Ben Proudfoot wins Oscar for Best Documentary Short

ICYMI, Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp alumnus Ben Proudfoot, won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short on Sunday night!

Congratulations Ben!

 

From the March 27th article "Nova Scotia’s Ben Proudfoot Wins Oscar At Tonight’s 94th Academy Awards" at Nova Scotia Buzz:

Ben Proudfoot of Halifax, NS walked the 94th Academy Awards red carpet tonight and is walking out with an Oscar. Proudfoot was one of the favourites in his category for Best Documentary (Short Subject) for his latest work The Queen of Basketball.

Lusia (Lucy) Harris, although many have not heard of her, was one of the greatest woman basketball players. She won three national trophies and scored the first basket in women’s Olympic basketball at the 1976 Olympics. One of the most interesting facts about Lucy is she was drafted to the NBA and still not many people know of her.

Read more.

 

 

From the March 27th article "Oscar Win For ‘The Queen Of Basketball’ Cements Legacy Of Lucy Harris, Validating Support From EP’s Shaq, Steph Curry, Director Ben Proudfoot" by Matthew Carey at Deadline:

The Queen of Basketball, which documents Harris’s unsung accomplishment as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short. Director Ben Proudfoot accepted the award, which was presented – along with seven other categories – during the Oscar pre-show. His edited acceptance remarks were inserted into the live telecast. 

Read more.

 

 

Listen to Ben's Oscar acceptance speech in the March 28th upload on the WBB Clips YouTube Channel:

From the March 27th upload on the Etalk YouTube channel:

 

 

 

 

Chris Funk joins the Western Canada tour of Masters of Illusion Live [April]

From the March 25th Tweet by Chris Funk Magic:

It’s official!  I’m a part of Western Canada’s tour of Masters of Illusion Live!

Dates are:
Winnipeg April 10
Saskatoon April 11
Regina April 12
Calgary April 13
Edmonton April 14
Vancouver April 16

 

From Masters of Illusion:

• 10 Apr - Burton Cummings Theatre, Winnipeg, MB
• 11 Apr - TCU Place, Saskatoon, SK
• 12 Apr - Conexus Arts Centre – Regina, Canada
• 13 Apr - Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, CA
• 14 Apr - Winspear Centre – Edmonton, Canada
• 16 Apr - Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver, BC
  
  
• 28 Sep - Flato Markham Theatre, ON, Canada
• 29 Sep - Flato Markham Theatre, ON, Canada 

Read more and buy tickets.

 

 

 

It’s official! I’m a part of Western Canada’s tour of Masters of Illusion Live!

Dates are:
Winnipeg April 10
Saskatoon April 11
Regina April 12
Calgary April 13
Edmonton April 14
Vancouver April 16#ticket link in bio! https://t.co/JkUPKLhUCW pic.twitter.com/4nJd9Kaixb

— Chris Funk The Wonderist (@chrisfunkmagic) March 25, 2022

 

 

 

UK: At home with Matt Johnson [Apr 22]

From the March 21st Tweet by Matt Johnson:

Magicians in the UK don’t miss my one and only talk/Q&A in Sheffield at the Magic Studio coming up on April 14th!
It’s going to be TRULY INSPIRING!
Call the studio at:
0114 276 0482
to book your seat now! 

Magicians in the UK don’t miss my one and only talk/Q&A in Sheffield at the Magic Studio coming up on April 14th!
It’s going to be TRULY INSPIRING!
Call the studio at:
0114 276 0482
to book your seat now! #magiclecture #inspireothers #nevergiveup pic.twitter.com/LsQKJAfeby

— Matt Johnson - Escapologist & Magician (@likemattjohnson) March 21, 2022

 

 

ICYMI: Johnny Giordmaine in Maclean's

From the July 6th, 1957 article "The magic world of Johnny Giordmaine
He began by hawking iron sandwiches and trick telescopes. Now he’s king of Canadian magicians, who can bamboozle with belly laughs at the drop of his rabbit-filled hat" by McKenzie Porter: 

Ever since those days Giordmaine has blended his mystery wfith hilarity and billed himself as the Gay Magician or the Little Lcgerdemaniac.

The allusion to his stature is apt. for he resembles closely the average person's conception of a pixie or hobgoblin. Now fifty-eight, he is a fraction under five feet tall, weighs about a hundred and ten pounds and exudes a mingled aura of mischief and clairvoyance. He has grizzled grey hair that was once blue-black, a dark olive complexion wreathed with rubbery, ever-changing expressions, and big, brow'n mesmeric eyes full of mirth and monkcyshinc. He casts a spell over everybody he meets by twisting his body into an endless routine of theatrical poses, by a perpetual stream of double talk in a funny foreign accent, and by the practical jokes and conjuring tricks he pulls off in restaurants, stores, elevators or on the street.

Giordmaine is the prodigy of Doctor Harlan Tarbell. of Chicago, who advertises himself as an expert in "Mysteries of the Mind, Mentalism. Magic of the East, and Eyeless Vision,” and who. in spite of the bunkum, is still recognized as one of the world’s foremost teachers of professional sorcerers. It took Giordmaine two years to absorb Tarbell’s mail-order course of six volumes of lessons and five thousand illustrations. By the time he received his graduation certificate from the Tarbell Academy, in 1930, he could make a horse disappear inside a Union Jack, summon the ghost of John A. Macdonald. shuttle a mummy between two coffins, and create many other illusions whose principles have been known to tricksters since the days of the Pharaohs. His early specialty, always a wow at smokers, was the production from thin air of a six-foot blonde in spangles.

Tarbell, who has never forgotten Giordmaine, said recently, "He was the best pupil 1 ever had. He reminded me of a prankish little brownie.”

Read more.

Ring 17 hosts a virtual lecture by David Parr [Apr 12]

From the Facebook event "April Lecture - David Parr": 

Online or in person, David Parr's magic lectures are what Bob Neale likens to "a gourmet meal," providing food for thought, good company and good conversation. His latest lecture, presented online, is in two parts. The first hour is an intriguing little collection of material developed during the pandemic time and one or two rediscoveries from his past. The second half is a Q&A session in which David will answer your questions about any aspects of his fifty-year career in magic. If you have questions about his published work, his creative process, getting booked on Penn & Teller: Fool Us, performing virtual shows, or anything else, this is your chance!

Ring 92 hosts a virtual lectue by Bizzaro [Mar 24]

From the March 22nd Instagram post by Vancouver Magic:

This Thursday March 24th we’ve got something special in store! Bizzaro will be doing his lecture FREE to all VMC members (and $10 for non-members)

Following the meeting we’ll have our annual comedy competition! Let us know if you’d like to compete.

Feel free to check our website or DM us with any questions. See you Thursday!

*Meeting will take place on zoom*

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Vancouver Magic Circle (@vancouvermagic)

 

 

Montreal: Rag Bag Cabaret with Chris Mayhew [Apr 1]

From the RAG BAG Cabaret BILINGUAL à Café Cléopatra Eventbrite page: 

Our rock star line-up includes:

Drag Diva Ruby Foxglove

Hilarious Jokesters Thomas Levac

Burlesque Goddess Rhapsody Bluth

Songstress Extraordinaire Cat & The Queen

Magic Mistro Chris Mayhew

Read more and buy tickets.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rachelle Elie (@rashelie)