Magic as EntertainmentĪround the turn of the 19th century, magic finally began to come into favor with modern audiences. While this helped put an end to the “witch-hunt” of magicians, it unfortunately gave them another negative connotation of being con artists and charlatans. Believed to be the first magic trick book, this iconic text revealed how these “witches” and “sorcerers” were actually just magicians using clever tricks to deceive the public.
In 1584, Reginald Scot helped dispel these beliefs when he published The Discoverie of Witchcraft. Until the late 16th century, many magicians were considered sorcerers and witches, and were often persecuted by the church and authorities. For many years, it was associated with the occult and even feared by the public. Magic was not always seen as a form of entertainment. It was a vessel that magically refills itself known as the “ Lota Bowl” and it is believed to have first appeared around 3,000 B.C. That “sleight of hand” distinction is key because the first known magic prop may have actually been invented between the time of Ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire. This would still make the cups and balls the first true sleight of hand magic trick. The first official account of the cups and balls, though, is credited to a group of roman magicians known as The Acetabularii who used stones and small vinegar cups to perform this amazing magic trick between 50 and 300 A.D. However, it’s still very likely that the cups and balls was one of the first ever magic tricks (and continues to be one of the best-selling parlor magic tricks that can be seen regularly in some of the best magic shows in NYC and around the world.) Over the years, some historians have debated the interpretation of these drawings, claiming that Dedi may have actually been performing a similar, but different, magic trick. In fact, many believe that the first recorded act of magic appeared in a wall drawing nearly 5,000 years ago in Ancient Egypt where a magician named Dedi was drawn performing the classic cups and balls magic trick.
Magic tricks have been around for 1,000s of years. Today, we explore literally the “oldest trick in the book.” In fact, most of the modern magic tricks we sell in our online magic shop, even those that use technology like magic apps, can trace their lineage back centuries.īut, what was the first magic trick ever performed? From card tricks to the linking rings, cut and restored rope, pulling a rabbit out of a hat, levitating and even sawing a lady in half, magic has so many recognizable illusions that have been featured in magic books and performed for centuries.
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