Project 365 Smorgasbord (217-219)!

.:217/365: Shadows:.

This has got to be one of the most interesting illusions ever, and it’s just a coincidence that Teller happens to be performing it.

“Shadows” is a very visual performance of cutting a flower into pieces by taking a knife to its shadows, rather than to the flower itself. The effect is stunning, impressive, and definitely is a sight to behold, as Teller, in all his silent glory, performs one of the most elegant pieces of magic you will ever watch in a long time.

I don’t think I need to say anything else. This is one of those bits of magic that requires you to just shaddup and watch.

.:218/365: Howard Thurston:.

Howard Thurston, known as “The man who fooled Herrmann” and “The king of cards,” was a classic vaudevillian performer of magic, who was also known for having the largest travelling magic show in his day, using eight entire train cars to take his props across the nation.

As an archetypal performer, few people could find fault with Thurston’s range and his skill, having demonstrated his ability to impress a relative of the man considered the king of magic in his time, Alexander Herrmann. Of course, dropping the first name to connote that he actually fooled Alexander himself was a bit sneaky, but hey, it did wonders for his career.

When it comes to historical movers and shakers in the magic industry, Thurston’s contributions are less in the realm of inventing illusions, and more in his advancements for card magic. He was called “the king of cards” mainly because of his amazing skill with cards, having popularized the rising card trick, and emphasizing to everyone who cared to watch that indeed, cards, no matter how small they can be, do have a place on a stage show.

I know this short piece on the man doesn’t do nearly enough justice to his lengthy body of work, but I guess I cannot help but express an immense amount of respect for Thurston’s tenacity, and his passion for the magic arts. Nothing short of a stroke kept the man from working, and I could only think of Paul Potassy at this point as a man who could rival Thurston’s work ethic.

.:219/365: Walking On Water!:.

As you learn magic more and more, you discover at some point that there is truly nothing impossible when you have camera tricks and paid actors on your side.

So says the book of the Mindfreak.

::rolls eyes some more::