The History of Magic:
From Reginald Scot to Penn & Teller
Title: The History of Magic - 1500s to Present
In this brief presentation, Cameron Mount will discuss the entertainment form of magic and its popularization starting in the late 1500s, with Reginald Scot’s 1584 publication of The Discovery of Witchcraft. We’ll talk a bit about the time period the book came out, James the VI and I’s response Daemonologie, and then press forward into the 1800s when Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin, now known as the father of modern magic, brought magic from the street busking into the respectable venue of theater. After that, an excursion through North America and Europe finds us meeting some highly popular stage magicians, many now no longer holding the esteem they once did, and then into the 20th Century with Harry Houdini, Max Malini, Dai Vernon, and other greats from the post-vaudeville era. After brief side-jaunt into Houdini’s skepticism about spiritualism (which is true of many magicians!) and an aside to The Amazing Randi and Uri Geller, we’ll move into modern day magic and talk about a couple of the big names from the last 20 years – the revolutionary street magic of David Blaine and Dynamo - before finishing with my personal favorites, Penn & Teller, and their show Fool Us, the CW network tv series that showcases the best of contemporary magic.
The History of Magic: 1500s to Today
By Cameron Mount
The History of Magic: 1500s to Today
Title: The History of Magic - 1500s to Present In this brief presentation, Cameron Mount will discuss the entertainment form of magic and its popularization starting in the late 1500s, with Reginald Scot’s 1584 publication of The Discovery of Witchcraft. We’ll talk a bit about the time period the book came out, James the VI and I’s response Daemonologie, and then press forward into the 1800s when Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin, now known as the father of modern magic, brought magic from the street busking into the respectable venue of theater. After that, an excursion through North America and Europe finds us meeting some highly popular stage magicians, many now no longer holding the esteem they once did, and then into the 20th Century with Harry Houdini, Max Malini, Dai Vernon, and other greats from the post-vaudeville era. After brief side-jaunt into Houdini’s skepticism about spiritualism (which is true of many magicians!) and an aside to The Amazing Randi and Uri Gellar, we’ll move into modern day magic and talk about the big names in modern magic – Juan Tamariz, Penn & Teller, David Copperfield, the revolutionary street magic of David Blaine and Dynamo, and finish with the current tv series that showcase the best of contemporary magic.
