Sorcery and magic have been around since the dawn of mankind with prominence in ancient societies including Egyptian and Chinese civilizations. Today, master magicians such as David Blaine, David Copperfield, and Criss Angel are seen as entertainers. In the past, however, those who could pull off magic tricks were often considered to be sorcerers, charlatans, witches, conmen, or thieves.
Today, card tricks and coin tricks are common amongst modern magicians. In the past, magic tricks were used to trick people into thinking certain people (such as kings or spiritual leaders) possessed supernatural powers. Imagine stone gods spewing forth flames on command or doors opening and closing on their own as royalty arrived in the temple. These ancient masters of illusion yielded tremendous power. Ancient priests used their powers to convince the people of their unusual abilities and sway their religious beliefs.
Many of the most popular magic tricks today have ancient roots. For example, the Chinese Linking Rings have been around for hundreds of years and continue to enchant. The Cups and Balls trick dates back to the times of the Egyptian pharaohs.
Ancient Egyptians believed in the powers of magical amulets, spells, and figures in their quest for rewards, punishments, and successful crops. The ancient Greeks and Romans used magic to communicate with their gods. Magicians in the Middle Ages dabbled in alchemy using their powers of illusion to change lead into gold. Even Sir Isaac Newton believed in the power of magic and studied alchemy.
In America, Indian shamans used magic to cure diseases. One of their tricks involved sucking diseased organs out of infected bodies. After sucking on the patient, they would then spit out blood and bones. Only this wasn’t the blood and bones from the patient; it was the blood and bones from a chicken.
As science progressed, magic lost its luster. Science revealed the truth – that magic was the greatest illusion of all. Stage magic soon changed the tide and elevated magic to new heights. Houdini is one of the greats but not necessarily the first. In fact, Houdini created his persona after the “Father of Modern Magic,” Robert Houdin. Houdin is credited with being the first to use gravity defying stage magic tricks such as levitation.
Now that electromagnetism and levitation were possible, magic became an entertainment form. Card tricks and coin tricks became more complex as magicians fine-tuned their performances. In the early 1900s, magic and vaudeville acts enjoyed tremendous popularity before audiences slowly lost interest.
By the mid-1970s, magic re-emerged with television shows focusing on magic. Magicians such as Doug Henning and David Copperfield leapt onto the scene and took the world by storm. Grand illusions such as making the Statue of Liberty disappear and escapism tricks much like Houdini’s escape tricks began baffling a new generation of audiences. Many of these large scale tricks have been performed before huge audiences on live TV.
Magic has a rich history featuring everything from crystal balls, spells, chemistry, and deception to card tricks, coin tricks, vanishing acts, and levitation. Early magicians yielded tremendous powers over their people while today’s wizards manage to impress everyone who sees their acts despite the knowledge that it’s all just an illusion – or is it? |
