Broken wand: Lorne Joseph Overholt

Lorne was a member of the London's Magicians Guild.


From Your Life Moments:

OVERHOLT, Lorne Joseph - Peacefully at Victoria Hospital, on Tuesday, December 18, 2018, in his 97th year. Beloved husband of Evelyn for 76 years. Loving father of Jo Anne Lightbody (Stuart), Denise Nugent (Jim), and David Overholt (Helen). Cherished grandfather of Katherine Knight (Rob), Michael Lightbody, David Keene (Christina), Karra Overholt, Jason Pine (Melanie), and nine great-grandchildren. Lorne’s faith in Jesus Christ was the central theme of his life, which inspires his children and grandchildren. “Well done, good and faithful servant.”


Read more.

With thanks to Peter Mennie for letting us know.

Calgary: Potted Potter

From Arts Commons:

Tue February 5 - Mon February 18, 2019

All seven Harry Potter books in seventy hilarious minutes!

Potted Potter the New York and West End smash hit has garnered rave reviews from New York to Nashville, Chicago to Mexico City and Critics’ Picks from the New York Times, New York Magazine, Time Out London, Boston Globe, Chicago Daily Herald and the New York Post!

Potted Potter takes on the ultimate challenge of condensing all seven Harry Potter books (and a real life game of Quidditch) into seventy hilarious minutes. This fantastically funny show features all your favorite characters, a special appearance from a fire-breathing dragon, endless costumes, brilliant songs, ridiculous props and a generous helping of Hogwarts magic!

Even if you don’t know the difference between a Horcrux and a Hufflepuff, Potted Potter will make you roar with laughter. This brilliant family entertainment is perfect for ages six to Dumbledore (who is very old indeed).

Read more and buy tickets.

1 week to go until we open at @yycARTS Catch a show between Feb 5 - 18 https://t.co/9bRg3MpEPv#Calgary #Alberta #Magic pic.twitter.com/x7qxtIhtEq

— Potted Potter (@PottedPotter) January 29, 2019

Carisa Hendrix in Ozy

A reminder that you can see Carisa Hendrix perform in Calgary on February 9th.


From the January 30th article "IT'S NO TRICK: WOMEN ARE CRASHING THE MALE-DOMINATED WORLD OF MAGIC" by Tania Bhattacharya in Ozy:

You can tell a lot about a person by what they drink, declares Lucy Darling, the elegant, razor-sharp alter ego of 31-year-old Canadian magician Carisa Hendrix. She’s entertaining a giddy audience at the Magic Castle, the Academy of Magical Arts’ (AMA) private clubhouse in Los Angeles, with her Maker Martini routine. Tony and Jennifer — two spectators — select the strawberry martini and the gimlet as the cocktails they want. Darling goes behind her magical bar to shake up an empty shaker, then pours three different drinks in one go. She hands the strawberry martini to Tony and the gimlet to Jennifer, and they return to their seats, amazed.

A Guinness World Record holder for the longest duration of fire torch teething – a stunt where you hold a fire torch upright with your teeth – and winner of best comedy magic show at the 2017 Melbourne Magic Festival, Hendrix is among a growing number of female illusionists changing the world of magic. For decades, women have largely been relegated to the role of perky assistants who are sawed in half. Now, more and more women are joining the profession as magicians themselves. Top magic schools are recording a dramatic surge in female students. And audiences are embracing them like never before.

Read more.

Calgary: Carisa Hendrix at the Deerfoot Inn & Casino

From Ticketfly:

SAT, FEBRUARY 9

Carisa Hendrix is a magician, circus stunt girl and bubble performer featured in the Guinness Book of World Records (2014 Book, Page 86) and Ripley’s Believe it or Not. This 5-time award winning performer has been thrilling audiences all over Canada and internationally for the past 15 years with her signature blend of classy, cute comedy entertainment. Multi-talented, she has a huge vocabulary of Circus Skills, Sideshow Stunts and Magic effects under her belt as well as Balloon Sculpting, Stilt Walking, Fire Dance, Visual Art and Acting. As the Artistic Director of Ballyhoo Entertainment she is excited to be working with a variety of talented young artist to provide a wide range of fun & creative entertainment options for special events.

You might know her from her appearances in 2 popular Youtube projects Protector’s Chronicles (300000+ combined views) and The Art of Slow Motion Fire Eating (75000+ views). Or perhaps you recognize her for the expertise she displays in her best selling instructional DVD on Fire Eating as well as the 1000+ fire eating students who have learned from her first hand in classes all over Canada & the USA.

Read more and buy tickets.

Jason Latimer's Impossible Science Stage Show at UTS

From the January 31st article "Toronto student wins First Prize in Engineering.com's Impossible Science Challenge. Jason Latimer, World Champion Magician to perform live for her school on February 6th." on the PR Newswire:

Jason Latimer, World Champion Magician, Curator of Impossible Science and Science Channel Host, is flying into Toronto on Wednesday, February 6, to perform his Impossible Science Stage Show LIVE for students at University of Toronto Schools (UTS). #BestAssemblyEver

"He's coming for one reason, Ananya Chadha. Ananya is an extraordinary STEM mind, TKS innovator, and grade 11 student who won the challenge with her project that used EEG's and electrodes to control a remote controlled car with her brain!" commented Lauren Baldesarra, Chief Creative Officer, engineering.com and Co-founder of ProjectBoard.

https://projectboard.engineering.com/project/impossible-science-challenge-brain-controlled-car

Read more.

Ryan Michael in Global News

You can see Ryan on Feb. 2 at Dakoda’s Sports Bar and Grill in Kelowna.

From the January 25th article, "‘It’s all about creating that one moment of mystery’: Kelowna magician sets sights on America’s Got Talent" by Shay Galor in Global News:

“I think the first time I ever saw a trick was David Blaine on television with his first special. Me and my dad watched it,” Michael said. “I think we must have watched it 100 times or more, just watching every little thing that he did. And it was amazing. It totally hooked me right away.”

Michael has been practicing magic for about a decade, with six of those years performing professionally in front of audiences across the country.

“The whole reason that I do magic, aside from creating a connection with people, is that one moment where your brain disconnects from reality and has to think about what just happened,” Michael said.

Read more and watch video.

The top 5 posts in January 2019

There were 43+ posts at Canada's Magic this month.  Here are the 5 most viewed posts in the past 30 days:

5. Toronto: Talent announced for the 2019 Browser's Bash -  Including: Chris Capehart, Paul Richards, The Outerbridges, Dick Joiner, Ryan Brown, Garrett Thomas, James Harrison, Jacque Swan, Robert & Scott Presswood, Andrew Woo, Jenny Parsons, and Chris Bruce.  What a lineup!

4. Sleightly Sketchy: #FemaleMagician - Are you #PartOfTheSolution?

3. Toronto: Free magic club - That was last month's.  Don't forget there's one coming up this Saturday.  Thank you Jeff, for your support of the magic community!

2. MagicTube - Hopefully they'll add more Canadians.

and the most viewed post this month  ...

1. Toronto: Michel Huot lecture - So, how was it?

Michael Close Webinar: The Truth about Lying (take 2)

From Michael Close's Facebook post:

Lisa and I have received a lot of emails from people who arrived too late for the party that was the Truth about Lying webinar. So we're going to present it again. This is not a rebroadcast; it will be a live presentation, which means you'll be able to ask questions as we go along. The response of the first webinar was overwhelmingly positive.

The date for this is Thursday, January 31, at 9:00 p.m. EST. You can register at the link below. Please feel free to share this post. The webinar is for magicians of all interests and skill levels. Thanks. 

Read more and register.

Some thoughts on the webinar from our readers ...

Hey, everyone, @MikeCloseMagic gave a great webinar explaining the truth about lying. Unless the whole thing was a lie, and we didn’t catch on. :) The webinar was super affordable, too… and that’s no lie!

— Doug C. (@magicinfo_ca) January 27, 2019

Toronto: Greg Wilson lecture - "Things I carry and use..."

From the Browser's Den of Magic:

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Please Pay at the Door $20 (Standing Room Only)

From the man who brought us such gems as Pointless, Bandwidth, Revolution, Cold Case, Unleashed, Hundy 500 and so much more, Greg Wilson is bringing his brand-new lecture to the Browser's Den! He's a two-time FISM winner, he had an entire chapter dedicated to his magic in Paul Harris' ART OF ASTONISHMENT books, and now he's coming to share his decades of knowledge with you!

Just like the title, Greg's lecture will use things that fit in his pockets and things found around him, teaching you to be ever-ready for performing spur-of-the-moment astonishments.

Building on his best-selling videos “Off the Cuff” and “On the Spot”, Greg teaches you how to convert everyday objects into devastating weapons of deception. The emphasis here is on ENTERTAINMENT. From close-up to stand-up, there’s something for everyone.

Now just because it’s called a lecture doesn’t mean it has to be dry and academic. You will experience a rip-roaring, laugh-out-loud, audience-involving show! Greg will not only fool you, he'll have you laughing and clapping along the way!

This is one lecture you DO NOT WANT TO MISS!

Please Pay at the Door $20 (Standing Room Only)

Thank you for your kind support - The Jeff's & The Browser's Den Team

Read more and buy tickets.

Toronto: Ryan Murray lecture

From the Browser's Den of Magic newsletter:

Sunday, February 10

Ryan Murray's new book 'Curious Weaving' has been completed (proofread by Jeff Hinchliffe). It is a book on one of the most talked about of all shuffles in 'magic' the Faro Shuffle.

The Faro Shuffle is a technique used by most of the top professional card handlers in the world.  However, it is a technique that requires study and effort. For those who enjoy memorized deck work the Faro shuffle is a valuable weapon.

Ryan will be covering different methods so that there is something of value for all skill levels including:  IN-HANDS FARO (Technique & Fixing Mistakes); PROPERTIES (Cycling Order, Straddle Faro; Controlling a Card to Any Position); TABLED FARO (Breakdown of Techniques, Checking for Mistakes, Controlling In or Out, Combining with Riffle Shuffle); DOUBLE FARO.

And he will be performing some effects from his new book.

Read more and buy tickets.

Toronto: Talent announced for the 2019 Browser's Bash

BROWSER'S BASH 2019
Saturday, April 13, 2019

Here's a summary of the awesome talent announced for this year's Bash!


From the Browser's Den of Magic:

CHRIS CAPEHART - LEGENDARY STREET PERFORMER
Chris Capehart is a master magician and a regular headliner at Monday Night Magic in New York City. Come see why he is held in such high esteem by magicians around the world.


PAUL RICHARDS - CREATIVE CONJUROR
Founder of Elmwood Magic. Mr. Richards has been around the globe sharing his wonderful brand of magic. Eye Popping magic combined with good fun. One of the true gentlemen of the world of magic.

THE OUTERBRIDGES - INTERNATIONAL ILLUSIONISTS
International Illusionists Ted & Marion Outerbridge will cast a magic spell over the audience at this year's Bash. And share some secrets too!

DICK JOINER - EMCEE
Due to popular demand...Joining us again in 2019! He will share his infectious hysterical laugh, fun-loving zany manner and high paced interactive comedy magic. Dick Joiner plans to delight and astound us all day long.



RYAN BROWN - RISING STAR
Ryan will be sharing with us his love of the classics. Card Manipulation, Rings and Magic that will have your eyes popping out! One of the young stars of the Canadian Magic Scene.

GARRETT THOMAS - MASTER MAGICIAN
Due to your huge amount of requests Mr. Thomas will be returning to the Bash stage in 2019. He truly blew us all away in 2018 and that was only half his lecture. Wait to you see part two! Thanks Garrett!

JAMES HARRISON - PICKPOCKET
Finally on the Bash stage! Pickpocket Act and one of Canada's premier close up magicians. Be ready to clap. And be ready to hold onto your wallets & watches!

JACQUE SWAN - COIN MAGICIENNE
Canadian new talent, Ms. Swan will be sharing some of her coin magic with us that will make your magic eyes pop out! Don't blink as coins vanish and reappear at a mystifying speed.



ROBERT AND SCOTT PRESSWOOD - THE BUMBLING BERTS
Two of the busiest children's performers in the GTA. Combined they give more then 600 shows annually. Sit it and learn on their tips for making your family show reach it's potential. (at lunch break)



ANDREW WOO
Sit in and learn from over 35 years of experience performing and creating magic. Simple Methods with Strong Audience Impact!



JENNY PARSONS - HIDDEN CANADIAN GEM
Is she a comedian? Is she a magician? Is she a sorceress? You'll decide. Ms. Parsons will be sharing her unique world of fun and chaos! A hidden gem of the Canadian entertainment scene



CHRIS BRUCE - CARDICIAN EXTRAORDINAIRE
FREE Lunchtime Table Class on False Shuffles, Classic Force & Top Change

 
Read more and register!

Toronto: Free magic club

This Saturday, February 2nd is The Browser's Den of Magic's next (Free) Magic Club meeting. All are welcome.

The club meets from 2:30pm to 5:30pm.

Magicana accepting nominations for the 2018 Allan Slaight awards

Still no sign of a category for "Best Blog Focused on Canadian Magicians Run by a Member of IBM Ring 17."
 

From Magicana:

Nominations are currently being accepted for work completed in 2018. The deadline for nominations is March 29, 2019. Nominations received after the deadline will be kept on file and considered for the following year.

Thank you for considering nominating someone for the Allan Slaight Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in the pursuit of the impossible. The nomination process consists of four steps:

1. Your information
2. Information about your nominee
3. Supporting documentation
4. Reviewing your information and submitting

In addition to basic information about you and your nominee, you will also have the opportunity to provide:

1. A biography (up to 750 words)
2. A description of the work and why you are nominating this person (up to 300 words)

Read more and submit your nominations!

Submissions for the Allan Slaight Awards are open! Nominate someone for extraordinary contributions in the pursuit of the impossible before March 29, 2019. https://t.co/OpHuCf80aN pic.twitter.com/yArMxp1slq

— Magicana (@sharingwonder) January 24, 2019

Remembering Dicky Dean

With thanks to André Rancourt for sending me to Deans of Magic.  From Deans of Magic:

1. When Dicky Dean was ten years old he received a small book on magic, by magician and writer Walter B. Gibson. It was a present from his aunt and uncle that was about to change his life. He never had heard of magic before, but as he started learning the secrets of magic, he knew he wanted to become a magician.
    
2. At age twelve he entered the entertainment section of the London Hobby Fair and won first prize. It was also very fortunate for him that London’s foremost magician Everette Mires and his wife, Sue, were present in the audience to see his show and meet him. Later, he learned numerous tricks from Everette as well as how to properly present them. Even with their large differences in age they became best friends.

Read more.

Dicky and Marg were one of the first magic acts I saw as a child. They truly inspired me. I was honoured 20 years later to see them in the audience at one of my own shows and to speak with them afterwards. He was a great magician and a very gracious person. RIP to the Dean. https://t.co/5VNRItECkG

— Aaron Paterson (@AaronPMagic) January 25, 2019

The community remembers Denny Haney

As you may be aware, Denny Haney passed away earlier this week.

Here are a few memories from around the internet.


From Benzi Train's Facebook page:





From Shane Cobalt's Facebook page:

A note to subscribers: the content of this post is embedded from another website and is not available to preview. To view the content of the post, please visit http://CanadasMagic.blogspot.com. Some of the embedded code may be visible in this notification.




From Shawn Farquhar's Facebook page:





From Matt DiSero's Facebook page:

The Magic Circle of Saint John in the CBC

From the January 26th article "Inside the spellbinding world of Saint John's Magic Circle" by Julia Wright in the CBC:

The former Carnegie library in Saint John is a pretty ideal place for a magicians meeting.

It certainly has the right ambience: a 115-year-old, brick, Beaux-Arts-style building with a stained-glass skylight and mosaic floors.

Every month the Saint John Arts Centre hosts the Magic Circle of Saint John — a haven for sleight-of-hand artists, ventriloquists, jugglers, mind-readers, and other practitioners of unusual feats and magical effects.

The Magic Circle of Saint John is a haven for sleight-of-hand artists, ventriloquists, jugglers, mind-readers, and other practitioners of unusual feats and magical effects. 1:04
The club encourages aspiring magicians to develop their skills and "think out of the box," said club president Tabraze Sheikh, a self-professed fan of "puzzles, hard-to-answer questions, and mystery."

Read more and watch video.

Rounding the Western rings in February 2019

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.

City	Club	Event(s)
Calgary, AB	Ring 66 (Calgary Magic Circle, Les Brocklesby Ring)	- Gregory Wilson lecture. - Club meeting.
Edmonton, AB	Edmonton Magic Club	- Gregory Wilson lecture.
Winnipeg, MB	The Magic Club of Winnipeg	- Gregory Wilson lecture.
Fraser Valley, BC	IBM Ring 387 (Fraser Valley Magic Circle, Celeste Evans Ring)	- Gregory Wilson lecture.
Vancouver, BC	Ring 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle)	- N/A
Vancouver, BC	SAM 95  (Carl Hemeon Assembly)	- 'Love, Magic & Dinner' starring Michael Finney
Victoria, BC	Ring 183 (Victoria Magic Circle)	- Gregory Wilson lecture.

Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.

Rounding the Central rings in February 2019

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.

Montreal, QC	Ring 62 (20th Century Ring)	- N/A.
Hamilton, ON	Ring 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club)	- Members' Choice.
London, ON	Ring 265 (London Magician's Guild)	- TBA
Kitchener, ON	Ring 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)	- Buck Macleod Lecture.
Ottawa, ON	Ring 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians)	- Literacy Magic - Charity Show:  Rehabilitation Hospital
Ottawa, ON	Ottawa / Gatineau magicians	- N/A
Toronto, ON	Ring 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club)	- Jay Sankey lecture.

Please leave a comment or email me about corrections or omissions.

Rounding the Eastern rings in February 2019

With thanks to Tabraze, the current President of the Magic Circle of Saint John, for reaching out and letting us know about their club's Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/magic.circle.sj

The Magic Circle of Saint John meets every last Sunday of the month from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm at the Saint John Art Centre located at 20 Peel Plaza, Saint John, NB.


Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.

Halifax, NS	Ring 316 (Conjourer's Court)	- Visit their Facebook page.
St. John, NB	Magic Circle of St. John	- Anything goes!  (Jan. meeting tonight along with show debrief.)

Please leave a comment or email me about corrections or omissions.

Listen to Billy Kidd

Billy Kidd is featured on the first episode of Kray Mitchell's "Illusionary Podcast."  The Illusionary Podcast talks to different Canadian magicians about their careers and influences.

You can also listen to Billy with Jonah Babins and Tyler Williams on episode 81 of Discourse in Magic " Episode 81 – Busking for Magicians & Earning Your Chops with Billy Kidd" (October 19th, 2017).

Alternately have a listen to Richard Young on episode 62 of The Magician's Podcast (June 30th, 2016).

New Canadian Podcast I'm on so have a listen yo. https://t.co/DBODzOqPKu https://t.co/DBODzOqPKu

— Billy Kidd (@Billykiddshow) January 17, 2019