Remembering Ricky Jay

In case you missed the sad news, Ricky Jay passed away on November 24th.

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Remembering the wild, weird and wonderful Ricky Jay (1948-2018)
From an appearance in Canada on The Magic Palace c.1979 in The Screening Room: https://t.co/ECl1AVrsU8 pic.twitter.com/PyYTQDPcK5

— Magicana (@sharingwonder) November 26, 2018

#magic #rickyjay Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/8O0babHxRZ

— Greg Dodds (@oddsmagic) November 25, 2018

The magician Ricky Jay has died. Revisit Mark Singer's 1993 Profile of the legendary sleight-of-hand artist, who preferred to live in the mysterious world of eccentric entertainers rather than headline in Las Vegas. https://t.co/P5BNfaXYuU

— The New Yorker (@NewYorker) November 25, 2018

Happy eighth (belated) blogiversary to me!

Eight years ago last Sunday, this blog was born!

Thanks to you wonderful people who have supported this project!

For free, we've published over 3,640 posts, and served well over 131,410 page loads (over 710,764 by Blogger's count).  Two hundred and sixty-four of you have given us your thumbs-up on Facebook, more than 1269 of you are following along on Twitter (29.9K tweets and counting!), and approximately 60 of you have subscribed to this site's RSS feed.  The bulk of you are Canadian, and I'm delighted to see visitors from United States, the United Kingdom, India, France, and the list goes on.

There are so many of you doing such a fabulous job of making magic a priority in this great country!

A special thanks to:

• All of my early supporters.  Special shout outs to Ariel, Doug, James, and John for your continued encouragement.
• All of you readers, Likers, RTers, submitters, guest posters, contest prize providers and all other manner of promoters of this site.
• All of my sponsors, past and present.  That means you: Magic Information Canada, Ryan Pilling, Clive Court, Perfect Magic, The Browser's Den of Magic, The Amazing Corbin,  Michael Close, and Daniel Sugar!
• All of the blog's official friends, past and present.  That's you:  John Smithman, John Harrison, Richard Lyn, Joan Caesar, Ted & Marion Outerbridge, Ian Crawford, Owen Anderson, Ryan Pilling, and Matt DiSero.
• My family for their support of this bloggy experiment.

My continued thanks to all of you!

Toronto: Free magic club

From the Browser's Den of Magic Facebook group:

Hi Denizens,

This Saturday, December 1 is our next (free) Magic Club meeting. All are welcome.

Meeting at Browser's Den of Magic from 2:30pm to 5:30pm.

Thank you-The Jeff's, John Cardella, Luiz Castro & Lisa Close.
Serving Magicians Since 1975

The top 5 posts in November 2018

There were 24+ posts at Canada's Magic this month.  Here are the 5 most viewed posts in the past 30 days:

5. Toronto: Five world records in one day? - We'll find out at the Browser's Den this coming Sunday.

4. Julie Eng on Pop Life CTV - Marvelous magic in mainstream media!

3. Video: Shawn Farquhar Fool Us REVEALED - The people want to know.

2. 2018 "Holiday Magic" - Great show with great talent for a great cause!

and the most viewed post this month  ...

1. The 2018 "Readers' Choice Inspirational Canadian Magician of the Year" award - Nominations are closed and the voting will begin soon!

Michael Close on the Palming Series

From the November 2nd article "The Story Behind the Palming Series" at Michael Close's website:

Looking back on the skill sets I’ve used to make a living during my life (magic, jazz piano, writing/editing), I realize that most of what I know about those subjects I figured out by myself, without any formal training. I did have an excellent high school English teacher my senior year; I received degrees in music theory and composition; and my time spent with Harry Riser was invaluable. But I grew up isolated in a farming community in the middle of Indiana; books were my mentors, and I studied everything I could get my hands on. As I absorbed that information, I was also unconsciously absorbing the process of learning how to teach myselfthe information.

My father provided inspiration as I did this. He came from industry, and for twenty-two years he taught in the mechanical engineering technology department at the Purdue campus in Indianapolis. His great gift was as a teacher; he understood how to break down information and impart it effectively. I learned from his example.

Read more.

Toronto: Chris Mayhew lecture

From the Browser's Den of Magic:

Sunday, December 9

Chris Mayhew enters. And magic mayhem follows. He will disarm you, charm you, and make you laugh out loud with his uniquely entertaining brand of magic.

Magic is not only a profession for Chris Mayhew, it's a way of life. Throughout the past decade Chris Mayhew has developed a beautifully unique way to create, perform and entertain with magic, which has garnered him a reputation worldwide.

This lecture will enhance your repertoire with new twists on classic plots like Triumph, Ambitious Card, Anniversary Waltz, and Colour Change in Spectator’s Hand. Chris will also reinvigorate your imagination with fantastic new and visual ideas that will have your brain ticking long after the lecture is over. By the end of this special event you will be enlightened with some inspiring thoughts, be refreshed on old and new plots, and filled with memories of a thoroughly enjoyable time with Chris Mayhew.

Read more and buy tickets.

Montreal: Nathan Kranzo lecture

From Montreal Magic Jam:

Tues Nov 27

Nathan’s original magic creations have been published in national and worldwide publications like Magic Magazine, Genii Magazine, The Penumbra, Antinomy, Channel One and The Linking Ring Magazine. Nathan has performed and lectured all over the US, Europe and Asia.
Nathan was a consultant for Penn and Teller’s NBC special “Off The Deep End”. Nathan was featured on the SyFy show Wizard Wars. He received a standing ovation on NBC’s America’s Got Talent”. And most recently Nathan appeared on #1 Chinese television show “The Amazing Magicians” in China.

NATHAN KRANZO IS BACK with an ALL NEW LECTURE. DON’T YOU MISS THE FUN. CHECK OUT WHAT HE’s GOING TO TRY TO STUFF INTO THIS LECTURE!!!!!!

Read more and buy tickets.