Online magic performance Description: The Conjuring of a Woman at the House of Robert Houdin (1896).Robert Houdin was a French magician and illusionist. He doesn’t appear in this early experiment, but his name is loaned to one of the first illusions on film provided by Georges Melies. Melies himself said that this was the first film in which he used stop motion – a process in which illusions could be performed by stopping his camera, rearranging the set, and then starting the camera again, to give the illusion that items and people have either appeared or disappeared.In this film, an elegantly dressed woman sits in a chair while the magician drapes her with a shroud. The magician removes the shroud and the woman has disappeared. He makes a few gestures and voila! He returns – a skeleton??? Oh the horror!. So he brings the shroud back into the act, covers the skeleton, and the entire woman and her clothes are recovered. Wherever the woman went, the clothes MUST follow! After all this is literally the Victorian era even though it is France.The magician was played by Georges Melies himself, and the woman was played by Jehanne d’Alcy. D’alcy appeared in numerous Melies films over the years, having left the theater to devote herself to film acting, one of the first actors to do this. The two got married, but oddly not until 1925 when D’Alcy was 60 and Melies was 64. They were married until his death in 1938.Also listed this in the social media magic category, as i guess this would be the first social media magic film.

Online magic performance Description: Robert Houdin’s Antonio DiavoloIn the video he states- no electronic systems. Same as it was 140 years ago.Audience actually interacts with an awww when he does the leg hold on the bar. Just shows you people want to believe.

Online magic performance Description: Kalanag performing the Levitating Lady in the 1940s.Due respect given to the overall experience on one illusion.The timing is great, the setting superb and generally a brilliant performance.

Online magic performance Description: Magician Channing Pollock (1926-2006) performing his stage magic act in 1956.His dove work is excellent, really magical. Look at the faces when he does the vanishing bird cage… in shock… and they are sitting behind him for everything. Amazing stuff. Exceptional! 

Online magic performance Description: Tel Smit “Sleight Of Hand Magic” on The Ed Sullivan Show on November 1, 1970.Beautiful act. Amazing how elegant this is, a few moves rehearsed impeccably, leading to some beautiful magic.

Online magic performance Description: JORGEN SAMSON (VISUAL DE ILUSIONISMO)My word- no one can say: this is a big stage, where’s your props? What an act- setup must be an affair.Comedic, yet magical- had me smiling the whole way through, wondering where he was getting his next thing. Brilliant!Who needs quick change, when you can have quick table? Once again… WOW!

Online magic performance Description: Ventriloquist Jay Marshall & Lefty “If I Had My Way” on The Ed Sullivan Show on May 12, 1968.Amazing how just a sock puppet and a good ventriloquist can have the audience in his hands, waiting on every word.

Online magic performance Description: Marvelous Magical Burger King- 1977 Vintage Burger King commercial courtesy of the WPIX Archives. An example of magic being used in commercials in the 70’s.

Online magic performance Description: Magician and Illusionist Richiardi Jr – The Ed Sullivan Show – 1950sLevitating car with child. Brilliantly done…. bravo!

Online magic performance Description: Richiardi does the Dekolta Chair (Witness the Impossible 1985)This illusion is very well done, the audience cues, the little ‘bits’, culminate in an unbelievable illusion!