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Sleight of Hand, Close-Up Magic, and Card Tricks

Great Sites Center

In 1938, the Society of American Magicians declared October 31 National Magic Day, in honor of Harry Houdini. The celebrated magician died on October 31, 1926. To help you and your students observe the day, Education World has located some of the best magic sites on the World Wide Web. Teachers and students can read about magic, enjoy some online versions of magic tricks, and test their psychic abilities.


As a form of entertainment, magic has a long history. Archaeologists have discovered evidence of magicians in ancient Egypt, Asia and, and Europe. Modern magic can be traced back to the 1800s and French magician Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin, often called the "Father of Modern Magic." An ardent fan would later adapt his stage name from Robert-Houdin and become celebrated the world over as Harry Houdini.

Why not celebrate the day by checking out some online magic tricks with students? The following sites are sure to amaze and confuse tricksters of all ages.

  1. Conjurer
    http://www.conjuror.com
    Although this is a commercial Web site for an online magic shop, it has features that make it worth a look. Click on Free Tricks for more than a dozen simple, inexpensive tricks for beginning magicians. The instructions are detailed and well illustrated. Magic FAQ answers such questions as "What is magic?" and "What books are best for beginners?"

  2. Online Magic Showroom
    http://www.funnybone.net/showroom/index.html
    Do you want to try your hand at the shell game? How about pulling a rabbit out of a hat? This Web site has online demonstrations of several magic tricks.

  3. Mulawa Magic
    http://www.ozemail.com.au/~mulawa1/magic/
    index.html

    This Web page offers more than half a dozen online magic tricks. Some tricks include hints on how they are done, so, with a deck of cards, you can repeat them yourself! Also included are links to other sites about magic.

  4. Psychic Stunts
    http://www.mdani.demon.co.uk/stunt/stunt.htm
    This enjoyable Web site is dedicated to parapsychology, the scientific study of paranormal phenomena. The content includes information on psychic magic and mentalism, demonstrations of apparently paranormal phenomena, online tests for ESP (extra-sensory perception) and PK (psychokinesis); and more. More than two dozen tests and activities provide plenty of fun.

  5. Welcome to the Cave of Magic
    http://www.caveofmagic.com/zndex.html
    Are you ready to be amazed? The first online magic trick presented here invites the viewer to mentally pick a card from a selection of six cards, whisper the name of the card aloud, and click on a button. The computer appears to hear and removes the chosen card. There are other online tricks as well, with such names as Football Magic, Travel Telepathy, Triangle Puzzle, and Gemstone Challenge.

  6. Doug Mattingly's Magic Over The Web
    http://www.rit.edu/~dmm4971/trick1.html
    This page, from the Web site of a magic enthusiast, has an interactive card trick to try. Can you figure out how it's done?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR TEACHING ABOUT MAGIC

  • Houdini Historical Center
    http://www.houdinihistory.org/
    Harry Houdini (nee Ehrich Weiss) was born on March 24, 1874, in Budapest, Hungary, the son of a rabbi who immigrated with his family to Appleton, Wisconsin. Learn more about the life and career of one of the most famous magicians of all time. This Web site is run by the Houdini Historical Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to gathering, interpreting, and disseminating information and artifacts related to the life and career of Harry Houdini.

  • Hall of Harry Houdini
    http://classes.colgate.edu/GNED339/houdini.html
    This site contains dozens of photographs and posters of Harry Houdini.

Lauren P. Gattilia
Education World®
Copyright © 2000 Education World

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10/31/2000