Keep Making Magic! — Shaun Jay

Michael Jackson is no stranger to the world of illusion. Besides being an incredibly talented musician, he was a master stage entertainer and would often support other magicians by seeing their shows and even consulted with them to add unique illusions and effects to his own stage productions. One of the most notable and frequent magical collaborators was a good friend of Jeff. His name is Franz...

Year One — Tim “Santiago” Converse

All The Things I Wish I Knew When I Got Started 30 Years Ago When I first started magic I had a brief case I carried around with all my magic tricks in it.  That battered case has now sat unused in my office for three decades. Its leather is worn, and its brass latches have long lost their shine, but the memories it holds are as vivid as ever. The journey from that fumbling enthusiast to...

Magic through the Side Door by Chris McCauley

I’m going to tell you something shocking that you may not know. Houdini wanted to be a magician. But he couldn’t. That’s right: the greatest magician in history (reputedly) wanted to be a magician, but he wasn’t able to do it, at least not the way he wanted, and not right away. The history of Houdini and his act is as follows: he began in vaudeville as the King of Cards. But there was a huge...

The Sorcerers Apprentice by Derek Selinger

Mickey Mouse Tried to Warn Us About A.I.The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is one of the most popular Disney animations of all time, based on a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.  In the Disney version of the story, the master magician is growing weary from performing his magic. Turning bats into butterfly’s to be precise.He goes for a nap, leaving his hat behind.The apprentice (Mickey) takes the...

“Seasonal Sorcery” from Lynn Miner

Dear Mystery School Students, Can you help us help you? We are excited to announce that we are currently accepting submissions for our upcoming book, Seasonal Sorcery: A Mystery School Almanac.This compendium will include a collection of magic routines and effects submitted by you–Mystery School students and faculty. It focuses exclusively on incorporating magic into the public and...