Magic and Showmanship


Book Description

Highly instructive book by a noted authority on the subject analyzes every phase of conjuring, from sleights, devices, misdirection, and controlling audience attention to incorporating patter and the effective use of assistants.




Showmanship for Magicians


Book Description

First published in the US in 1943. Showmanship for Magicians is a work by semi-professional magician and author Dariel Fitzkee. It is the first in the Fitzkee Trilogy, a classic collection that is still read widely by magicians, conjurors and illusionists alike. Fitzkee's early books were shorter works focused on specific magic tricks. Books like Cut and Restored Rope and Manipulation (1929) and Linking Ring Manipulation (1930) described multiple variations of these classic tricks. But his most enduring written works were the Fitzkee Trilogy, starting with Showmanship for Magicians. Many magicians throughout the second half of the 20th century have considered it to be a cornerstone work in the field, including the actor Steve Martin who was fanatical about magic as a young man. He described the book as "...more important to me than The Catcher in the Rye."




Magic by Misdirection


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Magician's Magic


Book Description

This book by a "magician's magician" discloses the secrets behind a collection of close-up marvels — including the author's "Out of the World," reputed to be the best card trick of the past century.




Win the Crowd


Book Description

Would You Like to Become More Commanding, Convincing, And Charismatic? In this book, Steve Cohen, master magician and star of the long-running Chamber Magic show in New York City, will reveal the secrets of all great showmen and magicians—how to persuade, influence, and charm, and ultimately accomplish the things you've always wanted to do. As Cohen writes, "You'll discover how to take over a room, read people, and build anticipation to a feverish pitch so people are burning to hear what you have to say." Win the Crowd will teach you Steve Cohen's Maxims of Magic, simple rules you can use to take charge of practically any situation, from on-the-job disagreements to dating to important cocktail parties. The Maxims of Magic will wash away insecurities and hesitations, and replace them with confidence, poise, and leadership. What's more, Steve Cohen will show you: How to Create a Magic Moment. Capturing people's imaginations and attention so they listen carefully to every word you say. How to Command a Room. Showing everyone in the room that you are speaking right to them, making them all feel unique—and completely focused on you. How to Read People. Learning to sense what people are feeling and thinking as you speak, what they want from you, and how to make them feel like they are getting it. Misdirection. The most important trick in all of magic—getting inside people's heads, and directing what they are thinking at every minute. When you strip away the sleight of hand tricks, magicians are essentially masters of attracting and holding attention and impressing audiences, exactly the psychological secrets you need to be successful in life and business.




The Books of Wonder


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The Transported Man


Book Description

A foreword by museum director and exhibition curator Marc-Olivier Wahler discusses the contemporary art exhibition The Transported Man within the framework of a teleportation magic trick described in Christopher Priest's 1995 novel The Prestige. Included is an interview between Wahler and France-based curator Christophe Kihm addressing how the brain reacts when interpreting an artwork, the language with which to approach art, and how these impact the future of museums and art exhibitions. Pairing the exhibition objectives with methods of illusion, an original essay by Christopher Priest, and a text by Francis Ponge, the book provides insight into the importance of belief and the nature of visual perception.




The Five Points in Magic


Book Description




The Blackstone Book of Magic & Illusion


Book Description

Finally back in print, the complete Blackstone story and the history of magic from the 1920s to today. This much in-demand classic gift book contains over 250 photos & drawings exploring the complete Blackstone story and a vivid and varied appreciation of the history, science, and art of illusion and magic from ancient Egypt to vaudeville to Broadway, Las Vegas, and television. It contains 20 classic magic routines in detailed execution. Traces the history of magic, describes the acts of prominent magicians, and demonstrates some basic cup, card, and coin tricks.




Heroes of Magic


Book Description

Acclaimed television producer and author John Fisher has assembled an unparalleled cast in the pages of Heroes of Magic. Combining firsthand experience and behind-the-scenes stories with deep historical understanding, each profile captures the essence of its subject. Weaving together life stories, anecdotes, and historical accomplishments, these pages contain rich and personal profiles of lives often shrouded in secrecy.Here, both struggles and triumphs are all on exhibit. From the kindhearted conjuring of David Devant to the thought-thievery of Maurice Fogel; from the laugh-provoking trickery of Tommy Cooper and Jay Marshall to the adroit sleight-of-hand of Ricky Jay and Cardini; from the grand illusions of Richiardi and Robert Harbin to the elegant sorcery of Fred Kaps and Rene Lavand, these magicians attained a status of something much more than mere entertainers.Each one created miracles that persist, and personas that inspire the imagination, one generation after another. Through the pages of Heroes of Magic, and the insider's view they provide, now you can understand what made that possible.448 oversize pages in deluxe cloth bound hardcover with dust-jacket, illustrated with hundreds of photographs.With an introduction by Joel Hodgson, creator of Mystery Science Theater 3000, and an afterword by noted theatrical illusion designer Paul Kieve.