't aged well, according to Eskritt. He has been designated the host of the exhibit.

"Now I can't verify that it's true or not, but some of our visitors in the past have said that it feels like his eyes follow you as you move around the exhibit, so that adds to the whole sort of atmosphere," Eskritt said.

Read more.

Comedy Nest celebration and David Acer in the Montreal Gazette

From the Comedy Nest:

The Comedy Nest 40-ish Anniversary – October 24, 25, 26

Celebrate 40 years of funny at Montreal’s original comedy club with some of the city’s finest comedians from past and present, including JEFF ROTHPAN (The Tonight Show), MARTHA CHAVES (CBC’s Just For Laughs), RICK BRONSON (CBC’s Just For Laughs), BOWSER & BLUE (The Comedy Network), HEIDI FOSS (Comics Unleashed), JOEY ELIAS (The Comedy Network’s MatchGame), DAVID ACER (CBC’s Just For Laughs), PHIL SHUCHAT (The Rick Mercer Report) and many more!

Read more and buy tickets.

This Thursday to Saturday (October 24-26) catch our 40-ish Anniversary celebration with @jeffrothpan @TheMarthaChaves @bowserandblue @TheRickBronson @Heidi_Foss @David_Acer @bruins_514 @Shuchat and more great guests every show! Info/tix: https://t.co/Ut7kpMIO96 pic.twitter.com/a1tjLkmm6S

— Comedy Nest (@comedynest) October 21, 2019

From the October 23 article "Brownstein: Did you hear the one about the Comedy Nest turning 40?" by Bill Brownstein in the Montreal Gazette:

Acer and Shuchat shone among the first wave of anglo comics in the early years of the Nest.

“I go way back to the 1920s with Bob Hope,” Acer quips. “Actually, I did my first set at the Nest in 1989 … when we didn’t have microphones and comedians talked through rolled-up paper cones. Okay, I may be misremembering that a little.”

Read more.

Huge thanks to @billbrownstein and the @mtlgazette for this fun article about The Comedy Nest crossing over into middle age! https://t.co/tfyS2SmFtQ

— Comedy Nest (@comedynest) October 23, 2019

CAM, Close, and Vanish

No, it's not the name of a new law firm.  It's all the reading there is to enjoy this weekend!



From Ryan Pilling's post in the Facebook group for the Canadian Association of Magicians:

September 2019 Northern Peeks published!

• CAM members should have received the latest magazine download link in their email this past week.
• Murray Hatfield remembers meeting the real Mandrake the Magician
• Joan Caesar shares the news about the OWOW Magic Festival coming up this month in Ontario.
• Renee-Claude Auclair tells us more about the FISM North America championship (and the Canadian Magic Championship) happening next year in Quebec.
• Mike Fisher writes about the Great Wizard of the North including his tours in Canada and the United States.
• Jason Verners shares some tips on productivity and how he has kept busy performing at music festivals all summer long.
• I write about my experience at the Ottawa Fringe Festival and lessons learned from producing and performing my new show.
• Gerry Frenette talks about the Too Perfect Theory and how the entertainment often comes out of the diversions from the straight path.

Michael Close's October 2019 newsletter

Just finished reading the August newsletter from Michael Close.  You may be interested in:

• Great summary of his recent Toronto lecture, a complementary eBook, a look ahead to the Ontario Week  of  Wonder  Magic  Festival (talent includes Steve  Bargatze,  Rick  Merrill,  Jay  Sankey,  Greg  Frewin,  Carisa  Hendrix,  Nicholas  Wallace,  and  Paul  Rohmany), and Penn & Teller Fool Us season 7.
• Michael Close has a podcast for subscribers, titled "Conversations with Close."   This month's guest is Ryan Joyce.  
• Review of Paul Wilson's "Just Think.
• A playing card patent article by Lee Asher.
• The Magic of Science by Tina Hesman Saey
• The Art of Conjuring by Mick Ayres.
• Technically Speaking by by Bruce Kalver.
• and many other newsworthy tidbits from the magic community!

Sign-up at MichaelClose.com to receive Michael's newsletters.  

 Vanish magazine, October 2019, Edition 63

• Articles by Peter Mennie, Colin Underwood, Louie Foxx, Joe Ledoux, Ben Robinson, Tod Karr, Thomas Swieclack, Felicity Field, Nick Lewin, Hal Meyers, and Jeff Christensen.
• Read and subscribe at VanishMagic.com

Darcy Oake's "BGT: The Champions" semi-final performance

A reminder that Darcy performs one night only at London’s Leicester Square Theatre on October 31st!

From the Britain's Got Talent YouTube channel, watch as Darcy Oake turns back time to honour his brother:


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From Darcy Oake's Twitter feed:

Darcy performs one night only at London’s @lsqtheatre on October 31st! Don’t miss this phenomenal night of magic! Tickets on sale now at https://t.co/1Ns9UiUNQT pic.twitter.com/U6iavBOqfg

— Darcy Oake (@DarcyOake) September 13, 2019

Austin Kaiser interviews Jay Sankey

From the August 12th post "Interview: Jay Sankey, A Magician Who Vanishes Into His Audience" by Austin Kaiser on Medium:

A: What is magic to you, personally?

J: Magic is also the experience in the magician. Fifteen minutes into a gig, I’m starting to flow. I have this wonderful experience of not being anywhere else. I’m in a pure response mode. It’s surreal. I’m inspired by the Dadaists, the Greeks, and Salvador Dali.

A: What is it that people love about magic? What makes them fall in love with it?

J: In this age of Google, we apparently know everything. One hundred years ago there was not that feeling. Magic and people’s love of magic can be a response to the idea of a know-it-all world.


Read more.

Eric Leclerc in "ScienceXplosion"

A reminder that season three of Eric's show "Tricked" kicks off on October 6th.


Join a live Twitter chat with the @SciXplosion team Friday, September 20th at noon EST.


From Eric Leclerc's Facebook page:

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Darcy Oake on Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions

From the September 13th article "OAKE DOKEY! Darcy Oake confirmed for Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions – but when was he last on the show and what has he done since?" by Shanique Joseph in The Sun:

DARCY Oake will compete in Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions TOMORROW in the hope of being crowned the ultimate champion.

Read more.

From BGT's Twitter feed:

Who's ready for a brand new #BGTChampions line-up? Performing for you this week we have the incredible @CrisRamosStar, @DarcyOake and @djarchjnr 🎉🎉🎉 pic.twitter.com/iEf2TQ27wq

— Britain's Got Talent (@BGT) September 10, 2019

Lucy Darling on Penn and Teller's "Fool Us"

Carisa Hendrix will appear as Lucy Darling on "Fool Us" later this month!

From Michael Close's Facebook post:

MONDAY 9/23 8PM “Magic Is Bad For Your Health”
Lucy Darling
Nestor Hato
Alfonso Rituerto
Keelan Leyser and Matt Daniel-Baker

From the September 6th article "Scoop: Coming Up on a New Episode of PENN & TELLER: FOOL US on THE CW - Monday, September 23, 2019" by TV Scoop on Broadway World:

BILLY THE MIME - Aspiring magicians are invited to perform their best trick to try and fool the world-famous team of Penn & Teller, who will get to see the trick only once and have to immediately try to work it out. Anyone who succeeds wins the right to perform with Penn & Teller in their celebrated show at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The live studio audience and the TV audience watch along with Penn & Teller as they try to figure out the secrets. THE MAGICIANS featured in the episode include Lucy Darling, Nestor Hato, Alfonso Rituerto and Keelan Leyser and Matt Daniel-Baker. Alyson Hannigan ("How I Met Your Mother") serves as host (#612). Original airdate 9/23/2019.

Read more.

Michael Kras remembers "This One Time, at Magic Camp…"

From the August 15 article "This One Time, at Magic Camp…" by Michael Kras at Medium:

Imagine being a teenager. Imagine being a teenager whose peculiar passion is prestidigitation. Imagine being the only young person in your neighbourhood who cares about it the way you do. Now, imagine 100 other teenagers just like you, pasty and idiosyncratic with wildly varying degrees of social aptitude, coming together in your own little speck of the world for a week, each one of you suddenly somewhere you all belong. That was magic camp.


Read more.

AGT Quarterfinals: Sentimental wildcard

Tune in to tomorrow night's AGT Quarterfinals and you may see a familiar face (or two).

Congratulations Chris and Steffi!



From The Sentimentalists' Facebook page:

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Magic at the 2019 PNE

This year's Pacific National Exhibition runs from August 17 to September 2.  Be sure to check out Ty Reveen in "Reveen: The Superconscious Experience" and Dick Joiner hosting "Abracadabark"!  (Of note, we saw David Acer host Abracadabark last Friday at the CNE and it's a really fun show.)


From the August 17th article "Tux-wearing Tyrone Reveen picks up at PNE where famous father left off" by Gordon McIntyre in the Vancouver Sun:

“This is an opportunity to implement some great special effects, some of which have never been seen before, that will blow people’s minds,” Ty Reveen said before beginning 15 nights of entertaining at the Pacific Coliseum during the PNE Fair.

“I do a few things in this show that will surprise even the people at the top levels of the magic industry.”

He’s followed in the footsteps of his famous father, who died in 2013, a couple of years after his son Ty took over the act.

Ty and his three brothers spent their early years in Chilliwack, West Vancouver and Richmond, their dad (yes he had a first name, Peter) having arrived in 1961 — “With literally five cents in his pocket,” Reveen le fils said.

The boys and their mother Coral later followed from their native Australia after the hypnotist had established himself.

Read more.

From the PNE website - Reveen:

Reveen: The Superconscious Experience

It’s the man they call Reveen! The legend continues with this mesmerizing and hypnotic show featuring high-speed memory demonstrations and mystical showmanship. Now Tyrone Reveen is following in his father’s footsteps and continuing the family tradition. The Superconscious Experience allows audience members to become the stars in one of the wildest and funniest shows that has left millions of people crying with laughter all over the world.  The legend continues, never forget Reveen.

Also from the PNE website - Abracadabark:

SuperDogs™️ presents Abracadabark. Prepare to be amazed, amused and bedazzled as the SuperDogs unleash their most magical show ever, Abracadabark! With a magician as your guide you’ll experience the magic of the SuperDogs like never before!

Review: Magic Hour Plus

From August 12th article "Magic vs Science" by Sean McQuaid in The Buzz:

Featuring university professors turned magicians Grant McSorley and Derrick Chung in the latest version of the popular McSorley & Chung stage magic show they created in 2016, Magic Hour Plus also stars the duo’s original director (and two-time Canadian magic champion) Marc Trudel, here playing the onstage role of an eager-to-please intern.

McSorley & Chung are amusing in their stage personae as bookish, cheesily self-aggrandizing showmen, often puffing themselves up with lofty rhetoric and then deflating themselves with self-effacing humour; but comedy-wise, Trudel steals the show as a socially awkward magic savant. All three excel at misdirection, not only shifting our focus to where each magician wants it, but also subverting expectations; seemingly botched tricks will morph into even cooler tricks instead, like Chung’s baffling Rubik’s Cube stunts.


Read more.

"Diversion" on Saturday August 24th

Saturday August 24th catch "Diversion" on TF1!


From the Medias France Twitter feed:
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Samedi 24 août à 21h05 : "DIVERSION" sur TF1 avec @Arthur_Officiel

Les magiciens @ViktorVincentOf @Gusillusionnist @Caroline_Marx_ @LucLangevin @EnzoIllusion @AntonioMagicien repoussent les limites de la magie... pic.twitter.com/pVJMXiDIkg

— Médias France (@MediasFrance) August 7, 2019

Catching up with the Outerbridges

Congratulations to Ted and Marion Outerbridge for the addition of 4 more shows to their Smith Falls Theatre run this season!


They've been in the news a bit too.


From the July 20th article "Experience the magic of illusions at the Smith Falls Station Theatre" by Sofia Donato in Ottawa Life:

In one of Ted’s illusions, he vanishes from the stage, appearing instantaneously in the audience and completely surprising them. One evening, he so confounded an audience member by this illusion that “someone was upset because I was blocking their view of the show," Ted recalls. “They were yelling and hit me to get out of the way. Then they realized it was me.” Outerbridge wasn’t injured. “I was amused," he said.

Read more.