Canada's Magic

29 August 2016

Surrey fire destroys Mandrake the Magician's former house

With thanks to The Magic Demon for sending this news along.

From the CBC:

A Surrey, B.C. home that was destroyed by fire was the former home of Leon Mandrake or 'Mandrake the Magician,' a local performer known around the world for his magic, illusions and stunts.

Leon Mandrake, or "Mandrake the Magician", was a famous entertainer in the vaudeville-era and beyond. He died in Surrey, B.C. in 1993. (CBC Archives)

Mandrake owned the house on the corner of Grosvenor Road and Kindersley Drive before his death in 1993.

Surrey city council considered giving heritage status to the old home — an idea first brought before council in 2008, according to city documents.

Read more.

From the Vancouver Sun:

The cause of the fire is under investigation. The roof collapsed and the extent of the damage will probably challenge inspectors, Woznikoski said.

The one-storey house once belonged to Leon Giglio, better known as Leon Mandrake and then Mandrake the Magician for his feats of hypnotism, mind reading and escapes.

Read more.

28 August 2016

You're special! Or are you?

From the post "You Aren't Special" at Discourse in Magic:

Picture this

For the first time ever I signed up to go to magic camp! I stepped on the bus, looked around and saw about 90 other people that were also magicians just like me.

That was the first time that I realized that I wasn’t special.

Not only were they all just as much magicians as I was, but they were even doing the same goddamn tricks! How did that happen? I didn’t learn magic with them, I thought I did my own thing. But all of a sudden we were all doing the same goddamn tricks???!! And performing them in pretty similar ways.

Read more.

27 August 2016

Ty Reveen's 2016 tour of Alberta and Saskatchewan

From the Facebook page of Reveen The Legend Continues:

26 August 2016

[Guest post] "Unbelievable" Review

A reminder that the show runs at the PNE August 20 – September 5, 2016 (Closed Monday August 22 and 29).

The following is a guest post from an author who wishes to be known as The Magic Demon.

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"Unbelievable: A magical experience"

A ninety minute large scale magical extravaganza, nightly at 7:30 pm, free with admission to the PNE, Vancouver.

In a word, "Wow".

This is big time illusion-based magic at its best.

Playing to capacity crowds, "Unbelievable" combines fast paced magic with modern rock concert visuals and music to create a memorable evening's entertainment well worth the cost of admission to the PNE.

I loved that they began with pre-show screenings of some of the greats from the past - Sorcar, Cardini, etc - all in glorious b&w - while the audience filed in.

How to review such an awesome celebration of magic and illusion? I can't. It was just too much to absorb. But here are a few thoughts I somehow managed to jot down:

American Matt Marcy's understated humour and impressive close up magic (seen on the big screen) should earn him an honorary Canadian citizenship.
Marty Putz - undoubtably the hardest working funny man in all of showbusiness. And the most beloved by children of all ages.
Juliana Chen's performance - sheer visual poetry. Beautiful, enchanting, mysterious. This is Art.
Scott Pepper - definitely the contemporary reincarnation of Houdini's daredevil anything-can-happen spirit.
Murray Hatfield and Teresa - the most accomplished, most polished, most energetic all around magical performers.

If you are anywhere near Vancouver this summer run (do not walk) to the PNE and catch "Unbelievable" before it disappears forever as the PNE ends for another summer.

The Magic Demon

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Thank you The Magic Demon for guest posting at Canada's Magic!