The Masked Magician

Chat about specific magicians and their shows, their careers and their place in the history of magic.

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Postby hitnrun » Nov 27th, '08, 07:54



Hey all, just registered (no duh). First allow me to state that I am in no way, shape or form, a magician by any means. I am a student of Fine Arts, which is drawing, painting, sculpting, etc. I study objects with my eyes so I can render them on paper or in 3D. I have always been morbidly curious about how magic tricks are done. I actually enjoy watching tricks more when I know how they are done. If I don't know, it just annoys me. I must ask, do any magicians on here think its coincidence that Magics Biggest........Revealed is shown before the 2008 Magic Awards? Or did they do this on purpose thinking more people would tune in with a critical eye to decipher the tricks?

One thing I think wouldn't be "breaking the code" - who actually manufactures some of those props? Obviously the secrets that are closely guarded are known by more than just the person getting all the credit for a successful trick. I will mention just one on here - it was on every magicans favorite show </sarcasm> - One trick that I was surprised to see how it worked was how to impale a woman on a spike. It's the one trick that didn't use some of the same old "smoke and mirrors" routines that most magicians have used.

Let me end with this: I hope, even though I'm not magics biggest fan, that it someday evolves into a performing art that doesn't use curtains, and mirrors to hide simple things that when gone unseen make people wonder, "how the heck?"

I'll check back later to see if anyone gives a nice, non flaming reply (It's 2 AM and I'm certain I've typed nothing to provoke a verbal assault - apologies if I have)

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Postby hitnrun » Nov 27th, '08, 09:19

hitnrun wrote:Hey all, just registered (no duh). First allow me to state that I am in no way, shape or form, a magician by any means. I am a student of Fine Arts, which is drawing, painting, sculpting, etc. I study objects with my eyes so I can render them on paper or in 3D. I have always been morbidly curious about how magic tricks are done. I actually enjoy watching tricks more when I know how they are done. If I don't know, it just annoys me. I must ask, do any magicians on here think its coincidence that Magics Biggest........Revealed is shown before the 2008 Magic Awards? Or did they do this on purpose thinking more people would tune in with a critical eye to decipher the tricks?

One thing I think wouldn't be "breaking the code" - who actually manufactures some of those props? Obviously the secrets that are closely guarded are known by more than just the person getting all the credit for a successful trick. I will mention just one on here - it was on every magicans favorite show </sarcasm> - One trick that I was surprised to see how it worked was how to impale a woman on a spike. It's the one trick that didn't use some of the same old "smoke and mirrors" routines that most magicians have used.

Let me end with this: I hope, even though I'm not magics biggest fan, that it someday evolves into a performing art that doesn't use curtains, and mirrors to hide simple things that when gone unseen make people wonder, "how the heck?"

I'll check back later to see if anyone gives a nice, non flaming reply (It's 2 AM and I'm certain I've typed nothing to provoke a verbal assault - apologies if I have)


--edit-- I'm curious - anyone know who owned the tricks that the masked magician revealed? (I know the MM in the new series currently airing, he has killed, to my knowledge, 3 of Copperfields tricks, and at least 2 of Chris Angel's tricks) but who else has the MM debunked?

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Postby Mandrake » Nov 27th, '08, 09:39

I believe most of the stuff used in those shows was hired from prop supply companies and the same props are probably still in use somewhere in Vegas or places where big box magic is being presented. Assuming these new shows run to the same format as the original ones, I can't see the point in Val doing the MM bit again and wearing a mask as we know it's him and we know what he looks like! www.magicweek.co.uk usually refer to these shows as 'Soulless magic' and that sums sit up nicely, they're more of an instructional show than revealing secrets - give it a few months and only magicians will remember the exposure - even then I'll bet only a few magicians (or those who just ran their old video taped copies!) can remember all the effects Val showed in the first series. Having said that, I can still vividly remember most of the dancers :wink: ! Giving these shows the oxygen of publicity is the worst thing we can do, just look down on them from our lofty perch and tut quietly with disapproval - then go out and do some proper magic!

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Postby hitnrun » Nov 27th, '08, 22:25

Mandrake wrote:I believe most of the stuff used in those shows was hired from prop supply companies and the same props are probably still in use somewhere in Vegas or places where big box magic is being presented. Assuming these new shows run to the same format as the original ones, I can't see the point in Val doing the MM bit again and wearing a mask as we know it's him and we know what he looks like! www.magicweek.co.uk usually refer to these shows as 'Soulless magic' and that sums sit up nicely, they're more of an instructional show than revealing secrets - give it a few months and only magicians will remember the exposure - even then I'll bet only a few magicians (or those who just ran their old video taped copies!) can remember all the effects Val showed in the first series. Having said that, I can still vividly remember most of the dancers :wink: ! Giving these shows the oxygen of publicity is the worst thing we can do, just look down on them from our lofty perch and tut quietly with disapproval - then go out and do some proper magic!


I'm one of the few people, once I see it done - I don't forget it. Unless we're talking Mathematics - then it's like don't ask. But seriously, I keep seeing on these forums things like "proper magic", "real magic", "magics greatest secrets".. I dunno I think some of the stuff the MM has shown seems like pretty big secrets. Siege said the MM hasn't covered anything like "TT"s, IT's, sleights of hand - but the MM certainly has. He showed how to make a soda can levitate, a dollar bill float, he showed that trick where you light flash paper inside of a metallic looking pot, close the lid and either a dove or fake flowers pop up, how to transfer a flame from a candle, to his hand, and back and many others. I hope some of you watch the show. I'm seeing some gimmicks mentioned and I'm not sure if some of you realize the MM revealed it. The "TT" for example.. He's used it twice so far.

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Postby rjsnyder114 » Nov 28th, '08, 20:19

What this guy is doing is really disrespectful. Take the linking rings for instance. There is just a very suttle illusion involved with this effect which has been around centuries. When it is disrespected and put to the masses as a joke it hurts everyone. The MM taking head that that is behind the production is openly disrespectful to the art of magic with his little speeches after the exposure. Magic is an art of deception and secrets. Everyone knows it is not real magic, but it makes them wonder for a minute at the creativity of the art. This show is a joke and has never garnered huge ratings and the only reason it is back on is because he is debunking Angel. How would you feel if you put everything you have into a show and someone just flippedly comes along and mocks you. Equate it to this. When someone at a party is telling a joke. What would you think of another person blurting out the punch line in the middle of it. Same thing, just bigger and more expensive consequences. To Hit and Run. For you to be interested in magic is fine and very well received by the magic community. You are called an enthusiast if you want to learn and study the art of magic but do not wish to perform. Most people with your interest end up doing magic infrequently in their lives because they enjoy it. Email me at rjsnyder1@verizon.net, I would like to talk with you about your interest.

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Postby hitnrun » Dec 9th, '08, 17:24

Wow, almost a whole month and I'm just now getting back to this forum. RJ, sorry I haven't e-mailed, I'm a busy little bee at the moment and I must be quite honest: I don't have a real desire to perform magic. MBSFR is just something I watch to find out how some tricks are done - but I have no real intent on actually performing these tricks. Nothing big anyway. Maybe just some small stuff to impress little kids if they need something to take their mind off of a bully, or a bad grade or something. Seeing a cool yet simple trick always helps out a little kid (if they like that sort of thing). Some of the stuff I've seen on MBSFR is stuff I can actually do - like the disappearing toothpick, and putting a cigarette through a quarter. Although I bet even smaller tricks like that take a little skill to perform. The biggest part being to make sure everyone has a straight on view.

BTW, I'm quite outraged because it hasn't been on for the past 2 weeks. If it has been, then I missed it. The main thing I want to see is how Criss Angel "walks on water". Plenty of videos with theories on youtube, but those are just that: Theories. I mean if you think he's really walking on water, you need to be in a nice white coat with some straps, and a beautiful white room with padded decor.

--edit-- I just now read on Wikipedia (THE most reliable soure of information on the net </sarcasm>) and I found out the show won't return until Spring of 09, which is right around the corner.

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Postby flaw07 » Jan 4th, '09, 08:36

i actually think what he is doin is kinda cool.
he claimed when the shows first season aired that he(MM) wanted magic to continue evolving, and never rest on its laurels. I mean think about it, for quite some time, sawing a lady in half was a big thing, he debunked it and people began doing new effects to WOW and fool people. He revealed Angels woodchipper trick(which I plan on trying to do eventually) and I can assume Angel took that and used it as movitaiton to come up with something bigger and better. In one of the earlier seasons, he revealed a card trick that I did frequently when I started last year. When a friend of mine pointed out that he had figured it out by watching MM on youtube, I immediatly began looking for ways to retool it and make it new.

So I not only enjoy his show but am grateful for what he does. It allows us as performers to continue to push forward and evolve this art as well as brings new people into the fold.

but thats just my two cents :roll:

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Postby Mandrake » Mar 3rd, '10, 11:05

Anyone stuck at home in the UK with Sky TV today and tomorrow might enjoy seeing the original Maked Magician murdered 'orribly on TV by the bed of spikes illusion... OK, it's not a real murder and it's in the 'Diagnosis Murder' series with everyone's favourite chimney sweep, Dick Van Dyke!

Val Valentino reprises his role, complete with what appears to be three of the original dancers, the removal of his mask, and the sterotypical enraged mob of Magicans baying for his blood. It's a two parter, part one this afternoon on Hallmark (that nice greetings card company!) at 12mid-day and again at 1pm on +1, part two tomorrow same times - also at 8 and 9am if anyone's up that early and have nothing better to do!

(I really must get out more.....)

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Postby spooneythegoon » Mar 15th, '10, 17:34

I don't personally like the MM shows, as they think thats what all magic shows/performances should be like. I heard someone at the end of a Derren Brown show on TV announce that they couldn't be bothered with these shows anymore, because DB was rubbish. They then went on to say "Thats two of his shows and seen so far, and he's still not told me how he did it!" :roll:

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Postby virgoz » Aug 30th, '10, 05:31

well for me ... it's not a really big trouble for me ... so many positive things from him actually for my countr .. because there are so many people in indonesia think that the Magicians (Pesulap in bahasa) use kind of dark spirit or satan something. but by the MM show the Negative thinking by the people just break their mind.
and it just like a zeal for the magician to push our mind to be more creative .. :D

Sorry for my bad english

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Postby Mandrake » Aug 30th, '10, 11:16

Sir Reginald Scot did something simlar over here quite a few years ago..... :wink:

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Postby krys » Sep 7th, '10, 08:55

i love watching breaking the magician's code here in australia and have been to heaps of magic shows in the past. i love the way that the MM demonstrates the tricks he is so good.
however i was wondering if anyone knows if he will be ever coming out to Australia as i would really love to see him in live action?
:D
is he still continuing to do shows over in America?
I may need to come there to see him

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Postby Alec Burns » Sep 7th, '10, 12:44

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/2223312/u ... _magician/

Im not sure if this link has been posted on this thread already as i havnt looked back but there you go.

An interesting view point or just some much needed publicity and a pay cheque??

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Postby The4thCircle » Jun 9th, '11, 16:47

I know this thread died a long time ago, but I couldn't pass it by without dropping my opinion in....

I always found the worst part of the Masked Magician shows to be the voiceover, which describes the methodology like it were a crime scene. Something about the tone of it implies that we should somehow be disgusted at the charlatan on display.

The script uses lots of diminutives to describe the mechanisms, as if they're so simple and obvious that we should be ashamed for having been fooled by them.

Whilst the exposure thing may be seen as a good or bad thing for magic in general, the dismissive tone and disrespectful presentation of the programme is, in my mind, definitely a bad thing for magicians.

-Stacy

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Postby Krakon » Jul 30th, '11, 12:45

I respect the masked magician because he has introduced magic to new audiences. I respect him even more for revealing him self and stating why he sowed us the secrets of magic. If he wouldn't of done that, my opinion would have been completely different.

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