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each magician has there own unique patter lines as well as performance but one thing for sure is the ones who have passed on have left a great legacy to all the magicians still alive and all the magicians that are up and coming
little anecdotes and phrases lessons in the art of magic
the most common one is vernons larger action covers the small great lesson in misdirection

rene levand on the other hand has shown his skill through only 1 arm which speaks to all as nothing is impossible you achieve what you desire

Harry Houdini was best

MagicWang wrote:Harry Houdini was best

Truthfully Houdini wouldn't stand a gnats chance in hades of making it in today's world. He was boorish as all get out but only the few of us here that have seen his films or listened to recordings of his performances would know that.

As to the Golden Era Masters I'd have to rank Kellar as the earliest of the grand masters followed by Howard & Harry Thurston. From this same time period Blackstone Sr would have to be in the mix. Following this time almost immediately, would be Dante who kind of segued magic into the mid-part of the 20th century when Television was coming into vogue, the post war years giving us Channing Pollack, Fred Kapps, Kalanag, and of course the Television competitors (I only know the ones from the states who had top dominance) like Kirkham, Chuck Jones, Mark Wilson and Melbourne Christopher.

Each era (about every 15-20 years) you will find new "Masters" recognized but two individuals really stand out when it comes to longevity; Blackstone Sr who's career spanned well over 50 years at top levels or recognition, and Mark Wilson who has come very close to the same, either man proving to be the Patriarchs of industry based dynasties given second and now third generation extensions to the family name but they likewise have progeny not directly related to them but rather created and endorsed by them.

We must also remember that there is a huge difference between being "The Best" vs. being the "best known". Few of the rich and famous are literal "masters" to the craft, especially now days. The majority of commercial performers are simply good showmen, not necessarily technical experts or even effect developers... they just do what the instructions tell them to do, so to speak, and they do it well. But when it comes to technique coupled with showmanship, the list is quite short.

Too, as has been said already in this thread "The Best" is a matter of personal perspective or group-mind appreciation. But in that "pigeon hole" type of view we must consider independent aspects of magic and based on those various categories, who could be seen as the more proficient within each; Is Alan Alan the more legendary escapist or would that best suit Steve Baker? Who was the stronger illusionist, Henning or Copperfield? At that, who is the superior Illusion Technician and effects developer? Today we have a very long list of very qualified personalities that fit said niche but we also find that we need to divide that between the innovators, conceptionalists, and actual builders & craftspeople.

If you ever visit Las Vegas and can arrange it, visit Butch's Bra Factory and listen to the Houdini tapes, I think you'll find them quite eye opening

I won't go so far as to say that Houdini was the best magician in history. After all that distinction naturally falls on me and I would have thought that to be patently obvious.

However there is not denying that Houdini was and indeed still is the most famous magician of all time.

To still be a household name all over the world 83 years after your death ain't bad. And no TV in those days either.

mark lewis wrote:I won't go so far as to say that Houdini was the best magician in history. After all that distinction naturally falls on me and I would have thought that to be patently obvious.

However there is not denying that Houdini was and indeed still is the most famous magician of all time.

To still be a household name all over the world 83 years after your death ain't bad. And no TV in those days either.

He was a smart Jewish kid with a great publicist, go figure

Actually the best publicist he ever had in life was himself!
And in death the best publicist he had was Edward Saint.

Another vote for David Blaine here he is the best entertainer / magician i have met.

mark lewis wrote:Actually the best publicist he ever had in life was himself!
And in death the best publicist he had was Edward Saint.

After death, The best publicist that Bess had was Edward Saint.

Actually Edward Saint died before Bess did.

remind me..was that before, or after the last official seance, when she famously said, lets turn out the light, good night Harry?

Im answering my own question it was after.. But lord he looked old. It couldnt of been long before Saint passed on as well.

Bess was posthumously furious with Ed Saint because he left her with a ton of Houdini publicity and paraphenalia and she didn't know what to do with it all.