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
Vol. 88, No. 10
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.
In Performance
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, September 2025
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.