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The Best Magician in the World ? Mystro?

 

 

What the?!

We write weird stuff here at Inside Magic.  The weird articles don?t always start out weird but sometimes we either forget to take our medication, or we take too much, or we are possessed by that lady from the Infomercial talking incessantly about dust particles. 

 

The SF Crowsnest site has consistently good and weird fantasy fiction and essays.  We hadn?t noticed any articles about magicians or dust particles until today.

 

Geoff Willmetts has written a very short story titled The Best Magician in the World.  Logically, we assumed it was about someone we knew.  Perhaps it was a fictional assessment of the Inside Magic 2004 Magician of the Year. 

 

But it was none of that.  It is the story of Mystro and his efforts to prove to some booking agent that he is the best there is. 

 

I have read it now about 15 times and am not sure what it means.  It is a strange little piece; complete with a funny/true reference to dove workers.  Okay, maybe only Dan Sperry ? the Dove Worker?s Dove Worker ? should read it.  He?ll probably laugh but maybe not. 

 

Check it out and check out the other pieces of fiction on the site.  They?re all short in length but deep (or we?re just shallow) in meaning. 

 

Click …
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January 1st, 2005 | Category: Magic News | Leave a comment

A Magical First Night of the Year Features Bruce Kalver

 

 

The Indefatigable Bruce Kalver

The Westerly (Rhode Island) Sun notes magician Bruce Kalver?s prominent role the Tenth Annual First Night Westerly Celebration. 

 

The festival provides a family-oriented celebration of the New Year with activities and shows throughout downtown Westerly.  This year, families could check-out the tapestry quilt display, bands, a teen dance and meet The Cat in the Hat as well as Spiderman. 

 

However, ten-year old Brittany Tassias was waiting for one act in particular, Bruce Kalver.  ?It’s good, I like it,” the paper reports the young fan as gushing.  “It’s interesting.”

 

Her mother, Connie, joined the young Miss Tassias? opinion; they enjoy the festival and magic show ?because of Mr. Kalver’s talents.?

 

Mr. Kalver has been performing to appreciative audiences for almost four decades.  Last night he elected to reprise effects from the more than a hundred years ago.  “I’m going to do some magic from the 1800s to show that even old magic tricks can fool people even today.”

 

Mr. Kalver?s grandfather fostered his love of our art.  He told reporters that his grandfather was an assistant to Houdini and would often build props for the famous magician.  He encourages other young people by performing professionally and has participated in the First Nights for the last eight of its ten years. 

 

Mr. Kalver serves magicians outside the Rhode Island arena through…
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January 1st, 2005 | Category: Magic News | Leave a comment

The Inside Magic Magician of the Year Named

 

 

The Inside Magic Magician of the Year Crystal Trophy

The top three nominees for the 2004 Inside Magic Magician(s) of the Year were: Mark Kalin & Jinger Leigh; Lance Burton; and, Siegfried & Roy.  The judges agreed this year?s deliberation was very difficult. Ultimately, though, they made a decision.

 

The judging panel includes professional and amateur magicians from around the world and from many different disciplines within our art.  They were able to select a winner.  That, in and of itself, was a miracle.  In fact, loyal readers of Inside Magic will recall that while the contest began in 2001, the judges selected the first Inside Magic Magician of the Year in 2002.  The first recipient was FISM Champion Henry Evans of Argentina.  In 2003 (as in 2001), the judges decided they would not award the title.  The winner of this year?s contest, therefore, is only the second winner in the last four years.

 

Inside Magic?s Magician of the Year must exemplify the guiding principles of Inside Magic and its readers: originality, ethics, talent, and dedication to the art of magic.  It is not required that the magician be professional or performing to be nominated.

 

Note: the judging panel?s comments are included below and identified with quotation marks.

 

The Final Nominees from an original group of 55 are:

 

 

Mark Kalin & Jinger Leigh

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January 1st, 2005 | Category: Magic Stories | Leave a comment