Performance: The Matchbox
THE MATCHBOX
Playing around with a vintage piece of English magic from my collection, called The Matchbox...
Magic History 101: Johnson Smith Catalogs
JOHNSON SMITH CATALOGS
The Wish Books of my youth!
Here are my recollections of ordering from Johnson Smith...
Robert Harbin Vintage Video
ROBERT HARBIN
Watch Robert Harbin perform his most famous magical invention, the ZIG ZAG GIRL...
Magic Origami: Skull
SKULL MADE FROM A $1 BILL
This skull is crazy- it has eyes made from the "1"s on the dollar!
The tutorial done by KEVIN'S DOLLAR ORIGAMI on YouTube is very easy.
Give it a try...
Musical Interlude: Happy Together
HAPPY TOGETHER
The best-selling 1967 hit for The Turtles, "Happy Together" was written by Garry Bonner and Alan Gordon, former members of the Magicians, a NYC garage band.
My friend and musical director Nick occasionally jams with me, piano to piano...
Need Your Opinion: Jumping Joker
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON THIS ONE?
Ready to give your input on another product?
JUMPING JOKER
Let me show you one of my favorite original card effects...
Performance: Zig Zag Girl
ZIG ZAG GIRL
A VERY brief film clip sent to me by a friend who saw one of my stage shows in 1998...
Showmanship Tips: Respecting Other Magicians
RESPECTING OTHER MAGICIANS
Please remember to follow the Golden Rule when you watch another magician's show...
Magic Origami: Dollar Bill Ring
RING MADE FROM A $1 BILL
Everyone loves the Money Ring!
This excellent video tutorial by Rob's World teaches you exactly how to make this popular novelty out of an ordinary dollar bill.
Give it a try...
Magic History 101: Magic 8 Ball
MAGIC 8 BALL
Though we know it as a fun novelty toy, the Magic 8 Ball got its start as an authentic spiritualist tool.
It is a fascinating story...
My Magic Adventures: Skeleton Dance
What shenanigans are we up to at the Monticup house now??
Dave and Dusty Visit the Magic Shop 1946 - British Pathe
DAVE AND DUSTY VISIT THE MAGIC SHOP
This 1946 film short is from the files of British Pathe.
Dave and his puppy pal Dusty explore the mysteries of a magic shop.
Watch as the little boy's curiosity gets the best of him...
Musical Interlude: How Deep Is Your Love
HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE
"How Deep Is Your Love" is a pop ballad written and recorded by the Bee Gees in 1977>
It's most remembered as part of the soundtrack to the film Saturday Night Fever.
In my opinion, Barry Gibb is one of the most talented songwriters who ever lived.
His compositions, like this one, are challenging to play, which makes it all the more enjoyable for me...
Performance: Card Duck
CARD DUCK
This one is always a crowd pleaser!
Especially when you choose a terrific volunteer...
Magic Origami: PopUp Rabbit In Top Hat
POPUP RABBIT IN HAT MADE FROM A $1 BILL
Origami is a lot of fun, especially when you can do it with money!
This excellent video tutorial by Jeremy Shafer teaches you exactly how to make his realistic rabbit design out of an ordinary dollar bill.
Give it a try...
Showmanship Tips: Warming Up
WARMING UP
Giving yourself a mental and physical warmup before your shows is as important as all of your rehearsal and practice.
Here's how I do it...
Orson Welles, Actor and Magician
ORSON WELLES
The most revered actor was also an accomplished magician.
Enjoy this rare film clip of Welles performing his magic on The Merv Griffin Show...
Magic History 101: Fruit Crate Labels
MAGIC FRUIT CRATE LABELS
I get a lot of questions about how I decorate my back library, where I have been filming the demo videos.
A quick, easy to find and inexpensive choice is to use fruit crate labels.
Here are some colorful examples from my collection...
Musical Interlude: Seven Singalong Favorites
SEVEN SINGALONG FAVORITES
In my younger days, I used to hire myself out as a piano player, mainly to Elks and Moose lodges for their Friday night social gatherings.
I got a lot of work because I knew their favorites, the older songs that would get everyone in the place singing and clinking their glasses.
Whenever I had to audition for a different club, I would play this medley- and I'd get the gig every time...
In Tribute: George
TRIBUTE TO GEORGE
This week we lost a member of the MagicTricks.com family.
George has crossed the Rainbow Bridge...
Showmanship Tips: Organizing Your Closeup Cases
ORGANIZING YOUR CLOSEUP CASES
You asked: "How do you organize for your closeup shows?"
Here's how I do it...
Performance: Steve the Magic Guy
STEVE THE MAGIC GUY
"Steve the Magic Guy" is the stage name used by our friend and colleague Steve Pittella (aka Sideshow Steve), when he performs his kids shows.
He is a master children's entertainer...
Magic History 101: Phrenology
PHRENOLOGY
Phrenology is a quirky pseudoscientific idea that personality traits can be "read" by feeling the shape of the bumps on the head.
A replica of that head is in my collection...
My Magic Adventures: Cicadas 2013
What are cicadas, and why were we on the news with them??
Georges Melies - Vanishing Lady 1896
GEORGES MELIES
"The Vanishing Lady" is an 1896 French short silent film directed by filmmaker and magician Georges Méliès.
Based on the stage act of the famous Buatier de Kolta, the film is one of the first uses of movie special effects...