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Home / Exhibits / Special Exhibits
Magic!
Magic Facts
Is it magic – or just an illusion? Explore these fascinating facts from the long history of magic before exploring the exhibition.
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Tayade Indian Cups
and Magician’s Wand
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“As wondrous as magic itself is the history of the art.” – David Copperfield
Robert-Houdin, considered to be the father of modern magic, defined a magician as an actor playing the role of a man who could work miracles. Later, Ehrich Weiss would take Robert-Houdin’s name as his own, gaining fame as Harry Houdini.
The earliest recorded illusions date back to the first century A.D.; in fact, popular writers such as Chaucer and Rabelais used the colorful metaphor of the magician in their works.
One of Harry Houdini’s most famous feats was called “Metamorphosis,” in which he was handcuffed, put in a bag, and then lowered into a box behind a curtain. A few seconds later, he emerged and opened the box to reveal his assistant tied within the box, in his place.
“Magicians have been called the scientists of show business.” – Maurine Christopher
In the early days of the American colonies, all forms of amusement – including magic – were forbidden. In Jamestown, Virginia, the penalty for practicing the “crafty science” was 15 lashes.
Ancient Egyptians believed that Thoth, one of the most important gods in their pantheon, invented magic.
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The Discoverie of Witchcraft (1584)
by Reginald Scot
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The first successful magicians in America were European. Richard Potter was the first American to establish himself as a successful magician in his own country, using “upward of 100 Curious but Mysterious Experiments with Cards, Eggs, money &c,” and drawing crowds for more than 20 years.
Many Native American tribes had very skilled magicians – this fact escaped notice for some time in the colonies and the wider world, as their magic was strictly reserved for members of the tribe.
Source: The Illustrated History of Magic by Milbourne and Maurine Christopher
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