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Should magicians reveal their secrets?

V

vchimpanzee

A few years ago, I decided that with the exception of David Copperfield, I didn't want to watch any magician who didn't tell us how it was done. Penn and Teller revealed some of their secrets on tV, and one TV special explained David Blaine's illusion.

Then Val Valentino did his specials or Fox, and I really enjoyed those. I'm still impressed with the tricks. They really take a lot of skill, even for the beautiful assistants who aren't just good-looking. And Mitch Pileggi keeps reminding us how good they DO look.

My Network did a weekly series this season with some of the old tricks revealed again, and some new tricks. I've already forgotten a lot of what I knew, so I can't say that I will never again be impressed. And I continue to be impressed with the skills these people have to have.

But I refuse to watch any more if I don't know how. Last night that almost did happen; I posted elsewhere on this site about that.
 
Magic shows just seem so passe anymore that I'm not sure anybody would watch it unless they did show how to do at least some small tricks (stuff one could do at home). I kinda put TV magic shows in the same group as 'variety' specials and other old-school one-off bits.
 
I have seen that show many times, and I actually find the explanation of how they do the trick more interesting than the trick itself. After watching just a few episodes it starts to get pretty easy to figure the tricks out before they even give the explanation.
 
Val Valentino only reveals secrets of illusions on HIS VERSIONS of the tricks, not the way others do them.
One of many examples : the levitating lady. The assistant laid on a table which seemed to float in the air. The secret turned out to be a steel bar supporting the table disguised as one of Valentino's legs. Valentino just conveniently stood behind it the entire time because the bar had a pants leg covering it matching Valentino's pants.
Other magicians use the age old movements like passing a large hoop over the table to prove there are no wires, or spin the table around while they are walking around it, which Vaentino never did.
In other words, his illusions are very elementary and simple compared to other magicians.
 
Mitch acts like the tricks are so easy. I don't think so. They take a lot of skill.

I know I don't have the skills he needs. And most of the tricks we couldn't do anyway. In fact, sometimes Mitch warns us sternly NOT to do them.
 
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