| The greatest magicians in the world are entertainers | | | | badly. |
| first and con jurors second. Magicians thrill audiences | | | | Of course, no list of great magicians would be |
| around the world with illusions and sleight-of-hand. | | | | complete without Harry Houdini. While Houdini started |
| The art form is thought to be based on misdirection, | | | | out as a magician, it wasn't until he developed his |
| but that description is misleading. Misdirection is just | | | | escape act (at the strong suggestion of a major |
| one of the many psychological principles that | | | | vaudeville promoter) that Harry took off for the big |
| magicians exploit to produce illusion. | | | | time. |
| Among the greatest practitioners of the art of | | | | Max Malini (about whom Dai Vernon wrote a book |
| deception, Tony Slydini was the master of | | | | called, "Max Malini and His Magic") was a legend in his |
| misdirection. This self-taught wizard arrived in Boston | | | | time for his bold magic, but even more so for his |
| as a young immigrant from Argentina. He was born | | | | bold personality. |
| Quintino Marucci in Foggia, Italy. | | | | Doug Henning, star of the Broadway hit "The Magic |
| Dai Vernon was known as the Professor. He was a | | | | Show," revolutionized the performance of magic and |
| lifelong student of magic and a brilliant card worker. | | | | inspired many to take up magic. Among those |
| Vernon said the only magician who could still fool him | | | | inspired by Henning is Brian McGovern. |
| was Slydini. | | | | Brian McGovern, is by far the greatest magician who |
| Vernon was known as the man who fooled Houdini. | | | | has ever lived on his block. This New York magician |
| Dai used a little known gimmick to amaze Houdini, | | | | combines comedy with magic to create a fantastic |
| who insisted Vernon repeat the trick over and over. | | | | show. |
| Houdini cursed and stormed off. Vernon fooled him | | | | |