Tax lawyer transforms self into conjuror

That's the title of Michael Rappaport's article about David Ben in the January 28th issue of The Lawyers Weekly.

To access a PDF version of the article, visit Sharing Wonder.

Eleven years ago today

The hard must become habit. The habit must become easy. The easy must become beautiful.
-- Doug Henning

Eleven years ago today, at the age of 52 Doug Henning passed away five months after being diagnosed with liver cancer.

Last October 16th he posthumously received Canada's Walk of Fame Legends Award.

View the tribute to Doug presented by Howie Mandel at Canada's Walk of Fame Tribute Show:
 


Read more about Doug at Wikipedia, the Canadian Magician Archives, or purchase the book Spellbound: The Wonder-filled Life of Doug Henning.

James Randi took entire bottle of homeopathic sleeping pills

Skeptic James Randi joined hundreds of consumer advocates in more than 25 countries in exposing so-called homeopathic remedies.

From his website:

In his message, Randi issued a one-million-dollar challenge to the manufacturers of homeopathic products to prove their claims, and challenged major drug retailers like CVS, Rite-Aid, and Walgreens to stop tricking consumers into paying real money for fake medicine.

To learn more, visit Randi's site or view his video statement below:




[h/t: Mr. Teller]

Montreal: Caleb Wiles lecture February 19th

Can't make it to the Caleb Wiles lecture at  Browser's Den of Magic in Toronto on the 16th?

No worries, he's also lecturing at the Chinese Cultural Centre in Montreal on Saturday February 19th at 1:30pm.

For details, visit the Montral Magic Jam website.

Toronto: Bob Fitch performance workshop May 6 & 7

Bob Fitch is offering a two full day performance workshop on Friday May 6 and Saturday May 7.

Location: 

Holy Trinity Church, Guildwood, 85 Livingston Road, Scarborough

Fees:

Full Registration - $300 with performance critique (limited to 6 people)
Non-Critique Registration - $100 for two full days Enrolment is limited

Contact Stephen Kirkegaard or Ron Guttman for more information.

Links for 2011-Feb-4

• Feb 5:  Magic Club (12yo +) at Browser's Den with special guest Ryan King
   
• From Perfect Magic:
  Remembering Ivano from Acton-Vale, Quebec in the post "1985 Great year for Magic! Ivano honoured at Magie Montreal!"
   
• Lecleric Show episodes on YouTube:
  28. Day 28 of 365 - Den of Magic! (Free iPod Touch)
        Filmed at  Browser's Den of Magic!  Cameos by Jeff H, Shawna and Kurt!
  29. Day 29 of 365 - The Matrix Effect! (Free iPod Touch)
  30. Day 30 of 365- Prime Time Magic! (Free iPod Touch)
        Includes shout-out to Patrik Kuffs' show magiecomik.tv
  31. Let's Celebrate! - DAY 31 of 365 (Free Ipod Touch TOMORROW)
  32. iPod touch Winner! DAY 32 of 365
  33. Day 33 of 365 - Livestrong Bands Magic

Welcome Ring 17 members!

Hello to everyone stopping by from Toronto's Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit club (Ring 17)!  Thank you to Chris Harvison for the kind mention in this month's newsletter.

Comments and feedback about the site are always welcome, either online or in person.  Hopefully I'll see you at the Anthony Lindan lecture tomorrow!

To find out what the other clubs are doing this month, visit the post Rounding the rings in February from Jan 15.

Morrissey Magic: Winter clearance sale

Check out the Morrissey Magic Winter Clearance Sale!

From their Facebook page:

Winter madness is it! Due to the cold in canada were creating SHRINKAGE… on some of the prices when you come in the shop or buy online.

For complete details, visit the Morrissey Magic website.

Toronto: March magic for kids!

This March, Magicana presents Piff Paff Poof!

Poof the rabbit and his magician Julie Eng will be performing at The Lower Ossington Theatre (aka the LOT) in Toronto.  Audiences will see some amazing magic for the young at heart – colourful, visual, participatory, funny and, most of all, magical. 

In addition, Poof will also be joined by either Mark Lewis or Tricky Ricky (Richard Lyn), two of Canada's best children's entertainers.

Visit the Piff Paff Poof website for more information or to purchase your tickets!

Links for 2011-Jan-28

• Renew your subscription to Magicol!
• From Sorcerers Safari:  Casting Call for Magic Campers 
• Lecleric Show episodes on YouTube:
  20. Day 20 of 365 - Exclusive Lego Magic Trick! (Free iPod Touch)
  21. Day 21 of 365 - Money Magic! (Free iPod Touch)
  22. Day 22 of 365 - MY SHOW IS ON FIYAH! (Free iPod Touch)
  23. Day 23 of 365 - Magic Tennis Ball? (free iPod Touch)
  24. Sleight of hand - DAY 24 of 365
  25. Wet Magic - DAY 25 of 365
  26. Day 26 of 365 - A Magician's Day Off! (Free iPod Touch)
  27. Day 27 of 365 - The Rising Ring Trick! (Free iPod Touch!)

Greg Frewin at Magi-Fest

The 80th annual Columbus Magi-Fest started 2 hours ago!  If you're there and you're going to the Saturday night Headliner Show, leave us a comment and let us know how Greg Frewin did.

To learn more about the convention, visit their website.  Tickets for the Magi-Fest Headliner Show, which is open to the public, can be ordered here.

Welcome visitors from The Busker's Cafe and Forbidden Wisdom

Hello to everyone stopping by from The Busker's Cafe forums and the Forbidden Wisdom forums.  Whether you're here to read about Mark Lewis's memoirs, "The Lives of a Showman" or just to poke around, we welcome you and invite you to send us your feedback!

Toronto: Abracadabaret at Chalkers in March

The first Abracadabaret (formerly Friday Night Magic) of 2011 will be on Friday, March 25 at Chalkers (247 Marlee Ave, Toronto).

From the Abracadabaret website:

The magicians, mind readers and assorted lunatics of Abracadabaret descend on Chalkers for another evening of fun, magic and mystery.

Join us for fabulous food before the show and an evening of magic, mystery and mirth with:
James Alan, Alex Kazam and Jason Palter.

To purchase tickets or learn more about this event, visit the Abracadabaret website.

Welcome readers from "Ye Olde Magick Blogge"

Have a look around and send us your feedback!

Thank you to Andrew Musgrave for today's kind mention of Canada's Magic on "Ye Olde Magic Blogge."  I appreciate your kind words! 

We'll be following-up later in the year to see how Andrew's doing with his own "365 project"!

Ray Chance: cameo in JRDN’s new video "Like Magic"

Toronto magician Ray Chance  was the magic consultant for Canadian R&B Artist JRDN’s new video "Like Magic."  Ray also has a funny cameo at about the 3 minute mark!



To see more of Ray's magic, visit his YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/chancemagic which includes his appearances on Much Music, Breakfast Television and stage show clips.

Mark Lewis: "The Lives of a Showman"

Mark Lewis (magician, hypnotist,palmist and tarot card reader) has just published his memoirs, "The Lives of a Showman."

David Ben had this to say about the book:

"The Lives of a Showman is not just a self-portrait of a magician, grafter and seer, but it is also a portrait of a landscape-one spread across several countries and continents. From night clubs in London, to hustling in Blackpool, to upheaval in Ireland during "The Troubles", and the open space of the new world. We are richer for it." —David Ben

Visit Mark's website to learn more about Mark or to purchase (or read more reviews of) his book.


[h/t: Ariel Frailich]

Andrew Musgrave's project 365 and website for Vancouver magicians

Vancouver magician Andrew Musgrave is 22 days into his own "365 project" where he's committed to "do something that’s both productive and magic-related every day of the year" on his blog "Ye Olde Magic Blogge."

As part of that project, on Day 16 he created  the Magicians-In-Vancouver blog, which offers "a neutral venue for magicians in Vancouver to post a profile of themselves and link back to their website(s), Youtube videos, news articles, etc."  To have your profile published, contact Andrew directly.

[h/t: John Pellatt]

Shawn Farquhar one of "Top 5 Magic Moments On Ellen"

iTricks included this routine by Shawn Farquhar in its list of Top 5 Magic Moments On Ellen:



Also included on the iTricks list were performances by James Galea’s “Sam The Bellhop”, Criss Angel’s Halloween Mentalism, Neil Patrick Harris’ imitation of Hans Klok’s Spiker and Mike Jacobson’s impromptu frying with Invisible Deck.

Links for 2011-Jan-21

• From The Vanishing Rabbit:  Contest - Win a $200.00 GOLD Arcane deck
   
• Lecleric Show episodes on YouTube:
  14. Day 14 of 365 - Tongue Tied Trick! (Free Ipod Touch!)
  15. Day 15 of 365- Barrage of Magic (Free Ipod Giveaway)
  16. Day 16 of 365 - Juggling Machetes! (Free Ipod Touch)  (not suitable for children)
  17. Deck Transformation - DAY 17 of 365 (Free iPod Touch Contest!)
  18. Worlds Quickest Magic Trick - DAY 18 of 365 (Free iPod Touch Contest!)
  19.  Day 19 of 365 - Cant shuffle this deck! (Free iPod Touch)
   
• From MCA:  Magicol No. 177 follow-up

Johnny Giordmaine (1898-1974) tribute site

Edited August 12, 2011 to update the URL of the tribute site to it's new home at http://www.johngiordmaine.com

It seems fitting that on this day, the 37th anniversary of Johnny Giordmaine's passing, I learned about John Pellatt's website: "A Tribute to John Giordmaine."  Pellatt as been working on this project since 2008.  His site contains images and text from his personal collection as well as archival materials from John Giordmaine's own family.

To contribute your own memories or photos of John Giordmaine contact John Pellatt directly.  His e-mail address can be found on page 11 of his site.

To learn more about this extraordinary children's magician visit A Tribute to John Giordmaine, the Canadian Magicians' Archive or MagicPedia.


[h/t: @WorldOfMagician, CAM eZine]