| With magic, illusions, spells, tricks and ceremonials are | | | | locks or ropes and eventually extricated himself. |
| usually performed for entertainment. It is a | | | | Spanish, Italian, British, French and American magicians |
| supernatural power which makes the seemingly | | | | presented their acts as magic regained popularity in |
| impossible occur. | | | | the 1920's. |
| 'Looking Back' | | | | 'Sawing a Woman in Half' |
| In ancient Egypt, there was a magician named Dedi | | | | In 1921, the world first witnessed a magician saw a |
| who performed in front of a crowd, where he | | | | woman in half. British performer Percy Tibbles cut |
| supposedly beheaded two birds and one ox. He | | | | through a box containing his woman assistant. After |
| eventually restored the heads of these three animals. | | | | the trick, she appeared without a harm. |
| Because of this, the Egyptians were considered to | | | | This trick became even more complicated when the |
| be the first magicians recorded in history. | | | | woman assistant was 'operated on' with her hands, |
| As the popularity of magic developed, tricks involving | | | | head and feet in full view of the audience. The |
| cups and balls were shown to the public. Then, | | | | assistant was sawed in half using a power-driven |
| playing cards, silver coins and dice were added to | | | | saw, and was later restored without a scratch on her |
| their slew of magical tricks. | | | | head. |
| Later on, ancient Greek magicians invented tricks | | | | 'Reaching a Wider Audience' |
| involving the human body. A trick where a performer | | | | Before, magicians only performed in theaters which |
| thrusts a dagger through one's arm without being | | | | were open to the public where food and drinks were |
| hurt has been developed and shown in public places. | | | | offered but the magic tricks were performedwithout |
| The ancient Chinese civilization also paved the way | | | | any fee given by the viewers. |
| for magic. The "linking rings" is one of the earliest | | | | By the mid-1900's, they paved the doors for |
| tricks ever invented. To begin with, a number of rings | | | | magicians to be 'professional performers' by requiring |
| link themselves. The rings are made up of solid metal | | | | the public viewers to pay for watching magic shows. |
| and the illusion is that they eventually unlink | | | | In the 1950's, television was invented so magicians |
| themselves. | | | | were able to reach an even wider audience spectrum. |
| 'Famous Magicians' | | | | During the 70's, Siegfried and Roy re-ignited the |
| One of the greatest magicians of all time is Harry | | | | interest in magical tricks by making large animals |
| Houdini. He started as a trapeze performer in the late | | | | disappear. David Copperfield is also a major player in |
| 1800's and eventually became famous for his magical | | | | the field of magicians who offered great |
| abilities. | | | | entertainment to the viewing public. |
| He was an "escape artist" who bonded himself using | | | | |