Magical Persistance

Better keep moving on, better keep moving on, Don’t let my hopes slip away. Dream as if I’ll live forever, Dream as if I’ll live forever, Live like I’ll die today. Zoe Lewis What is this driving desire to create art with the tools and craft of magic, to build structures of solid wonder, to birth moments of astonishment, spun sometimes through with lyrical beauty, sometimes with rib-cracking...

“Witches and Magic-Makers” by Douglas Hill

As readers of this journal may know from past reviews, my jaunts to the bookstore usually include a glance through the children’s books. Some excellent sources of magical inspiration can be found among titles intended for young readers, and not all of them begin with the words Harry Potter. Witches and Magic-Makers is number 70 in a series of DK Eyewitness Books that includes over 100 volumes on...

Eugene Burger: An Inteview with Max Maven

[On June 1, 2003, Eugene lectured to a packed house at the Magic Castle. After performing and discussing four routines, and explaining one of them, he introduced Max Maven, who conducted an on-stage interview. This was transcribed by Robert Charles, and then trimmed by Maven’s heavy editorial hand.] EUGENE BURGER: When I was thinking about this lecture I said to Max, “You know, you interview all...

The Many Faces of the Magician

Eugene Burger and I have been working together, creating magical events for magicians for 15 years. We learn a lot from our students and are often amazed at the diversity of magi we attract to our events. We often teach for large groups at major conventions, sometimes hundreds of people at a time. Over the years, we have worked with breaking down these large groups into smaller more personal...