talkmagic.co.uk

Hey folks

The reason for this thread is to find out who you rate as the top ten magicians in history. I don't really think about this too much but I would be interested in maybe purchasing autobiographies or whatnot to learn more about the history of magic rather than seem conceted in my own quest to greatness

As its something I havent really thought about, the ten do not have to be in any order. Im just looking for inspiration from the successed of those in the past or indeed present.

My ten would therefore be...

Paul Harris
Dai Vernon
Mark Wilson
Lance Burton
Daryl
Jeff Mcbride
Mark Wilson
Jean Hugard
Harry Houdini
David Blaine

Just to clarify, I have not studied the works of many of the above. I am coming to my own conclusions based on the things I have heard. And so I dont trust my own list, but will see how my ten comes close to those who know enough to make an informed decision.

Oh and even though I am by no means a fan ( far from it ), I have included Blaine in there simply because we cannot deny ( however much I would like to ) that he has done a lot for the art of magic and recently too!! Magic always evolves and Blaine contributed a big part to that, or was it Paul Harris who was the brains behind it all and Blaine just looked more 'street' to carry it off!!

I'd include David Copperfield somewhere although I know that his style of performance doesn;t sit well with everyone.

I'm also a big fan of Lennart Green so he'd be in my list.

Might I ask how David Blaine got on the list? He may have freshened the world of street magic but he is by far not worthy of the top ten list. Maybe top 30 would be suiting for him.

I'd include David Copperfield somewhere

I second that.

It should also be noted that you put Mark Wilson on your list twice.

And Mark Lewis not even once. This is the end of civilisation as we know it.

mark lewis wrote:And Mark Lewis not even once. This is the end of civilisation as we know it.

Mark, as soon as I saw you had posted on this thread, I knew it was to comment on not being included.

Maybe I am psychic too?

Ali Bongo - nuff said.

yeah...i'll second that Bongo, and offer up Berglas for the list...

Where's Ed Marlo and SW Erdnase?

Or how about the greatly underrated and lesser spoke of Lorayne, Bro Hamman, etc?

To compile a list is a great idea, but putting Blaine on there without even mentioning the inspirations and inventors of the stuff he uses is a little unfair

no ones mentioned Hugard either...except me just then...

Like sige mentioned Harry Lorrayne id definatly have him up there. A great magician and an exellent teacher.

Or even Robert Houdin

Perhaps we need to refine a definition. Do you mean the best performer? The best writer? The best inventor/innovater? The most famous? The one who has done the most to revolutionise magic?

A lot of the above people do not fit in some categories but do quite well in others.

if this will help...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_magicians

though as its wiki, the content might be absolute rubbish...i say we hijack it, split it up into sections and add to it as we go...

and maybe a "modern day" section too?

all time greats
influential
sleight masters
creators/inventors
teachers
modern day

something like that anyway...maybe...

mmmm let me think david blaine v paul daniels sorry dave your out the top ten

and I heard (proberbly down the pub so it must be true ) that theres a magician in hollywood who just does private shows for the stars, he is one of the highest earners in magic. So like in golf does this make him top ten???