Could fellow magicians please tell me who they think are the best magicians ever and why, as I am doing a servey that will be shown on a new magic series on itv in the summer
Thankyou all
PURE EFFECT

Dead or alive?

Dead: Dai Vernon

Alive: Lance Burton. He's a brilliant sleight of hand performer.

Different Magicians excel in different areas of magic so I don't think you can simply identify just one person.

I think Michael Ammar is a fantastic Close Up Performer, and teacher this this type of magic. His technical skill is excellent and his teaching through books and videos is clear.

I agree with Magic Chris's choice of Lance Burton as a Stage Performer. In fact it was through watching his Manipulation act on TV in 1980 or 1990 which sparked off my now lifelong interest in Magic.

I could go on at length, but the two above are people I've observed and been impressed with above and beyond others.

Best wishes,

Brian.

Definitely David Blaine. He can float 3 feet off the ground. Oh wait, that was trick editing. I take it back.
Definitely "The Mentalist."- He can make a person taste specific soups by just tasting a spoonful of water. For instance he gave someone the ability to taste "French Onion" soup. I mean I can see how someone could taste onion in their water, but French Onion. That's amazing. Unless it was a stooge. Oh wait, it had to have been a stooge. In fact it doesn't even make sense that you'd say French Onion. Nobody tastes French Onion. You taste onion. That's a major oversight on his part. In fact that effect just plain sucks. How can you screw up a mentalism effect with a stooge. Oh my goodness, did I say Gerry The Mentalist" was the greatest. I meant to say he's the greatest hack.

Classical Stage Magic = Harry Blackstone, Jr. (loved that beautiful DEEP voice!)

David Blaine caused renewed interest in our art. The "character" he and Paul Harris created for him was perfect for out times!!

Mike Walton... hands down.

It's gotta be Derek Heron (www.derekheron.com)

er, you can vote for yourself, can't you, oh yeah it's called marketing, hee hee!

Local Chicago magician Reis O'Brien.

As a fan of Coin Manipulation, I would say Roth.

Living, I'm a great admirer of Mc Bride for that elegant stuff. Deceased - Tommy Cooper was a blast - not classic, but he stamped his personality on his magic.

Daryl
Tommy wonder
Michael Ammar

A close tie for all three

I would have to say Ammar and Daryl. I may be crazy, but David Copperfield is fun to see and he has sparked a lot of interest in the art.

Thanks for continuing to propagate the memory of the late , great Lorenzo Blaine ("The Jekyll Island Fakir" ).

As I wrote in my response to your post on the "Most Underated Magician" topic , not many remember him these days , but old-timers fondly recall his brilliant impromptu effect , Lobster from Milady's Handbag .

Thankyou people 4 your posts

In my opinion, Cooperfiel,Daryl,Mcbride, and Ammar.
But I cant't forget Bill Malone, this guy is a great magician and really funny.

Hi!
first of all, I don't think that it's possible to say: there is ONE best magician ever!
in my opinion there a lot of magicians which are overestimated. many people think the larger an illusion is, the better is the magician who performs it!
I think there are many great magicians out there, who are infamous and just do magic for fun!
(of course there are MANY great professions too!!!)
greetings!
andy

Dave Neighbors - Wonderfull to watch him do coin work on his knees with his mat.

Dead as an entertainer for close up - Don Alan and Heba Haba Al and Max Malini

Live as an entertainer for close up - Johnny Thompson & Bill Malone

Dead as a stage performer - Harry Blackstone Sr.
Live as a stage performer - Lance Burton & Jeff McBride

Dead cabaret performer - Chop Chop, Johnny Platt
Live cabaret performer - Mac King

Mentalist (single) dead - Dunninger
Mentalist (single) live - Kreskin and Derren Brown

Mentalists (couple) - Falkenstein & Willard

Bizarre (dead) - Tony Andruzzi (Masklyn ye Mage)
Bizarre living - Eugene Burger

Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.

Lee Darrow, C.Ht.

I just can say, who is surley not: DAVID BLAME (you see the word-game??-->BLAME!!! hahahahhahhaahha)