Noted sleight-of-hand artist Ricky Smith is joining with Herb's Magic for a special sale and get-together, Saturday, May 6, at Cafe Rustico, the site of the ongoing Saturday afternoon magic meet-up in midtown Manhattan. Ricky will be selling a line of his magic items, including his unique card-in-envelope device; his hard-to-find lecture notes; exclusive playing cards; utility devices; and more. Herb's Magic will feature its mobile magic shop, offering an extensive selection of out-of-print magic books, collectible and every-day playing cards, tricks, and more. Both Ricky and Herb will be offering their wares at discount prices. The afternoon presents the opportunity to hang out with Ricky and see some of his expertise with cards displayed. Aside from selling his items Ricky will be on hand to schmooze, amaze folks, and provide tips on sleight of hand.

Ricky Smith is a noted sleight of hand practitioner and student. He has worked at H & R Magic Books and The Conjuring Arts Research Center. Currently he performs on Tuesday evenings at As Is (50th Street and 10th Avenue) in Manhattan. He has released some of his ideas on Art of Magic and in lecture notes. You can see some of the items on his work-in-progress website diagonalpalmshift.com. Please feel free to ask him your questions about sleight-of-hand with playing cards, and he will do the best he can to help!

Herb's Magic (the parent site of the Magic in New York blog) has recently added a wide range of hard-to-find out-of-print books to its inventory including many that are in new condition, such as titles featuring magic by Dai Vernon, Nick Trost, Roberto Giobbi, Edward Marlo, Harry Lorayne, Phil Goldstein, Chan Canasta, and many others. The sale will feature special prices on NOC, Tally-Ho, Bee and Bicycle playing cards, as well as a selection of new tricks, apparatus, and supplies.

The event will run from noon to 5 p.m. at Cafe Rustico, 25 West 35th Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. 

David Williamson is not only a remarkably skilled magician, but he is also one of conjuring's best all around performers. His shows are side-splittingly funny, to the point where the magic is the platform on which a larger entertainment experience is built. Yet, he also can be dazzling with his technical skill and he has demonstrated striking creativity in developing tricks and moves, many of which have become part of the firmament of magic.

David is remarkably approachable and generous with his time. He has often been spotted sitting on the floor across from a youngster at a magic convention helping pass along magic skills to the next generation, and, hey - he took the call from Herb's Magic - agreeing to spend some time talking about his upcoming appearance as Ringmaster Willy Whipsnade in the touring production of Circus 1903: the Golden Age of Circus which is running at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden through April 16. Make sure to click on the "read more" link to read the whole interview.

​Maybe we could start with ‘how did you become the Ringmaster for Circus 1903?’

Good question. Mark Kalin introduced me to Simon Painter, years ago. Simon is the producer of The Illusionists and they were looking for a replacement for Hobson for an Australian tour for six months. This was three years ago. And so I was at Magic Live and did a little performance there and Simon Painter saw me, thanks to Mark Kalin and we had a meeting and he said ‘you’re hired.’ So, I filled in for Hobson, and that went really well, and last year they asked me to be in the the London version that played at the Shaftsbury Theatre over the holidays for a couple months. So I was in The Illusionists there and they got to know me well and what I can do and when the time came to start casting for this circus show he’s been planning for years he thought of me and offered me the job of Ringmaster, and I jumped at it.

Were you the Ringmaster at the beginning of the production.

Yeah, this is basically the beginning of the production. This show started in November. We all flew to Australia, to Melbourne, to build the show, and I’ve been involved with it since before then, in writing and just brainstorming coming up with ideas for the show and I brought Mike Caveney in and he’d done a little writing work for The Illusionists Turn of the Century, that played here at the Palace. So, I’ve been involved with it from the beginning, and we rehearsed the show and built it in Melbourne and then moved it on to Canberra, Sydney, at the Opera House, and then back to Melbourn at the Regent Theatre, there for a couple weeks before we brought it to the States and then we’ve done L. A., Denver, Boston, Detroit, Chicago, and now we’re in New York. [interview continues]

Last night George Schindler received the Lifetime Achievement Fellowship at the American Academy of Magical Arts award ceremony. Schindler is a lifelong New Yorker who has been deeply immersed in the local magic scene for decades and has also had an impact nationally and internationally through his performances, lectures, books and products and through his tenure as Dean of the national Society of American Magicians. Below is the tweet that the AMA sent out last night during the award ceremony as well as a video interview with Schindler which was produced by the S. A. M.