J C Sum & 'Magic Babe' Ning

 

Penn & Teller perform Chipper on Fool Us

 

The Bullet

 Now available at www.magiciansmagicshop.com 

The artist presents a shuffled deck of cards, allowing the spectator to freely choose any card (it can be signed). The chosen card is then lost in the deck and placed back in the box.

Suddenly, the chosen card jumps out of the box-a true miracle!

• No magnet
• You activate the system
• Very easy
• This gimmick can be used in multiple applications

The video explains how to repair it in case of accidents

Viral NYC Pop-Up Producers Launch Underground Overground Magic in Unexpected Venues

 

New York City’s live entertainment scene is getting a magical new addition—and it will not be taking place inside a traditional theater.

Ethan Mansoor and David Levine, the longtime friends behind the successful Underground Overground Comedy series, are expanding their unconventional entertainment model with a new project called Underground Overground Magic.

The pair became known for presenting comedy shows in unexpected locations throughout New York City. Since launching their company in 2021, they have transformed laundromats, barbershops, restaurants and other unusual spaces into temporary comedy clubs.

Their previous shows have included appearances by major comedians such as Bill Burr and Saturday Night Live performer Marcello Hernández. Now, Mansoor and Levine hope to bring that same sense of discovery and excitement to the world of magic.

From Comedy After-Parties to a New Magic Series

The idea reportedly developed after magicians began performing at after-parties connected with the duo’s comedy events. The enthusiastic response to those close-up performances convinced Mansoor and Levine that audiences were interested in seeing a larger magic-centered production.

Underground Overground Magic will showcase a rotating group of performers presenting everything from card tricks and mentalism to more dangerous variety acts such as sword swallowing.

Many of the participating magicians are young entertainers who are still building their careers. That gives the new series the opportunity to introduce audiences to emerging performers before they become nationally recognized names.

This is similar to what happened with the company’s comedy shows. Marcello Hernández appeared at some of its smaller events before joining the cast of Saturday Night Live.

Magic Comes to Some Unusual Locations

The locations may be just as surprising as the performances.

Upcoming Underground Overground Magic events are reportedly being planned for a downtown scuba shop, an abandoned barbecue restaurant in Williamsburg and Zabar’s, the famous specialty food market on New York City’s Upper West Side.

Placing magic inside these unusual environments could make every performance feel like a one-time experience. Even returning customers may encounter a different location, lineup and selection of acts each time they attend.

That unpredictability is expected to become an important part of the brand.

Instead of asking audiences to visit a permanent theater, Underground Overground Magic turns familiar or forgotten New York spaces into temporary showrooms. It is an approach that could also introduce live magic to people who might not normally purchase tickets to a traditional magic show.

A Growing Interest in Live Magic

The launch is another encouraging sign for the magic community. Audiences are continuing to seek live, interactive experiences that cannot be duplicated by watching a video on their phones.

Magic is especially well suited to unconventional venues because it can transform nearly any room into a place of mystery and wonder. A deck of cards, an engaging performer and an audience willing to participate may be all that is needed to create an unforgettable evening.

Mansoor and Levine have expressed hopes of eventually expanding their productions into additional cities and digital projects. If Underground Overground Magic follows the path of their comedy series, it could become an important platform for introducing rising magicians to new audiences.

For now, New Yorkers should prepare to encounter magic in places where they would never expect to find it—even between the aisles of a specialty food market or inside a neighborhood scuba shop.

This article was independently written using information originally reported by Lizzie Hyman for PEOPLE. Full credit for the original reporting belongs to PEOPLE.

The Secret Behind Ozzy Osbourne’s Throne: It Was Built by a Magician

 

One of Ozzy Osbourne’s most memorable stage props had an unexpected connection to the world of magic.

During Ozzy’s 1982 Diary of a Madman tour, the legendary Birmingham rocker appeared seated upon an enormous theatrical throne. The prop also appeared on the cover of his live album Speak of the Devil, becoming part of Ozzy’s unmistakable visual identity during that era.

But this was no ordinary chair. It was a working stage illusion created by veteran American magician and illusion builder Charles “Kirk” Kirkham.

From an Ice Show to Heavy Metal History

The throne was not originally designed for Ozzy Osbourne. Kirkham and his family first constructed it in 1976 for a touring Ice Capades production.

After several years of regular use, the prop was placed into storage. When someone connected with Ozzy’s production contacted Kirkham in need of something dramatic, practical and capable of being prepared quickly, the magician realized the existing throne could be transformed for the rock star.

The exterior was refurbished, the mechanical components were updated and the armrests were altered to accommodate Ozzy comfortably.

Kirkham’s son Richard, who assisted with the project, later served as the primary test subject while the family adjusted the chair and tested its hidden mechanism.

Ozzy’s Magical Appearance

The oversized throne was constructed around a smaller internal structure in which Ozzy could remain concealed. The outer portion could then be displayed in a way that made the throne appear empty.

When it was time for Ozzy to make his entrance, an electronically activated smoke device positioned near the front of the throne released a cloud of smoke. Ozzy would then appear dramatically from within the structure.

Although the presentation fit perfectly with Ozzy’s dark and theatrical image, the secret behind it came directly from the traditions of stage magic and illusion.

Richard and his brother proudly told their friends that their family had worked on Ozzy’s throne, although they were never able to obtain tickets to see it performed live. The family eventually watched footage of the illusion on the American television program Entertainment Tonight.

The Work of Charles “Kirk” Kirkham

Kirkham spent decades as a performer and builder of professional magic equipment. Based in California, he designed illusions and theatrical effects for magicians, television productions and live entertainment.

Richard grew up surrounded by these unusual creations and sometimes appeared as an assistant and performer in his father’s shows. Following Kirkham’s death in 2001 at the age of 75, many of his props found their way into museums and private collections.

Ozzy Osbourne’s throne remains a fascinating example of the relationship between rock concerts and theatrical magic. What audiences saw as an unforgettable heavy-metal entrance was, behind the smoke, a carefully engineered magician’s illusion with an earlier life in an ice-skating show.

It is another reminder that magicians and illusion builders have influenced far more than traditional magic shows. Their secretive work can be found throughout concerts, television, movies, amusement parks and some of entertainment history’s most iconic moments.

This article was independently written using information originally reported by BBC News. Full credit for the original reporting goes to the BBC.

Wayne Hoffman on Fool Us

 

Jen Kramer on Masters of Illusion