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... starting from the earliest descriptions in the 16th century to the latest hot magic tricks performed by the likes of David Copperfield, Criss Angel or David Blaine. Regardless of if you want to find out more about Houdini or Erdnase, learn the best card tricks and methods from 'The Professor' Dai Vernon, or Roberto Giobbi, or study the classics as well as the latest developments in mentalism, this is the page to bookmark. Make sure to also drill down into the subtopics to find what you are looking for.

The most popular tricks are card tricks. Take a pack of cards and perform a miracle. Some of the masters whoes work you will find here are Dai Vernon, Tony Slydini, Roberto Giobbi and many many more. A pack of cards with its 52 pasteboards allows a shear infinite number of combinations and variations of card tricks. A philosophical question to ask would be if there are a finite number of card tricks possible or an infinite number. Looking at the amount of published card tricks it appears to be for all practical purposes infinite. Nevertheless the classic themes remain extremely popular and effective. It is hard to top a good ambitious card routine, card warp, oil and water, card to wallet...

(? - 1962)

Artanis, real name Joe Sinatra, was a gambling specialist rather than a magician. He was friend and contemporary of Vernon, Horowitz, and Cardini. His death was unusual. He was challenged to a running race, which he won, and then dropped dead of a heart attack.

... are first published in a magazine and then later appear in books. If you want to read about the roots of effects or get a feeling of how it was to be a magician in former times, or if you just can't get enough to read, magazines are the best resource. Many famous magicians of the likes of Dai Vernon, Nate Leipzig or Ted Annemann left their early traces in journals. Few pleasures compare to reading old conjuring journals. The ones I can offer you here are some of the best magic magazines of all time. And comics - what can I say - they have to be seen to be appreciated.

If old magazines are not for you and you rather want to read a current up-to-date magic magazine then check out Magicseen...

... mentor was, and still is, Roy Walton. Others whom he met and had a profound influence on his path include, Gordon Bruce, Andy Galloway, Tommy Frederick, Fred Robinson, Dave Campbell, Eric Mason, Ken Brooke, Peter Kane, Alex Elmsley, Pat Page, Phil Goldstein, Gene Maze, Richard Kaufman and Dai Vernon.

A past winner of the Scottish Conjuror’s Association Close-up competition and the British Ring Zina Bennett Cup, Peter considers competitions "good fun but meaningless."

His early association with Jerry Sadowitz led to a series of books, beginning with 17916 Alternative Card Magic (1982). It started with two young men - a manuscript - and no publisher. Peter is grateful that Martin...

(1967- )

Born in Buffalo, NY. Started at age ten after visiting a renaissance festival where he met a performer. Beside this first magician he met, his biggest influences have been Tony Slydini, Dai Vernon and David Roth.

His conjuring mainly consists of close-up bar and parlor magic with coins, cards, keys, rings, etc. He started performing magic from behind a bar professionally at the age 20 in a small tavern in South Boston. He relocated back to his home town of Buffalo, NY in 2000, and resumed performing bar magic in a small neighborhood pub.

... Roth, Michael Skinner and others.

1968 AMA Masters Fellowship. AMA Board of Directors 1976-79, thence Member Emeritus. 1983 CMI Order of Magic Lamp. SAM Hall of Fame. 1988 Fred Kaps Award. In 1989 Mike Rogers predicted that "There will never be another to influence the art of magic as has Dai Vernon." Many would agree that this is a good bet.

Among his most famous inventions are Triumph (by 1946), Travellers (by 1950), Twisting the Aces (by 1960), Depth Illusion (by 1961) and Stripout Addition.

(8th April 1909 - 17th June 1997)

Fred started magic at 19 seeing a friend doing a show and became semi-pro close-up magician at age 20. In 1932 when he saw Herbert Milton work with jumbo cards at Maskelyne's he decided to become a specialist with these large cards. He fooled Dai Vernon with 'Hand of Cleopatra' during Fred's USA tour in 1981.

Fred was also a renowned singer specializing in Gilbert and Sullivan operettas.

... chosen, every movement and look is designed to convince the onlooker that everything is open and natural. Nevertheless miracles happen.

It is hard to describe what and how Slydini does magic. One has to see and witness a performance to fully appreciate his genius. Dick Cavett once asked Dai Vernon who could still fool him. Nobody, the Professor replied almost regretfully, then added with a smile, "Of course, Tony can."

One of his long-time students, Dennis Barlotta, is teaching the Slydini way of doing magic. If you have been struggling to learn from the various books on Slydini check out the video lessons by Dennis.

... Hughes, Logan Waite and Roger Montandon. Took Tarbell Course. Amateur close-up magician, specialized in cards. Lived in Chicago for 20 years, taking a BA in philosophy and meeting the magic inner circle of Dorny, Marlo, Platt, etc. In 1947 moved to New York, associating with the inner circle of Vernon, Daley, Curry, etc. 1975 AMA Literary Fellowship. Moved to Hendersonville, North Carolina c1980. Professional writer, particularly in science and puzzle fields. Wrote the "Mathematical Games" column for Scientific American 1957-1982, and the impromptu magic column in Hugard's Magic Monthly. A man of many talents, he also edited The Annotated Alice (1960). Has used the pen name "George Groth"...

... - )

Luke Jermay was raised in a small city just outside of London, England. Jermay has been performing his brand of “psychological illusion” for over half of his life. Beginning as a child captivated by amazing stories of performers from the past such as Houdini, Alexander, Thurston and Vernon, Jermay found himself drawn to the worlds of magic and illusion. As with most kids Jermay became fascinated by magic tricks and sleight of hand but his passion for conjuring extended way beyond a childhood fad.

Luke has authored many successful books on mentalism and has produced several instructional videos created for magicians and mentalists.

For a number of years Jermay devoured...

... FISM 1st prize in card magic; 1985 Desert Magic Seminar 1st prize; 1988 AMA Best Parlour Magician; 1989 and 1993 AMA Best Lecturer; 1993 Desert Magic Seminar 2nd prize.

Wrote ?Daryl? (1980), Daryl's Lecture Notes #2 (1982), Daryl's Psychological Assembly (1985), Daryl Does Den Haag (1988), The Vernon Chronicles (3 vols, 1987, 1988, 1989), Focus (1990, 140pp), etc. Contributed original tricks to Linking Ring, Richard's Almanac, Chaos, Arcane (France), and Revue de la Prestidigitation as well as to several books. Video (1985) and video Encyclopedia of Card Sleights (8 vols, 1996-97).

See For Your Entertainment Pleasure: Magic by Daryl (1982, 90pp); and Stephen Minch, Daryl's Ambitious...

... 1933 - 18th October 1997)

Born Alfred Lawrence Jennings, legally changed to Larry Jennings in early 1950s by US Navy to avoid payroll confusion with another sailor of same birth name. Plumber to contractor by trade. Learned magic from Ron Wilson. Then moved to Hollywood to study under Dai Vernon. Semi-pro magician. World-class cardman as both inventor and sleight-of-hand artist. Popularized Dick Washington's old LePaul Wallet as the Jennings Wallet. Co-publisher (with Louis Falanga) of "L&L Publishing" from 1986 to c1990 when succeeded by Bruce Cervon. Died from diabetes combined with heavy drinking.

His many inventions in card magic include the Larreverse (by 1967), Immediate...

(USA: Rochester, NY 9th August 1941 - 3rd September 1998)

Learned at age 17 from books at New York City branch library. Then a student of Eddie Fechter. Moved to Hollywood in 1967, studying under Dai Vernon and Larry Jennings. Top-line pro close-up. AMA Best Close-up Magician 1971 and 1974. Mentor of Bob King and Robert Lansing. Cruise ship worker and magic shop demonstrator. Resident magician at Golden Nugget (Lily Langtry Room, etc) in Las Vegas since 1976.

See Jeff Busby, Michael Skinner's Intimate Magic (1982, 45pp); Mike Maxwell, Michael Skinner's Ultimate 3 Card Monte (1990, 20pp); and Classic Sampler (1996, 113pp). Tricks in Talisman, Epilogue, Arcane, Magic, Magic Menu.

The...

(USA: 19th November 1900 - 18th May 1987)

Pro since around age 30 working fairs and carnivals. Ghosted the early Vernon booklets, including The Dai W. Vernon Super Card Subtleties (1932). Member of the "Secret Six". Voted into the New York "Inner Circle" by 1940. Actual author of Celestial Agent (1944, 44pp), which was stolen by Charles J. Maly and published by Laurie Ireland under Maly's name. See Lewis Ganson, Magic with Faucett Ross (1975, 227pp). Tricks in Genii.

(Vivian, Louisiana: 19th March 1938 – 30th August 2008)

Moved to Borger, Texas, at age 5. Inspired at age c17 seeing magic at high school show. Learned from books. Insurance sales rep in Borger. Since late 1950s a close student of Dai Vernon, Charlie Miller, and Faucett Ross. Semi-pro close-up, platform and stage magician. Wrote In Concert (288pp). 2 videos (1985), video segment (1988). Tricks in Gen, Epilogue, Richard's Almanac, Genii, Magic, Ammar's Encore III, and Magic Menu. See Jay Evans, The Lecture Notes of Roger Klause (1982, 14pp).

... The Magic of Michael Ammar, The Magical Arts Journal and The Complete Cups and Balls.

He is best known for his expert teaching on his magic DVD's - in particular, "The Easy to Master Card Miracles" titles that are staples in magic shops around the world. He began video instruction alongside Dai Vernon in the "Vernon Revelations" series over 30 years ago. He has authored more than 50 video instructional titles, ranging from beginning level: Icebreakers and Exciting World of Magic to the most advanced level: The Complete Cups and Balls and The Topit DVD.

His Television credits include "The Tonight Show", "The Late Show with David Letterman" and "The Worlds Greatest Magic."

... e all‟illusionismo.

Prestigiatore dilettante, non ha mai smesso di amare questa intrigante arte che lo ha accompagnato fin dall‟infanzia, esibendosi per diletto durante cene con amici o spettacoli di beneficienza.

Per contatti o informazioni o semplicemente per un feedback a proposito di Dai Vernon, l'uomo che ingannò Houdini, potete contattare Matteo al seguente indirizzo email: [email protected]

...Walter Gibson's book aside and taking up The Royal Road To Card Magic, he became obsessed with sleight of hand card work. With Steve Hamilton and Roy Walton recommending what books to study it wasn't long before he was working in Glasgow restaurants and pubs performing close up magic. As an avid fan of Dai Vernon's early work, this influenced Ronnie to start taking notes of his effects. Taking notes on what worked. Taking notes on what natural movements could be replacing certain sleights.

Recently Ronnie decided to start transferring those notes into book form. You WILL be hearing more from him.

... Parent Assembly of the Society of American Magicians (he holds membership no. 2255). S.A.M. meetings were then held at the Hotel McAlpin on 34th St. in New York, followed by after-meeting collation at Riggs Restaurant. He learned by watching such greats as Nate Leipzig, Doctor Daley, Zarrow, Dai Vernon, Francis Carlyle, Al Baker, Jean Hugard, and others. Later he became a charter member of the Open House, which was started by Keith Loder, Max Katz, Paul Morris, Cliff Green, and other New York magicians.

For forty years he was Pathologist and Director of Laboratories of Westchester Square Hospital in the Bronx. During that time he exploited many hobbies; Medical Photography, model railroading,...

... of the Texas Association of Magicians and twice received the Ren Clark Award. In 1996, his one man parade for the Linking Ring magazine won both first and second prize awards. Gerald considers himself fortunate to have worked with many talented and well-known artists of the past, including Dai Vernon, J.B. Bobo and Lee Grabel.

Gerald holds a Master's degree from Texas Tech University and studied at the University of the Americas in Mexico City. The Fort Worth Star Telegram described him as, “one of the top sleight-of-hand experts . . . a phenomenal artist . . . a sleight-of-hand virtuoso.” He retired from full-time performing in 2015 and moved to Arkansas to be near his family.

... from library books. Inspired to become a pro by seeing Blackstone at age 14. Attended Chavez School in 1947 on GI Bill, graduating to become an instructor there. Owner of "Irv Weiner's Studio of Magic" in Boston 1949-55. Pro close-up, specializing in college 2-hour one-man shows. Pet effects: Vernon's Travellers, Thumb Tie.

Wrote Dabbling with Daub (1951, 7pp). Invented over 200 original effects published as "Manu-Secrets", including Soft Dice (1952), Flabbergasting! (1952), Red Tape Thumb Tie (1953), No Nest Cups & Balls (1953), Soft Dice (1954), The Travelling Salesman (1954), Just Imagination (1954), Alphabet Soup Card Trick (1955), Beyond Belief (1955), Red Tape (1955), Guillo...

(Wallace, Idaho: 6th July 1927 - 21st January 2010)

Inspired as child seeing a magician. Learned from Erdnase and Fischer's Illustrated Magic. Jazz pianist until c1963 when traded piano lessons for card magic with Dai Vernon. Thence school teacher and semi-pro magician and lecturer. Foremost inventor of finger-ring and rope tricks since late 1960s. Aka "The Idaho Flash". Wrote many booklets, including The Punch Letters (1988, 23pp). Tricks in Talisman, Arcane, Epoptica, Genii, and Linking Ring. Video (1992). Father of Vicki Grismer.

...