Montage 3
Blog
“Magic is a theatrical performance in which one person surreptitiously cheats, so that everyone else can feel like they’re winning.”
Jim Steinmeyer
Jim Steinmeyer
Blog
FORGOTTEN HENNING (TWO): THE FLOATING KIDDIE CAR
January 19, 2024
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Doug Henning's Floating Kiddie Car was from his 1984 tour, and was never performed on television. Here it is, from the stage show.
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FORGOTTEN HENNING (ONE): THE TUNNEL ILLUSION
January 13, 2024
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Doug Henning's Tunnel Illusion is forgotten today; it wasn't included in a television show. Now, you can watch it, from his Broadway show.
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WHAT WE HIDE: “WILL, THE WITCH AND THE WATCHMAN” FROM BACKSTAGE (PART THREE)
November 4, 2023
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A look at Maskelyne's famous play, circa 1865 to 1917. It was the most famous example of magic combined with plot.
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WHAT WE HIDE: “WILL, THE WITCH AND THE WATCHMAN” FROM THE STALLS (PART TWO)
October 31, 2023
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You can watch a performance of "Will, the Witch and the Watchman" from 1997, the only time it's been seen in the last 50 years.
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WHAT WE HIDE: “WILL, THE WITCH AND THE WATCHMAN” FROM THE STALLS (PART ONE)
October 30, 2023
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A look at Maskelyne's famous play, circa 1865 to 1917. It was the most famous example of magic combined with plot.
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WHAT WE HIDE: THE MELODY OF THURSTON’S LEVITATION
October 3, 2022
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Here's a chance to hear the music that accompanied Thurston's legendary levitation; for many years we couldn't identify it.
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WHAT WE HIDE: HEARTLESS-NESS
September 7, 2022
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Over ten years ago, Jim's illusion, Heartless, was premiered by Alex Ramon; it represented a different approach to illusions, and a different emphasis on the ...
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WHAT WE HIDE: THE MAGICIAN, THE BANANA STALK, AND THE NAZI
September 4, 2022
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Doc Rockwell, magician and comedian, was a one-of-a-kind American star. His son was a one-of-a-kind American monster.
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WHAT WE HIDE: DISHONESTY, TRUTH, AND THE RED CHAIRS
August 13, 2022
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Is it a political scandal or a magic show? "Lessons in Dishonesty" was a layered confession about truth and deception.
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WHAT WE HIDE: THE DREAM IN MID-AIR
July 14, 2022
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The story behind Hilliard's feud with Kellar, and the single word that allowed Hilliard to take his revenge!
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WHAT WE HIDE: DOUG HENNING’S BUMP BOWS
July 11, 2022
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Doug Henning's live show was closed with the distinctive "Bump Bows," which brought the audience to its feet.
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WHAT WE HIDE: HOUDINI’S FINAL ILLUSION
June 30, 2022
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Houdini's Walking Through the North Pole was performed only once and remains a mystery; here's a reconstruction.
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WHAT WE HIDE: CHEERS! (MAGICIANS POUR YOU A DRINK) PART TWO
June 28, 2022
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Charles Hoffman was the most successful bartender in the world, and a vaudeville star. Here are his secrets.
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WHAT WE HIDE: CHEERS! (MAGICIANS POUR YOU A DRINK) PART ONE
June 28, 2022
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Hospitality, a new version of an old bit of magic, was originally created for Doug Henning, and popularized by Lance Burton.
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WHAT WE HIDE: WHY AMAC DRANK
June 20, 2022
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Amac specialized in exactly one trick... Find the Lady. When I recreated it, the illusion suddenly told me something about its creator.
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WHAT WE HIDE: JARRETT SPEAKS, PART FOUR
June 9, 2022
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"Jarrett Speaks," even today, by providing some of the most original, and most important, lessons in magic. Here is what Jarrett means.
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