What Happened to the Classics?

Nov 20, 2007
4,410
6
Sydney, Australia
Next to never. Vernon largely comes up through people who mostly have never studied him but reference him to look smart, Carney is discussed by a small minority who are looking at either of his too books, Ramsey is never brought up, Bobo is brought up by every second new coin magician in the context of "Bobo seems dated, should I bother?", Williamson is never mentioned, Bebel mentioned in the context of the only effect of his anyone knows, Repro Retro, Ammar is actually mentioned a little, Cornelius never mentioned with the exception of the occasional reference to the Winter Change, Ackerman mentioned just as little...

If anyone ever says that, call me first, I'll kill them as well.

*Waits for the next witty member to decide to say "Hey guys, what happened to the classics? Brad Christian, Adam Grace, James Coats, and Eric James?" as a joke*
 

Michael Kras

{dg} poet laureate / theory11
Sep 12, 2007
1,268
3
Canada
www.magicanada.myfastforum.org
Although this has appeared in most people's minds, it kind of just hit me hard and made me think about it.
Where are all the classics and oldies?
I have seen many threads and questions of people asking about a trick they saw or showing people a routine they saw. But the thing is, these are all classics of magic and is (was?) pretty well known.
I just kind of died a bit insided when I noticed not only 1 or 2 people not knowing, but a whole bunch of them, not knowing the classics such as the Card Stab, Sam the Bellhop, the Swami Gimmick, etc.
I know that some of you are new to magic and all, but I have only met atound 20 people who really remember the old stuff and still enjoy dicussing it.

SHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! If you bring up the classics then everybody will go looking for them and I won't have any more magic basically to myself.

Oh yeah, and them so-called classics?? Bleecchh.....
 
Aug 18, 2008
22
1
My first few purchases were dvds from E because I found there website first but my first major purchase was the Harlan Tarbell course in Magic. A lot of magic classics in those eight volumes. A pretty expensive set for me but there is so much packed in that to buy that much in dvds would be impossable.
 
Sep 20, 2008
1,112
3
To argue, i wouldnt know what a 'classic' is. I was not there to witness them or anything, so i would not know about them unless i had the initiative of researching.

But to Counter-argue, i am aware of such names (Dai Vernon, Houdini, Houdin, Cardini,Lennart Green *From the top of my head* )

I'd say im pretty ignorant. But quite frankly, No one really has the initiative nowadays to find out who did what.

As for the queens question- i dont remember who's effect it was from. It wasnt from DnD themselves, rather they taught a revised version. And frankly the only reason why i know of this is because they mentioned that in the DvD.

And to be honest, in 30-60 years time (if im still alive, lets hope i am lol) i'd consider Blaine's street magic as a classic.

1. of the first or highest quality, class, or rank: a classic piece of work.
2. serving as a standard, model, or guide: the classic method of teaching arithmetic.


Just my opinion. I'd rather voice it out than ass kiss. (Not pointing any fingers. Relax, Relax.)
 
Nov 20, 2007
4,410
6
Sydney, Australia
Hmm, I think I get what you're saying Sinful07, and that's fair enough. I'm happy that people don't have the initiative to find out who did what, because I can keep the best magic to myself, because really, it is the best magic.

I suppose I just think it's sad that few people are aware of the roots of where magic came from, I think it's really important to understand the history of magic (that said, I by no means am anywhere near an expert on magic history). But from a practical point of view, I think it's sad simply because in my opinion the best magic comes from the classics. And the performances today come from the contemporary masters who have studied the classics - not the ones who ignore it. So it seems to be that if you want to improve your magic, it's the best way to go.
 
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