There were 23 posts at Canada's Magic this month. Here are the 5 most viewed posts in the past 30 days:
5. Shawn Farquhar at The Magic Inn [Feb 24] - Looks like a great line up for the event!
4. The Amazing Randi in the Beach Metro - With a connection to Nightmare Alley!
3. In memoriam 2021 - Remember.
2. Mandrake the Magician in the Comic Book Bin - A great read!
1. Broken wand: Len Lauk - Our sincere condolences to Len's family and friends.
From the January 24th article "Mark Clearview Makes Magic" in VITA Daily:
You are quite the accomplished magician! From Times Square to Michelin restaurants to Penn & Teller, what has been your favourite venue or show to perform?
Some say I’m the MOST accomplished magician. But they’re very incorrect. I’ve been lucky enough to perform in plenty of bucket list venues. My favourite place to perform in terms of audiences and history is the historic Magic Castle in Hollywood. It’s the most magical place on earth, not Disney. My favourite place to perform in terms of trying new material is Caroline’s on Broadway in NYC. Something about a dark comedy club that gets my stomach all a flutter. And I don’t think it’s just the food in Times Square.
Do you have an all-time favourite or signature magic trick?
I was first known as that guy who spent two weeks in a straitjacket (setting a world record for the longest time in a straitjacket), but now I’m known for my stupider effects. Turning an egg into a rotisserie chicken or teleporting a signed business card into an urn of my grandfather’s ashes.
From the January 25th Facebook post by Scott McClelland:
After 10 Years of waiting... I have created a NEW Production called the RELIQUARY. This is a brand new Show that will be premiering in Toronto at the Red Sandcastle Theatre on March 9th and running until the 13th!
This is a completely NEW idea in the world of performance... a Show that blurs the lines of reality and is a tip of the hat to great Horror Movie Classics! Mixing the Supernatural with Horror and Magic... if you are in the Toronto region this is your chance to see this ground breaking production in a beautiful intimate setting.
Ticket are On Sale Now!
https://www.ticketscene.ca/series/924/DON'T MISS THIS AMAZING SHOW!
From the January 8th upload on Alex Boyer's YouTube channel:
Penn and Teller Fool us: ALEX BOYER performs THE most dangerous magic trick ever!
What an amazing abs unforgettable time I had performing for some of the world’s best magicians! My goal was to create something unique, as you can see that’s exactly what I did! Thanks to all of you for watching and thanks to all the people who made this possible! Truly a dream come true! I’m freaking out! Xo
From Chai Lifeline Canada:
On the occasion of my Bat Mitzvah, I have chosen to support the important work of Chai Lifeline Canada. Chai Lifeline is devoted to supporting children and families facing illness. For over 15 years they have given thousands of families across Canada the concrete services and emotional support that enables patients, siblings and parents to find joy in their lives. My goal is to raise $18,000.00 to provide critical support services, including therapy, to children as well providing funding so that families can create some long lasting and special memories through experiences.
Families coming together and laughing is something we can all enjoy. On Sunday February 6th, please join me as The Toronto Magic Company delights us with their UNBELIEVABLE virtual magic show that has been entertaining thousands across the globe. Ben Train and Jonah Babins will mesmerize us and it is definitely something you won’t want to miss!
An Interactive Virtual Magic Show for all ages!
Date: February 6, 2022
You may recall that Michael Close and the Evasons consulted for the film Nightmare Alley.
From the January 11th article "Reel Beach: Born in the Beach, The Amazing Randi was a top magician and crusader against fraudsters" by Bernie Fletcher in the Beach Metro:
In Nightmare Alley Bradley Cooper plays a carnival huckster who learns the art of deceit and becomes a nightclub mind reader. The clothes are fancier, but he uses the same old tricks.
The film is based on the dark 1946 novel by William Lindsay Gresham (1909-1962), an amateur magician who was fascinated by the carny underworld. Like Harry Houdini before him, Gresham exposed many of the techniques used by phony spiritualists and psychics.
In 1959 Gresham wrote a biography of Houdini and dedicated his book to “the greatest living escape artist, The Amazing Randi” magician James Randi who helped him with the illusions.
Randi began life in 1928 as Randall James Zwinge (rhymes with “Swingy”) in the newly-built Victoria Park Apartments on Queen Street East near Willow Avenue, which was just down the street from the Prince of Wales Theatre (now the Fox).
A century ago streetcars came all the way out to the new Neville Park Loop and spurred a building boom along the eastern end of Queen Street.
...
Life comes full circle. Nightmare Alley was filmed at the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant (originally the Victoria Park Filtration Plant) just down the street from Randi’s first home. In 1928 the waterworks were still a dream in the eyes of Neville Park Boulevard resident R. C. Harris; a vision of clean, safe water for Toronto.
From the January 12th Facebook post by The Society of American Magicians:
