Remembering

Added Lucien Boucher on February 23rd, 2013.

• Boucher, Lucien "Stephano" (1923 - 2012)
• Everett Andrews (1935 - 2012)
• Felsher, Steven ( -2012)
• Hooten, Cameron (1926-2012)
• Martineau, Francis  (1922-2012) 

Thank you ...

... to our readers, our fans, our followers, everyone who sends news our way, and last but not least, thank you to our sponsors (the next time you see them, let them know you saw their sponsorship here!):

 

None of this would be possible without all of you!
 

 

Calgary: Call for magicians

From WowFest:

The inaugural WowFest Magic Arts Festival is now seeking performers for a slate of shows happening on Friday the 22nd, and Saturday, February 23rd, 2013.

The goal of the festival is to showcase magic in an ideal environment, covering all genres from close-up to parlour and stage. For magicians, this is an opportunity to aspire to new artistic heights, working under optimum settings to an enthusiastic audience of magic fans.

Read more and apply.
 

Deadline: January 4, 2013.

John McLachlan's new e-book

From the Ring 17 newsletter:

Lybrary.com has recently released a new eBook filled with stand up (no table) coin material from Toronto performers. The 112 page PDF includes twenty-five routines and sleights dealing exclusively with coins. Written by JohnMcLachlan, it includes contributions from:  

• James Alan
• Luis Castro
• Ariel Frailich
• Mysterion the Mind Reader
• David Peck and
• Phil Pivnick  

Read more.

Rayn interviewed on CP24

On YouTube, Arun Rayn being interviewed on CP 24, Hallowe'en 2012:





Part 2:

Greg Frewin in Embrace Niagara

From Embrace Niagara:

So, with the help of Greg’s expert hands, Dan and I went on a grand adventure of illusion. Our minds were blown.

The show is an entertaining mixture of magic, music and comedy. During the course of the performance, Dan and I kept looking at each other with our mouths firmly agape. The experience was literally jaw-dropping. Our rational brains couldn’t wrap around how he was carrying out these spectacular feats of illusion.

Read more.
 

The article goes on to describe the wonderful work Greg does with the local food bank and soup kitchen.  Those efforts are especially important at this time of year.

Keep up the great work, Greg!

Toronto: Tony Chang event

From Ben Train via The Browser's Den:

After spending FOUR YEARS trying to find a way to bring him in, Tony Chang, one of the best sleight of hand artists of our generation (and a super cool guy) is coming to Toronto to do a special event- “An Evening with Tony Chang”. This event is almost completely sold out, but don’t worry: if you want a chance to meet Tony and experience his magic you can do so FOR FREE this Saturday December 29th, at 3pm, only at the Browser’s Den!

That’s right! This Saturday, Tony Chang will be visiting the Browser’s Den of Magic to hang out, perform some tricks, and answer questions about how you can make your magic look, well, like real magic.

Read more to find out about the additional “Evening with” event.

David Peck and Matt DiSero in M-U-M

There's a nice write up by James Alan, of David Peck and Matt DiSero's show, "Mosquitoes Suck," in the December issue of M-U-M.

From Scribd:

Two Canadian magicians deliver a magic show that sucks...on purpose.

Three-hundred-fifty high school students from tendifferent schools filed into the auditorium at David SuzukiSecondary School for a new show that blends magic, comedy, and social justice:  Mosquitoes Suck . It was designed as a way to createawareness among youth about international and social justice andto offer them a call to action. The goal is to raise money for Spread the Net, which provides insecticide-treated bed nets that provide nighttime protection from mosquito bites. The show was written and created by David Peck and Matt DiSero.

Read more.

Houdini's 1896 Canadian tour

From John Cox at Wild About Houdini:

In The Metamorphosis: The Apprenticeship of Harry Houdini, author Bruce MacNab has combined his passions for Houdini and Maritimes history to create a book that is not only a terrific day by day account of Houdini's 1896 Canadian tour, but also a vivid snapshot of everyday life at the turn of the century. It really is one of the most remarkable books ever written about Houdini, as well as being a marvelous chronicle of what it was like to be a traveling magic troop in the 1890s.

Read more.

Niagara Talent Search 2013 Edition

From the Greg Frewin Theatre:

Niagara Talent Search 2013 Edition

Sunday Mar 03rd, 2013 to Wednesday Mar 06th, 2013

We're asking the Niagara Region if they have what it takes, and we're asking for your help! Some of the area’s most talented singers, dancers, bands and more will be performing in this amazing competition!

Read more and buy tickets.

Montreal: Holiday Magic on Ice at Atrium Le 1000!

From Atrium le 1000:

December 22, 2012 to January 6, 2013

Experience the Holiday Magic with Virginie the face painting artist, Patrick the Magician and our mascot Émile!
Read more.

[via: Perfect Magic]

Billy Kidd: Breaking Magic in Australia

From James Galea:

Apparently 'Breaking Magic', which will be called 'The Magic Of Science', will premiere in Australia in January... fb.me/2E1zG5DwS
— James Galea (@jamesgalea) December 18, 2012

The show originally aired in the US on Nov 11.  It features Wayne Houchin, our very own Billy Kidd, James Galea and Ben Hanlin.

Toronto: The Mark Lewis Magic Show -- extended

I've just learned from Mark Lewis that his run of "The Mark Lewis Magic Show" at the  Lower Ossington Theatre website, has been extended by popular demand to the end of January.

For more information, visit the Lower Ossington Theatre website or visit Ticketwise to purchase your tickets.

Toronto: Anthony Lindan lecture

From The Browser's Den of Magic:

Anthony Lindan Lecture

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Regarded as one of Canada’s leading corporate magicians, Anthony Lindan has been a full time working professional since 1997. Anthony performs both close-up and stand up magic at business and corporate event across Canada and the U.S.

Anthony’s original creations have been published in The Linking Ring magazine, Harry Lorayne's Apocalypse, Steve Beam’s Trap Door magazine and the Minotaur magazine.

Read more and buy tickets.

Keith Brown in the End of the World Project

Get yours now, before it's too late!

my friend Bizau put together a free ebook of magic. something of mine is in there: eotwproject.comIt's completely free!
— Keith Brown (@KeithHBrown) December 19, 2012

Spellbinder: The Wonder-Filled Life of Doug Henning

John Cox has a nice review of "Spellbinder: The Wonder-Filled Life of Doug Henning".  From Wild About Houdini:

I really think this book is essential reading for anyone interested in magic history. In fact, I'd even go as far to say that it's as important as The Memories of Robert-Houdin in understanding how a single magician advanced the art of magic from one golden age to another. I also applaud Harrison for his amazing research and for telling the story of Henning, who I don't think always gets the credit he deserves. I put Henning right up there with Houdin, Herrmann, and Houdini as one of the seminal figures in magic history. I think that will become more apparent with time.

Read more.

Port Coquitlam: Share the magic

From Gotta Be Magic:

It’s that time again! Get ready for the 3rd Annual production of  “SHARE the Magic”, the ONLY full length family magic show with proceeds going directly to the SHARE Food Bank. With the huge success of  ”SHARE the Magic” 2011, we are more than excited for this year’s show. Last year the Terry Fox Theatre was SOLD OUT and we raised over one thousand dollars and boxes upon boxes of food for SHARE during their high-need Christmas season.

“SHARE the Magic” 2012 will feature the amazing talents of Award Winning magicians Bruce Meyers, Zany Zack and Wes Barker as seen on Canada’s Got Talent!

Read more and buy tickets.
 

The show will be hosted by Alex Seaman.


[via: Shawn Farquhar]

Canada at Magi-Fest 2013

Updated at 8:32am to add info about Magic Mike and Sorcerers Safari!

We've got some talented peformers at Magi-Fest 2013!

Representing the Great White North will be:

• Ben Train
• Chris Mayhew
• and last but not least, the newest addition to the line-up is non other than Len Cooper Memorial award winner, Mahdi Gilbert!

In addition, Magic Mike Segal from Sorcerers Safari will be at the convention for their 10th year doing the youth activities.

They'll be a part of the international cast which includes Justin Willman, Dani DaOrtiz, John Archer, John Guastaferro, Troy Hooser, Justin Flom, Peter Pitchford, Simon Aronson, Scott Robinson, Simon Lovell, Tony Chang, Eric Jones and Kainoa Harbottle.

What a terrific line-up!

Are you going?

Update to the Johnny Giordmaine tribute site

From the Johnny Giordmaine tribute site curator:

Just in time for happy holiday reading, John Giordmaine Dot Com (www.johngiordmaine.com) - the online tribute to Canada's most beloved children's magician (1898-1974) - has added new pages. Highlights include rare photos of Doug Henning accepting the first ever SCM John Giordmaine Award in 1980; a review of an insightful television profile of Johnny from the late 1960s; and - in time to commemorate Genii's 75th anniversary - an outstanding Genii cover featuring Johnny in 1964 along with a warm appreciation written by its then editor/publisher Bill Larsen, Jr. (Genii's current editor/publisher Richard Kaufman was kind enough to give his permission for the reproductions). Of course readers with recollections of Johnny are always welcome to share; contact information is on the site - which now consists of over 36 pages of photos and text dedicated to preserving the memory of one of this country's finest magicians.

James Randi with a Mayan calendar

A 2013 Mayan calendar.

View on imgur.com