May 2025

Max Speaks to Balsamo

Max Speaks to Balsamo

Two admirable minds—one powered by a love of magic and a reputation for originality, the other powered by an impressive mechanism and a reputation for ingenuity—joined forces for one evening in 1997. Here’s what happened when Max spoke to Balsamo.

Jim Steinmeyer
Babu

Babu

Babu is a nest of wallets effect from Ari Phillips, produced by Grum Leather Crafts. The method is basically the same as the early ones, including Nicholas Einhorn’s, but it has Velcro loading from the side, so the spectator can open the wallets freely, which is great.

Genii Reviewer
Henry Harrius Bottles

Henry Harrius Bottles

In Henry Harrius’ Refilled, the magician places an empty glass beer bottle into a paper bag and goes through the usual jokes of making it “disappear” and “come back” by turning the bag upside down and holding the bottle through the paper.

Genii Reviewer
Scotch and Whiskey

Scotch and Whiskey

This is a classic Scotch and Soda set, but made with keys. There have been many other nesting key effects in the last few years, including some released after Scotch and Whiskey, but Hanson Chien really seems to have produced the most realistic-looking key.

Genii Reviewer
Eclectica: It Starts With a Story

Eclectica: It Starts With a Story

I remember the very first part of my own journey that edged me towards magic, and my first real magic book. It was all about the driving power of a story, one that engrossed me before I had ever met a magician.

Chris Power
Maybe You’re A Black Hole?

Maybe You’re A Black Hole?

That’s the question I always ask magicians: Why magic? If you never thought about it, you aren’t alone. So take a minute: Why do you do magic? I’ll wait….

Alba