31 July 2020

Top 5 posts in July 2020

There were 23+ posts at Canada's Magic last month.  Here are the 5 most viewed posts in the past 30 days:



5. Broken Wand: Evelyn Matlin - Our thoughts are with Evelyn's family and friends at this time.
4. Shezam with Carisa Hendrix and Kayla Drescher - Carisa and Kayla have been busy since March.
3. A safe place to scream into the void - In case you need to scream into the void.
2. Big news from The Browser's Den of Magic - The shop is open now, no appointment necessary.

and the most viewed post this month  ...






1. Sad news from The Browser's Den of Magic - Our condolences to Shawna's friends and family.

30 July 2020

Halifax Busker Festival Online

From the July 24th Instagram post of MichaelJamesMagic:
2020 Halifax Busker Festival Online is just days away, and the full list of performers (including myself) and daily performance schedule is now available!

Halifax Busker Festival ONLINE 1:00 pm Atlantic Time July 31, August 1, and August 2










29 July 2020

First magic performance in Canada?

Updated August 6th to add this find by Lee Asher:



Updated at 8:45am to add this find by Joe Culpepper:

--

Lee Asher asked an interesting question on Twitter Monday morning.
What is the name of the first magician to perform in Canada?


Was it Maginnis (circa 1875) as reported in The Canadian Encyclopedia?
Technically it could be yes, as The Dominion of Canada was officially born on July 1, 1867.  But lets expand the question to the first magician to perform in what is now considered Canada.


Was it MacAlister performing in Montreal in 1854 as shown by this clipping in the Ottawa Daily Citizen?

No.


How about Philippe in Quebec City September 30th in 1846?

Wrong again.



From an Ottawa Daily Citizen article published on May 22nd in 1852, discussion a performance by a Signor Blitz:








So far the earliest named and documented magic performance in what is now Canada, goes to Mons. Desage, as referenced in the Kingston Chronicle and Gazette December 30 1835.







There's evidence of an unnamed woman doing magic in Kingston in 1835!




And ventriloquists too.




People were complaining about magicians as early as the January 21st 1805 edition of the Quebec Mercury:





A final very important note from Joe Culpepper:





With thanks to Lee Asher for asking this question and Bill Mullins and Joe Culpepper for their hard work and sharing their findings!


27 July 2020

Toronto Magic Company starts a vlog (and Newest Trick on July 28)

From the July 17ty Toronto Magic Company Instagram post:
I know what you're thinking.⁠
You started a VLOG in the middle of a pandemic???⁠ 
Yes we did!⁠ ⁠ 
We took a trip to the Browsers Den of Magic to visit Jeff, buy some tricks, and have a good time⁠ ⁠ 
Please like, share, subscribe and whatever Youtube things to help us explode!⁠ ⁠







From the July 22nd Toronto Magic Company Instagram post:


View this post on Instagram

One week today is The Newest Trick in the Macbook, our virtual open mic magic show streaming live on Facebook.⁠ ⁠ It featured 5 incredible performers. Blowing your mind Virtually.⁠ ⁠ Plus a little bit of antics from Jonah and Ben.⁠ ⁠ It’s happening on July 28 at 8:00pm EST⁠ ⁠ We want to see you there⁠ ⁠ sign up and get notified when we go live so you don’t miss the show!⁠ ⁠ Oh yea… and did we mention that it’s FREE?⁠ ⁠ Link in Bio⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #magic #magician #torontomagic #torontomagician #magicintoronto #magiciantoronto #torontomagicshow #torontotheatre #torontocomedy #torontomagiccompany #comedytoronto #torontoentertainment #torontoevents #torontoevent #abracademy #visualmagic #magicianslife #cardmagic #magicians #magicperformance #sleightofhand #cardtricks #didyouknow #illusionist #creativeart #artofvisuals #artlife #artistry #artofmagic #thenewesttrickinthebook
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24 July 2020

Waskesiu: Sean Watson's "Magician & the Muse"

From the July 21st Facebook post by ReginaCadabra:
Sean Watson performed at the inaugural Reginacadabra festival. He returns for a premiere live performance of his new show Magician & the Muse on August 8 in Waskesiu SK. If you are there at that time please show your support for magic and attend this show. Sean and Chanelle would really appreciate it.




23 July 2020

Sessions with Shawn Farquhar (and "A Cup of Tea")

From Shawn Farquhar's July 22nd Facebook post:
With ONLY four spots still open for the August 3rd Session and a ton of emails from folks in Europe and elsewhere asking for a different time slot, I have decided to do one more on August 4th. This one will be at 12:00 PM (noon) in Vancouver which will be a much more reasonable hour for my friends in Paris, London, Tel Aviv, Sweden, Norway, etc.

Read more and register.









From the June 16th episode "#17 How to fool Penn & Teller not once but 3 times? A Cup of T asks champion magician Shawn Farquhar" of A Cup of Tea on YouTube"

Howard Brown has the most amazing story to tell. In fact several stories as a twin, cancer survivor. And the collaboration of jewish and muslim faiths to serve meals to first responders. Listen to learn more from Lady Sarah and Keith Fields on their 30 mins show - A Cup of T.

Champion of champions Shawn Farquhar will be joining from Canada. He has fooled Penn and Teller on their hit show 'Fool Us', not once but 3 times. He has magic and stories about his magic theater 'Hidden Wonders' to share.