Contents
The Genii Speak • Jim Steinmeyer
Looking at Penn & Teller’s half-century; remembering Ebs; answering the phone
Mailbox
Readers love Genii; Vernon has a correction;
a professional approach
The June Almanac
Mrs. Houdini speaks! Lance Burton speaks!
Harry Kellar speaks, too!
In Memoriam: Eberhard Riese: Topas
The German director and consultant, remembered by his student
A Revealing Portrait: Carl Mercurio
Asi Wind’s new show, More Than Magic
The Eye: Vanessa Armstrong
A brand new club; some well-established awards; S&R; Houdini; Cooper, fictionalized
Who Are We Inviting to Come Out to Play? Alba
Is it you, or is it a character?
The Genii Questionnaire: Billy kidd
Britain’s busy magician stops to answer our questions.
A Magician’s Secret Weapon: Annanya George
Working to create both music and lyrics
Features
PENN & TELLER:
IN THE BEGINNING
As this duo celebrates 50 years of partnership, we look back at the personalities and situations that brought them together, the skills that forged their careers, and particular challenges that made “The Bad Boys of Magic” villains, and then heroes, to magicians. Here’s how it started; here’s how it happened.
By John Lovick
FOOL US MADE
THIS MAGIC MOMENT
The theory and technique behind Penn & Teller’s popular television show, Fool Us, and the team behind the scenes that brings it to their audience.
By Chloe Olewitz
In Practise
Magicana - Richard Kaufman
Asymmetrical Transpositions: DeLand’s Sphinx Trick;
Cervon’s Two Copper, One Silver
Inventing Magic - Blake Vogt
Do Not Pass Go money mystery with Jim Steinmeyer
From a House of Cards - Jerry Sadowitz
A trick from Charlie Miller and Judson Brown
My Take on the Tabled Faro Shuffle - Sara Rodríguez
A friendly look at a notorious piece of sleight of hand
In Performance
The Magic Castle -Shawn McMaster, Krystyn Lambert
A special anniversary for a renowned group
Aiden Sinclair’s Underground -
Vanessa Armstrong
Another weird experience from The Stanley Hotel
Marketplace
Not Forgotten - David Regal
The legacy of the mysterious Double “X”
**
Trick Reviews**
The Impossible Magic Kit; ATA Case Tip Over
Trunk; The Incredible Floating Pen; Persona;
Moser’s Miracle Monte
Video Reviews
Art of Wonder: The Magic of Bill Goodwin; Justin
Higham Masterclass; Blank Spaces; Nikola Arkane
LIVE; Siegfried Tieber Masterclass
Book Reviews
Mosaic; 52 Farewells; In the Spotlight; Fu Manchu, Una
Vida para la Magia
20>3>60 David kaye
The math behind those shorter shows
Variety Art’s Place in Magic - Lindsay Benner
An eclectic lineup, a classic tradition
A Day in the Life of a Traveling Illusion Show - Jason Bishop
What’s involved when magic goes on stage
Thinking Under Pressure - Rafael Benatar
Giving yourself the opportunity
Perspectives
Chamber of Secrets - John Gaughan
Hofzinser’s Card Automaton
Silent Manipulators in Conversation -Alex Boyce & Matthew Holtzclaw
Making space for the audience
A Torn and Restored Origin Story - Inés
Watching this failed attempt succeed
Rich Sommer… on Magic
The popular actor’s Mnemonica miracle