On This Day in Magic History: Legendary Card Magician Brother John Hamman Was Born

 

On September 3, 1927, one of the most creative minds in card magic was born in St. Louis, Missouri: Brother John Charles Hamman.

To generations of magicians, the name Brother John Hamman is immediately associated with ingenious card magic, clever methods and, of course, the famous Hamman Count. But his life story is every bit as fascinating as the magic he created.

From Polio to a Lifetime of Card Magic

Hamman was a member of the Society of Mary, or Marianists, and spent much of his working life as an educator. He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Dayton and later a master’s degree in English from St. Louis University. He began teaching in 1948 and would eventually spend decades in the classroom. 

Then came an event that would unexpectedly have an enormous impact on his magic.

In 1952, Hamman was diagnosed with a severe case of polio. During his lengthy recovery, he devoted countless hours to studying, practicing and inventing card magic and sleight of hand. Without ready access to all of the established magic literature, he sometimes independently reinvented or streamlined existing techniques. 

What emerged was one of card magic’s most inventive creators.

More Than the Hamman Count

Brother Hamman ultimately created more than 100 card tricks and techniques. His best-known contribution is undoubtedly the Hamman Count, a false-counting technique that allows a magician to apparently show or count cards while secretly concealing their true number or identity. 

But reducing Hamman’s legacy to a single sleight would be like reducing Dai Vernon to one card trick.

His creations include Final Aces, The Twins, Gemini Count, Chinese Shuffle, Blushing Joker, Homing Card and numerous other routines, techniques and ideas that became part of the vocabulary of modern card magic. 

His work was collected in several important books, including Paul LePaul’s The Card Magic of Bro. John Hamman, S.M. and Richard Kaufman’s monumental 1989 book The Secrets of Brother John Hamman, which contains approximately 80 items from Hamman’s repertoire. 

A “Magician’s Magician”

Hamman developed an extraordinary reputation among other magicians. He wasn’t primarily famous because of enormous stage productions or television specials. His reputation was built with cards in his hands and magicians watching from only a few feet away.

That’s perhaps the toughest audience a magician can have.

In 1995, Hamman became the first living magician honored by the St. Louis Magical Heritage Awards, recognizing his place among the city’s great magical figures. 

Despite his international reputation in magic, teaching remained tremendously important to him. Accounts of his life note that one of his greatest pleasures was simply performing magic for his students. 

“Magic Is in the Mind of the Spectator”

Perhaps Brother Hamman’s greatest contribution wasn’t a move at all.

His philosophy emphasized that successful magic wasn’t simply about difficult sleight of hand. Hamman famously wrote:

“Magic is in the mind of the spectator — not in your fingers.” 

It’s a remarkably powerful idea.

Technique matters, but technique exists to create an experience in the spectator’s mind. Hamman believed magicians needed to understand why an effect fooled and entertained an audience rather than simply memorizing the mechanics required to perform it. 

That’s advice that remains just as valuable to magicians today.

Remembering Brother John Hamman

Brother John Hamman died on December 5, 2000, at age 73, but his magic certainly didn’t disappear with him. 

Every time a magician performs a Hamman Count or studies one of his ingenious packet tricks, routines or principles, another small piece of his legacy continues.

So today, September 3, on the anniversary of his birth, it’s worth remembering not only an extraordinary card magician but a teacher and creator whose ideas continue to influence the way card magic is performed nearly a century after he was born.

Happy birthday, Brother John Hamman — and thank you for everything you gave to the art of magic.

Simon Drake's Twisted Take on Sawing a Woman in Half

 Long before television magic became dominated by large-scale specials and competition shows, British magician Simon Drake was bringing audiences something much darker, stranger, and more theatrical.

A fantastic piece of that history can be seen in this 1990 clip from The Secret Cabaret, featuring Drake performing his version of one of magic’s most famous illusions — Sawing a Woman in Half.

This Definitely Wasn’t Your Grandfather’s Magic Show

By 1990, audiences were certainly familiar with the basic premise of sawing a woman in half. The illusion had been performed in countless variations for decades.

Simon Drake approached magic very differently.

Rather than presenting the illusion simply as a glamorous stage spectacle, Drake surrounded his magic with an atmosphere that could be bizarre, macabre, funny and occasionally unsettling.

That style was a perfect match for The Secret Cabaret.

The British television series presented magic in a way that felt considerably different from the polished variety-show magic audiences were accustomed to seeing. Drake served as host and performer, introducing viewers to unusual acts, sideshow performers and some genuinely strange entertainment.

Making an Old Illusion Feel Dangerous Again

One of the challenges with performing a classic illusion is overcoming the audience’s familiarity with it.

Everybody knows the phrase “sawing a woman in half.”

Even people who have never attended a magic show understand what is supposed to happen.

That means the magician has to find another way to make the audience care.

Drake accomplishes that through presentation.

The staging, his personality and the slightly sinister atmosphere transform an illusion audiences already recognize into something that feels unpredictable.

For magicians, that’s an important lesson.

Sometimes creating something original doesn’t necessarily require inventing an entirely new illusion. A performer can take an established piece of magic and completely change the audience’s experience simply by changing the character, presentation and world surrounding it.

The Secret Cabaret Was Unlike Almost Anything Else on Television

The Secret Cabaret arrived on British television at the beginning of the 1990s and developed something of a cult following.

It wasn’t simply a television magic show.

It mixed magic with unusual variety entertainment and the sideshow tradition, with Drake acting as the audience’s guide into this wonderfully strange world.

Looking back at clips today, the program also provides an interesting snapshot of an era when television producers were willing to experiment with the way magic was presented.

More than three decades later, Simon Drake’s performances still don’t look like everybody else’s.

And that may be the biggest lesson of all.

You don’t necessarily have to perform different tricks. Sometimes you need to perform the tricks differently.

David Caserta Saws Himself in Half on Penn & Teller: Fool Us

 Sawing a person in half is one of magic’s most recognizable illusions—but David Caserta placed an exciting twist on the classic by eliminating the traditional assistant and putting himself directly in harm’s way.

During his appearance on Penn & Teller: Fool Us, Caserta presented a dramatic illusion in which he appeared to be restrained beneath a massive circular saw. With no assistant inside the apparatus, Caserta became both the magician performing the illusion and the person supposedly being divided in two.

A Dangerous Twist on a Magic Classic

The performance began with Caserta positioned on a specially designed table as an enormous spinning blade hung above him. As the tension increased, the saw descended toward his body.

Moments later, the impossible appeared to happen.

The blade passed completely through Caserta’s waist, visibly separating the upper and lower halves of his body. The two sections were then moved apart, leaving the audience with a clear view of what seemed to be an impossible—and extremely dangerous—situation.

Rather than ending the routine with the separation, Caserta added another surprise. His upper body appeared to rise independently before he eventually restored himself and emerged completely unharmed.

More Than a Traditional Sawing Illusion

Magicians have been presenting versions of the Sawing a Person in Half illusion for more than a century. In many presentations, an assistant is placed inside a large box while blades or metal panels divide it into separate sections.

Caserta’s version created a very different feeling. By performing the illusion on himself and leaving much of his body visible, he made the danger feel more immediate.

The industrial-looking apparatus, dramatic music, spinning blade, and theatrical lighting transformed a familiar magical premise into a suspenseful piece of modern stage illusion.

Did David Caserta Fool Penn & Teller?

Following the performance, Penn and Teller discussed several possibilities and attempted to communicate their explanation without publicly exposing the secret.

Caserta initially disagreed with their assessment, leading to a consultation with the show’s backstage judges. Those judges know the performer’s method in advance and can determine whether Penn and Teller have identified enough of the secret to receive credit.

The final ruling went in Penn and Teller’s favor, meaning Caserta did not receive a Fool Us trophy. Nevertheless, Penn praised the performance and acknowledged the effectiveness of Caserta’s dramatic presentation.

As magicians who have created and performed their own unforgettable sawing illusions, Penn and Teller were certainly two of the most difficult people Caserta could have attempted to fool with this particular premise.

An Illusion Does Not Have to Fool to Succeed

Caserta’s performance demonstrates something important about Penn & Teller: Fool Us: winning the trophy is not the only measure of a successful appearance.

The primary job of a magician is to entertain the audience, and Caserta delivered a theatrical illusion that created suspense, surprise, and a memorable visual image. Even if Penn and Teller understood its workings, the performance still accomplished exactly what a strong stage illusion should.

Disbanded by David Ginn – Professional Children’s Rope Magic

 Now available at www.magiciansmagicshop.com

David Ginn’s Disbanded is a colorful, highly visual audience-participation routine created especially for children’s and family entertainers.
 
The magician displays two brightly colored knitted necklaces. One necklace is looped through the other and placed around a young volunteer’s arm. Suddenly, the two necklaces visibly change places! This surprising transposition can be repeated several times, allowing the performer to build plenty of comedy and audience interaction.
 
Next, both necklaces are placed around the volunteer’s arm. With a magical gesture, one necklace completely penetrates the arm while the other remains in place!
 
For the big finale, a third colored necklace is introduced. The volunteer holds all three separate loops and tosses them toward the magician—where they magically join together in midair, forming a linked chain!
 
David Ginn performed this routine in his professional shows for more than 20 years before releasing it to other magicians. It packs small, plays big, and offers several strong magical moments in one entertaining routine.
 
The complete set includes:
 
• Six colorful, hand-knitted necklaces made in England
• Twelve smaller loops for performing a close-up version
• A 27-minute instructional DVD
• Multiple magical sequences and a complete professional routine
 
Perfect for children’s shows, school programs, library shows, birthday parties, and family entertainment.
 
Retail Price $35.00 
Our Price $29.99

On This Day in Magic History: David Blaine Took Flight With Ascension

 On September 2, 2020, magician and endurance artist David Blaine transformed a childhood fantasy into an astonishing live spectacle when he floated high above the Arizona desert while attached to a cluster of helium-filled balloons.

Called David Blaine: Ascension, the stunt looked like something from a storybook: one man holding onto a collection of colorful balloons as they carried him into the sky. Behind that dreamlike image, however, was an incredibly dangerous challenge requiring extensive training, careful planning, and a large team of aviation and safety professionals.

Turning a Childhood Dream Into Reality

The stunt began near Page, Arizona, with Blaine suspended beneath 52 large, biodegradable helium-filled weather balloons.

As the balloons lifted him from the ground, Blaine slowly rose above the desert while his team monitored his altitude, oxygen levels, weather conditions, and physical condition.

What initially looked gentle and peaceful became increasingly dangerous as he climbed higher. The air grew thinner, temperatures dropped, and Blaine eventually needed supplemental oxygen.

He ultimately reached an altitude of approximately 24,900 feet above sea level—more than 20,000 feet above the ground. At that height, Blaine released himself from the balloons, entered free fall, and parachuted safely into a ravine near his intended landing area. David Blaine’s official Ascension page

Much More Than a Balloon Ride

Although the finished stunt appeared beautifully simple, Ascension required years of preparation.

Blaine had to learn skills extending far beyond traditional magic. The project required extensive skydiving practice, aviation knowledge, oxygen training, and an understanding of the many dangers associated with high-altitude flight.

That contrast was part of what made the stunt so effective. Audiences saw the familiar childhood image of someone floating away while holding balloons—but Blaine turned that innocent fantasy into a genuine test of physical and mental endurance.

A New Kind of Live Magic Special

Ascension was streamed live on YouTube, allowing viewers around the world to experience the stunt as it happened.

More than 770,000 people reportedly watched simultaneously, setting a record at the time for the most-viewed YouTube Originals live event. Viewers followed Blaine from his initial liftoff through his high-altitude release and successful parachute landing. ABC News Australia

The livestream format added another level of excitement. Because the event unfolded in real time, the audience knew there was no editing that could guarantee a perfect ending. Weather, equipment, and Blaine’s physical condition could all affect the outcome.

Magic or a Daredevil Stunt?

Some may debate whether Ascension should be described as magic, an endurance challenge, or a high-altitude stunt. Blaine’s career, however, has frequently blurred the lines separating those forms of entertainment.

The secret of Ascension was not hidden in a magic box or concealed behind a curtain. Much of the preparation and safety equipment was shown openly. The magic came from the image Blaine created: a real person apparently realizing the impossible dream of floating into the sky with a handful of balloons.

Like many of Blaine’s most memorable projects, it took a simple idea and pushed it to an extraordinary extreme.

A Flight the World Will Remember

Six years later, Ascension remains one of David Blaine’s most visually remarkable accomplishments.

The sight of him quietly rising above the Arizona desert demonstrated that an unforgettable magical moment does not always require a traditional illusion. Sometimes it begins with an image everyone understands—and the courage to make that image real.

On September 2, 2020, David Blaine did not merely perform the illusion of flight. He actually took to the sky.

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.