Review: "A Series of Unfortunate Effects"

From the Magic Junkies:

Coming in at around 90 minutes, A Series of Unfortunate Effects is a fun, engaging and wonderfully unique instructional DVD featuring some of the best card magic I’ve seen in some time. The movie (yep, I’m calling it a movie) features appearances by Lee Asher, Jeff Hinchliffe, Glenn West, Chris Westfall, plus the creators Chris Mayhew and Ben Train. Bill Abbott even makes an appearance as a maniacal card collector – hey if the shoe fits  Even without the card routines and explanations, I thought the movie was really fun with several laugh out loud moments. The chemistry between Chris Mayhew and Ben Train provides an enjoyable romp through underground card magic. (I’ll take this moment to mention that Chris Mayhew cracks me up!) The video itself is shot in HD and edited beautifully, with great attention to detail throughout. The appearances and card routines are just icing on the proverbial cake. It is a creative adventure that is a joy to watch.

Read more.

A bit about Chris Westfall and the Porcelain Princess tour

From Chris Westfall's post in the Browser's Den of Magic Facebook group:

People Keep asking about my Ontario Wide tour, so here is a sneak peak of my most creative show! Inspired by a cirque du soliel format Its a family style illusion show jam packed with laughing, gasping, screaming, magic, illusions, and an awesome story line plot! Its filled with different styles of Juggling and a hook like ive never done before! Hopefully we will have it in Toronto before the Canada Wide tour begins. With Bella M. Eurta.

Watch video on YouTube:

New insight into the John Giordmaine - Doug Henning connection

From the curator of the Johnny Giordmaine tribute site:

I am very excited to bring you news about the latest addition to JohnGiordmaine.com, the online tribute to Canada's most beloved children's magician (Johnny Giordmaine, 1898-1974).
Brian Lumley, who used to work for Doug Henning, provides the first ever-in-print anecdotal evidence of Johnny's influential mentorship with Doug. 

Since I reposted Doug's 1989 "retirement from magic" letter last December (first published in Genii) in which he thanked "the late John Giordmaine" ahead of Dai Vernon, Slydini, Jay Marshall and others, I have tried to find a reason why Doug thanked Johnny first and foremost. Theirs must have been a very special kind of mentorship and friendship but nowhere in any of the magical history literature has there ever appeared any documented evidence for it. 

Until now. 

Brian Lumley recalls a very special "Spellbound" backstage tour in late December 1973 which Doug gave Johnny mere hours before Johnny's heart attack which would ultimately prove fatal. With this breakthrough recollection we at long last have the very first eyewitness account in print of what it meant to Doug to have Johnny as a friend and mentor. 

Only now can we really begin to appreciate the reasons why Doug Henning thanked "the late John Giordmaine" first in his "letter of retirement". 

This story appears nowhere else to date to the best of my knowledge. It will hopefully open the door to future further research into Johnny's pivotal influence on arguably Canada's most internationally famous magician of the 20th century. 

You can read all about it, exclusively, here: 

www.johngiordmaine.com

TVO: Katherine Mills in "Mind Games"

From TVO:

Prepare to be shocked and amazed as acclaimed magician Katherine Mills blends her extraordinary understanding of popular psychological science with astonishing trickery and illusion, making us question what is real. This is a compelling, playful series packed full with fascinating psychological revelations and wondrous magic, as Katherine combines her skills as a world-class illusionist with her extensive knowledge of the human mind. People of all ages and backgrounds are left stunned, confused and amazed as they take part in her breathtaking experiments. Katherine Mills: Mind Games proves that, while we like to believe we are in control of our minds and behaviour, in reality we are as predictable as clockwork!

Read more.

Toronto: Norman Beck lecture

From the Norman Beck Lecture & Workshop Facebook page:

Tickets and additional information at: http://bit.ly/nbeck

Discover one of the best kept secrets in all of magic:

"Norman Beck fools me every time I see him. He was kind enough to let me put one of his effects on my last TV Special. He is very clever."
-David Blaine

“Stormin' Norman Beck is of my favorite people and magicians. He’ll make you laugh with his zany humor and that good-old-boy twang, and he’ll fool you with his diabolical thinking, methods, and routining."
-Steve Forte

"There are only a few people in the world that I would consult with, share ideas, get advice, and their critique about magic, such a man is Norman Beck."
-Asi Wind

Norman is brilliant. He has created some of the seminal tricks in Magic and you should listen to what he has to say and use his ideas. Some of the biggest names in Magic already do!"
-Peter Samelson

Read more and buy tickets. 

Welcoming a new Friend: John Smithman

Welcoming our newest Friend, John Smithman!

John is the Vancouver Magic Circle Membership Chair and an avid photographer.  In addition, he is also the founder of Champions in the Workplace Training & Development, an established workplace coach, trainer and author  of "Workplace Champion By Example."

John first became aware of Canada's Magic when I cross-posted his Magic Café request for information about Guy Stanley.  I'm happy to report that John has since been reunited with Guy!

Thank you John, for becoming an official Friend of Canada's Magic!

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