Celebrating World Magic Day: Honoring the Art That Makes the Impossible Possible

 Today, September 2, magicians and magic enthusiasts around the world celebrate World Magic Day—a day dedicated to recognizing magic as an art form and honoring the performers who create moments of wonder for audiences everywhere.

World Magic Day is an opportunity to celebrate every part of our art, from close-up card tricks and comedy magic to mentalism, escapes, grand illusions, and everything in between. It also recognizes the inventors, builders, authors, historians, collectors, dealers, and teachers who help keep magic alive.

Why Magic Still Matters

I have been performing magic professionally for 30 years, and I still love watching an audience experience something impossible.

For a few moments, people can forget about the stresses and distractions of everyday life. Adults become kids again, children see that the world can still contain surprises, and complete strangers share a moment of amazement.

That is one of the most powerful things about magic. It crosses generations, languages, and cultures. The props and presentations may change, but the feeling of wonder remains universal.

Magic is also about much more than fooling someone. The secret might make a trick possible, but the performer’s personality, presentation, timing, and connection with the audience are what transform it into entertainment.

World Magic Day and National Magic Day

World Magic Day on September 2 should not be confused with National Magic Day, which is observed on October 31.

National Magic Day was established to honor the life and legacy of Harry Houdini, who died on Halloween in 1926. The observance eventually grew into National Magic Week, traditionally celebrated during the final week of October.

While October 31 carries a strong connection to Houdini and the history of magic in the United States, World Magic Day provides an opportunity for the entire international magic community to celebrate the art together.

That means magicians and magic fans get two wonderful occasions each year to recognize this remarkable art:

• September 2 — World Magic Day
• October 31 — National Magic Day

Celebrating the Entire Magic Community

Some magicians perform for thousands of people in theaters, while others create unforgettable moments for a small group gathered around a table. Some have devoted their lives to magic, while others are just opening their first magic set.

Every one of them is part of a tradition that has entertained and amazed people for centuries.

Today is a perfect day to watch a favorite magician, learn a new trick, support a local magic shop, read a classic magic book, attend a live show, or introduce someone new to the art.

It is also a day to thank the performers and creators who inspired us. Every magician began with that first impossible moment—the trick that made us stop and wonder, “How did they do that?”

Happy World Magic Day!

After three decades as a professional magician and illusionist, I remain grateful that I get to make a living creating moments of amazement. Magic has allowed me to meet incredible people, travel to fascinating places, perform with my family, and share unforgettable experiences with audiences across the country.

The greatest part of magic is not keeping secrets. It is sharing wonder.

Happy World Magic Day to all the magicians, creators, collectors, students, and fans who continue making the impossible feel possible.

How are you celebrating World Magic Day? Let us know in the comments!

A Mind-Reading Chicken Fools Penn & Teller

 Penn & Teller have witnessed almost every kind of magic imaginable—but even they were not prepared to face a mind-reading chicken!

Belgian magician and animal trainer Jo De Rijck brought his talented chicken, Curry, to the Penn & Teller: Fool Us stage for one of the strangest and most entertaining mentalism acts ever featured on the show.

Can a Chicken Really Read Minds?

During the performance, host Alyson Hannigan was asked to concentrate on one of her biggest dreams. She then wrote that dream on a piece of paper along with several believable—but incorrect—possibilities.

Jo did not make the final decision. That responsibility was handed to Curry.

With the choices placed in front of her, the chicken appeared to study the possibilities before selecting the one that matched Alyson’s genuine thought. The result left the audience amazed and Penn & Teller searching for an explanation.

Of course, the real secret was not whether Curry possessed genuine psychic abilities. The challenge was determining exactly how Jo communicated the necessary information—or whether the chicken had somehow been trained to make the selection without any visible assistance.

Magic, Mentalism, and Animal Training

Jo De Rijck’s performance was more than a prediction trick with an unusual assistant. It was a clever combination of mentalism, comedy, showmanship, and animal training.

Working with a live animal creates challenges that do not exist with ordinary magic props. An animal may become distracted, move unexpectedly, or simply refuse to cooperate. Jo had to keep the routine entertaining while guiding Curry through the performance in front of a television audience.

That unpredictability also helped make the act so engaging. Everyone wanted to know whether Curry would complete the trick successfully.

Did Jo De Rijck Fool Penn & Teller?

After discussing the performance, Penn attempted to explain how Jo and Curry might have accomplished the impossible prediction. Jo maintained that Penn & Teller’s explanation did not match the method that was actually used.

Following a review by the show’s judges, Jo De Rijck and Curry were officially declared winners. The unlikely mind-reading team had successfully fooled two of the most knowledgeable magicians in the world.

The performance originally appeared during Season 4 of Penn & Teller: Fool Us in an episode fittingly titled “Penn, Teller and a Mind Reading Chicken.”

Jo and Curry’s appearance is a great reminder that a memorable magic act does not always require complicated equipment or dramatic special effects. Sometimes, an original idea, a strong character, and one exceptionally well-trained chicken are enough to create television magic.

Tommy Cooper Brings Dracula and Frankenstein to Life in Hilarious 1974 Routine

 Long before elaborate digital effects became commonplace, legendary magician and comedian Tommy Cooper could entertain an audience with little more than a costume, a handful of props, and his unmistakable comic timing.

In this classic television performance from 1974, Cooper puts his wonderfully chaotic spin on the world of old-fashioned horror movies. Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Bride of Frankenstein all become part of a fast-moving comedy routine filled with visual gags, ridiculous situations, and Cooper’s trademark confusion.

A Master of Making Magic Go Wrong

Tommy Cooper built an unforgettable career around the character of a magician whose tricks never seemed to work properly. Behind that bumbling stage personality, however, was a genuinely knowledgeable magician and a member of The Magic Circle.

His apparent mistakes were carefully timed pieces of comedy. Cooper understood exactly how long to pause, when to react, and how to make even the simplest prop produce a huge laugh. Occasionally, he would also surprise the audience by performing a trick that actually worked.

That combination kept viewers guessing. Was the next trick going to succeed, collapse completely, or lead Cooper into an entirely different joke?

Classic Horror Meets Classic Comedy

This Dracula and Frankenstein routine shows that Cooper did not need to perform a conventional magic act to use the instincts of a magician. Costume changes, unexpected appearances, physical comedy, and visual surprises give the sketch the feeling of a live magical production.

The routine also demonstrates the importance of character. Cooper could walk onto a stage and make people laugh before he said or did anything. His distinctive appearance, puzzled expressions, and ability to react as though he were just as surprised as the audience made him one of Britain’s most recognizable entertainers.

A Performer Who Remains One of a Kind

Tommy Cooper died in 1984, but recordings like this continue to introduce his unique style to new generations. Many performers combine magic and comedy, but few have ever blended them with the natural charm and apparent unpredictability that Cooper brought to the stage.

For magicians, this performance is also a wonderful lesson in presentation. The props and methods may be simple, but personality, timing, and commitment transform them into memorable entertainment.

Nuts & Bolts of Truth by Truths & Treasures – Gospel Magic Trick

Now available at www.magiciansmagicshop.com

 A powerful visual magic effect with a meaningful message!

Nuts & Bolts of Truth was produced by Truths & Treasures, a company specializing in using magic and storytelling to illustrate truths from Scripture.
In this unusual close-up effect, a washer is securely locked in place on a nut and bolt. The entire assembly is placed inside a pill bottle, creating an apparently impossible situation.
Then, without simply unscrewing the hardware in the normal manner, the washer is magically set free!
The everyday objects make the effect easy for an audience to understand: the washer is clearly trapped—and then somehow escapes.
The routine was designed specifically for gospel magicians, Christian entertainers, church programs, Sunday school presentations, children’s ministry, and other faith-based performances, although the basic magical effect could potentially be adapted to other presentations.
Retail Price $29.95
Our Price $24.95

Steve Cohen Performs Impossible Magic for European Commission President in Switzerland

 Chamber magician Steve Cohen recently delivered an unforgettable private performance at Villa Senar, the former Swiss home of legendary composer Sergei Rachmaninoff.

The special evening was held during the Lucerne Festival and celebrated a milestone in the life of Cohen’s longtime friend, world-renowned violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter. The intimate audience included Mutter’s family, friends, distinguished figures from the world of music—and one particularly unexpected guest.

Seated in the front row was Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission.

One Important Instruction From Security

Before the performance began, von der Leyen’s security team gave Cohen one clear instruction: he was not to involve the president in his show.

Cohen respected the request, but when he needed to borrow a ring for his signature “Lemon, Egg & Walnut” routine, von der Leyen unexpectedly volunteered her own.

As Cohen later explained, he had not involved the president—she had involved herself.

Cohen accepted the ring and proceeded with the routine. The borrowed jewelry vanished before reappearing under increasingly impossible conditions: inside a walnut, which was sealed inside an egg, which was itself found inside a lemon.

Von der Leyen enthusiastically followed the performance and reportedly told Cohen afterward that she had never met a real magician before.

Cohen assured her that she had now.

Personalized Magic for Anne-Sophie Mutter

While the unexpected participation of the European Commission president created one of the night’s most memorable moments, the performance was designed primarily as a personal celebration for Anne-Sophie Mutter.

Cohen and Mutter have been friends for more than 20 years. Rather than simply presenting his regular New York show in Switzerland, Cohen created several new and customized pieces for the occasion.

One mystery was inspired by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s interest in magic and conjuring. A series of apparently free choices led to the number 25,826—a prediction representing the date of the gathering, August 25, 2026, written as 25-8-26.

Cohen also performed a visual effect in which he took a bite from a red apple. In an instant, the apple changed to green while retaining the bite mark.

A Magical Tribute to a Beloved Dog

One of the evening’s most personal routines centered on Mutter’s dog, Bonnie, who had recently survived a serious illness.

The veterinarian credited with saving Bonnie’s life was among the invited guests. Cohen asked the veterinarian to participate in an effect involving an invisible die and a series of randomly selected words.

Taking the second letter from each chosen word eventually spelled one unmistakable name:

BONNIE.

With Mutter, her family, and the veterinarian all present, the routine became much more than a conventional magic trick. It transformed into an emotional tribute created specifically for the people in that room.

A New Finale Created for the Celebration

Cohen concluded the evening with another original presentation.

Throughout the show, several apparently unrelated objects had been introduced, including a violin, piano, Grammy Award, musical clef, and even a figure of Yoda.

In the finale, light and shadow brought the objects together. Their separate silhouettes gradually combined to form a portrait of Anne-Sophie Mutter.

The private show reportedly began around 11:30 p.m. and continued until nearly two in the morning. For Cohen, who has performed thousands of shows during his career, this was one evening unlikely to blend into the rest.

It combined world-class music, highly personalized magic, an extraordinary historical setting—and the unexpected moment when one of Europe’s most prominent leaders handed a magician her ring.

On This Day in Magic History: Texas Association of Magicians Turns 80

 Today marks an important anniversary in the history of American magic. On September 1, 1946, the Texas Association of Magicians officially came into existence at Herman Yerger’s lodge in Austin, Texas.

Now celebrating its 80th anniversary, TAOM has grown from a friendly Labor Day gathering into one of the country’s most enduring and respected magic organizations.

The Labor Day Picnic That Started It All

The story of TAOM began with Austin magician and druggist Herman Yerger. Along with his wife, Emilie, Yerger had performed magic in a traveling tent show, at carnivals, and inside vaudeville theaters. He was also a tightrope walker until a fall left him paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair.

Despite that life-changing injury, Yerger remained dedicated to magic and the fellowship shared among magicians.

During World War II, Austin did not have its own formal magic club. Local performers were invited to attend meetings with magicians in San Antonio, with some of those gatherings also taking place in Austin.

Yerger eventually came up with the idea of holding an annual Labor Day weekend picnic for his magic friends. He purchased property near Austin and added a clubhouse, an outdoor stage, and a barbecue pit.

Invitations were sent to magicians throughout the area, and the first picnic was held in 1944.

A Magic Organization Is Born

The gatherings quickly became popular. By the second picnic in 1945, an impressive 169 people were in attendance.

Participants soon suggested transforming the annual picnic into a formal statewide organization for magicians. Yerger was reportedly hesitant at first, but he eventually supported the idea—especially after it was proposed that he serve as its first president.

According to TAOM’s first newsletter, the Texas Association of Magicians officially came into existence at Yerger’s lodge on September 1, 1946.

The organization’s second business session was called to order the following day at Austin’s Stephen F. Austin Hotel. In 1947, Fort Worth hosted the first convention promoted exclusively under the Texas Association of Magicians name.

Eight Decades of Texas Magic

Over the following decades, the TAOM convention traveled among major cities throughout Texas while maintaining its traditional place on Labor Day weekend.

The gathering eventually grew to attract more than 1,500 magicians, dealers, lecturers, performers, collectors, and magic enthusiasts. Its conventions have provided generations of performers with opportunities to learn, compete, share ideas, discover new magic, and form lifelong friendships.

What started as a picnic among a group of magic friends became an annual tradition that has helped preserve and strengthen the art of magic throughout Texas and beyond.

Herman Yerger could not have known how far his simple Labor Day gathering would go. Eighty years later, however, the fellowship he encouraged continues to bring the magic community together.

Happy 80th anniversary to the Texas Association of Magicians!

Dean Gunnarson Takes James Randi’s Place for Houdini’s Milk Can Escape

 In 1987, a young escape artist named Dean Gunnarson received the kind of opportunity that could either launch a career—or end in disaster.

Gunnarson was appearing on the television special The Search for Houdini, hosted by William Shatner. The program explored the life and legendary escapes of Harry Houdini, with magician and skeptic James “The Amazing” Randi scheduled to recreate Houdini’s famous Milk Can Escape.

However, when Randi was injured shortly before the performance, Gunnarson was unexpectedly asked to take his place.

This was not a routine Gunnarson had spent months rehearsing. According to accounts of the event, he had never performed the Milk Can Escape before and had only seen the apparatus for the first time the previous day. Nevertheless, he accepted the challenge and prepared to attempt one of the most recognizable—and dangerous-looking—escapes in magic history.

Recreating a Houdini Classic

Houdini introduced his original Milk Can Escape in 1908. During the stunt, he was handcuffed and lowered into an oversized metal milk can filled with water. The lid was secured with locks, leaving Houdini trapped inside and unable to breathe.

Advertisements for the escape famously warned audiences that “Failure Means a Drowning Death.”

For Gunnarson’s televised performance, his hands were secured before he climbed into the water-filled container. The lid was placed over the can and locked as the assembled crowd watched.

Once a curtain surrounded the apparatus, the waiting began.

The performance was especially tense because Gunnarson’s head start came only moments before the lid was closed. Without the ability to take another breath, every second inside the can mattered.

After a suspenseful wait, Gunnarson emerged safely, completing the escape and earning an enthusiastic response from the audience.

The Night That Changed Gunnarson’s Career

The special aired on October 31, 1987—the 61st anniversary of Houdini’s death. What began as an unexpected replacement appearance became a major turning point for Gunnarson.

The performance introduced him to an American television audience and helped launch an international career built around increasingly dangerous escapes. He would later escape while suspended 726 feet above Hoover Dam, perform over alligator-filled waters, free himself during a 13,500-foot airplane jump, and survive numerous buried-alive and underwater challenges.

Gunnarson’s story makes this footage particularly fascinating. Viewers are not simply watching another recreation of a Houdini escape. They are seeing a young performer step into a difficult situation at the last moment and deliver the performance that would help define the rest of his life.

More than three decades later, Dean Gunnarson remains closely associated with the dangerous art of escapology. However, it was this water-filled milk can, an injured James Randi, and an unexpected opportunity on The Search for Houdini that introduced him to audiences across the United States.