Bricked by Drew Perry

 Now available at www.magiciansmagicshop.com

Introducing "Bricked" by Drew Perry - Where Magic Meets Lego®! Get ready for something truly mesmerizing! "Bricked" is a one-of-a-kind project featuring a custom-designed deck of cards that looks like it's straight from the Lego® store. This deck isn't just visually stunning-it's packed with gaffs, special features, and surprises that will blow your audience away! But here's where it gets even better: included in this magical package is a jaw-dropping Omni-style deck made entirely from bricks. Imagine finishing your routine with a finale that leaves your spectators speechless-this brick deck is the perfect match for your special cards! In the tutorial, Drew Perry teams up with the legendary Craig Petty for an in-depth, fun-filled session. Together, they unlock a treasure trove of routines from Drew, Craig, and Peter Nardi. "Bricked" is more than a magic trick-it's a captivating experience, perfect for both kids and adults alike. Whether you're performing for a family crowd or wowing a room full of adults, this project is versatile, unforgettable, and full of fun!

Lennart Green Turns Chaos Into Impossible Card Magic on The Paul Daniels Magic Show

 Most card magicians work hard to make every movement appear smooth, elegant and perfectly controlled. Lennart Green took an entirely different approach.

In this classic footage from a 1993 episode of The Paul Daniels Magic Show, the Swedish card magician presents a performance that appears unpredictable, disorderly and occasionally on the verge of disaster. However, underneath that carefully constructed chaos is the work of one of the most original card magicians of his generation.

Green begins by telling Paul Daniels and the audience that he will not be performing ordinary card tricks. Instead, he claims that he will reveal the moves used by card sharks—and even explain how people can beat the dangerous card cheats of Las Vegas.

It is a wonderfully entertaining premise that immediately gives the performance a purpose beyond simply finding a selected card.

Green removes his jacket and watch, apparently eliminating the places where he might conceal anything. He then begins handling the deck in his unmistakable style. Cards are cut, mixed, shot through the air and handled with movements that appear far less polished than those normally associated with expert sleight of hand.

That appearance is completely deceptive.

After someone in the audience names the Queen of Hearts, Green demonstrates several increasingly impossible ways of locating and controlling it. Cards fly from one hand to the other, the selected card appears exactly where it is needed, and every apparent mistake seems to lead directly into another magical moment.

The routine eventually builds to a demonstration of dealing a card from the center of the deck. A die is used to determine a number, and the Queen of Hearts arrives at precisely the selected position.

Green even offers to explain the move in slow motion. Like many of the best “explanations” in magic, however, the demonstration only makes the mystery deeper. The audience is allowed to see more, but somehow understands even less.

That contrast is what makes Lennart Green such a fascinating performer.

Where another magician might emphasize elegance and flawless technique, Green creates the character of someone who appears to be fighting for control of the cards. His slightly rumpled appearance, conversational humor and seemingly improvised movements encourage the audience to underestimate him.

The cards may appear to have minds of their own, but Green always knows exactly where the performance is heading.

By the time this appearance was recorded, Green had already established himself as one of the world’s leading card magicians. In 1991, he won the card-magic competition at the FISM World Championship of Magic in Lausanne, Switzerland. His unusual techniques and deliberately chaotic performance style would go on to influence generations of close-up magicians.

Green later introduced his work to an even wider audience through television specials, international lectures and a popular TED performance. His routines continue to stand apart because they don’t resemble traditional card manipulation. Instead of hiding the disorder, he transforms it into a powerful form of misdirection.

This appearance on The Paul Daniels Magic Show is a wonderful example of a performer with a completely defined character. The comedy, movement and apparent confusion are not distractions added to the magic—they are essential parts of the deception.

The next time you watch the video, pay attention to the contrast between what Green wants the audience to believe and the extraordinary control required to create that impression.

It may look like chaos, but in Lennart Green’s hands, every card is exactly where it needs to be.

Penn & Teller Honor Johnny Thompson by Reviving The Great Tomsoni & Company

 Some magic performances are more than entertaining routines. They are living pieces of history.

During a memorable episode of Penn & Teller: Fool Us, Penn and Teller honored legendary magician Johnny Thompson by bringing his classic act, The Great Tomsoni & Company, back to the stage.

Before the performance, host Alyson Hannigan introduced Thompson as Penn and Teller’s hero and the mysterious judge responsible for determining whether contestants on the show had truly fooled the famous duo. Although Thompson had retired the act years earlier, the Fool Us stage gave audiences another opportunity to experience the character, comedy and beautiful magic that made it so influential.

For this recreation, Teller steps into the role of The Great Tomsoni, while Georgie Bernasek portrays the wonderfully unimpressed assistant character originally performed by Thompson’s wife and longtime performing partner, Pamela Hayes.

The act combines polished bird magic with carefully constructed physical comedy. Tomsoni attempts to appear elegant, confident and completely in control, but the small details continually betray him. His assistant appears less than impressed by his grand personality, creating an ongoing comic conflict without either performer needing to say a word.

That combination of character, story and technical skill separated The Great Tomsoni & Company from many traditional manipulation acts. The audience isn’t simply watching a magician produce birds and perform visual miracles. They are watching two distinct characters whose relationship becomes part of every magical moment.

Teller was an ideal performer to help preserve the routine. His own career has demonstrated how much personality, emotion and humor can be communicated through movement alone. Rather than treating the act as a parody, the performance captures the timing, elegance and wonderfully controlled chaos of Thompson’s original presentation.

Johnny Thompson’s influence extended far beyond his own appearances onstage. He developed material and provided guidance for performers including Penn & Teller, Siegfried & Roy, Doug Henning, Lance Burton, David Blaine and The Amazing Jonathan. He also played an essential behind-the-scenes role on Fool Us, helping performers present their magic as effectively as possible and making the final determination when Penn and Teller disagreed about a method.

Thompson died in 2019 at the age of 84, but his influence remains deeply woven into modern magic. Many audiences have enjoyed his ideas without realizing that he was the creative mind helping shape what they were watching.

This performance serves as both an entertaining piece of television and an important reminder of how magical legacies are preserved. Books and recordings can document a routine, but there is something especially powerful about respected performers bringing that material back before a live audience.

By presenting The Great Tomsoni & Company on Fool Us, Penn and Teller allowed a new generation to discover Johnny Thompson’s combination of beautiful magic, memorable characters and impeccable comic timing.

Watch the performance and enjoy a masterful tribute to one of magic’s most respected creators, performers and teachers.

Magic Video Spotlight: Jonathan Pendragon’s Motorcycle Escape

 When most magicians hear the name Jonathan Pendragon, they immediately think of spectacular stage illusions, lightning-fast Metamorphosis performances and the legendary partnership of The Pendragons.

But Jonathan Pendragon’s career has also included something considerably more dangerous: escapes and stunt magic.

For today's Magic Video Spotlight, we're looking back at Jonathan Pendragon's Motorcycle Escape, a performance that combines escapology with the very real danger of a moving motorcycle.

More Than a Grand Illusionist

Jonathan Pendragon has long been known for bringing an unusually physical approach to magic. The Pendragons became internationally recognized for large-scale illusions that relied heavily on athleticism, timing and choreography rather than simply hiding the mechanics behind elaborate apparatus.

That physical approach extended into Jonathan's work as an escape artist.

Pendragon has spoken about the toll that years of escapes and grand illusion have taken on his body, including lasting muscle damage. In discussing the physical nature of his work, he has described the performer's body itself as effectively becoming part of the method.

That philosophy helps explain why performances like his motorcycle escape feel different from a traditional stage illusion.

There is an element of magic, but there is also the unmistakable presence of physical danger.

Motorcycles and Magic

Motorcycles have a surprisingly long history as props in spectacular magic and escape performances.

For Pendragon, motorcycles also intersect with his history as a stunt performer. Before becoming internationally famous as one half of The Pendragons, Jonathan performed stunt work, including motorcycle-related stunt work in film.

The motorcycle escape therefore combines several parts of his performing background: illusion, escapology, stunt work and theatrical danger.

It is exactly the type of performance where the audience understands the premise almost immediately. You don't need to know anything about magic to recognize what could happen if the escape doesn't go according to plan.

That simplicity can make danger magic incredibly effective.

Pendragon Continued Pushing Into Dangerous Escapes

Jonathan didn't leave dangerous escapes behind as his career progressed.

He later appeared in the television series Extreme Escapes, alongside performers including David Merlini, Murray SawChuck, Franz Harary and Michael Griffin. One of Pendragon's featured challenges involved attempting the bullet catch, one of magic's most notorious feats.

Other televised Pendragon challenges have involved water, restraints and physically demanding endurance tests. Listings for the later Street Magic series include Pendragon attempting a chained water-torture escape as well as another challenge testing his physical endurance.

It's a side of Jonathan Pendragon that audiences familiar primarily with The Pendragons' elegant stage illusions may not have seen as often.

A Different Kind of Magic Performance

One reason escapes continue to fascinate audiences is that they blur the line between illusion and stunt.

With a traditional illusion, audiences know that what they appear to be seeing cannot actually be happening.

With an escape, the question becomes different:

Can the performer get out in time?

Jonathan Pendragon's Motorcycle Escape takes advantage of that distinction. The motorcycle adds speed, movement and an immediately recognizable threat, turning the escape into a race against time.

It's also another reminder of just how varied Pendragon's career has been.

From performing some of the world's most famous grand illusions with Charlotte Pendragon to dangerous escapes and stunt-driven television performances, Jonathan Pendragon has spent decades exploring the more physical side of the magical arts.

And this vintage performance is a fascinating example of that work.

Magic Video Spotlight: Murray Hatfield & Teresa Bring a Classic Illusion to Penn & Teller: Fool Us

 For today's Magic Video Spotlight, we're looking back at Canadian illusionists Murray Hatfield and Teresa and their appearance on Penn & Teller: Fool Us.

The duo appeared during Season 4 of the hit magic series in an episode titled “Teller Flips a Bird,” originally broadcast on July 27, 2017. It was a particularly magic-packed episode that also featured Misty Lee, Shin Lim and Andi Gladwin.

For their attempt to fool Penn & Teller, Murray and Teresa brought something quite different from the card and close-up magic frequently seen on the program: large-scale stage illusion.

Before their performance, Murray explained that their specialty was working with people rather than cards and coins—making people appear, vanish, float and seemingly get cut into pieces. Teresa also discussed one of the realities audiences rarely think about: performing inside illusion apparatus can be physically demanding and potentially dangerous, requiring considerable work to make everything appear effortless.

Taking Metamorphosis to the Fool Us Stage

Their performance centered around their presentation of Metamorphosis, the famous illusion concept in which two performers impossibly exchange places.

Murray introduced the routine with a simple question based on the idea that two bodies cannot occupy the same space at the same time—and then he and Teresa proceeded to challenge that idea through illusion.

Although the performance did not fool Penn & Teller, that hardly meant the veteran magicians weren't impressed. Contemporary coverage of their appearance records Penn praising their presentation as an exceptional version of Metamorphosis.

And that's an important distinction that sometimes gets lost when discussing Fool Us.

Not receiving a Fool Us trophy doesn't mean an act failed. Penn & Teller may understand the underlying method while still having enormous respect for the construction, originality and performance of the routine.

Decades of Performing Together

Murray and Teresa's partnership goes back much further than their television appearance.

According to their official biography, the two began working together in 1992 and went on to perform internationally across four continents. Their career has included corporate events, casinos, festivals, fairs, cruise ships and appearances at Hollywood's Magic Castle. They have also received numerous honors from within the magic community, including being named Canada's Magicians of the Year by the Canadian Association of Magicians.

Their experience with large-scale illusion was certainly evident during their Fool Us appearance.

In an era when television magic frequently focuses on close-up effects that can be framed tightly for the camera, it's always interesting to see performers bring a traditional stage illusion onto the Fool Us set.

Murray and Teresa demonstrated that a classic principle doesn't have to feel old. Presentation, choreography, timing and the relationship between the performers can make familiar magic feel fresh again.

And sometimes fooling the audience is every bit as important as fooling Penn & Teller.

Great Nicola Magic Festival Returns to Monmouth This Weekend

 Magic history will come alive in Monmouth, Illinois, on Saturday, September 26, as the community celebrates one of its most famous entertainers during the 7th Annual Great Nicola Magic Festival.

Hosted at the Warren County History Museum, this year's festival will feature three family-friendly magic shows along with a celebration of the remarkable career and legacy of The Great Nicola.

Who Was The Great Nicola?

Born William Mozart Nicol, The Great Nicola became an internationally known magician and illusionist while maintaining his home in Monmouth.

According to the City of Monmouth, Nicola wasn't simply a performer. He was also an inventor and showman who developed innovative magic apparatus in his Monmouth workshop, with his work helping influence the grand illusion tradition that followed.

His career took him around the world, but his connection to Monmouth remained strong.

The city's magic history extends beyond Nicola himself. His father John Nicol performed as Nicoli, while his brother Charles performed under names including Von Arx and Chasan. Nicola's wife Marion was also an important partner in his stage performances.

Even Nicola's famous performing elephant, Nizie, is part of the area's history.

Three Magic Shows Planned for the Festival

This year's Great Nicola Magic Festival runs from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Warren County History Museum and features three performers:

T.J. Regal — 2:00 p.m.
William Pack — 4:00 p.m.
David Casas — 6:00 p.m.

Tickets will be available at the door. Adult admission is $10, youth ages 13–18 are $3, and children 12 and younger can attend free with a paid adult.

Keeping Magic History Alive

Events like the Great Nicola Magic Festival offer something especially valuable to the magic community.

Magic has an incredibly rich history, but much of that history can easily disappear as generations pass. Festivals and museums that preserve original artifacts and tell the stories of performers such as Nicola help introduce those performers to audiences who may never have encountered their work otherwise.

The Warren County History Museum maintains artifacts connected to The Great Nicola and uses the annual festival both as entertainment and as an opportunity to educate visitors about the history and art of magic.

For magicians, magic historians and families interested in discovering a fascinating piece of entertainment history, Monmouth will be celebrating one of its hometown legends this Saturday.

Warren County History Museum – Great Nicola Magic Festival information

Howie Mandel Offers to Personally Back a Las Vegas Show for Hundred Fingers After AGT Finale

 

South Korean magic group Hundred Fingers delivered its final performance on America’s Got Talent Tuesday night, and the reaction from judge Howie Mandel may have opened a major new door for the group regardless of what happens in tonight’s results.

Hundred Fingers was one of the Top 10 acts performing in the Season 21 finals on September 22. The group has had a particularly strong connection with Mandel throughout the season, earning his Golden Buzzer during both the auditions and quarterfinals.

After watching their finale performance, Mandel went beyond simply praising the act. He called it the “best magic show I’ve ever seen” and told the performers that if they do not win the competition and no one offers them their own room in Las Vegas, he would be willing to put up his own money to produce their Vegas show.

That is an extraordinary endorsement for a magic act appearing on the show.

Judges Clash Over the Performance

Not every judge responded quite as enthusiastically.

Mel B praised how far Hundred Fingers had come and particularly liked that the finale routine incorporated different levels and presented a story the audience could follow. She did, however, point out that she noticed moments where the performers were not completely synchronized.

Mandel wasn't interested in hearing much criticism.

As Mel B attempted to finish her comments, Mandel interrupted her and eventually grabbed her microphone, creating one of the more chaotic moments of the live finale. Sofia Vergara, meanwhile, described the group's routine as a performance suited perfectly to the AGT finals.

A Big Night for Magic on AGT

Hundred Fingers wasn't the only magician in the finals. Solo magician Geno Ploeger also reached the Top 10 and performed Tuesday night, giving magic two representatives in the Season 21 finale.

For Hundred Fingers, however, Mandel's unexpected offer could mean that their AGT journey leads to something much larger.

The winner of Season 21 is scheduled to be revealed during the September 23 results show on NBC.

Whether Hundred Fingers leaves the competition with the title or not, having one of AGT's longtime judges publicly offer to help put them on a Las Vegas stage is quite a way to finish their final performance.

And for magic fans, tonight's results will certainly be worth watching.