Top 5 posts of March 2018

Out of the 30+ posts at Canada's Magic this month, here are the 5 most viewed posts in the past 30 days:

5. Go-Fund Me campaign in support of Dan Goldberg - It's nice to see so many people helping those in need!

4. Random thoughts about "The Science of Magic" on CBC's "The Nature of Things" - I hope you enjoyed the show as much as I did.

3.  Winnipeg: "Magic & Skepticism" with Matt Dillahunty - Don't forget he's touring Canada this year.

2. Who are the top 10 Canadian magicians of all time? - Fabulous to see over 40 deserving magicians nominated so far!

and the most viewed post this month  ...

1. Watch "The Science of Magic" on CBC’s "The Nature of Things" Sunday, March 18 - Did you?  Congratulations to Julie, the Zuckerbrots, and everyone else involved in the show!

Pauline Kong in the Peace Arch News

Also on the bill for the April 8 show in Richmond, are Oslen Chang, and Will Tsai.


From the March 26th article "Moonlighting as magician, Surrey nurse raises funds for hospital ICU" by Tom Zillich in the Peace Arch News:

On April 8, Kong is producing a Vegas-style event called “FATE 2: The Dance and Illusions of Oslen,” a benefit for the ICU department at the hospital where she works.

The goal is to raise $10,000 for the cause, and Kong said Monday that the show, which is set to play the 1,000-seat theatre at River Rock Casino Resort, is nearly sold-out. For event details, visit riverrock.com/event/fate-2-dance-illusions-oslen.

In a related effort, she launched a GoFundMe campaign, called “Magic Show for Surrey Hospital ICU,” with a goal of generating an additional $30,000. A video posted on the fundraising website dramatizes the time Kong landed in hospital as a six-year-old, and her memories of a nurse’s soothing, reassuring voice.

Read more.

Windsor: Piff the Magic Dragon

From the March 25th article "Q and A: Piff the Magic Dragon" by Dalson Chen in the Windsor Star:

Piff the Magic Dragon likes to point out that he’s not as famous as his older brother — Steve.

But the English-born magician with a spiky tail (John van der Put) isn’t hurting for work these days, having been featured to great response on Penn & Teller: Fool Us and America’s Got Talent.

Witness Piff’s deadpan humour and ironic illusions in person when he performs at Caesars Windsor on Friday, March 30.

Q. Dragons seem to be very popular now, what with Game of Thrones, Imagine Dragons, Dragons’ Den — have you noticed people giving you more respect?

A. Yeah, finally. It’s a good time to be a dragon. Before that, it was just about being shot in the face by a dwarf or a hobbit. But times have changed.

Read more.

Spidey to perform on “Showtime at the Apollo”

Tune in tomorrow to watch Spidey on “Showtime at the Apollo”!

From the “Showtime at the Apollo” press release:

Toronto, ON (March 27, 2018) - World-renowned Canadian Mentalist and Hypnotist sensation, Spidey will be performing on the American FOX primetime TV Series, “Showtime at the Apollo”, a one-hour talent competition hosted by Steve Harvey and Adrienne Houghton. Showcasing some of the most unforgettable talent on the legendary stage, Spidey will appear on the March 29 episode where he lands himself as a finalist in the competition. Recently named USA Mentalist of the Year 2017 by APCA, with a career spanning over a decade, Spidey has been able to captivate audiences with shows and tours across the globe, including performances on NETFLIX, NBC, Discovery, CW, Entertainment Tonight, SyFy, TruTV and many more.

Review of Michael Close's "The Paradigm Shift" Volumes One and Two

From the March 15th post "The Paradigm Shift Volumes One and Two" by Jamy Ian Swiss at Magicana:

Michael Close has in his lifetime in show business, worked extensively as both a professional magician and a professional musician (he plays piano). At one time a professional restaurant worker in his native Indiana, Michael was mentored by legendary sleight-of-hand maestro (and jazz radio program host) Harry Riser, whose own two closest mentors were no less than Charlie Miller and Dai Vernon. The late Mr. Riser has also long been named as mentor to Johnny Thompson; despite their closeness in age, it was Riser who helped guide Thompson toward the kind of magic that would eventually lead to his becoming the legendary master he is considered today.  In other words, Mr. Close is part of a lengthy and honored continuum of great magicians, a line he has done great justice to by continuing to contribute in creative and generous manner for future generations. He has not missed the true lessons of his mentors.

Read more.

From Michael Close's Facebook page:

Go-Fund Me campaign in support of Dan Goldberg

Steve Valentine has set up a Go-Fund Me campaign in support of 30 year old Dan Goldberg.  Dan is a former member of Ring 17, and is currently going through treatment for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

Read more about the situation at Go-Fund Me.

From Facebook:

Broken wand: Assistant Betty Lou Ikenberry

From the obituary posted March 20th, at the Pawhuska Journal-Capital:

Born March 11, 1935, in Niagara Falls, NY, she was the daughter of the late Kathleen Mason and John Richardson.

Betty grew up in St. Catherine’s, ON, Canada. At 16, she ventured out on her own and joined the Royal American Show. The show traveled across the US, performing at state fairs and carnivals. As a Magician’s Assistant, her role was to entertain the audience with the art of illusion. She also had other responsibilities such as selling tickets, collecting money, etc. She spent four years traveling with the show and each year they wintered in San Antonio, Texas. During the off-season, she obtained her GED and later her Certified Nurse’s Training Certificate. She also took classes such as tap and ballet to enhance her performances.

Read more.