MAGICOL

Magicol, A Journal of Magic History and Collectibles, is a periodical, published by Magicana, which showcases magic and its long history.

Here is a partial list of Magicols since 2010.

Senior Sorcery is an interactive performing arts program for the Greater Toronto Area designed for and targeted to the senior citizen community.

The goal of the program is to bring live theatre, in the form of magic shows, to isolated seniors. The program also strives to actively engage seniors and to empower by giving residents the opportunity to invite their friends and family to a special event. Additionally, the program is designed to connect generations by offering a group activity that all can participate, enjoy and most importantly, talk about later.

In 2005 Magicana, in partnership with Smile Theatre, launched our inaugural show, Hocus Pocus—a 45 minute program of mirth, mystery and magic presented to seniors in retirement homes and recreational centers in the Greater Toronto and surrounding areas. Today, the program has evolved and includes additional  programming, Strolling Sorcery, and we aim to present fifty shows a year.

Thanks the support from private individuals and donors like the Slaight Family Foundation, Magicana is able to use a subsidy fund to make this program available to all centres, based on a pay-what-you-can cost model -because, magic is for the young at heart!

So, we invite you to bring some magic to your centre!

Contact our program coordinator for show availability.

My Magic Hands is a learning program for children ages eight to fourteen. For eight weeks, a professional magician teaches children the secrets of great magic tricks and how to perform them for their family and friends. At the end of the eight weeks, the children stage and star in “The Big Show,” a magic show recital showcasing the children's accomplishments. This program was developed by Magicana, with assistance from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, and is now generously funded by the Slaight Family Foundation.

Typically, we start with a group of about 12 to 15 participants. As each class progresses, participants learn and assume the role of a magician. They learn how a magician performs magic tricks through careful planning. And, most importantly, they learn that practice is necessary to create an illusion—one where mysterious and magical things happen. Our course includes magic tricks with cards, ropes, everyday objects, along with special “props.” 

For the first half of the program we work on imparting the secrets of both the magic trick and its successful presentation for the audience. The second half of the program frames the participants with vital performance skills—including scripting and choreography—which are incorporated with the magic trick to ensure success at The Big Show. The program also “employs” magic coaches; this is the role we assign to volunteers of our program. Volunteers are one of the key secrets of success. Participants are also provided with magic kits, affectionately known as their  “Box of Secrets,” to store all of the materials and information necessary for the program. Each week, the Box of Secrets is filled with new magic tricks and instructions. These magic kits are provided free of charge thanks to our donor, the Slaight Family Foundation.

LYONS DEN ARCHIVE

A Compendium of Essays by Jamy Ian Swiss

Welcome to the Lyons Den. 

This is a compendium of thirty-six product reviews, along with additional essays, all written by Jamy Ian Swiss. In 2016, Jamy began contributing to the Lyons Den column and the result is this intensely-packed, insightful and, sometimes provocative collection of writing. 

The essays take on a more personal journey as Jamy reflects on magic, how it is presented to the public, and what impact that has on the general view of magic today. The product reviews are more direct: they are deep analytical dives by the author, and surface as fully-explored breakdowns, offering readers insightful consideration.

Where to begin?

Follow the reviews, as they were posted here.

But, if you're looking for a particular title or author, perhaps you will find the two alphabetical indexes below useful. 

Either way, we are confident you will find the Lyons Den essays by Jamy insightful and interesting, and, most of all, informative. Enjoy!

Lyons Den Collection

Author Index  Title Index