The masked magician hasn't been popular for years and the truth is most people will forget the exposures.

I agree but it is a not good...

12-15 years ago
and is still on re-runs here in mexico and I am talking about the old episodes..
so he is gotta have some ratings here

still that doesn't matter..
people really never remembers how he does his stuff nor trully comprehend what he does cause is really dull

The series is back on again here in Sydney and I look at the tricks and think that it would just heighten your appreciation of seeing the effect live. Many of his larger illusions seem to be designed for TV only - sightlines at a live show would give a lot of them away.

The MM Shows are getting a lot of viewings here in Malaysia...

Hmm... There really are no more "Magic Secrets" imho...

Here....this will make you guys feel better. Karma is a great thing!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8tQgHiMGGU

All Ellusionist Magic Tricks Exposed, here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZUry-4VFw4

Inspiring. There is hope...!

That was great- I love it!

Love both of them!

Volto, I about spewed my iced tea all over my computer! ROFLMFAO! That is about the funniest freakin' thing I have seen in a long time! Thanks for that!

Doug

If you mean Prohibition, Scott, yeah that ruined it for me, too. I didn't know about the show revealing that one, until I performed it at a party in Florida, and got NAILED bad, in front of half a dozen people. The guy stood up and told everyone about the "Masked Magician" and exposed the secret. Blew my whole performance, since I've always used it as a closer.

Now, several years later, and in a different state (Maine), it's like it never happened! It fries people again! Danny Doyle is correct, not an issue now. Although I WAS pretty steamed about it, people forget. Time healed that wound!

Doug

Yeah, until you are confronted with it, it doesn't seem to be worth worrying about. Sort of like being robbed...

Guys, the Masked Magician got people interested in magic. He did nothing but good for us. I might have an issue with his lack of charisma, but I have no problem with the shows he did. I enjoyed them.

Well, then there's that side of it. I no longer feel so threatened by him, now that the show kinda fizzled. Again, people forget. The ones who want to do magic, do. They see Val Valentino in a mask, exposing our craft, and a few people might join The Magic Café!

The rest all watch American Idol or Dancing With The Stars, or whatever, and forget the box has a trap door, or the thingee in the whatzit slides, or the guy has a hidden kaboodle. I wonder what Charlie Justice thought when his Prohibition effect was exposed? "Gee, this helps me sell more!" Hmmm. Hey, your mileage may vary...

I found this article interesting from the Shawano Wisconsin paper. It says that magic is dead because of exposure.



The editor of a magic magazine responded to the above article with the following advice to magicians in his monthly column.



The editor offering the sound advice was Percy Abbott and the year was 1936. Magicians need to stay the course as Percy suggests IMO.

I agree totally!

I investigated the past a little further and a whole little scuffle developed over what magicians were and weren't doing about exposure in the late 1930's. Much too long for this forum, I put together an article on this which kind of recaps the highlights of the decade (including 3 pdf's, 2 from columnist Eddie Clever, 1 from the S.A.M. President) at

http://topsmag.com/Newest_Tops/?p=1968

The similarities in the letters as it relates to the events going on today are astounding considering this was over 70 years ago. The bad thing was the war on exposure appeared to be turning inward toward magic and the powers that be in magic in that era.

If I might just play devils advocate for a minute. Exposer is not what kills magic. Its bad performances that kills magic. The proof is in OUR own appreciation of the craft. While many of us are well educated in how tricks work we can still be mesmerized by a gifted performer. If a trick you own is exposed publicly, devise a new presentation for it. That is the true secret of magic. According to Andrew Mayne the tricks exposed in "Discoveries of Witchcraft" were consider antiquated at the time of there exposer but to this day can still mystify an audience. Think also about the almighty TT and how many times it has been shown to lay ppl but in the hands of a master will never even be suspected. Don't get me wrong I DON'T LIKE EXPOSER but my life and or performances won't be effected at all by it.

Very well stated...
I've been a hobbiest/ part time magician for well over 20 years and still find myself fooled from time to time by some of the very techniques I use and am proficient with. I guess for me it's because I'm not looking for the secret when captivated by good quality entertainment.

In my experience, when I've faced an audience that is "in the know" it's never been a bad experience. However my style doesn't challenge the audience; I'm simply trying to entertain them and they know this.

So here's my 2 cents on the subject...

Exposure has been and always will be a question of ethics. Some say exposure hurts those that make their living at magic. This may be true to some degree but as jdmagic said if your performance is good people will watch.

What about magicians such as Houdini that purposely exposed so-called psychics. Ok... don't flame me for this just trying to get everyone thinking from a different angle. Yes I don't believe in making false claims about ones "power" or "abilities" and I definitely don't condone using peoples belief systems to take advantage of and profit from them... however; magicians have exposed psychics for decades and that is how they make a living.

Everyone knows that "magic" is not real and that poses the challenge that most logical thinkers are automatically going to try and find the secret. Remove the puzzle and people don't care. I believe we need to connect with our audiences on a level that simply invites them do be ok being fooled.

The "exposure" guy in your audience is nothing more than a heckler and needs to be dealt with as such. We've all been burned during a performance whether from a mistake on our part or the masked magician, youtube, etc...

So now my thoughts lead me to stealing and giving away others secrets. This is 100% wrong. Just like stealing music, movies, lecture notes, and so on. I believe in supporting the creators of magic for the sole reason that I want them to keep creating and sharing. I love going to a lecture and leaving with a smile on my face thinking, "why didn't I think of that!"

So, ok I guess I've got that off my chest. Not sure if anything I said is of value but it's been on my mind for weeks now and now I've left it on your minds! As a community let's keep pushing forward and remember why we perform and enjoy watching magic. The "exposure's" will always be part of our lives and at times we have all been "exposure's".

I thank you all here at the Café for helping improve my magic and look forward to continued growth and knowledge.

Let's remember to support the quality creators of magic by buying their books, DVD's and props. The ones out there for a quick buck will get just that and than be well...

EXPOSED!

B.f.d; it's a non-event