Sunday, April 28, 2013

Ricky Jay on David Letterman - Apr 26, 2013

Ricky Jay appeared on the Letterman show April 26th, and in typical Ricky Jay fashion made quite an impression. I was very glad to see Ricky treated as a guest and not a performer. As you can see by the video, the segment was just over twelve minutes long and included one fairly short card trick. This is your chance to catch it if you missed it..

Sunday, April 21, 2013

How Do You Keep a Magic Shop Open 46 years?

There's a secret, or secrets, to keeping a magic shop afloat for 46 years.. Phil Johnson of PJ's Trick Shop in Chicago knows the secret, and he shares quite a few in this interesting article by Burt Constable in the Daily Herald..

A postal employee who didn't want to spend his life working for other people, Phil Johnson started a cosmetics store on the side. He pondered selling playground slides for kids, running a hotel or jumping into the dry-cleaning business..

"Remember Martinizing?" Johnson says with a sigh.  Nothing seemed right.

Interested in magic, he pulled PJ's Trick Shop out of his hat. In spite of recessions, the Internet and several moves, he's managed to keep PJ's from disappearing for 46 years and counting. Now 77 years old, that might be his best trick of all....  Read the rest at:

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130414/news/704149910/

Sunday, April 7, 2013

The Magicians Who Rip Off Other Conjurers' Tricks

"Magicians have stolen each other's secrets for as long as the art of magic has existed. But the interconnectivity of today's world is making it easier - and magicians can't always rely on the law to protect them.

Jeff McBride is one of the most accomplished magicians in the world. Seeing him perform, it's easy to fall under his spell - you half think he might have magical powers.

His most famous routine is an intricate series of transformations, with a variety of masks, taking the audience through the entire history of magic.

But, one day, McBride discovered he was not the only one performing this particular act...."

Nice article by Arun Rath at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21861418

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