Genii Magazineis the longest-running independent magazine devoted to magic and magicians. It was founded in 1936 and has continued to this day; publishing some of the most innovative routines, moves, and articles in magic.

GENII:THE CONJURORS’ MAGAZINE

VOLUME 88
NUMBER 5
MAY 2025

The Genii Speaksby Jim Steinmeyer

• Where’s Sam? What’s Mystify? And what does $9.58 buy you?

Mailbox

• Readers report on the new issues, new reviews, new interviews

The May Almanac

• LeRoy grabs the cards; Brooks pulls them from his pocket

The Eyeby Vanessa Armstrong

• Shenanigans, Advantages, Iterations, and assorted May magic

FEATURES

The Fist Ever Mystify Magic Festivalby Rebecca Spectre

• A deliberately different kind ofconvention, a highly energized audience, and an innovative list of goals. Here’s the insider’s report.

Max Speaks To Balsamoby Jim Steinmeyer

• The amazing story of Max Maven’s skillful historical performance and the behind-the-scenes magic that made it all possible.

HIGA: Storming the Business Worldby Jim Steinmeyer

• The popular magician found his place in the business world by charming audiences and speaking honestly about making magic.

VOICES

Eclecticaby Chris Power

• Two books, a few people, who started the story

Maybe You’re a Black Hole?by Alba

• The various people you meet in magic

The Genii Questionnaire

• Bill Malone makes it unexpectedly irreverent

Character Assassinationby Annaya George

• Looking at media, inspired by branding

IN PRACTICE

Magicanaby Richard Kaufman

• Bernardo Sedlacek, Like a Rising Card;John Carey, The Perception False Shuffle

Inventing Magicby Blake Vogt

• Birthday Card, Zip Tie Sefalaljia with Jay Sankey

Patrick Page’s Continuous Do As I DoJerry Sadowitz

• A masterful stand-up piece of card magic

Tony Chang Vanishes a Dimeby Noah Levine

• And the spectator can’t quite believe it

IN PERRFORMANCE

The Magic Castleby Shawn McMaster

• The LA fires and the Dai Vernon Foundation

Dickens Parlour Theatreby Vanessa Armstrong

• Rich Bloch’s showplace in Delaware

MARKETPLACE

Best in Showby Jeff Prace

• Mila’s Custom Sponge Creations

Trick Reviews

• Scotch & Whiskey, Henry Harrius Bottles, Babu, Salted 2.0, Unplugged XLR, Knotted

Book Reviews

• Saving Magic: David Price & Egyptian Hall, The Principles of Destruction, The Magic of Hope, Forged by Fire, The Hummingbirds, Absolute Madness

Video Reviews

• Piff The Magic Dragon Regularclass, Aaron Fisher Masterclass, Gabriel Werlen Live

• Advertisers Index

WORKSHOP

“You Wanna See Something Weird?”by David Kaye

• A formula to experiment

Magic Under Pressureby Daron McDonald

• The magic of distraction

PERSPECTIVES

The Chamber of Secretsby John Gaughan

• Illusion-Delusion: Thayer’s Greatest Solid Through Solid

Silent Manipulators in Conversationby Alex Boyce and Matthew Holtzclaw

• Two celebrated performers… doves… cigarettes… in front of modern audiences

An Unexpected Flurry of Amazementby Bob Higa

• But baby, it’s cold outside!

Nick Mohammed… on Magic

• The Ted Lasso star on The Chop Cup and other marvels

VOLUME 88
NUMBER 4
April 2025

The Genii Speaksby Jim Steinmeyer

• That Marlo group, April features, and some Genii formalities

Mailbox

• We’ve slowed down our readers; we’ve shaken up our reviewers

The April Almanac

• This month, Houdini wasn’t born, Dunninger over-enunciated

In Memorium: David Solomon

• Bill Malone remembers his friend at the lunch table

The Eyeby Vanessa Armstrong

• Steve Cohen celebrates; Love Life comes back to life

Theatre of the Brainby Carl Mercurio

• A review of Vinny DePonto’s Mindplay in New York City

FEATURES
Covent Garden, Where Magicians Perform, Social, and Shareby Laurence “Abel” Gibbons

• The historical center of London hosts a daily assortment of inspired and determined street magicians.

The Streets of Torinoby Vanessa Armstrong Jim Steinmeyer

• Walter Rolfo is planning surprises for this year’s FISM in Turin, Italy. For the first time, the magic will be heading to the streets.

Thimblerig: Americas Gamblerby Paul Heller Green’s Touch of Magic by Jason England Playing Card History by Lee Asher

• The amazing story of Jonathan Green, the reformed gambler.

VOICES

The Unnecessary Defense of Illusionsby Jason Bishop

• What we choose to do; what people want to see

The Genii Questionnaire

• Tom Stone and our unrelenting 20 Questions

Yann Frisch and the Absolutely Absurdby Krystyn Lambert

• The French magician as Sisyphus

IN PRACTICE

Magicana: Unknown Vernonby Richard Kaufman

• Vernon Trumps Horowitz and a Most Elegant Card to Pocket

Inventing Magicby Blake Vogt

• Gaffed Blindfold, with Dan White

Ambitious Card Variationsby Adam Elbaum

• Notes on a classically commercial effect

1-3+2=0by Roberto Mansilla

• A silk routine with mysterious math

IN PERRFORMANCE

The Magic Castleby Shawn McMaster

• Rejoicing on a historic Founders’ Day

The Loftby Vanessa Armstrong

• In Lake Tahoe, at the base of the ski lift

MARKETPLACE

Not Forgottenby David Regal

• Once and future magic: Invisible Coin

Staff Picks: Tannen’s

• New York City’s famous magic shop

Trick Reviews

• Mortenn’s Jumbo Card, Notion of Motion, Razor Card to Wallet, Super Picks, Missing Finger, Zooming Box

Book Reviews

• Flamenco, Studies in Deception, Gibcere, Vol. 20, No. 1, A Visual History of Theatrical Levitation, Effervescent, Wizards in the Silent World
• Advertisers Index

WORKSHOP

When Words Bridge Worldsby Dr. Matt Pritchard

• When illusion changes meaning

Questions From the Script Consultantby Pete McCabe

• Starting with some honest answers

Protecting Your Intellectual Propertyby Sara Crasson

• What to protect and how to protect it

PERSPECTIVES
Sleightly Astonishingby Jim Hagy

• Ed Mishell, visits to a magic shop

Voices of the Pastby Ben Winn

• A chance to listen to great magicians

A Childhood Dream, All Grown Upby Jen Kramer

• That purple bike in her Las Vegas show

Coffee with… Gay Blackstone

• Latte and a chat about magic on television

VOLUME 88
NUMBER 3
MARCH 2025

The Genii Speaksby Jim Steinmeyer

• Our March surprises, with commentary by our editors

Mailbox

• Some careful perceptions, some “Inattentional Blindness”

The March Almanac

• On this day, Charlie Chaplin celebrated, but Henry Clive didn’t

The Eyeby Vanessa Armstrong

• Mistie Knight now cooks; Zabrecky now sings

Germany’s Savant of Magicby Carl Mercurio

• A review of Dennis Behr’s show in Brooklyn

FEATURES

Helen Coghlan, Penn & Teller’s Undefeated Opponentby Noah Levine

• Helen Coghlan plays their game with her own priorities, her own attitude, and her own experience in the world of magic.

Why We Rewrite Historyby Jim Steinmeyer

• It’s not about politics or fashions: Our magic history changes, and sometimes our magic history can inspire with new stories.

Genii Roundtable Tips For Getting Bookedby Vanessa Armstrong

• We convened an amazing meeting, and heard some common sense and uncommon insights from the country’s top magic clubs.

VOICES

Evolve or Repeat, There Is No Other Choiceby Alba

• Aiming straight for the audience

The Genii Questionnaire

• Lisa Menna succumbs to our revealing 20 Questions

Why Everything You Know is a Lieby Annaya George

• What are we actually talking about?

The Boundaries of Magic Are Not Realby Peter Lamont

• When we create categories, we may be limiting our creativity

IN PRACTICE

Magicana: The Elusive Coins to Glassby Richard Kaufman

• R. Paul Wilson’s unconventional handling for a classical routine

Inventing Magicby Blake Vogt

• The Ring-Ceipt, a ring disappearance created with Daniel Garcia

Fan Collectorsby Sara Rodriguez

• A sleight-of-hand marvel, the trick Rodrguez “would show Ray Kosby”

Dreams Come Trueby David Regal

• A card mystery built in front of the audience

IN PERRFORMANCE

The Magic Castleby Shawn McMaster

• The return of Ivan Amodei, a Castle favorite

Marvyn’s Magic Theatreby Vanessa Armstrong

• Jeff Hobson’s slice of Las Vegas in La Quinta, California

MARKETPLACE

The $100 Challengeby Jordan Meller

• We gave a young magician $100 to buy some current magic

Trick Reviews

• Liquid Spectrum, Omni Air, Cheater’s Chips, The Predator Pack, The Clown’s Nightmare, Aerostatic Milk Bottle

Book Reviews

• Unexpected Agenda, The Particle System, Stairway, Repertoire II, Gibecire Vol. 19, No. 2

Video Reviews

• Rick Maue, Krystyn Lambert, Sam Huang,Taylor Hughes

• Advertisers Index

WORKSHOP

The Name Gameby David Kaye

• Sometimes you just can’t understand your volunteer

Lying Through Your Teethby Andrew Frost

• A guide for being a little more dishonest, when you need to be

The Joy of Droppingby Lindsay Benner

• Dropping is part of life, failure is imperative to improvement

PERSPECTIVES

The Chamber of Secretsby John Gaughan

• Robert-Houdin’s legendary Light and Heavy Chest

Learn a Fourth Trickby Patrick Davis

• New material may be the solution to your problems

Sweet Dreams at the Close-Up Tableby Patrick Davis

• The trick that you’ll be thinking about tomorrow

Larry Wilmore… on Magic

• Insights from the popular host, writer, comedian, producer… and magician

VOLUME 88
NUMBER 2
FEBRUARY 2025

The Genii Speaksby Jim Steinmeyer

• We’ve made some additions and picked up a plural

Mailbox

• Congratulations, suggestions, and plans.

The February Almanac

• On this day, Horace Goldin patented a cannon.

In Memoriam, Kreskinby Mark Holstein

• Remembering America’s popular mentalist

The Eyeby Vanessa Armstrong

• FISM makes plans, Houdini makes a movie.

FEATURES

What We See & What We Don’tby Peter Lamont

• An excerpt from Radical Thinking, our perceptions are explained in the streets of Edinburgh, with a nod to the world of magic and deception.

What Is This Magazine?

• A moment to reflect, a moment to strategize, Genii Editor at Large looks at the opportunity for a modern magic magazine.

Hugard’s “Real Magician”by Dominic Twose

• A mysterious performance of card magic from 1926 demonstrates ingenious thinking and careful reporting from two legendary magicians.

IN PRACTICE

Magicana: Nous Savonsby Richard Kaufman

• An officially footing card miracle from Benjamin Barnes

OG AWE Struckby Adam Elbaum

• A devious take on Think a Card

Bank Nightby Roberto Mansilla

• A classic plot using three envelopes to create a powerful opener.

Inzani Bottle Productionby Jerry Sadowitz

• The story and technique behind a famously gimmick free effect.

IN PERFORMANCE

The Magic Castleby Shawn McMaster

• Holiday Mystique: Redecorating for the seasons

The Magicians Agency Theatreby Vannessa Armstrong

• Scott Pepper’s plans for his San Antonio theatre

MARKETPLACE

Best in Showby Jeff Prace

• Precise tools created by The Perfect Shuffle

Staff Picksby The Magic Apple

• The San Fernando Valley’s local magic shop.

Trick Reviews

• Liquify, Super Drink, Appearing Glass, Three Card Monte Stand, Simon Says, and Bammo Buddha Time Machine.

Book Reviews

• The Yankee Magic Collector 21, Mentalism Incorporated Vols 1 & 2, Conjuring the Spirit World

Advertiser Index

WORKSHOP

Cartoon Physics & Magicby Dr. Matt Pritchard

• Experimenting optical illusions and techniques.

Songwriting for Magiciansby Pete Mccabe

• Writing a better, clearer, and more entertaining show

Getting Down to Businessby Sara Crasson

• Business decisions can define a path in magic.

PERSPECTIVES

Slightly Astonishingby Jim Hagy

• Your insights into magic may be a secret power.

Exposing Herbert Albini’s Exposuresby Ben Winn

• Albini wasn’t beloved; he annoyed his colleagues.

Mysterious Poetryby Jason Bishop

• The illusionist’s strange, misty floating sphere.

Coffee With…by Derren Brown

• A chat with the groundbreaking mentalist.

VOLUME 88
NUMBER 1
JANUARY 2025

FEATURES

Nao Murata: Traditional Deceptionby Dustin Stinett
Searching for David Loveringby Chloe Olewitz
The Forgotten Magicians Who Never Wereby Peter Alan Ross
Sailing Away with Spellbound by Magic Castleby Julie Eng
FISM Italy 2025: An Umissable Event

COLUMNS

Genii Speaksby Richard Kaufman

• Your New Genii by Jim Steinmeyer

The Eyeby Vanessa Armstrong
Chamber of SecretsThayer’s “Wonder Screen” by John Gaughan
Dealing With It“Crowd Control” by John Bannon
Artifices“The Wandering Card” by Roberto Mansilla
Expert at the Kids’ TableAppreciation and Anachronism by David Kaye
Thoughts …On the Double Lift

• Part Three: The Phases of the Double Lift by Rafael Benatar

Panmagium“Pendragon Aces” by Jonathan Pendragon
Magicanaby Jamy Ian Swiss

• “Red Hot Wallet”
• Intermission

The Academy of Magical Arts in Genii

• Knights at The Magic Castle by Shawn McMaster
• Now Appearing at The Magic Castle

LIGHT FROM THE LAMP

Tricks Reviewed by David Regal

• “Reverse Logic” by Joshua Jay
• “Suzanne’s Cups and Balls” by Suzanne
• “The Amazing Standing Card” by Gatan Bloom
• “Free Will Deluxe” by Deddy Corbuzier
• “Magic 8 Ball” by Roddy McGhie
• “Instant Transfer” by William Tyrrell
• “Heartz” by Dan Garrett
• “Triadic” by Chris Wardle and James Ward
• “Ishihara Test” by Liam Levanon

Videos Reviewed by Bill Wells

• Doug Conn Masterclassby Vanishing Inc. Magic
• Stay Frostyby Andrew Frost

Books Reviewed by Francis Menotti

• Carpenter’s Conceptions-The Innovative Magic of Jack
• Carpenterby Jamie Masterson
• Lubor Fiedler’s Beautiful Mirrorby Franz Kaslatter
• Magic Babylonby Joe Hernandez