Art and Artifice

Art and Artifice examines the golden age of stage magic through portraits of eight influential magicians from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The book focuses on innovators who shaped modern illusion and stagecraft during magic's theatrical peak. Each chapter explores one performer's signature contributions, methods, and impact on the craft through historical records and technical analysis. The text includes previously unpublished details about classic illusions, touring productions, and behind-the-scenes developments that transformed magic from carnival entertainment into theatrical art. The narrative reconstructs magic's evolution through the perspectives of creators, performers, and their sometimes contentious relationships with peers and rivals. Magic's intersection with emerging technologies, changing audience tastes, and broader entertainment trends emerges as a central theme. Beyond pure historical documentation, this book illuminates magic's dual nature as both artistic expression and calculated deception. The text considers how illusion artists navigated between secrecy and showmanship, innovation and tradition, as they elevated conjuring to high art.

Readers find the book provides unique insights into the psychology and methodology behind magic's most famous illusions. Multiple reviewers note the engaging storytelling style and clear explanations of complex deceptions. Readers appreciated: - Detailed historical context for each illusion - Technical drawings and illustrations - Focus on the creative process behind developing tricks - Behind-the-scenes look at magician rivalries and collaborations Common criticisms: - Too much focus on biographical details vs. technical explanations - Some sections assume prior knowledge of magic terminology - Limited coverage of modern illusions Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (156 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (48 reviews) "This book helped me understand magic as an art form rather than just entertainment" - Amazon reviewer "Could have used more practical instruction for working magicians" - Goodreads review "The historical narrative brings these illusions to life" - Magic Cafe forum member

Hiding the Elephant by Jim Steinmeyer This history of stage illusions traces the development of levitation and vanishing effects through the golden age of magic, with detailed explanations of the mechanical methods used by famous performers.

Magic: 1400s-1950s by Mike Caveney This illustrated chronicle of magic history presents vintage posters, photographs, and apparatus designs that document the evolution of theatrical conjuring.

The Last Greatest Magician in the World by Jim Steinmeyer The biography of Howard Thurston reveals the business practices, rivalries, and stagecraft behind America's largest magic show in the early 20th century.

The Glorious Deception by Jim Steinmeyer This investigation follows the career of William Robinson, who transformed himself into Chung Ling Soo and became one of magic's most mysterious performers before his death in a failed bullet catch.

Secret History of Magic by Peter Lamont, Jim Steinmeyer This examination of magic's role in society reveals how magicians have shaped entertainment, science, and public perception through their performances and innovations.

🎩 Jim Steinmeyer has designed illusions for David Copperfield, Doug Henning, and Siegfried & Roy, earning him the nickname "the celebrated invisible man" in the magic community. 🎭 The book reveals that the famous "Sawing a Woman in Half" illusion was actually invented by P.T. Selbit in 1921, not Horace Goldin who often receives credit for it. ✨ Many of the Victorian-era illusions discussed in the book relied on precisely angled mirrors, a technique that's still used in modern stage magic and theme park attractions like Disney's Haunted Mansion. 🎪 The author explains how legendary magician Howard Thurston would spend up to $30,000 (equivalent to hundreds of thousands today) developing a single new illusion for his show. 📚 The book's detailed technical drawings and historical photographs were collected from private collections and previously unpublished sources, making it a valuable resource for both magic historians and working illusionists.