talkmagic.co.uk

Well we all knew it could happen...

The masked magician is back and he is badder than ever.

Here is the blurb

The Masked Magician returns and dares to expose the secrets behind the world’s most mystifying illusions in “Magic’s Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed.” The controversial new series is scheduled to premiere on MyNetworkTV on October 6th and will be presented on Monday nights at 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT.)

The magician’s sacred code of silence is broken forever in these all-new hour-long episodes. The Masked Magician is here to defy his fellow conjurers and disclose the tricks that have captivated audiences for centuries. Over 120 of magic’s most memorable illusions will be unveiled including the “Milk Can Escape,” “Flying,” “Train Levitation,” “Water Escape,” “Crushed by a Steamroller,” “Walking Through a Wall,” “Escaping Death by Wood Chipper,” “Walking on Water” and many more!

“Magic’s Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed” is produced by Bruce Nash Productions and is currently being taped in a “secret” location in Los Angeles , CA .


There is a blog on this that talkes all about it... Kinda funny one of the posts says "Criss Angels Magic Revealed" The Mindfreak is Mindfu**ed!"

Here is the link-
http://maskedmagiciansecrets.blogspot.com/

Do understand that most of what Val is going to "expose" are methods that are either rarely used or (more common) techniques that were invented for the show itself.

Secondly (and those that know my views on exposure are probably already ducking for cover), IF YOU'RE REALLY A "MAGICIAN" IT DON'T MATTER!

Most of the people that watch these shows are Magic Buffs for starters, not the typical every day person. If the ratings weren't there the films wouldn't get shot. It's that simple!

If the wannabes of the magic world would stop crying over the spilt milk and making an issue out of it, they'd stop making the shows. Besides that, magic has been getting exposed for centuries and by most of the bigger names within it's history past and present. So as the gay evangelist said to the whinny parishioner... GET OVER IT, MARY!

No one seems to remember his methods anyway. A few times I've performed and heard a comment along the lines of "I've seen that masked magician do something like that, I can't remember how he did it though".
All he seems to do is build up more interest in magic. I can't condone what he does but he's not the death of magic that so many people seem to think.
Who is he by the way? Val.....who?

I totally agree with Craig.

How many of us TM'ers perform any of these illusions? NONE!

I saw Ali Bongo lecture earlier this week and he said that the fuss that people make about the masked magician surprises him and it should only make us think about how we perform our own magic. If you're concerned about a method being revealed by someone then create a different method.

That's what makes a good magician as opposed to a mediocre one.

Couldn't agree more.
How many times has the TT been revealed and exposed, - I still use it with no comments other than WOW! As DAT says just have to create a new or different way to use these things.

Paul Daniels wants to make a come back apparently. It seems this is the era for come backs - music wise, celerbrity wise. Given that Paul once dressed as Ali G, perhaps he too could don a gimp mask and become Britain's equivalent of the Masked Magician. I only live in fear if he gets his cards out and starts exposing them after all this time. However, I've respect for Paul Daniels, so shouldn't mock him as it was his TV stuff that was the rare TV exposure to magic as a child.

Ironically though, whilst I can understand that some illusionists are stirring uncomfortably with the Masked Magician's return, as a kid, Breaking The Magician's Code was a TV show that sparked intrigue and interest in magic. So whilst this could have repurcussions on big cheese famous illusionists, it could spark public interest in magic generally - think of what little references there are on TV in relation to magic, and how love him or loathe him a lot of spectators use David Blaine as a point of reference (think of someone saying to you: "hey, you could be the next David Blaine!" - cringe). At the very least it will be another reference point.

Having said this, I agree that the rest of we mere mortals are unlikely to perform these grand stage illusions. I don't think I will ever get to penetrate a woman with a sharp sword or saw her in 4 pieces in any foreseeable future. It's only when exposure deals with more tangible things to the average magic performer that we get up in arms about it, such as the TT, although I agree that when used steathily it will still floor a spectator.

Rufio, you bring up a solid point that oddly supports one of the goals Val had in doing this series -- inspiring fresh blood to come into our ranks but more importantly, young people that will think differently when it comes to how magic works...
... now, everyone step back from their computer consoles and consider how many amazing new methods to yesteryear classics as well as "New" effects are now on the market that use new modes of thinking.

After digesting that reality explain to me again how Val has "hurt" us.

As I've pointed out (several time in such threads) most of what Val tips don't even come close to how things actually work... Banachek mockingly jokes about how he's still looking for one of those neat remote control gadgets used for changing time on a borrowed watch... then again, I've only seen one Sub Trunk that was totally backless in my entire career and that was because of a special load used in the routine.

One of my favorite stories about the first Masked Mage special was how Reno area illusionist Dean Hankey knew about the Fork Lift explanation offered in Val's program. Dean had a life sized foam-core cut-out made of the front end of a fork-lift that was deliberately set behind the curtain when he did the levitation... when he was ready for the hoop the curtain was raise, exposing the cut-out... Dean offers a bit of comical frustration before knocking the flat over and taking the hoop so as to proceed with the effect... the moral of the story being that we have way more than one way of skinning the proverbial kitty.

Only rank amateurs and wannabes fear these programs.

I knew things about the Copperfield Flying long before it was ever performed and yet, I still find it beautiful and breathtaking. I can also assure you, audiences still clamor over Peter Pan in flights as well and the wires on said actors have never been completely invisible...

Again, the point is that the public really don't care as much as we do and it's our job to take things further and do them better and in such a way that takes away from the "how".

My personal feeling is that anyone who thinks magic is only about secret methods, doesn't understand magic at all.

I saw a gala show recently, which began with a presentation of flash-bang-wallop effects by a stage illusionist, which did nothing to engage me at all. After that performer left the stage, however, Terry Herbert came on. He did a jumbo ID routine and a cut-and-restored hanky trick. Nothing in his set was a 'magician-fooler', but he had everybody wheezing with laughter.

Terry Herbert was the magician in this case. We all knew how he did what he did, but the whole package was absolutely magical. The other guy did special effects, so far as I'm concerned.

So the Masked Magician's affect on magic is really quite negligible in my opinion. What makes magic magical is its capacity to entertain.

Okay. Off the soapbox... I'll be over there ------->

pcwells wrote:My personal feeling is that anyone who thinks magic is only about secret methods, doesn't understand magic at all.

I saw a gala show recently, which began with a presentation of flash-bang-wallop effects by a stage illusionist, which did nothing to engage me at all. After that performer left the stage, however, Terry Herbert came on. He did a jumbo ID routine and a cut-and-restored hanky trick. Nothing in his set was a 'magician-fooler', but he had everybody wheezing with laughter.

Terry Herbert was the magician in this case. We all knew how he did what he did, but the whole package was absolutely magical. The other guy did special effects, so far as I'm concerned.

So the Masked Magician's affect on magic is really quite negligible in my opinion. What makes magic magical is its capacity to entertain.

Okay. Off the soapbox... I'll be over there ------->

I've been fortunate enough to watch Karrol Fox & Bev Bergeron, Peter Pit and the uncanny Carl Balentine (who don't even do tricks, though he's "the greatest magician on earth...) I can't even think how long a list I could compile of ENTERTAINERS who live up to the higher idea as to what it means to be a "Magician" and yet, everyone on that list is a name most will know and rightfully so. The sad truth of it all is that I can compile a much longer list of those that thought themselves the cat's meow who've (fortunately) faded off into the dusts of history.

I used to wonder why there were so many expensive ball vases on the market, since the ball vase has been a staple part of every kids magic set since I was a kid. Everyone who has ever had a magic trick will have owned a cheap plastic ball vase.

So why the expensive wooden ones?

Who would spend that money on a trick that everybody knows the secret to?

Then I saw Charlie Frye working the ball vase.

Bleedin' eck was it amazing?!

In absolute fairness to the Masked Magician, I am utterly intrigued by the expose as to how to Walk over Water, and no doubt the lay public will. If anything, the positive repurcussions on our art and science could include mischeivous spectators asking: "Hey, can you walk over water?". Plus, I'd imagine the professional magicians here will be thankful for some quip other than "hey, could you make my X disappear?!"

I recall a few years ago when there were a multitude of clips on You Tube from an enthusiastic magician in a mask who did How To tuturials. I happen to thin the gimp mask look is quite fetching, if you had the brazen audacity to don it. There've been clips when another Masked Magician copy cat did 2 Card Monte (not particularly well' i'd like to point out) to an (un)assuming audience. He stood out like a sore thumb outside a bar in America. If anyone else has seen this clip, you;ll no doubt share the cringe, especially when you think of professional wrestlers from WWF circa the 1990s and, more disturbingly, The Machine (i think that's the character)from the dark film 8mm with Joaqin Phoenix and Nicholas Cage.

Craig is fair in pointing out that only mere flash in the pans and non-comitted magicians need be concerned, however; as, for instance, it has often been said that magic is not about performing "tricks", but creating a context, routine or presentation with it. At the risk of flagging up my adolsecent Trekkie years, if you imagine that the gimmicks of the Starship Enterprise and acommpanying gadgets are in effect the backdrop for human conflicts and drama unfolding within the space context, it is the magic of the story telling that engages, not necessirly the props. So too is this vaguely analagous to magic. Sorta. ish.

For the Captain Feathersword show I did, it was kind of obvious that there was a fake wall in my cardboard box, (see my thread for pic) and that the birthday girl was getting into the back, but a lot of the times, people are just there to be entertained, and if you dont make yourself out to be the next David Copperfield, they are happy.

Due to my wife having seen TT so often, and I can see her trying to see which hand its on, I like to switch to a finger using different sized ones.

I like to think of that as a way of why we need the Masked Minga, to encourage us to seek new ways of presentation.

About 5 yrs ago, Im pretty sure it was a MM reveal about the floating bread roll at the dinner table. I saw the show, and forgot all about it.
Yesterday, I saw Criss Angle on youtube revealing the same trick, I hope I dont forget to try it before I forget about it again...

pcwells wrote:I used to wonder why there were so many expensive ball vases on the market, since the ball vase has been a staple part of every kids magic set since I was a kid. Everyone who has ever had a magic trick will have owned a cheap plastic ball vase.

So why the expensive wooden ones?

Who would spend that money on a trick that everybody knows the secret to?

Then I saw Charlie Frye working the ball vase.

Bleedin' eck was it amazing?!

You ought to watch John Gaughan work it... he collects them and has learned to be one of the masters of it.

perhaps a poll...

who here will watch it given the opportunity?

I'm a YES

hello all,
You asked if I will watch it-----count me in!

I also agree with this:

So the Masked Magician's affect on magic is really quite negligible in my opinion. What makes magic magical is its capacity to entertain.

I love to watch magic that is well done, and not know the "how" up front. There is a good talent show from Montreal, Canada I have caught from time to time------magicians are mostly good on it.