[Jim]: Abracadabra!... Alla Peanut Butter Sandwich!... Open Sesame Seed!
[Kelly]: Abracadabra! [Jim]: I already said that one.
[Kelly]: Jim, I have a fancy wand. [Jim]: Eh, good point..
[Jim]: Mecca lecca.. [Kelly]: Jim, I think we bit off a little
more then we can chew here.. [Jim]: Maybe you're right.. Let me try one
more.. Just one more.. [Jim]: Murraykizzam!
(With a cloud of smoke, Murray appears on screen)
[Murray]: You know what, I think I left my wallet in my car.. I'll be right back! No
no, it's not a problem.. Oh, hey! How are you guys doing?
[Kelly]: Oh! Hey, Mr. SawChuck! Thanks for coming.. are we bothering you at all?
[Murray]: No, not at all.. but the waiter may be a little upset I stiffed him.. but
I'll get him back next time, he'll be fine. [Jim]: Well, I think what Kelly means is,
we're having a little trouble with the script and it's a little beyond our expertise and
we could really use your help. [Murray]: Well you know I do have a couple
tricks up my sleeve.. That's a really big book, but I do have a few tricks, up.. my
[Murray]: I mean, you were going to get in the way anyways.. oh and plus, guess what,
[Murray]: I mean, you were going to get in the way anyways.. oh and plus, guess what, [Murray]: I mean, you were going to get in the way anyways.. oh and plus, guess what,
it'll wear off in a few minutes.. [Murray] Hey I'm Murray SawChuck and this,
is Top10Archive!
Stage magic.. a performing art that both entertains and mesmerizes audiences with seemingly impossible
tricks and illusions. Although our documented history of early magic tricks date back to
at least the 1400's, it wasn't until the late 1800's and when the Great Harry Houdini made
his presence, before the industry bloomed into the wonderful... flower that it is today.
Here is our pick for the "Top 10 Most Notable Magicians in History".
10. Alexander Herrmann Known as Herrmann the Great, this 19th-century
French native came from a long line of famous magicians. Throughout his early life on stage,
Herrmann the Great learned from his brother, Carl Herrmann, eventually overshadowing him
with acts like the bullet catch. What Alexander became most known for was a conjuring trick
that would become a staple of low-brow magicians and favorites across the ages. Herrmann was
among the first magicians to actually pull a live rabbit from out of his hat. While we
know the ins-and-outs of this very basic illusion, for his time, Herrmann the Great was performing
impossible feats. 9. Dai Vernon
During the mid- to-late 20th century, until his death in 1992, Canadian magician Dai Vernon
was stupefying the world with his expert-level technique at sleight-of-hand. His incredible
skill was so impressive that Vernon became one of the few tricksters to ever stump Harry
Houdini, a man that professed he could figure out a card trick if he watched it three times
in a row. For Houdini, Vernon removed a card from the top of the deck, placed it in the
middle, then flipped the deck over to reveal the original card. After seven consecutive
viewings, Houdini was forced to admit defeat, giving Vernon the title of “The Man Who
Fooled Houdini.” In 1968, Vernon was awarded a “Master Fellowship” from the Academy
of Magical Arts. 8. Mark Wilson
Dubbed by the New York Times as “the nation’s leading authority on magic,”
Mark Wilson is one of the top magicians in the 20th Century, alongside other greats we’ll touch
on in just a bit. What stands out as one of Wilson’s greatest accomplishments was becoming network
television’s very first weekly magic series. Magic Land of Allakazam debuted on CBS and
lasted for 2 years before moving to ABC for another 3. Wilson continued his career as
a televised illusionist, along with his wife Nani Darnell, on a variety of other productions
that included The Magic of Mark Wilson, Magic Circus, and four different HBO Magic Specials.
7. Carl Ballantine Without Carl Ballantine, there’s a chance
that magicians like Tom Mullica, the Amazing Jonathan, Piff the Magic Dragon and Murray
SawChuck (Myself) would have gone down an entirely different career path. Ballantine
headlined the magic circuit from 1949 up until his death in 2009 and is credited with successfully
combining his prowess as a comedian and specialty as a magician, defining the field of comedy
magic. The Great Ballantine was awarded the Special Fellowship by the Academy of Magical
Arts in 1973 and the Louie award from Tannen’s Magic, but the magician was about more than
just the magic. Ballantine also acted in several films including McHale’s Navy, Penelope,
The World’s Greatest Lover, and The North Avenue Irregulars.
6. David Blaine The soft-spoken Blaine doesn’t rely on a
loud, flashy production to pull off impressive feats… he relies on his skill. Overtime,
Blaine overshadowed his career as an illusionist with record breaking endurance stunts that
had him encased in a block of ice, standing atop a 100-foot or 30-meter high pillar, or
placed in a plexiglass case and suspended 30 feet or 9 meters near the River Thames,
but his claim to fame was his first television special, Street Magic. Blaine’s low-key
nature often played up the wonder of his illusions and tricks. His 2nd show, Magic Man, sent
Blain across the country to entertain spectators in a range of cities, the reactions being
more of a focus than the trick itself. 5. David Devant
As the consummate exponent of entertaining magical theater, or, in layman's terms the
best of the best, David Devant worked for as long as he could before his body started
to deteriorate from parkinson's disease. His early years had him performing with Maskelyne
& Cooke company at the Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly, London, but it wasn’t long before his dry
wit and magical prowess set him up as one of magic’s most revered performers. One
of Devant’s more popular tricks, and one that we can certainly appreciate, was the
“Magic Kettle,” during which he was able to produce an alcoholic beverage requested
by the audience. Devant was so respected that he’s still referred to by many British magicians
as the “master performer of his time.” 4. Penn & Teller
From 1975 through today, the comedy act of Penn & Teller has been an audience favorite.
Penn Fraser Jillette and Raymond Joseph Teller may not have been the first comedy magicians,
but it would be hard to deny that they altered it, creating a hybrid of magic and crude comedy.
Later in their career, the duo became Las Vegas headliners, were awarded a Hollywood
Walk of Fame star, and starred in several television series' that range from magic-focused
to political satire. Their outlandish acts often feature gore and violence to comedic
levels, such as accidentally sawing a woman in half after showing how other magicians
perform the trick. The pair are known to call out frauds and even dish out secrets of the
trade through their own, incredible versions of basic tricks.
3. David Copperfield For years, Copperfield has ruled the stage
of the David Copperfield Theater in Vegas, eventually earning Forbes’ title as the
most commercially successful magician in history. He’s been privy to 11 Guinness World Records,
a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and even knighthood from the French. Copperfield’s
introduction to magic started early as he practiced under the name Davino the Boy Magician
at the age of 10. By 12, he became the youngest member of the Society of American Magicians.
Copperfield acted in the musical The Magic Man, headlined
the Pagoda Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii, and hosted The Magic of ABC in the late 1970s.
In April of 1983, Copperfield performed what was dubbed the most famous illusion and made
the Statue of Liberty disappear. 2. Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin
If you’re praising greats like Harry Houdini, you’re also secretly showing some love for
Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin. Widely considered the Father of Modern Magic, Robert-Houdin
was a respected member of the community, so much so that Ehrich Weisz paid homage to him
with the name Harry Houdini. Robert-Houdin started as a clockmaker in his family’s
business, turning to sleight-of-hand tricks to entertain friends and satisfy his love
of magic. Shooting him into fame was his attraction, “Second Sight”, during which his blindfolded
son would identify items being held by him. Along with being the Father of Modern Magic,
Robert-Houdin was also one of the first magicians to utilize electricity in his act. His career
was relatively short, having died from pneumonia only eleven years after taking the stage.
1. Harry Houdini
Born in 1874 as Ehrich Weisz, Houdini entered the magic circle around 1891, finding fame
when he met his manager, Martin Beck in 1899. From there, the young performer entered into
vaudeville, where he earned the name “The Handcuff King.” Houdini’s started performing
one of his most notable tricks, the Chinese Water Torture Cell, in 1913. The act had him
suspended upside-down in a glass-and-steel cabinet that would filled with water. To escape,
Houdini would have to hold his breath for 3 minutes, using either concealed lockpicks
or force to escape. Beyond magic, Houdini starred in several films, helped debunk psychics,
and was the first person to fly over Australian soil. On October 24th, 1926, Houdini succumbed
to peritonitis after allegedly being punched in the abdomen.
[Murray]: Hey, thanks for watching this video, I really hope you enjoyed it. If you want
to subscribe to my channel, go to YouTube, and it's Magic Murray.
[Kelly]: And we know you love this video, so don't forget to give it a big thumbs up..
[Jim]: ..and don't forget to follow us on facebook, twitter and our website, top10archive.net!
[Murray]: Oh, she'll be fine in a couple of minutes.. or an hour.. or a week. Month..
by the end of the year she'll be just fine.. Hey.. where you going? Well.. I don't have
insurance for her.