Newton was not the first of the age of reason. He was the last of the magicians, the last of the Babylonians and Sumerians, the last great mind that looked out on the visible and intellectual world with the same eyes as those who began to build our intellectual inheritance rather less than 10,000 years ago. John Maynard Keynes, address Royal Society Club 1942
You either have the magic or you don’t. There’s no way you can work up to it. Freddie Mercury, re Jimi Hendrix
Magic is that which it is; it is by itself, like the mathematics; for it is the exact and absolute science of Nature and its laws.
Magic is the science of the Ancient Magi: and the Christian religion, which has imposed silence on the lying oracles, and put an end to the prestiges of the false Gods, itself reveres those Magi who came from the East, guided by a Star, to adore the Saviour of the world in His cradle. Albert Pike, Morals and Dogma
Blanche: I don’t want Realism.
Mitch: Naw, I guess not.
Blanche: I’ll tell you what I want. Magic! Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire 1947
That Old Black Magic. Johnny Mercer, song 1942
Warbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon. William Shakespeare, The History of King Lear II i 38, Edmund
If by your art, my dearest father, you have
Put the wild waters in his roar, allay them.
The sky, it seems, would pour down stinking pitch,
But that the sea, mounting to th’ welkin’s cheek,
Dashes the fire out. William Shakespeare, The Tempest I ii @1, Miranda
I’ll break my staff,
Bury it certain fathoms in the earth,
And deeper than did ever plummet sound
I’ll drown my book. ibid. V i @54
And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. II Kings 17:17
And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. II Kings 21:6
50. Franz Harary: Vanishing Space Shuttle 1994
49. Juan Tamariz: 4 Blue Cards 1994
48. Shahid & Lisa Malik: Cardboard Box Illusion 1991
47. Guy Hollingworth: The Reformation 1997
46. Harry Blackstone Jnr: Vanishing Bird Cage 1987
45. Mark Mottram: Thumb Tie 2000
44. Penn & Teller: Truck Trick 1990
43. Meir Yedid: Finger Fantasies 1985
42. Darren Brown: The Tube Experiment 2001
41. Melinda Saxe: Drill of Death 1999
40. Paul Zenon: Snooker Card Trick 2000
39. Spoon Bending
38. Steve Starr: Goldfish 1992
37. Fay Presto: Bottle Trick 1996
36. Lance Burton: Osmosis Illusion 1997
35. Robert Gallup: Straitjacket Escape 2000
34. James Hydrick: Telephone Pages 1980
33. Penn & Teller: Snake Trick 1992
32. Paul Daniels: Electric Chair 1989
31. Great Soprendo: Torn and Restored Newspaper
30. David Berglas: The Table 1981
29. Amazing Jonathan: The Skewer 2001
28. Tommy Cooper: Multiplying Bottles 1967
27. Paul Zenon: Tax Disc Trick 2000
26. Derren Brown: The Art Gallery 2000
25. Paul Daniels: TV Camera Trick 1984
24. Amazing Jonathan: Knife Illusion 1996
23. David Berglas: The Human Body 1986
22. Siegreid & Roy: Interlude 1994
21. Simon Drake: Sword Illusion 1990
20. Ishamuddin: Indian Rope Trick 1990
19. Derren Brown: Blair Witch Illusion 2000
18. Robert Gallup: Death Dive 1996
17. Amazing Orchante: Ball of String ‘Last Resort’ 1987
16. Siegried & Roy: Vanishing & Appearing Elephant 1994
15. Simon Drake: Guillotine 1992
14. Lance Burton: Rollercoaster 1999
13. Harry Blackstone Jnr: Floating Lightbulb 1977
12. David Blaine: Mystifier: Street Magic Card in Window 1996
11. Penn & Teller: The Magic Bullet 1996
10. Hans & Helga Moretti: The Crossbow 1995
9. Richard Ross: Linking Rings 1983
8. Paul Daniels: Chop Cup 1985
7. Tom Mullica: Smoking Trick 1996
6. David Copperfield: Flying 1995
5. Robert Harbin: Zig Zag Lady 1965
4. Lance Burton: Doves 1982
3. The Pendragons: Metamorphosis
2. David Blaine: Levitation
1. David Copperfield: Death Saw 1995. 50 Greatest Magic Tricks (as voted by members of magic circle)
Mention magic and most of us will conjure up one name: ‘Paul Daniels was a rock star in the world in magic.’ With a career spanning 50 years and a 15-year reign on prime-time Saturday night TV, Paul Daniel was the UK’s most successful magician and a consummate entertainer. Paul Daniels, My Life in Magic, Channel 5 2017
A spell-binding illusionist whose tricks and banter captivated the nation for decades. ibid.
He found himself increasingly in demand as a guest on various TV shows. ibid.
Despite misgivings, Debbie would work with Paul for the next 38 years. ibid.
‘It’s the performance.’ ibid. fan
He bounced back to present quiz and game shows. ibid.
Mrs Merton: ‘But what first, Debbie, attracted you to the millionaire Paul Daniels?’ ibid. TV interview
I’m a car mechanic. Dealt, Richard Turner, 2017
I represent why you should never play cards with strangers. ibid.
It hits them out of the blue: he’s blind. ibid. fellow magician
I thought Maverick was so cool. ibid. Turner
I didn’t have to see what I was doing; I could feel what I was doing. ibid.
My dad is a little bit on the crazy side. ibid. son
He never puts the cards down. ibid. fellow magician