Fredrick Turner

Reflections

Magic

  • 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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  • Revisiting: True Astonishment

    I expect that there will be many Revisits in 2026 as I’ve declared this to be a “no-buy” year and that the majority of new releases are crap that’s pushed into production to try to satisfy the demand of a market jonesing for the endorphins of clicking “buy now.” January has been focused on revisiting Continue reading

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  • Parasocialism

    Parasocial refers to a one-sided relationship where a person feels a strong connection to a media personality, such as a celebrity or influencer, despite having no personal interaction with them. This phenomenon often occurs through repeated exposure to their content, leading individuals to perceive these figures as friends or confidants. Parasocial was recently selected by Continue reading

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  • Genii Renewal

    I received my annual email from Genii that my subscription was expiring this month. I’ve been a subscriber for close to thirty years and a reader for many more years. When I lived in Western Pennsylvania, I would visit my favorite magic shop and the latest Genii was a regular purchase. Since moving west, I’ve Continue reading

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