First magic performance in Canada?

Updated August 6th to add this find by Lee Asher:

• James Rannie performed in Canada as early as 1804.
  

  UPDATE: New contender for #Canada's 1st western conjurer.@David_Acer @mullins_bill @canadasmagic @joeculpepper (I x2 checked!)
  
  James Rannie performed in Canada as early as 1804. (Source: Richard Potter: By John A. Hodgson)https://t.co/z0PqnBwUMd and https://t.co/pHx2kks3lS pic.twitter.com/Nb3F6MMWPD

  — Lee Asher (@LeeAsherMagic) August 5, 2020

Updated at 8:45am to add this find by Joe Culpepper:

• Falconi, one of Canada's earliest stage conjuring shows: https://t.co/l5aQpsNSfj @LeeAsherMagic @mullins_bill @canadasmagic

  — Joe Culpepper (@joeculpepper) July 29, 2020

--

Lee Asher asked an interesting question on Twitter Monday morning.

What is the name of the first magician to perform in Canada?

Was it Maginnis (circa 1875) as reported in The Canadian Encyclopedia?

Technically it could be yes, as The Dominion of Canada was officially born on July 1, 1867.  But lets expand the question to the first magician to perform in what is now considered Canada.

Was it MacAlister performing in Montreal in 1854 as shown by this clipping in the Ottawa Daily Citizen?

Trying to unearth the name of the 1st #magician to #perform in #Canada.

Some believe it's Maginnis (circa 1875). This isn't correct.

Here's a clipping from the Ottawa Daily Citizen (Sep. 16th, 1854) talking about an Irishman performing in #Montreal named Magician MacAlister. pic.twitter.com/qd9a78tLLW

— Lee Asher (@LeeAsherMagic) July 27, 2020

No.

How about Philippe in Quebec City September 30th in 1846?

Mes amis . . . they were preceded by Philippe in Quebec City, 1846 pic.twitter.com/rqtU1qsHiG

— Joe Culpepper (@joeculpepper) July 27, 2020

Wrong again.

From an Ottawa Daily Citizen article published on May 22nd in 1852, discussion a performance by a Signor Blitz:

He was preceded by Signor Blitz: Ottawa Daily Citizen, 5/22/1852 pic.twitter.com/PAMwdJa8V3

— Bill Mullins (@mullins_bill) July 27, 2020

Based on your find, I went back to reference your Blitz credit in the Ottawa Daily Citizen. While I have access to that issue, I cannot find it. Would you be kind enough to share a link with me? Thank U, in advance. :)

BTW, I found this. Blitz's official announcement. 1wk later. pic.twitter.com/e8pq25CW27

— Lee Asher (@LeeAsherMagic) July 27, 2020

https://t.co/hZ8y2EMaDv

(note -- the earlier ones I just posted are from https://t.co/4ORSVKypUv)

— Bill Mullins (@mullins_bill) July 27, 2020

So far the earliest named and documented magic performance in what is now Canada, goes to Mons. Desage, as referenced in the Kingston Chronicle and Gazette December 30 1835.

And finally (and I don't think I'll antedate this one, so maybe he will end up with credit as the earliest)
Desage, from the Kingston Chronicle and Gazette Dec 30 1835 pic.twitter.com/Kyhby00Gal

— Bill Mullins (@mullins_bill) July 27, 2020

Desage, from Paris, is a great find. I'd never heard of him. Looks like he did a little Canadian tour. Here's a review from his show in Quebec City a few months after Kingston: pic.twitter.com/yR3pllgoRG

— Joe Culpepper (@joeculpepper) July 28, 2020

There's evidence of an unnamed woman doing magic in Kingston in 1835!

Here's an unnamed woman doing magic in 1835, in the Kingston Chronicle and Gazette 17 Oct 1835. Wish it had more detail. pic.twitter.com/XkgP14na3p

— Bill Mullins (@mullins_bill) July 27, 2020

And ventriloquists too.

Do Ventriloquists count? If so, a performance by Mr. White (Kingston Chronicle May 26 1832) may be the first. pic.twitter.com/gGezsEWD4S

— Bill Mullins (@mullins_bill) July 27, 2020

People were complaining about magicians as early as the January 21st 1805 edition of the Quebec Mercury:

Here is a lovely letter to the editor of the Quebec Mercury on 21 Jan 1805 complaining about various magicians (no names) performing in Montreal: pic.twitter.com/9irkemPN2h

— Joe Culpepper (@joeculpepper) July 28, 2020

A final very important note from Joe Culpepper:

We should add that earlier than 1805, we have at least 1,806 years during which we might find evidence of illusions performed by indigenous magicians in Canada: https://t.co/9GPQXTMJ5J

— Joe Culpepper (@joeculpepper) July 28, 2020

With thanks to Lee Asher for asking this question and Bill Mullins and Joe Culpepper for their hard work and sharing their findings!

Graeme Reed's FREE virtual magic show

From the July 24th Instagram post by Graemazing:

Looking to entertain the entire family? I have a FREE virtual magic show happening next Thursday, July 30th at 8pm. All you have to do is click the link in my bio to register. All of YOU are invited! . IMPORTANT: Register before Thursday, July 30th at 5pm - or you won't get the top secret zoom invite!

View this post on Instagram

Looking to entertain the entire family? I have a FREE virtual magic show happening next Thursday, July 30th at 8pm. All you have to do is click the link in my bio to register. All of YOU are invited! . IMPORTANT: Register before Thursday, July 30th at 5pm - or you won't get the top secret zoom invite! #virtualWizard #virtualMagician #virtualevents #virtualeventsolutions

A post shared by Graemazing - Level 7 WIzard (@graemazing) on Jul 24, 2020 at 3:15am PDT

Toronto Magic Company starts a vlog (and Newest Trick on July 28)

From the July 17ty Toronto Magic Company Instagram post:

I know what you're thinking.⁠
You started a VLOG in the middle of a pandemic???⁠ 

Yes we did!⁠ ⁠ 

We took a trip to the Browsers Den of Magic to visit Jeff, buy some tricks, and have a good time⁠ ⁠ 

Please like, share, subscribe and whatever Youtube things to help us explode!⁠ ⁠

From the July 22nd Toronto Magic Company Instagram post:

View this post on Instagram

One week today is The Newest Trick in the Macbook, our virtual open mic magic show streaming live on Facebook.⁠ ⁠ It featured 5 incredible performers. Blowing your mind Virtually.⁠ ⁠ Plus a little bit of antics from Jonah and Ben.⁠ ⁠ It’s happening on July 28 at 8:00pm EST⁠ ⁠ We want to see you there⁠ ⁠ sign up and get notified when we go live so you don’t miss the show!⁠ ⁠ Oh yea… and did we mention that it’s FREE?⁠ ⁠ Link in Bio⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #magic #magician #torontomagic #torontomagician #magicintoronto #magiciantoronto #torontomagicshow #torontotheatre #torontocomedy #torontomagiccompany #comedytoronto #torontoentertainment #torontoevents #torontoevent #abracademy #visualmagic #magicianslife #cardmagic #magicians #magicperformance #sleightofhand #cardtricks #didyouknow #illusionist #creativeart #artofvisuals #artlife #artistry #artofmagic #thenewesttrickinthebook

A post shared by Toronto Magic Company (@torontomagiccompany) on Jul 21, 2020 at 1:01pm PDT

Waskesiu: Sean Watson's "Magician & the Muse"

From the July 21st Facebook post by ReginaCadabra:

Sean Watson performed at the inaugural Reginacadabra festival. He returns for a premiere live performance of his new show Magician & the Muse on August 8 in Waskesiu SK. If you are there at that time please show your support for magic and attend this show. Sean and Chanelle would really appreciate it.

Sessions with Shawn Farquhar (and "A Cup of Tea")

From Shawn Farquhar's July 22nd Facebook post:

With ONLY four spots still open for the August 3rd Session and a ton of emails from folks in Europe and elsewhere asking for a different time slot, I have decided to do one more on August 4th. This one will be at 12:00 PM (noon) in Vancouver which will be a much more reasonable hour for my friends in Paris, London, Tel Aviv, Sweden, Norway, etc.

Read more and register.

From the June 16th episode "#17 How to fool Penn & Teller not once but 3 times? A Cup of T asks champion magician Shawn Farquhar" of A Cup of Tea on YouTube"

Howard Brown has the most amazing story to tell. In fact several stories as a twin, cancer survivor. And the collaboration of jewish and muslim faiths to serve meals to first responders. Listen to learn more from Lady Sarah and Keith Fields on their 30 mins show - A Cup of T.

Champion of champions Shawn Farquhar will be joining from Canada. He has fooled Penn and Teller on their hit show 'Fool Us', not once but 3 times. He has magic and stories about his magic theater 'Hidden Wonders' to share.

London the Magnificent on Penn and Teller's "Try this at home too!"

Keep an eye out for one of the Calgary Magic Circle's Junior Members on Penn and Teller's upcoming "Try this at home too!"



From London the Magnificent's July 21st Instagram post:

I was asked by Penn&Teller to submit a trick for their show - I submitted 3 - haha!! No idea what they will use, but I was told I am appearing in the show!! I'm so excited!!

View this post on Instagram

I was asked by Penn&Teller to submit a trick for their show - I submitted 3 - haha!! No idea what they will use, but I was told I am appearing in the show!! I'm so excited!! @carisahendrix @pennandtellerlive @calgarymagiccircle @magicassistant

A post shared by London the Magnificent (@londonmagnif) on Jul 21, 2020 at 6:29am PDT

Sad news from The Browser's Den of Magic

Updated at 5:15 PM to add:

• From the Facebook post of Aaron Farberman:
  
  For anyone who wants to watch
  Topic: Shawna Ross-York Funeral Service
  Time: Jul 23, 2020 10:00 AM Toronto
  
  

From the July 19th post by Jeff Pinsky at The Browesr's Den of Magic Facebook group:

Today was one of the most difficult days I have ever had at the shop.

Marvin York called me before we opened the magic shop to inform me that Shawna Ross York died last night... a couple of days after her knee surgery. She was only 54.

Shawna worked at Browser's Den of Magic for fourteen years.

And though she never learned how to do magic she became a part of the magic community.

She met her husband Marvin through the shop.

Shawna waited for the knee surgery for so long and now this disaster.

Life just sucks sometimes.

Jeff Pinsky, Browser's Den of Magic.


Leave your comments on Jeff's Facebook post.

Our sympathies to Shawna's family and friends at this difficult time.