Posts Tagged With: magic

The Great Tomsoni – 1934-2019

Posted on April 11, 2019 by captainjaq

On March 9, 2019, the art of magic lost a legend. Sure, more people may have seen Penn & Teller or David Copperfield or Criss Angel or Lance Burton, but all of them acknowledged Johnny Thompson as a true master of the field.

I had the pleasure of knowing and spending some time with him when I was living in Las Vegas, and I certainly have my stories to share, but the following words, by people who knew him far better than I, are a perfect tribute.

Rest easy, Great. You did good work. Continue reading →

Categories: Art, Friends, Personal | Tags: johnny thompson, magic, myths and legends | Leave a comment

Steve Valentine’s – MAGIC ON THE GO

Posted on May 7, 2017 by captainjaq

Okay, so you all know I am an aficionado of the magical arts. That is to say, I loves me a good card trick. I also really enjoy learning the methods and the psychology behind a great performance of magic as well. This was often the focus of the many articles I wrote for Magic Magazine over the years.

And now, Steve Valentine, twice awarded by the Magic Castle (lecturer and close-up magician of the year), has started Magic on the Go, a kinda “Netflix of magic” so if you’ve ever wanted to learn from one of the best, now’s your chance.

Categories: Art, Personal | Tags: education, magic, steve valentine, thoughts for a sunday morning | Leave a comment

Take Two #24: Street Magic, Part 1 | Magicana

Posted on April 30, 2017 by captainjaq

This week’s Take Two looks at performers whose “stage” is the street—from 1502, to the 1970s, and right up to the present day.

Source: Take Two #24: Street Magic, Part 1 | Magicana

Categories: Art, History | Tags: busking, magic, street performing, thoughts for a sunday morning | Leave a comment

Paper Stunts

Posted on November 13, 2016 by captainjaq

Here’s a bunch of really cool paper tricks you can do at home!

Source: DOWNLOADS | quirkologyblog

Categories: Monki, Of General Interest, Personal | Tags: magic, Paper tricks, Richard Wiseman | Leave a comment

Magic – Live and otherwise

Posted on August 22, 2016 by captainjaq

So… A few months back, say around May or June, I got an offer to cover Magic Live for Magic Magazine. The problem of course was that the baby, who had yet to be born, was due July 1st and going off to Vegas for a magic convention with a 6 week old at home didn’t particularly strike me as the best idea in the world. But I really wanted to go. But 6 week old baby. Continue reading →

Categories: Adventure, Personal, Travel | Tags: Banachek, Careena Fenton, Erica Vanlee, friends, friendship, Gene Anderson, Grndl, Ian Rowland, in the heights, Joseph Daniels, las vegas, lin-manuel miranda, London, Lynetta Welch, magic, magic magazine, magician, Six Muldoon, Theatre | 7 Comments

Books for and about Magicians

Posted on June 11, 2016 by captainjaq

So… as you may (or may not, no judgement on my part) know, I like magic. Now, to be specific, I like magic with a “c” not magik, with a “k.” There’s nothing wrong with the latter, but the spiritual side, the part that says magik is a mystical, real thing just doesn’t interest my skeptical mind nearly as much as the art of prestidigitation.

Continue reading →

Categories: Art, Friends, Personal | Tags: cards, genii, m-u-m, magic, magic magazine, mentalism | 2 Comments

The Oldest Trick in the Book | Magicana

Posted on August 3, 2015 by captainjaq

The Oldest Trick in the Book | Magicana.

Just putting this here so I know where it is when I want to research for my own routines. I’m gonna start practicing soon, I swear!

Also, here’s an interesting link to Teller talking about trick exposure and the origin of Penn & Teller’s Clear Cups and Balls routine

Categories: Art, Personal | Tags: cups and balls, magic, practice, where's my wand | Leave a comment

London 2014: Day Seven & Eight – Cars and Cards

Posted on August 20, 2014 by captainjaq

Tuesday was our last full day in the Big City and we still had a full day’s use of the CityPass to take advantage of so naturally, we were once again up and out early in the day. This time, our destination was a bit outside the city center and was looking like it would take close to an hour to get there: The London Motor Museum.

Continue reading →

Categories: Adventure, Art, Cities, Europe, Friends, Personal, Travel | Tags: batmobile, CityPass, DMC, Ian Rowland, London, london 2014, magic, Van Gogh, Westminster Abbey | 4 Comments

Dropped

Posted on May 26, 2014 by captainjaq

Dropped.

This is a great piece on the difference between art, skill and performance. As someone peripherally involved in the world of magic, I can agree with a lot of Jason Fagone is saying here. Continue reading →

Categories: Art, Of General Interest | Tags: art, juggling, magic, performance, skill, superlative | Leave a comment

Review: Death from a Top Hat

Posted on December 24, 2013 by captainjaq

Death from a Top Hat by Clayton Rawson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As someone involved in both the world of magic and the world of literature, I’m surprised it took me this long to come around to Clayton Rawson’s “Merlini” books. These are widely considered classics of the “locked room” mystery genre and with Death from a Top Hat one can see why.
Continue reading →

Categories: Books, Reviews | Tags: clayton rawson, death, Death from a Top Hat, locked room, magic, magician, merlini, murder, mystery, Police Inspector Gavigan, Ross Harte, The Great Merlini | Leave a comment

Posts Tagged With: magic

The Great Tomsoni – 1934-2019

Steve Valentine’s – MAGIC ON THE GO

Take Two #24: Street Magic, Part 1 | Magicana

Paper Stunts

Magic – Live and otherwise

Books for and about Magicians

The Oldest Trick in the Book | Magicana

London 2014: Day Seven & Eight – Cars and Cards

Dropped

Review: Death from a Top Hat

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