Anthony Darkstone In Conversation with Eugene Burger

As some reading this may be aware I have written a series of articles entitled, “Anthony Darkstone in Conversation With… “ featuring many of the major names in the business.  For some reason the following article which was written some years ago was not included in that series.  No real reason except that sometimes for reasons which we are not privy to things occur. Since the passing of The...

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...

Sound Systems for Magicians 2023

By David Reed-Brown Welcome to the wonderful world of sound systems for magicians. When audio doesn’t work well in a show for me, it’s my nightmare! Audiences, in fact, will forgive many things, but not poor audio, whether it’s live or online. Unless you are a silent act, what is the point of all your preparation if they cannot hear you? Good audio can make magical performances by 2 or even...

The Meta-Magic of L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz by D. Michael Smith

“Like all great stories, The Wizard of Oz provides a template that allows us to open ourselves to the hidden capacities we had forgotten we had; the creative potentials we didn’t know how to use; and the deeper knowing . . . that is within every one of us. We are so much more than we thought we were.”  (The Wizard of Us, Jean Houston, 2012, p. 12) When I was five years old, I saw the movie,...

“24/7” – Game On by Geoffrey Grimes

An inaugural recipient of the “Eugene Burger Legacy Award,” Geoffrey Grimes, a member of the IBM and SAM, is a performing magician and 2019 president of the Fort Worth Magicians Club. “Hey, magic man!” came the shout from across the college plaza between buildings. “If you’re so good, man, you won’t have to reach into your pockets!” After years of staging community magic shows at the...