October 31: Thumb Tip's Invention
Today marks the birthday of Professor Herwinn (William Humpage) in 1861; he apparently invented the Thumb Tip
October 2025
Almanac
October 28: Robert-Houdin in Algeria
Robert-Houdin’s famous magic performance before the Algerian chieftains occurred in an Algiers theater this night in 1856
Almanac
October 16: Peter Godfrey
Peter Godfrey was born on this day in 1899
Almanac
October 4: The Floating (Toilet) Ball
On this day in 1946, magic dealer Joe Karson filed a U.S. patent for an “Illusion Apparatus,” marketed under the name of Zombie, the floating ball.
Almanac
October 1: Clippo
In the October 1937 Linking Ring, William H. Wilson (Will de Seive) advertised his trick, Clippo.
News
The Rhapsody Theater
Ricardo Rosenkranz’s beautiful, magical theater in Chicago features top-tier talent presented in a lavish theatrical setting
In Practice
Inventing Magic With Rune Klan: Slush Free
Celebrated magician and inventor, Rune Klan joins the program to create and truly magical way to make water vanish, literally, in mid-air!
Perspectives
Sleightly Astonishing
Technology and the Netherlands posse, Jim Hagy brings some important insight to light.
In Practice
Grandma’s Canisters
A Nest of Boxes variation. Yes, you will need to put together a few things to perform it, but there is a joy associated with that process.
Voices
The Evolution of an Illusionist
Jason Bishop demystifies stage illusions, and shows you how to turn them into a specialty.
Workshop
The Warped Deck
Not a real fake, a fake fake: that is, something that simply can’t be—but there it is.
Perspectives
Jackie Merkle
A kid mentalist finds a clever way to make his mark during the Great Depression.