Mandrake the Magician in The Globe and Mail

We'd previously mentioned the 100th anniversary of the birth of man who became Mandrake the Magician.

The Globe and Mail published a tribute earlier last week:

Mandrake sawed women in half, chopped off heads in a stage guillotine, caused a menagerie of rabbits and pigeons to vanish. He read minds and pickpocketed wallets. For a 1949 newsreel, he escaped after being restrained by leg irons and handcuffs, tied by ropes, and nailed inside a packing crate – while under water.

One of his most spectacular illusions involved being tied up and imprisoned inside a large bag. Moments later, he emerges – having swapped his black tie and tails for a white Palm Beach suit, insouciantly puffing on a cigarette.

Read more.

[h/t:  @AboutMagicians via @JaySankey]

Montréal: Docc Hilford

Docc Hilford will be lecturing in Montréal Thursday, April 21 at 7 PM to 11 PM.

Contact Martin Carli for more information.  (MagicInfo.ca has an e-mail address for Martin.)



[h/t: MagicInfo.ca]

Msgr. Vincent Foy: "A Cut Above"

From Sharing Wonder:

 Magicana is delighted to announce the release of our latest publication, "A Cut Above."

"A Cut Above" is a joyful exploration of one-handed cuts created or documented by Msgr. Vincent Foy, a pioneer of the modern movement of card flourishes. His contributions on this subject that appeared initially in The Linking Ring and in Bertram on Sleight of Hand, inspired a new generation of finger-flingers.

Msgr. Foy, who is 95-years young, revisits his notes to give us 100 one-handed glorious cuts, most of his own invention. Read more.

Toronto: Browser's Den is moving!

Edited June 23rd to include a link to their new location.

From the Browser's Den website:

Browser's Den of Magic has been serving magicians both pro and hobbyist since 1975. For twenty-six of the thirty-six years that we have been in business, Bathurst and Eglinton has been both our home and the home to you our dear customers. Many special memories have been made for sure at this location.

The owners of the plaza have recently informed us that they plan to redevelop. ... Read more.

Read this post from June 15 for details about the goodbye moving party and their new location.

Calgary: Balloon workshop

TheMagicStudio.ca is hosting beginner, intermediate and advanced ballon twisting workshops on April 30, 2011.  Visit their website for more information.



[h/t: @magicassistant]

Peter Mennie on Rogers Daytime

Peter Mennie posted video of his appearance on Rogers' Daytime TV yesterday.  Go over to his Facebook page to watch.

You can watch another part of the TV appearance on YouTube:
 

100 years ago

One hundred years ago today, Leon Giglio was born.  He later changed his name to Leon Mandrake.  You may be familiar with his stage name, Mandrake the Magician.

From leaderpost.com:

But Mandrake's legacy lives on in other ways as well. Some of his magic acts can still be enjoyed today on YouTube, and Roberston Davies even modelled the character Magnus Eisengrim from his book World of Wonders on him. Mandrake the Magician has also appeared in radio shows, television series, plays, musicals and movies (including a cameo in The Beatles' Yellow Submarine). Hayden Christensen, another B.C. performer (and, given that he is most famous for playing a Jedi, someone who should know a thing or two about gesturing hypnotically), is said to currently be in talks to star in a new Mandrake movie.

But his real legacy is continuing to inspire performers. Coquitlam resident Shawn Farquhar is one of them.

Read more including a nice quote from Shawn.

Happy 100th Birthday Leon Mandrake ... still alive in my memories.... http://fb.me/I6JHC71Sless than a minute ago via Facebook Favorite Retweet ReplyShawn Farquhar
magiChampion