Magic Moments
2007
Curt vanishes an automobile for the International World of Wheels.
2007
Curt's first international television appearance
2006
Curt performs on a cruise to Bahamas
2005
Cris Angel debuts his A&E TV show Mind Freak
2005
Curt performs a 7 day tour of Venezuela
2002
Curt makes his first automobile vanish - it belonged to Dallas cowboy, George Teauge
1998
World Of Illusion at Madison Square Garden launched the career of Criss Angel
1997
The Masked Magician, Val Valentino, provokes much controversy by exposing magic secrets on major Fox TV specials. David Blaine brings "Street Magic" to America.
1997
Curt performs to 30,000 at the Americas Center in St. Louis, MO.
1994
The first WWW magic stores appear following the older text type newsgroups and bulletin boards. Pictorial and information sites soon follow, changing the way magic is learned and distributed.
1991
Curt performs 21 show tour in Costa Rica
1990
Curt performs for International Brotherhood of Magicians and Society of American Magicians for the SEAM convention
1987
Curt gives first magic lecture to magicians in Birmingham, AL.
1984
Curt performs in Canada
1981
Curt's apprenticeship under magician Mr. Pete traveled a multi-state area performing
1979
Curt attends first magic school (youngest attendee of Romeo, MI magic school)
1979
Curt performs first paid show
1975
Curt performs first magic trick
1974
The musical The Magic Show, starring Doug Henning, opens on Broadway and ushers in a new "Golden Age" of magic.
1968
The book 13 Steps to Mentalism by Corinda was published and is one of the most famous books on mentalism.
1968
Curt born Grand Rapids, MI
1963
The Magic Castle is formed by Milt Larsen in Hollywood USA by converting a 1908 Victorian mansion to a center of magical excellence. Many leading magicians have performed there. Dai Vernon was resident magician in the latter part of his life.
1956
David Copperfield is born on September 16th, as David Seth Kotkin.
1952
The first publication of Modern Coin Magic Written by JB Bobo, considered by some the "bible" of coin magic, many other works reference this one.
1949
The first publication of Royal Road to Card Magic Written by Jean Hugard and Fred Brau, it's still an important first text for card workers today.
1945
Slydini performs his stage manipulation sleight of hand in New Orleans. He is still considered the best manipulator in magicís history
1926
On All Hallows Eve at 1:26pm, Harry Houdini dies.
1921
P.T. Selbit performs the first ever "Sawing in Half", something that is, in present day, synonymous with the art of magic.
1920
Howard Thurston presents his floating princess illusion. It is reported to be the first act to present levitation
1912
Houdini intros. Chinese water torture chamber and hanging upside-down escape
1911
Our Magic by Nevil Maskelyne and David Devant, arguably one of the most important books of magic theory, is published.
1905
The British Magical Society formed in London, UK; the oldest continually meeting magic society in Europe. Its first President was David Devant. In June, it evolved into The Magic Circle. This prestigious organization acts like a trade union for magicians and has strict rules against exposure. (It expelled its founder for alleged exposure, something it has done to many famous magicians.)
1902
The Expert At The Card Table is published by The Charles T. Powner Co. was written by S.W. Erdnase. Considered by serious card workers as one of the most important books written.
1898
Houdini introduces "Challenge Act" claims to escape from anything an audience brings to bind him
1894
Dai Vernon born (d. 1992). Aka "The Professor" and "The Man That Fooled Houdini", was born as David Frederick Wingfield Verner in Ottawa. The most influential 20th C magician.
1876
The first publication of Modern Magic. Written by Professor Louis Hoffman (1839-1919) (Real name Angelo John Lewis), it was a definitive work on the state of the art of that time.
1874
Harry Houdini (aka "King of Cards" and "King of Handcuffs") born (d. 1926). Real name Ehrich Weiss, he achieved fame as an escapologist.
1805
Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin born (d. 1871). The "father of modern magic," who brought it from the street and circus side shows to an elegant stage or drawing room setting.
1750
Pinetti, Chevalier Guiseppe ("considered to be the major figure of eighteenth century magic") is born. "Pinetti is said to be the first recorded performer to do the thumb-tie effect" and he also performed second sight, exhibited automata and the orange tree illusion.1
1584
Reginald Scot publishes The Discoverie of Witchcraft(sic) a book designed in part to counter the activities of persecutionists, but at the same time revealing many conjuring secrets of the day. Magic and witchcraft were still linked, and many copies of Scot's book were burnt in the early 1600s.
1000-1500
The Middle Ages; where much magic was still associated with the occult and witchcraft. The growing trading nature of society allowed some street or circus performers to make a living out of old classics such as the Cups and Balls and, indeed, more modern ideas, such as cheating by short-changing via sleights with coins and other small objects.
400
Merlin serves on King Arthur's court
50-300
The Acetabularii performed the Cups and balls in ancient Rome using stones and small vinegar cups (hence the name Acetabularii). Acetabularii are a group of magicians specializing on the cups and balls effect
40AD
Jesus of Nazareth raises Himself from the dead. Not technically an illusion, since... He really did it.
2700BC
The reputed first known performance of a conjuring effect (Cups and Balls) by the magician Dedi in ancient Egypt. Dedi had done other effects such as decapitating a bird's head and reattaching the head, resurrecting it. (This is disputed, as there is nothing in the reference to Dedi specifically in the Westcar Papyrus to indicate that he did the Cups and Balls trick for anyone). The famous drawing of two men performing the cups and balls from the tomb and Beni Hasan is believed by most experts to be bakers making bread with bread molds. (Note: Since there is no indication that Dedi performed the Cups and Balls, and the Beni Hasan heiroglyph is no longer considered to represent the effect, there is no evidence for the existence of the Cups and Balls during this time period.)
5000BC
Magicians mentioned in Egypt when Moses approached pharaoh
2007
Curt vanishes an automobile for the International World of Wheels.
2007
Curt's first international television appearance
2006
Curt performs on a cruise to Bahamas
2005
Cris Angel debuts his A&E TV show Mind Freak
2005
Curt performs a 7 day tour of Venezuela
2002
Curt makes his first automobile vanish - it belonged to Dallas cowboy, George Teauge
1998
World Of Illusion at Madison Square Garden launched the career of Criss Angel
1997
The Masked Magician, Val Valentino, provokes much controversy by exposing magic secrets on major Fox TV specials. David Blaine brings "Street Magic" to America.
1997
Curt performs to 30,000 at the Americas Center in St. Louis, MO.
1994
The first WWW magic stores appear following the older text type newsgroups and bulletin boards. Pictorial and information sites soon follow, changing the way magic is learned and distributed.
1991
Curt performs 21 show tour in Costa Rica
1990
Curt performs for International Brotherhood of Magicians and Society of American Magicians for the SEAM convention
1987
Curt gives first magic lecture to magicians in Birmingham, AL.
1984
Curt performs in Canada
1981
Curt's apprenticeship under magician Mr. Pete traveled a multi-state area performing
1979
Curt attends first magic school (youngest attendee of Romeo, MI magic school)
1979
Curt performs first paid show
1975
Curt performs first magic trick
1974
The musical The Magic Show, starring Doug Henning, opens on Broadway and ushers in a new "Golden Age" of magic.
1968
The book 13 Steps to Mentalism by Corinda was published and is one of the most famous books on mentalism.
1968
Curt born Grand Rapids, MI
1963
The Magic Castle is formed by Milt Larsen in Hollywood USA by converting a 1908 Victorian mansion to a center of magical excellence. Many leading magicians have performed there. Dai Vernon was resident magician in the latter part of his life.
1956
David Copperfield is born on September 16th, as David Seth Kotkin.
1952
The first publication of Modern Coin Magic Written by JB Bobo, considered by some the "bible" of coin magic, many other works reference this one.
1949
The first publication of Royal Road to Card Magic Written by Jean Hugard and Fred Brau, it's still an important first text for card workers today.
1945
Slydini performs his stage manipulation sleight of hand in New Orleans. He is still considered the best manipulator in magicís history
1926
On All Hallows Eve at 1:26pm, Harry Houdini dies.
1921
P.T. Selbit performs the first ever "Sawing in Half", something that is, in present day, synonymous with the art of magic.
1920
Howard Thurston presents his floating princess illusion. It is reported to be the first act to present levitation
1912
Houdini intros. Chinese water torture chamber and hanging upside-down escape
1911
Our Magic by Nevil Maskelyne and David Devant, arguably one of the most important books of magic theory, is published.
1905
The British Magical Society formed in London, UK; the oldest continually meeting magic society in Europe. Its first President was David Devant. In June, it evolved into The Magic Circle. This prestigious organization acts like a trade union for magicians and has strict rules against exposure. (It expelled its founder for alleged exposure, something it has done to many famous magicians.)
1902
The Expert At The Card Table is published by The Charles T. Powner Co. was written by S.W. Erdnase. Considered by serious card workers as one of the most important books written.
1898
Houdini introduces "Challenge Act" claims to escape from anything an audience brings to bind him
1894
Dai Vernon born (d. 1992). Aka "The Professor" and "The Man That Fooled Houdini", was born as David Frederick Wingfield Verner in Ottawa. The most influential 20th C magician.
1876
The first publication of Modern Magic. Written by Professor Louis Hoffman (1839-1919) (Real name Angelo John Lewis), it was a definitive work on the state of the art of that time.
1874
Harry Houdini (aka "King of Cards" and "King of Handcuffs") born (d. 1926). Real name Ehrich Weiss, he achieved fame as an escapologist.
1805
Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin born (d. 1871). The "father of modern magic," who brought it from the street and circus side shows to an elegant stage or drawing room setting.
1750
Pinetti, Chevalier Guiseppe ("considered to be the major figure of eighteenth century magic") is born. "Pinetti is said to be the first recorded performer to do the thumb-tie effect" and he also performed second sight, exhibited automata and the orange tree illusion.1
1584
Reginald Scot publishes The Discoverie of Witchcraft(sic) a book designed in part to counter the activities of persecutionists, but at the same time revealing many conjuring secrets of the day. Magic and witchcraft were still linked, and many copies of Scot's book were burnt in the early 1600s.
1000-1500
The Middle Ages; where much magic was still associated with the occult and witchcraft. The growing trading nature of society allowed some street or circus performers to make a living out of old classics such as the Cups and Balls and, indeed, more modern ideas, such as cheating by short-changing via sleights with coins and other small objects.
400
Merlin serves on King Arthur's court
50-300
The Acetabularii performed the Cups and balls in ancient Rome using stones and small vinegar cups (hence the name Acetabularii). Acetabularii are a group of magicians specializing on the cups and balls effect
40AD
Jesus of Nazareth raises Himself from the dead. Not technically an illusion, since... He really did it.
2700BC
The reputed first known performance of a conjuring effect (Cups and Balls) by the magician Dedi in ancient Egypt. Dedi had done other effects such as decapitating a bird's head and reattaching the head, resurrecting it. (This is disputed, as there is nothing in the reference to Dedi specifically in the Westcar Papyrus to indicate that he did the Cups and Balls trick for anyone). The famous drawing of two men performing the cups and balls from the tomb and Beni Hasan is believed by most experts to be bakers making bread with bread molds. (Note: Since there is no indication that Dedi performed the Cups and Balls, and the Beni Hasan heiroglyph is no longer considered to represent the effect, there is no evidence for the existence of the Cups and Balls during this time period.)
5000BC
Magicians mentioned in Egypt when Moses approached pharaoh
