Fredrick Turner

Reflections

Magic

  • Revisiting: Documentaries

    My recent post on upcoming documentary projects had me thinking about a few of my favorite ones. The reason that they’re favorites is not just because they are very well made but the love and respect that they show for magic is evident throughout. Our Magic (R. Paul Wilson): Whenever I feel discouraged about magic, Continue reading

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  • Coming Soon

    Let’s begin with a syllogism: I like movies and documentaries.I like magic.Therefore, I like movies and documentaries about magic. The problem with syllogisms is that while they are logically sound; they are not necessarily accurate. In this case, I can name many films with performance magic at it’s center that I’d watch again and again Continue reading

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  • The Phoenix: Volume 1 Number 12

    Yeah, I know. It’s been awhile since the last installment. Number 12 is all Lu Brent. According to Genii’s Magipedia: Lu Brent (1903 – 1993) was a semi-professional magician starting in 1927. He specialized in small magic. His legal name was Benjamin Joseph Lubrant. The name Lu Brent came accidentally, from a clerk’s mistake, when Continue reading

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  • Make Procedure Interesting

    That was a phrase that was once spoken by Max Maven in a lecture I attended years ago. I don’t remember when exactly but it’s always stayed with me. I believe that the full comment was “the secret to mentalism is to make procedure interesting.” It’s not just mentalism but magic too. I reflect on Continue reading

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  • But Can I Keep It?

    Recently Helder Guimarães entered the expanding space of subscription services. The idea of a subscription service wasn’t new to me as I was a supporter of Ben Earl’s The Family during its first year. I really enjoyed it however I found I was just watching the videos and not studying and learning the offerings. It Continue reading

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  • “Hole In One” Theory

    Since 1947, Abbott’s Magic has offered a parlor effect called “Hole in One.” Background, description, and a whimsical performance video is available on Martin’s Magic Collection. The trick is one of those you don’t see much anymore as a parlor performance with lots of props has gone out of fashion and replaced with material that Continue reading

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  • Occam’s Razor

    One of the reasons I have decided on my self imposed fast on purchasing magic is that the vast majority of material being produced fits into Sturgeon’s Revelation: “Ninety percent of everything is crud.” Most magic producers and by association, the magic buying public, believe that their audiences are idiots. While some may actually be Continue reading

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