My Favourite Magicians
I’m often asked who are some of my favourite magicians. The list has grown since I started learning how to be a magician. Some of my favourite magicians are well known to the general public and others are fantastic, but less well known.
My First Favourite Magican
As luck would have it, I got interested in magic the same year that Canadian magician, Doug Henning, had his first American national TV special. At that time, in the mid-seventies, there were only three major American networks. Doug’s live special, which aired December 26, 1975, was watched by over 50 million Americans. That was almost a quarter of the entire population of the States that year.
Doug’s show was modern and feature unbelievable magic presented in a style that appealed to young people. It was definitely not your grandfather’s magic show.
Another of My Favourite Magicians
After Doug Henning retired from performing a new magician named David Copperfield appeared on the scene. His TV specials were all really well produced and featured some of the very best magic on the planet. David’s dedication to creating compelling plots to his magic allowed him to ride a wave of popularity for many years.
David paired his magic sequences with popular music of the day. Often times when I hear one of those pieces of music on the radio, one of his illusions will immediately pop into my mind. I don’t think that there are many magicians who have ever put so much effort into their presentations as Copperfield. His canon of work is incredible.
Less Well Known Favourite Magicians
Gene Anderson and Rick Wilcox are also two of my favourite magicians. Both have become good friends. I first met Gene at one of the first magic conventions I ever attended. It was held in Toronto. Fortunately, my dad’s mom lived there and I was able to stay with her while attending the convention.
Gene wasn’t a full-time magician, but was better than most magicians that performed for their living. His presentations were always really well thought out and funny. Over the years, he gave me good guidance about how to select magic for a show and how to create a presentation that fit well with my personality. I see Gene every year at a convention I attend every April.
I met Rick Wilcox at the same convention. He and his wife celebrated 25 years of performing at their 500-seat theatre in Wisconsin Dells. It is a tourist town, not unlike Branson, Missouri. Every year 10’s of thousands of visitors witness their show. The magic ranges in size from amazing up-close magic projected onto a screen to making a helicopter appear on stage.
Rick and Susan really project an energy and love of what they do and the 25 years that they’ve been performing at their theatre is testament to their ability to enchant family audiences.
You’re My Favourite Magician
Sometimes, after a show, audience members come up to me and say that I’m their favourite magician. With children, sometimes I’m the only magician they’ve ever seen, but with adults, I know they’ve seen more than one. There have been times when an adult came up to me and said that normally they don’t like magic shows, but they really enjoyed mine. That makes me feel good that the time and effort I spent creating and rehearsing a show is appreciated.