talkmagic.co.uk

It's sad and funny at the same time to read all the TV generation magicians here elevating David Blaine into the pantheon already.

No, he's obviously not horrible -- on the contrary -- but his magic is 90 percent derivative, not to mention that his ABC TV specials rely on heavy editing. How do you know the huge reaction on any particular street trick isn't the 50th take among 49 duds? Also, I have no patience with hokey stunts like sitting over London in a glass box. Publicity stunts ain't the same as depth of performance knowledge.

Just my humble opinion.

Come to the Magic Castle here in Los Angeles if you want to see take-your-breath-away magic -- done *live.*

My picks are Houdini, Harry Lorayne, Mark Wilson, Dai Vernon and Jean Hugard. But then, it all depends on which criteria one employs...

darklight wrote:for me it has to be Derren Brown

Though I agrre with what is said here I also agree with Allen

however there might be someon much greater than DVB that will push him off the great magician podium.

David blaine makes bad magic look good

definetely the legend Houdin (not houdini), or hermann

The best all time magician would have to be Houdini because he made up so many of the magic principles that we use today.

I've probably got to go with Houdini, followed by Robert-Houdin and then Lance Burton.

Houdini because of the of the story that goes with him. He led a very interesting life and founded some of the basics behind tricks we all use today.

dai vernon, hugard, anneman, corinda, knepper, brown...

jodi6302 wrote:The best all time magician would have to be Houdini because he made up so many of the magic principles that we use today.

But performance wise...

There is a reason he is most well-known for his escapes and not his magic.

Maybe the greatest magician in history the person comes up with a trick that is totally impossible but he never gives away the method and no one ever works it out.

I would have thought that it was perfectly obvious who the greatest magician in history is........................

mark lewis wrote:I would have thought that it was perfectly obvious who the greatest magician in history is........................

Do you get into many fights?

Vernon has left his mark in my repertoire.

Its Criss Angel!!

only joking

I'd say Houdini because alot of magicians namecheck him and what AJ82 said earlier about him being behind the principle of most of the magic that is done today. However its relative to ask who is the best magician because there are so many who have a different style to each other.

for me the magicain that has made the most impact on me was paul danials ok so he aint the most famous! but he made me look at magic, either him or mark wilson or the davenport that opened the shop 100 odd years ago

Someone said "the greatest was Tommy Cooper, but it wasn't really magic."

I don't agree. He DID use magic. He used magic props and as we are constantly told, it is all about the performance. NOBODY has come near to Tommy in his ability to make people laugh and enjoy themselves while performing magic. He found that he got a better reception and lots of laughter when his tricks went wrong, so he changed his act to make sure this happened. My feeling of greatest is who, if it was possible, out of all the magicians that have ever been, would I want to see. If I could have had an hour watching Tommy live, it would be something to always remember. Think of all the magicians on your favourite list. Imagine they were all putting on shows at the same time. You could choose only one of them to see. The one you choose would be your own greatest.

Don't fall into the trap of greatest magic, when you think of greatest magician. Magicians are entertainers after all.