Grand Forks: Murray Hatfield and Theresa in an “Incredible Evening of Magic”

From the Grand Forks Gazette:

Magic! That’s family entertainment – spellbinding, heart-throbbing-in-the-throat suspense, uproarious laughter and brilliant surprises as the Boundary District Arts Council presents its grand finale of the 2011-2012 Performance Series with Murray Hatfield and Theresa in an “Incredible Evening of Magic”.

On Thursday, March 1 at 7:30 p.m., the Grand Forks Secondary School Auditorium will transform into a world of jaw-dropping illusion.

Read more.

Toronto: Magic camp open house at Browser's Den

From The Browser's Den:

OPEN HOUSE AT Browser’s Den of Magic FOR ‘SORCERERS SAFARI MAGIC CAMP’
 
Saturday, April 14/2012 at Noon
Free to Attend! 

Dear Magic Friend,

Come to meet the campers and staff of Sorcerers Safari and enjoy the MANY MAGICAL EVENTS planned throughout the day!

THE OPEN HOUSE THIS YEAR WILL FEATURE…

A MAGIC PERFORMANCE (With a Very Special Surprise Guest!) * Unveiling New Summer Video * Exciting Upcoming Plans * Special Guests Booked for Camp * Door Prizes & More * Coffee, Cookies, Snacks. 

Read more and view the schedule events.

James Randi: An Honest Liar - A Documentary in Production

From An Honest Liar:

An Honest Liar profiles the life of famed magician turned professional skeptic James “The Amazing” Randi as he embarks on a series of public crusades to expose America’s beloved psychics, mentalists, preachers, and faith healers with religious fervor. Along the way, the film will show how easily our perceptions can be fooled – by magicians, con artists, and even documentaries.

Watch the work-in-progress trailer:



An Honest Liar - Work-in-Progress trailer from Justin Weinstein on Vimeo.

[h/t: iTricks]

Shawn Farquhar: Sleight-ly perplexing

From the Chilliwack Times:

No sooner has the fourth-generation magician, who performs at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre next week, shaken your hand than he will launch into a seamless stream of funny quips, quotations and anecdotes-all while getting you to pick a card or stick your finger into a tiny guillotine.

Read more.

 The piece also states that young Hannah will be "premiering a new piece on her own."  How exciting!

Buffalo: Matt DiSero at Rob's Comedy Playhouse

From Rob's Comedy Playhouse:

Special Events:  Magician Matt DiSero
Straight from the Trump Plaza Casino
February 25th

Read more.

Montréal: Bob Fitch workshop

From Montreal Magic Jam:

Bob Fitch
PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP
When: Feb 25, 2012, 1pm – 5pm
Where: MainLine Theatre
3997 Boul St-Laurent
Read more.

[h/t: MagicInfo.ca]

[Guest post]: Remembering Sam Cramer

I am grateful to Phil Matlin and all of his input to the creation of the Broken Wands page. In the absence of a proper tribute page, Phil offers some memories of Sam Cramer, from Montréal:

One of the names I gave you was Sam Cramer. Although I am not sure I believe he had the first magic shop in Montreal. My first visit to his store was in 1947. I was 10. For about 2 or 3 months he sold me what I wanted (i.e. what he demonstrated) and then one day he wouldn't sell me another trick until I bought books. He set me up with a plan that if I gave him $3.00 every 2 weeks he would give a volume of the Tarbell course. I eventually got all 5 (that's how many there were then). The price of each volume was $6.00. When he retired, his brother-in-law Alex Chervin took over the store and kept it. Had to move a few times and finally closed it up when the city expropriated the land they were on. Alex's main interest was stamp collecting but he also was a wonderful magician. Alex is still around. I spoke to him a few months ago. He is still living by himself, (his wife died close to ten years ago), and confided in me that he was 94 years old. Between Sam and Alex, every magician in Montreal then and now owe them, because without them, magic in Montreal as we know it today would never have happened. I know that Sam Cramer from Montreal was a cover feature in an issue of MUM. So far I have been unable to find it.