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Return to "Dave's School and Library Shows" "Magic Cover to Cover" Feel free to print this guide directly from this page. Or we can send you a copy or copies provided at a nominal fee. Contact us via e-mail at: dave@emagicpro.com. The purpose of... Magic Cover to Cover is to provide teachers with an entertaining tool to stimulate classroom discussion and generate assignments related to reading and writing. To the student Magic Cover to Cover is an entertaining magic show. Dave intends that it is much more! Using the Colorado Model Content Standards for Reading and Writing, Dave has kept in mind your goals of helping students to "become fluent readers, writers and speakers." The purpose of this guide is to help educators generate assignments and discussion based on the content of Dave's program. The first reaction of students after seeing Magic Cover to Cover is, "How did he do those tricks?" Students are encouraged to research how the magic is done. To help teachers and students Dave has included a bibliography in the third section of this guide. Unlike other programs... that use reading as a format for a magic show, Dave intends that this program go one step further by stimulating an interest in the history of this ancient art form. Even further than that Dave wishes Magic Cover to Cover to be a springboard for inspiring all students to read. As Dave says when he concludes the program, "If you are not interested in magic, the library contains books about almost anything in which you are interested!" Let this program be a springboard for stimulating any student's interest in reading. To aid educators in getting the most from this program Dave has developed this guide. It is divided into three parts. Discussion questions, writing assignments and a bibliography. Dave thoroughly researched... the history of magic while writing the script for his presentation. That research is shared with you through the Magic Cover to Cover bibliography. The bibliography is divided into three parts. Books that teach magic tricks, Biographies and the history of magic and finally books with both history and magic tricks. A great effort has been made to cover books that appeal to a wide range of ages from kindergarten to adult. Part One Discussion Questions This section has been divided into three segments. Questions which are answered by viewing the program, questions that can be researched and questions that do not have right or wrong answers. Questions to ask prior to viewing the program 1. Is the magic real? 2. What do you think a magician looks like? 3. What is an illusion? 4. How would you learn to become a magician? 5. Have you ever seen a magic show before? 6. Was it on TV or in person? 7. Which is better: live or on TV? 8. Check back after the show to see if the answer to question 7 has changed.
Questions answered by the program Dave provides commentary in italicized print. 1. What is an illusion? An illusion is when something appears to happen but doesn't really happen. Not unlike looking in a mirror. A person can see their image but it is not really them. 2. How old is the art form of magic? Magic is at least 4,500 years old. Probably older. 3. How do we know? On the wall of the tomb of an Egyptian merchant (Beni Hassan) is a drawing of two magicians performing the "Cups and Balls" magic trick. When the items in the tomb were carbon dated the tomb was found to be 4,500 years old. This is the oldest known record of a magician performing a trick. This trick is still performed by magicians today! 4. Who was the father of modern magic? Jean Robert-Houdin. (1806-1871) 5. When did the modern era of magic begin? In the early part of the 19th century. 6. In what country did modern magic begin? France. 7. What is the difference between modern magic and the way magic has been practiced throughout most of history? Robert-Houdin brought magic off the street and into the theater. He legitimized magic into an art form. He transformed the magician from a con artist into a legitimate artist making the magician respected and admired. Prior to Robert-Houdin most magicians wore flowing robes and tried to pass as real wizards. Even those who entertained generally did it on the street and were looked down upon by the general public. 8. Dave names at least four regions of the world where magic is practiced. Where are they? Africa, North America, Asia and Europe. 9. Name two magicians who have provided today's generation of magicians with inspiration. Mark Wilson, through his television program The Magic Land of Alakazam, which ran on Saturday mornings on ABC from 1960-1965. And Doug Henning whose Broadway musical The Magic Show revitalized interest in magic as a form of entertainment. Doug Henning went on to star in 13 television specials on NBC, opening the door for performers like David Copperfield and David Blaine. 10. Robert-Houdin (the father of modern magic) said that, "A magician is an actor playing the part of a magician." What did he mean? Magicians do not really have magical powers. They create illusions that give people the impression that they have magical powers. Just as an actor or actress is not really the person he or she portrays on film or in theater. 11. What was the real name of Harry Houdini? Erich Weiss. 12. In what country was he born? Budapest, Hungary. He was so proud to be an American that he actually celebrated his birthday a few days late and claimed his birthplace to be Appleton, Wisconsin. Records indicate he was actually born in Hungary. 13. From whom did Houdini take his name? Jean Robert-Houdin. Erich Weiss admired Houdin so much he told his friend Jack Hayman he wanted to be just like him. His friend told him that in the French language, when you want to be like someone, you add an "i" to the end of their name, thus Houdin became Houdini. 14. What book provided Houdini with inspiration? "The Memoirs of Robert-Houdin". Robert-Houdin actually wrote many books on the subject of magic, but it was a biography that inspired Houdini. 15. What was Houdini's specialty in the art of magic? Houdini virtually invented the field of escapes. He was so good at what he did that some people actually thought he had the ability to dematerialize and reassemble himself outside his confinement. 16. What was Houdini's most famous escape? The straitjacket. Early in his career Houdini saw a straitjacket at an insane asylum. At first he performed the escape while hidden from view by a curtain. He later discovered the real drama in the straitjacket escape was in the struggle to get free and he began to do the escape in full view of the audience. Late in his career he made the escape more dramatic by doing it upside down while suspended from the corner of a tall building. 17. What did Houdini carry on the road with him, besides the elements of his act? A library of 100 books. Houdini loved to read. Most magicians read constantly. It is the best way to learn what is new and to absorb new information regarding magic. Comedians and comic magicians tend to be very intelligent. They read a lot too so that they can find new sources of comedy in current events. 18. What is the best way to learn magic? Books! Commercial magic tricks and magic lessons have their place but books give one the most comprehensive overview of magic. 19. Where can one find books on magic? The library! One can buy books but most libraries (including school libraries) carry an assortment of books on the subject of magic. Research questions 1. Why is Houdini considered to be the greatest of all magicians? 2. What was the "Golden Age of Magic"? 3. Name other magicians who have had a major influence on the art form of magic. 4. What was vaudeville? 5. Did the rise of the motion picture industry help or hurt vaudeville? 6. Are all magicians men? Questions without definite answers 1. Is magic real? I answer this one by reminding them that Houdin said, "A magician is an actor playing the part of a magician." I perform illusions creating the fantasy (as in "Harry Potter" or "The Lord of the Rings") that I have the ability to do magic. Just as an actor pretends to be somebody they are not. What I do is a form of entertainment. 2. Have you ever seen a magic show live (in person)? 3. Have you seen magic on TV? 4. Which did you like better? 5. Reading was so important to Houdini that he carried a library with 100 books on the road with him. How important is reading in your life? 6. Houdini was so inspired after reading The Memoirs of Robert-Houdin that he devoted his life to becoming a great magician. Is there something that interests you so much you wish to learn everything there is about it? 7. The late part of the 19th and the early part of the 20th century are often referred to as the "Golden Age of Magic." Thanks to television magic is enjoying new popularity. Do you think we are living in a second "Golden Age of Magic"? 8. Can you name some of the big stars of magic performing today? David Copperfield, David Blaine, Lance Burton and Harry Anderson. Part Two Writing Assignments 1. In the research questions we mentioned that Houdini was inspired by a biography. Write a book report about a biography of a famous magician. 2. Write a report about a famous magician of today using many sources for your information. 3. Not all magicians are men, write a report on a famous lady magician. Suggestions: Melinda, Juliana Chen. For a wealth of information visit the All Magic Guide on the web at: www.allmagicguide.com . 4. If you were to perform a magic show, what would it look like? Write a script for your show. 5. There are books with old magic posters in them. Design a poster for a magic show that you might do. 6. Dave performs a traditional style magic show; research and do a report on a non-traditional magician. Suggestions: Jeff McBride, Rudy Coby, Sylvester the Jester or Murray. For a wealth of information visit the All Magic Guide on the web at: www.allmaguide.com. 6. Compare and contrast the styles of two famous magicians working today. For example, David Copperfield and David Blaine. Part Three Bibliography Books that Teach Magic Blackstone, Harry. Blackstone's Secrets of Magic. The New Revised Edition, Melvin Powers, Wilshire Book Company, 1958. Originally published by Doubleday and Company, 1928. Elliott, Bruce. Classic Secrets of Magic. Collier Books, 1962. First Edition Harper & Brothers, 1953. Hay, Henry. The Amateur Magicians Handbook. Third Edition (revised and expanded), A Signet Book, New American Library, Times Mirror, 1972, 1965, 1950. Marshall, Jay. How to Perform Instant Magic. Quality Books, 1980. Tarbell, Harlan, edited by Ralph W. Read. Tarbell Course in Magic (8 Volumes). Volume 1. Louis Tannen Publisher, 1953, 1946, 1944, 1942, 1941. Rawson, Clayton (The Great Merlini). The Golden Book of Magic. Golden Press, Inc. 1964. Wilson, Mark. Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic. Courage Books, 1988, 1981, 1975. Biographies and the History of Magic Christopher, Milbourne. Houdini: A Pictorial Life. Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1976. Christopher, Milbourne. Houdini: The Untold Story. 5th Printing, Pocket Books, A Division of Simon and Schuster, Inc., 1976, 1970. Thomas Y. Crowell Edition, 1969. Dawes, Edwin A. The Great Illusionists. Chartwell Books, Inc. a division of Book Sales, Inc., 1979. Fischbacher, Siegfried and Roy Ludwig Horn with Annette Tapert. Siegfried and Roy: Mastering the Impossible. William Morrow and Company, Inc., 1992. Gresham, William Lindsay. Houdini: The Man Who Walked Through Walls. First Edition, Henry Holt and Co., 1959. Henning, Doug with Charles Reynolds. Houdini His Legend and His Magic. The New York Times Book Co., Inc., 1977. Magical History and Tricks Blackstone, Harry with Charles and Regina Reynolds. The Blackstone Book of Magic and Illusion. First edition, Newmarket Press, 1985. Caveny, Mike. Harry Anderson Wise Guy: From the Street to the Screen. Magical Publications, 1993. Dawes, Edwin A. and Arthur Setterington. The Encyclopedia of Magic. Gallery Books,1989. Gibson, Walter B. and Morris N. Young M.D. Houdini on Magic. Dover Publications, Inc. 1953. In Conclusion... A good magic act does not change, it evolves! That is the philosophy I want to carry with me concerning this guide. I am constantly looking to fine tune and improve my act. So too do I want to fine tune and improve this guide. I want your input! Please let me know where you want this to go. I have tried to provide a foundation from which you can choose questions and assignments related to your reading and writing curriculum. I know with your feedback that I can do a better job. Please feel free to write to me via e-mail at: dave@emagicpro.com.
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Accepted! To schedule: The Amazing Dave Elstun or Connie and Co. e-mail us at: Dave@EMagicPro.com or Connie@EMagicPro.com or phone Dave: (303) 462-1595 Connie: (303) 933-4118 Please indicate whether you are interested in Dave or Connie.
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