Canada's Magic

02 March 2014

Manitoba museum an honour to son

Updated at 2:50pm to add:

Justin Fraser has shared the news that Philip's father, Gordon, recently passed on February 22nd of this year. Gordon Hornan's obituary can be read at the Winnipeg Free Press or at the Birchwood Funeral Chapel.

Philip's Magical Paradise
"Preserving Canada's Magical Heritage with treasures donated by magicians from around the world."

From the Winnipeg Sun:

It's been operating for 22 years in the RM of Ste. Anne and believed to be the only museum of its kind in Western Canada, but most Manitobans have never heard of it.

"We're a hidden treasure out here," Marilyn Hornan said Wednesday morning.

Philip's Magical Paradise is a magic museum that opened south of Winnipeg in the village of Giroux in 1991. It's a tribute to Marilyn and Gordon Hornan's youngest son, Philip Hornan.

Philip had been a magician since he was a youngster and his love for magic only grew as he got older.

"Unfortunately, cancer took him at the age of 15," Gordon said. "His request was to create a room for everyone to enjoy, to keep the magic in life."

Read more.

The article goes on to discuss how "performers who provided items were Gunnarson, Lance Burton, Doug Henning and Peter Reveen." In addition they mention a piece on display which includes something once owned by Houdini himself!

[via Owen Anderson]

01 March 2014

Christopher Hart, Lee Asher et al at the Atlanta Harvest of Magic

From Lee Asher:

#Fun Will you join me, @Kranzo, @cardjon, Harry Anderson, and many others for one of the best kept secrets in magic? http://t.co/ai1l2qjj3K
— Lee Asher (@LeeAsherMagic) February 20, 2014

This year's Atlanta Harvest of Magic runs from September 11-13, 2014.

Also scheduled to appear are friends of Sorcerers Safari: Nathan Kranzo and Steven Kline!

28 February 2014

Ken McCreedy at MAWNY

Ken McCreedy from Niagara Falls, is scheduled to perform at this year's MAWNY on Sunday April 27th. Other performers names listed include: Shaun Robison Glenn Brooks, Brian Miller, David Wu, Pierric, Ouka, Mike Chao, Jay Scott Berry and Rian Lehman.

Visit the MAWNY website for more information and to register.

27 February 2014

Ryan Pilling in Calgary is Awesome

From Calgary is Awesome:

To describe his world would take a novella. “Magic is always moving forward. There’s monthly magazines where everyone is submitting their ideas and tricks [for peer review] like a research papers. A hobbyist would develop a trick, and the professionals would find a way to bring it to the audience.” He continues to describe the magic world as a world-wide community united by the pursuit of the Impossible. “I can be anywhere in the world, and grab the phone book and call a magician. There’s always a sofa somewhere for me to sleep in.”

Read more.

Go over to Demotix to see some photos of Ryan Pilling from this year's WowFest!

26 February 2014

James Alan's appearance on CP 24

From Reality Based Magic:

25 February 2014

Review: David Acer, John Carney, Michel Huot and Rafael DiCaprio at the Comedy Nest.

From Perfect Magic:

As I wrote on the Perfect Magic Facebook, too bad for you if you didn’t go to the Comedy Nest in Montreal last Sunday night. For us, Phil and I, it was like old home week and brought back warm and pleasant memories of Magie Montréal. We had tried to phone Mephisto, aka Wym Vermeys, who was our partner in that venture but couldn’t reach him. He called the day after the show and said he was in Florida. He was heartbroken that he missed it.

David was terrific as the MC. He did many funny bits, which I know all who were there will use, magicians or not! He didn’t do any magic but some good comic mind reading stuff.

Read more.