Magicians

Magicians are the entertainers who perform tricks and illusions for people. They amuse and thrill their audiences by performing optical illusions that seem too fantastic to be true and are fascinating to watch. There are several types of magic tricks and the magicians may also be referred to by names reflecting the type of magical effects they present, such as prestidigitators, conjurors, hypnotists, mentalists, or escapologists. Even though the art of entertaining people with magic tricks and illusions is an ancient one, for a long time magic was associated with witchcraft and thus stage magicians did not get the respect they deserved. However things began to change in the 18th century when belief in witchcrafts began waning and the art of performing magical tricks became increasingly respectable. One of the founding figures of modern entertainment magic was Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin, originally a French clockmaker, widely considered the father of the modern style of conjuring. John Henry Anderson was another pioneer who helped bring the art of magic from street performances into theatres. With the progress in technology, magic easily moved from theatrical venues to television specials, opening up newer venues for magicians to display their talents. This section provides you information about the life and works of various famous magicians from all over the world.