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Interested
in exploring the world of magic
online? Jon Racherbaumer
has compiled an extensive collection
of notable, necessary, and overlooked
websites that warrent any magician
to visit.
The
following list is divided into
three parts:
Magic Celebrity Websites,
Notable
Magic Links, and Genii
Staff Websites.
Enjoy.
Magic
Celebrity Websites
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Apparent
interest of rank-and-file
magicians to know
more about
certain celebrity-magicians
influenced the "picks"
on this roster. Many
offer more
than just an elegant,
brochure-type page
or two; the graphic
and textual "extras"
are worth regular,
repeated visits. As
many of you have already
discovered, the number
of magic sites on
the Internet has exponentially
grown. They now exceed
our capacity and patience
to visit each and
every one. And when
a database becomes
this large and unwieldy,
"filters"
are required. We hope
that this "linkage"
turns out to be intelligently
eclectic. Needless
to say, this roster
will be updated and
modified as the "celebrity
landscape" inevitably
changes. |
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DAVID
BLAINE
www.davidblaine.com
David Blaine, currently
the hottest name in magicdom
(regardless of fluctuating
pro-and-con voting results)
will provide up-to-date
poop for fans and foes.
There are at least 21
other Websites
devoted to Blaine. David
Copperfield has 12 sites
and Houdini has 11, which
puts Blaine on top. This
listing is his official
site. |
SIEGFRIED
& ROY
www.siegfriedandroy.com
This
dynamic duo is the all-time,
larger-than-life, hyperreal,
kings-and-queens of Las
Vegas. They invented a
category of performance
art unlikely to be equaled,
copied, or transcended.Epic
in size, their show combines
grand illusions, glitzy
spectacle, and large animals
that even Tarzan didnít
pet. |
DAVID
COPPERFIELD
www.dcopperfield.com
David
Copperfield is also internationally
recognizedónot only as
the premiere concert-magician,
but also for being an
entrepreneur and marketing-business
phenomenon. He is also
a concrete, extensive,
examinable, living
archive of his many
televised and personal
appearances. There is
also a shop which sells
new videotapes, books,
and a DVD. |
PENN
& TELLER
www.pennandteller.com/rio
Having
transcended the "Bad
Boys of Magic" reputation,
they have evolved over
the years, creating new
live and televised shows,
and crossing over to other
media. Unlike most celebrity
magicians, especially
stereotypical ones, they
have a lucid and amusing
point-of-view. They are
fully formed, individualized
characters that express
a range of emotions, expressed
with humor and intelligence. |
AMAZING
JOHNATHAN
www.amazingj.com
This
on-the-road, on-the-go,
slightly whacked, comedy-club
survivor created his own
nicheóa mixture of forms
and styles. Imagine a
"magic nut"
raised in a comedy kibbutz
run by Sam Kinison, Rip
Taylor, Emo Phillips,
and (early) Steve Martin.
His X-rated jokes section
sizzles. |
MAX
MAVEN
www.maxmaven.com
Max
Maven is magicdomís Renaissance
wizardóa polymath, scholar,
inventor, polemicist,
performer, lecturer, and
contrarian. Needless to
say, he offers an interactive
magic effect on his site. |
MAC
KING
www.mac-king.com
Voted
the best afternoon show
in Las Vegas, Macís site
has magic (Tricks With
Your Head), puzzles,
souvenirs, photos, and
a remarkable essay on
the significance of the
fig newton.
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JAMES
RANDI
www.randi.org
James
Randi is a magician, author,
lecturer, magician, escapologist,
cantankerous skeptic,
and internationally renowned
debunker. His site offers
updated commentary, a
peek at his library, excerpts
from his radio show (which
you can listen to), and
downloadable articles
such as "The Art
of Cold Reading." |
JEFF
McBRIDE
www.mcbridemagic.com
Jeff
McBride is known as a
performeróthe man with
the masksóand lately as
Master Class teacher.
This site provides new
and views, plus a virtual
interactive magic area.
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GUY
HOLLINGWORTH
www.guy-hollingworth.com
Fans
of Guyís elegant style
of magic can access information
about him, his show schedules,
reviews, and products.
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EUGENE
BURGER
www.magicbeard.com
One
of magicdomís most influential
and visible teachers.
His site provides a list
of his written works,
information about his
participation in Master
Classes. And a streaming
video performance of "Thought
Sender." |
JON
RACHERBAUMER
www.JonRacherbaumer.com
This
site is a partially free
zone for magicians
primarily interested in
close-up and card magic.
The free zone will remain
free, offering
regular updates, reviews,
and free tricks. The Members
Only portion offers essays,
tricks, provenance bulletins,
free e-books, and access
to the archive. It provides
substantial value for
every member and is a
vital nexus, a textual
"hive" of shared
ideas and insights. |
CRISS
ANGEL
www.crissangel.com
Criss Angel, one of today’s
most interesting hybrid
performers, combines diverse
elements of the cyber-celeb-MTV
world. With parts of Simon
Drake, Blaine, Copperfield,
the Crow, and Marilyn
Manson, it’s as
if Houdini decided to
reincarnate himself as
a rock magician who had
made a Faustian pact with
the gods of Vegas. His
site has all the necessary
flash and fillips of a
cutting-edge, Blade-Runner
wonder-worker, aptly known
as Mind-Freak, complete
with video clips, news,
and the usual info. |
LANCE
BURTON
www.lanceburton.com
Lance
Burton has the Las
Vegas Magic Show. It is
purely magical in the
Music Hall sense, centered
on a single personality,
and is affordable. Lance
reciprocatesónot only
to his audiences, but
to the magic world, as
well.
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Notable
Magic Links
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MAGIC
TIMES
(Meir Yedid)
www.magictimes.com
This
is the premier heads-up
site to obtain the latest
news of pulsing topicality.
With over 1000 installments
already posted, magicians
can access headline, show,
web, and club news, plus
anything magic related
off the press wires. One
of its most useful services
are the TV Magic and Live
Magic guides. It is updated
daily. |
ALL
MAGIC GUIDE
(Richard Robinson)
www.allmagic.com
This
is the granddaddy of all
magic sites, a nexus to
link up with almost everything
accessible in magicdom.
Magicians can search for
anything in Allmagic Finder
or check out who are the
magic dealers on the Dealers
Guide. There are also
tricks, calendars, reviews,
magic-show movies, free
e-books, auctions, and
other diversions. |
THE
LINKING PAGE
(Dodd Vickers)
www.linkingpage.com
This site complements,
supplements, and competes
with Magic Times.
We recommend checking
out both sites on a regular
basis. It features alphabetical
listings of magicians
and magic-zines, has a
point-and-click access
to articles and stories
on The Magic Newswire,
plus announcements of
magic gatherings and media
broadcasts. |
ALTERNATIVE
MAGIC
(Peter Duffie)
www.peterduffie.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/
This site is a cardmanís
dream-come-true, especially
if you are a fan of Peter
Duffieís stuff. On a regular,
updating basis, Duffie
provides constant stimulation
by offering monthly and
bonus tricks, essays,
linking pages, reviews,
products, and robust e-books.
Most of it is archived
and accessible and his
e-book prices are in the
bargain-class. He is currently
offering The Card Addict. |
URI
GELLER
www.uri-geller.com
Uri Geller, like David
Blaine, is an international
celebrity of enormous
staying power. His talent
for reinventing and re-packaging
himself should be watched
by every magician. Nobody
since Houdini has generated
as much interest and publicity
for what he has done and
for what people (especially
the media) think
he has done. |
LITTLE
EGYPT MAGIC
(Steve Bryant)
www.littleegyptmagic.com
This is one of the
first and finest e-zines
extant. Steve Bryant is
one of magicdomís cheerful
and temperate commentators,
writing an entertaining,
ongoing memoir while giving
cyber-visitors cool graphics,
unique tricks, and wry
observations. Each installment
is a "little magazine"
which is completely archived
(also available on a CD),
along with Favorite Links,
a Book Store, plus the
last three poeticizing
Christmas Greetings. |
CSICOP
(Committee for the
Scientific Investigation
of Claims of the
Paranormal)
www.csicop.org
Since magicians
should be informed
about anything related
to deception and
paranormal claims,
especially if you
are attracted to
psychic entertaining,
this site (which
supplements the
magazine, Skeptical
Inquirer) provides
free, downloadable
articles (such as
"The Psychic
Staring Effect").
There is also information
about CSICOP, a
chat room, gift
shop, reviews, archive,
and other features.
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LYBRARY
(Chris Wasshuber)
www.lybrary.com
This is one
of the largest and
foremost sites for
obtaining magic
books in electronic
form for CD-ROM
and Palm-Pilots.
Many of the classic
books, including
illustrations, are
available. Books
such as Card
Control, Our Magic,
The Modern Conjurer,
Annemannís Practical
Mental Effects,
Royal Road to Card
Magic, and
Expert At The Card
Table are available
from over 45 titles
and the prices are
amazingly low. Visitors
may also access
four thought-provoking
articles by Wasshuber
which can be freely
downloaded. |
MAGIC
CASTLE
www.magiccastle.com
Since the Magic
Castle is one of
magicdomís landmark
sites and frequently
visited by magicians
everywhere, clicking
on this site instantly
provides information
about who is currently
billed. It also
displays what is
available from the
gift shop, and if
you are a member,
there is a members-only
section that offers
newsletter information.
Visitors can also
take a pictorial
tour of the Castle
itself. |
MAGICWEEK
http://www.magicweek.co.uk
MagicWeek focuses
on magic in the
UK, yet is read
by magicians world-wide.
This great site
is updated every
week providing for
their name: MagicWeek
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Genii
Staff Websites |
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RICHARD
KAUFMAN
www.geniimagazine.com
The Kaufman and
Company Website:
www.geniimagazine.com/kaufmanandco/
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JON
RACHERBAUMER
www.jonracherbaumer.com
&
www.marlophile.com |
JAMY
IAN SWISS
www.jamyianswiss.com
Email:jis@jamyianswiss.com |
DANNY
ORLEANS
www.corporatemagicltd.com
Email: danny@corporatemagicltd.com |
EUGENE
BURGER
www.magicbeard.com |
MAX
MAVEN
www.maxmaven.com |
AL
SCHNEIDER
www.worldofmagiccenter.com |
DAVID
ACER
www.davidacer.com
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JOE
M. TURNER
http://www.joemturner.com
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JIM
SWAIN
http://www.jimswain.com
Jim Swain, triple-threat
magician who is
a magician-polymath
who writes novels,
magic books, and
performs exceptional
close-up magic.
He now provides
surfers and browsers
with manifold sections
on an animated,
professional-looking
Website.
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