Magic Tricks

Barbara J. Feldman

Abracadabra! Looking to impress your friends with a few magic tricks? Using video and illustrated step-by-step instructions, this week's selections have magic tricks for all levels of experience. Some are geared strictly for kids, using only common household items such as paperclips and rubber bands, while others use magic supplies such as wands and silk handkerchiefs. For even more magic tricks, here's a free reprint of "The Book of Magic" by A. Frederick Collins,

Activity TV: Magic Tricks for Kids

5 stars

With online video, online instructions, a companion printable instruction sheet in PDF, and On Demand viewing for some cable TV subscribers, Activity TV has kids' magic covered! Magician Ryan Oaks is your host for these instructional videos, which are rated by difficulty level, and organized by categories such as rope tricks and card tricks. Each trick page gives you to the opportunity to rate the trick and to submit a comment. With more than a hundred tricks, Activity TV is my magic trick site of the week.

AllMagic.com

4 stars

Just ten tricks are revealed at Richard Robinson's AllMagic site. Here's where to find them. Under Movies, you'll find video instruction for Ball Production, the Mod French Drop, Shuffled Out Aces and the Swivel Cut. You'll also find illustrated instructions by clicking on the menu items Cards, Coins, Closeup, Mental and Stage. These tricks are not specifically for kids, so they are a bit harder than those at Activity TV, and some require special equipment, such as sponge balls, or an ESP card deck.

Card Trick Central

4 stars

Although the writing style and illustrations suggest that Classic Magic is a reprint from many years ago, the magic tricks themselves are timeless. You'll find illustrated instructions for card tricks, coin tricks, sleight of hand, close up magic (to be performed at a table) and even tricks with rabbits and birds. "The gentleness and docility of the rabbit makes it, like the dove, a favorite with the conjuror, who does not hesitate to produce it from a hat, and to cause it to disappear from, and re-appear in, most unexpected places."

Classic Magic

4 stars

Although the writing style and illustrations suggest that Classic Magic is a reprint from many years ago, the magic tricks themselves are timeless. You’ll find illustrated instructions for card tricks, coin tricks, sleight of hand, close up magic (to be performed at a table) and even tricks with rabbits and birds. “The gentleness and docility of the rabbit makes it, like the dove, a favorite with the conjuror, who does not hesitate to produce it from a hat, and to cause it to disappear from, and re-appear in, most unexpected places.”

Learn Free Magic Tricks

5 stars

LearnMagicTricks.org is a video aggregator specializing in magic videos. Some of the videos are simply magic performances, and others include tutorials. The videos on the front page are the newest ones, and the collection appears to be growing daily. There are categories (Card Tricks, Coin Tricks, Street Magic, Illusions, etc.) listed down the right-hand side. But if you are looking for something specific, I suggest using the search function, as the site is quite big.