The History of MagicThe History of Magic

Sixth Grade SeminarSixth Grade Seminar

MagicMagic is a performing art that is a performing art that entertains an audience by creating entertains an audience by creating illusions of seemingly impossible or illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats, using purely supernatural feats, using purely natural means. natural means.

Magic

These feats are called These feats are called magic tricksmagic tricks, , effectseffects or or illusionsillusions..

One who performs such illusions is One who performs such illusions is called a called a magicianmagician or an or an illusionistillusionist. .

The term "Magic" is derived from the The term "Magic" is derived from the Latin word Magi. Latin word Magi.

The same level of ingenuity that was The same level of ingenuity that was used to produce famous ancient used to produce famous ancient deceptions such as the Trojan Horse deceptions such as the Trojan Horse would also have been used for would also have been used for entertainment. entertainment.

HistoryHistory

In the early 17th century magic was In the early 17th century magic was used to frighten uneducated used to frighten uneducated populations. populations.

HistoryHistory

The profession of the illusionist The profession of the illusionist gained strength in the eighteenth gained strength in the eighteenth century.century.

Hieronymus Bosch: : The Conjurer, 1475-1480 , 1475-1480

Note that the man in the back row is Note that the man in the back row is stealing another man's purse. stealing another man's purse.

He is also applying He is also applying misdirectionmisdirection by by looking up at the sky to misdirect the looking up at the sky to misdirect the audience from his actions. audience from his actions.

The artist has even misdirected us The artist has even misdirected us from the thief, because we are drawn from the thief, because we are drawn to the magician. to the magician.

In 1584, Reginald Scot In 1584, Reginald Scot published, published, The Discoverie The Discoverie of Witchcraftof Witchcraft. It was written . It was written to show that witches did to show that witches did notnot exist. exist.

Scott exposed how Scott exposed how

(apparently miraculous) (apparently miraculous) feats of magic were done. feats of magic were done. This book is often deemed This book is often deemed the first textbook about the first textbook about magic. magic.

From 1756 to 1781, From 1756 to 1781, Jacob Philadelphia Jacob Philadelphia performed feats of performed feats of magic, sometimes magic, sometimes under the guise of under the guise of scientific exhibitions, scientific exhibitions, throughout Europe. throughout Europe.

Jacob PhiladelphiaJacob Philadelphia

*Jacob Philadelphia* is believed to have *Jacob Philadelphia* is believed to have been born on August 14, 1735 and given been born on August 14, 1735 and given the name Jacob Meyer. the name Jacob Meyer.

He was a Jewish magician, physicist, He was a Jewish magician, physicist, mechanic, juggler, astrologer, and mechanic, juggler, astrologer, and alchemist. Meyer's patron in England was alchemist. Meyer's patron in England was Prince Henry Frederick, Duke of Prince Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland, for whom he performed Cumberland, for whom he performed astrology, magic, and alchemy. astrology, magic, and alchemy.

Jacob PhiladelphiaJacob Philadelphia

When he converted to Christianity, When he converted to Christianity,

Jacob Meyer took the name of Jacob Meyer took the name of

Jacob Philadelphia in homage to the Jacob Philadelphia in homage to the home city of the American scientist home city of the American scientist and statesman Benjamin Franklin. and statesman Benjamin Franklin.

He was also known by the names He was also known by the names Meyer Philadelphia and Philadelphus Meyer Philadelphia and Philadelphus Philadelphia.Philadelphia.

Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin, the first modern magician.

Modern entertainment magic owes Modern entertainment magic owes much to Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin. much to Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin. (1805-1871) (1805-1871)

Jean was originally a clockmaker, Jean was originally a clockmaker, who opened a magic theatre in Paris who opened a magic theatre in Paris in the 1840s. in the 1840s.

His specialty was the construction of His specialty was the construction of mechanical automata. They mechanical automata. They appeared to move and act as if they appeared to move and act as if they were alive. were alive.

John Nevil Maskelyne (1839 - 1917) was an English stage magician and inventor of the pay toilet and many other important Victorian inventions.

Maskelyne and his partner Cooke Maskelyne and his partner Cooke established their own theatre, called established their own theatre, called the Egyptian Hall in London's the Egyptian Hall in London's Piccadilly section, in 1873. Piccadilly section, in 1873.

They presented stage magic. Stage They presented stage magic. Stage magic uses the stage for hidden magic uses the stage for hidden mechanisms and assistants. Stages mechanisms and assistants. Stages also control the audience's point of also control the audience's point of view. view.

Alexander HerrmannAlexander Herrmann

Alexander Herrmann (1844 – 1896) Alexander Herrmann (1844 – 1896) was known as was known as Herrmann the Herrmann the GreatGreat. Herrmann was a French . Herrmann was a French magician.magician.

Alexander Herrmann is the model for Alexander Herrmann is the model for the look of a "typical magician" the look of a "typical magician"

The escapologist and magician The escapologist and magician Harry Houdini Harry Houdini took his stage name from Robert-Houdin and took his stage name from Robert-Houdin and developed a range of stage magic tricks. Many of developed a range of stage magic tricks. Many of his tricks were based on escapology ( that word his tricks were based on escapology ( that word was not used until after Houdini's death). was not used until after Houdini's death).

Houdini was the son of a Hungarian rabbi. Houdini was the son of a Hungarian rabbi. He was skilled in techniques such as lock picking He was skilled in techniques such as lock picking

and escaping straitjackets. He also used and escaping straitjackets. He also used conjuring techniques, including fake equipment conjuring techniques, including fake equipment and collusion with individuals in the audience. and collusion with individuals in the audience.

Houdini's show business savvy was great as well Houdini's show business savvy was great as well as his performance skills. as his performance skills.

There is a Houdini Museum dedicated to him in There is a Houdini Museum dedicated to him in Scranton, Pennsylvania.Scranton, Pennsylvania.

As a form of entertainment, magic moved from As a form of entertainment, magic moved from theatrical venues to television specials. This theatrical venues to television specials. This opened up new opportunities for deceptions, and opened up new opportunities for deceptions, and brought stage magic to huge audiences. brought stage magic to huge audiences.

Famous magicians of the 20th century included Famous magicians of the 20th century included Okita, Alexander, Harry Blackstone Sr., Harry Okita, Alexander, Harry Blackstone Sr., Harry Blackstone Jr., Howard Thurston, Theodore Blackstone Jr., Howard Thurston, Theodore Annemann, Cardini, Joseph Dunninger, Tommy Annemann, Cardini, Joseph Dunninger, Tommy Wonder, Siegfried & Roy, and Doug Henning. Wonder, Siegfried & Roy, and Doug Henning.

David Blaine

Popular 20th and 21st century Popular 20th and 21st century magicians include David Copperfield, magicians include David Copperfield, Lance Burton, Penn and Teller, David Lance Burton, Penn and Teller, David Blaine, and Criss Angel. Blaine, and Criss Angel.

Most TV magicians perform before a Most TV magicians perform before a live audience, who provide the live audience, who provide the remote viewer with a reassurance remote viewer with a reassurance that the illusions are not obtained that the illusions are not obtained with post production visual effects.with post production visual effects.

David Copperfield

Penn and Teller

Chriss Angel

Many of the principles of stage magic Many of the principles of stage magic are old. There is an expression, "it's are old. There is an expression, "it's all done with smoke and mirrors", all done with smoke and mirrors", used to explain something baffling. used to explain something baffling.

Effects seldom use mirrors today, Effects seldom use mirrors today, due to the amount of installation due to the amount of installation work and transport difficulties. work and transport difficulties.

Modern performers have vanished Modern performers have vanished objects as large as the Taj Mahal, objects as large as the Taj Mahal, Statue of Liberty, and the Space Statue of Liberty, and the Space Shuttle, using other kinds of optical Shuttle, using other kinds of optical deceptions.deceptions.

10 Fast Facts About 10 Fast Facts About MagiciansMagicians

1. The most 1. The most famous member famous member of the Magic Circle of the Magic Circle is Prince Charles. is Prince Charles.

He joined the club He joined the club in 1975 after in 1975 after performing the performing the famous Cups & famous Cups & Balls trick for Balls trick for members.members.

#1#1

#2. The fastest #2. The fastest magician alive is magician alive is Eldon Wigton who Eldon Wigton who performed 225 performed 225 tricks in 2 minutes tricks in 2 minutes for a World Record for a World Record attempt in 1991. attempt in 1991.

#3. At least fifteen magicians have #3. At least fifteen magicians have died from performing the famous died from performing the famous bullet catch illusion (including Chung bullet catch illusion (including Chung Ling Soo, pictured below).Ling Soo, pictured below).

#4. The largest magic club in the #4. The largest magic club in the world (International Brotherhood of world (International Brotherhood of Magicians) has close to 25,000 Magicians) has close to 25,000 members.members.

#5. Reginald Scot wrote the book #5. Reginald Scot wrote the book The Discovery of WitchcraftThe Discovery of Witchcraft in 1584 in 1584 to prove that magic was not real. The to prove that magic was not real. The book was his protest against witches book was his protest against witches that were hung because they were that were hung because they were suspected of being the “real deal”.suspected of being the “real deal”.

#6. Matthew Buchinger #6. Matthew Buchinger was a popular 18th was a popular 18th century magician. He century magician. He was born without arms was born without arms or legs and was just 29 or legs and was just 29 inches tall. inches tall.

He was a magician, He was a magician, calligrapher, and calligrapher, and musician who played the musician who played the flute, trumpet, and more. flute, trumpet, and more.

He even managed to He even managed to father eleven children. father eleven children.

#7. Harry Houdini chose his stage #7. Harry Houdini chose his stage name as a mark of respect to the name as a mark of respect to the father of modern magic, Robert-father of modern magic, Robert-Houdin.Houdin.

“No performer should attempt to bite off red-hot iron unless he has a good set of teeth. “Harry Houdini

#8 The phrase “died on stage” was #8 The phrase “died on stage” was taken to the extreme by Coulew of taken to the extreme by Coulew of Lorraine in 1613 when he was Lorraine in 1613 when he was clubbed to death by an angry clubbed to death by an angry audience member using one of his audience member using one of his own props!own props!

#9. The only magicians to have stars #9. The only magicians to have stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame are on the Hollywood Walk of Fame are Harry Houdini and David Copperfield.Harry Houdini and David Copperfield.

#10. Magicians are good inventors. #10. Magicians are good inventors. For example, English stage magician For example, English stage magician John Nevil Maskelyne invented the John Nevil Maskelyne invented the pay toilet and his grandfather, Jasper pay toilet and his grandfather, Jasper Maskelyne invented the typewriter Maskelyne invented the typewriter keyboard.keyboard.