05 March 2019

Toronto: From Fair to Foul


From the Browser's Den of Magic:
Sunday, March 24, 2019

This is a 90 minute historical lecture about magicians during the 1800’s. It explains how they transformed from distrusted street performers at fairs to performers of skill. And ended the century by debunking the foul spiritualists. The lecture covers many incredible people such as James and John Rannie, Richard Potter...the first magicians in America.

Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin the French magician who turned magic into a theatrical art form, John Nevil Maskeylne, Spiritualists like the Fox sisters from New York, and much more.

Some of their methods and tricks they used will be discussed.

Canadian connections are emphasized and many interesting items will be displayed. This lecture is NOT a magic show but includes a few historical magic tricks throughout the lecture.

Read more and buy tickets.









04 March 2019

Getting to know Gwyn Auger

From the Beyond Fame Podcast:
She is The Magic Assistant! Recently worked with Lance Burton, Gwyn takes time to chat with me on Beyond Fame about her assisting talents. She is beautiful, charming and a lot of fun. She wants us to also know she does professional consulting for magicians, along with being a social media expert. Please contact her for all your magic show needs.

Read more and listen to podcast.







03 March 2019

CBC's The Amazing and Astounding Invisible Women of Magic

From the February 22nd post "The women of magic are much more than 'lovely assistants'" CBC Radio:
Sawing a woman in half, a hemicorporectomy, is a classic illusion. And a classic role for women in magic — the pretty helpmeet, assisting men as they dazzle and enchant their audiences. But women are busting out of the boxes.

Frank Faulk's documentary, which was first broadcast a decade ago, is called "The Amazing and Astounding Invisible Women of Magic."

Read more and listen to interview.

02 March 2019

Toronto: Free magic club

From the Browser's Den of Magic Facebook page:
Dear Denizens,

This Saturday, March 2nd is our next FREE MAGIC CLUB meeting. We get together from 2:30pm to about 5:30pmish. All welcome to attend.

Have a nice day- The Jeff's, John Cardella & Lisa Close.

01 March 2019

Aaron Matthews and Rosemary Reid: She Gets Me

Watch the music video for The Washboard Union's "She Gets Me" featuring Aaron Matthews and Rosemary Reid!

(How many Canadian magicians have been in professional music videos?  James Alan was in Summerworks Song, Ray Chance had a cameo in Shawn Desman's video for Stuck and JRDN's video for Like Magic.  And for honourable mention, from The Music Show.  I'm sure there are more though.  Send the deets my way!)



From The Washboard Union's YouTube channel:



28 February 2019

The top 5 posts in February 2019

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



5. Toronto: Nicholas Wallace in The Art of Magic - There's one more The Art of Magic left. Catch it while you can!
4. Calgary: Carisa Hendrix at the Deerfoot Inn & Casino - Any show reviews to share?
3. Victoria: A Night of Alumni Entertainment - April 5 is coming up fast!
2. Toronto: Talent announced for the 2019 Browser's Bash - So much talent in one day!
Including: Suzanne, Chris Capehart, Paul Richards, The Outerbridges, Dick Joiner, Ryan Brown, Garrett Thomas, James Harrison, Jacque Swan, Robert & Scott Presswood, Andrew Woo, Jenny Parsons, and Chris Bruce.  What a lineup!

and the most viewed post this month  ...






1. Michael Close Webinar: The Truth about Lying (take 2) - How fabulous was it?

27 February 2019

Michael Rucker interviews Jonah Babins

From Michael Rucker:

That’s not how magic is supposed to be. One of the biggest challenges in magic, one of the hardest things to do for beginners, is to perform magic and have people not hate you, right? Because you’re displaying how much more you know or how you can finagle or twist your knowledge to outsmart them. The challenge is to make that fantastical, and amazing, and enjoyable.

It is a big deal in magic to make sure that you’re not giving the audience a puzzle to be solved, but instead, you’re together going on the journey. I like to refer to it as like a dream guide. Like the magician says, “Take my hand and come with me.”

Read more.