On Sunday, Steve Cohen paid tribute to magician Chan Canasta by presenting a display of 40 of Canasta's paintings in the suite in the Waldorf Astoria hotel where Cohen performs his show Chamber Magic on Fridays and Saturdays. Canasta was known largely through his appearances on TV in Great Britain and the United States during the 1950s and 60s in which he performed effects that were primarily focused in the area of mentalism. In his later years Canasta largely withdrew from performing magic and focused on painting. He died in 1999. Although today Canasta's name is not as broadly recognized as some of his contemporaries in magic, he had a pronounced influence on numerous notable magicians of succeeding generations.

Invitations to the free event were sent to the mailing list for Cohen's show, and it was also announced on the Chamber Magic web site. Among the noteworthy guests in attendance was Canasta's wife, Renata Kadrnka who mingled with guests and reflected warmly on Canasta throughout the afternoon. Also in attendance were magician Doug McKenzie, a collector of Canasta's paintings who loaned several of the works displayed; as well as magician Peter DePaula; Tannen's Magic President Adam Blumenthal; Monday Night Magic Producer Michael Chaut; performer and author Ken Weber; and Belgian art dealer Igal Azuelos who also provided many of the displayed paintings.

"The whole idea for this event was simply to pay homage to Chan Canasta who has influenced me as a performer," said Cohen. "When I had a chance to meet his wife, Renata, I relaized the she didn’t know that her husband has left an important legacy to magicians today. Anyone who has watched Chan Canasta or studied Chan Canasta’s work as a magician realizes that he was far ahead of his time, and I wanted to show his wife that his style of performing and the nuances that he brought to mentalism and magic have a degree of importance that still lasts even after he has passed."

Periodically throughout the afternoon Cohen performed card tricks from Canasta's repertoire. Guests could also watch Canasta himself perform in video clips on a large screen at one end of the suite. Another magical aspect of the afternoon was the high tea provided which included a selection of elegant desserts. 

A Talk

Penn & Teller: A TimesTalk Conversation
Thursday, July 2, 6:30 p.m.
TheTimesCenter, 242 West 41st Street
Prior to the start of their six-week run on Broadway, Penn and Teller will appear in conversation as part of the TimesTalk series presented by The New York Times. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: http://timestalks.com/detail-event.php?event=penn_teller

Magic Shows

A Taste of Magic
Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 5 and 8 p.m. July 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 and 25.
Dock's Oyster Bar, 633 Third Avenue
A Taste of Magic includes dinner plus performances of close-up magic before the meal and between courses. For more information: atasteofmagicnyc.com

Chamber Magic, featuring Steve Cohen
Fridays at 7 and 9 p.m.; Saturdays at 2, 7 and 9 p.m.
No shows on Saturday, July 4
The Waldorf Towers, 100 East 50th Street.
For more information: www.chambermagic.com, or 866-811-4111

Mayhew Mayhem, featuring Chris Mayhew
Thursday July 30, 9:30 p.m.
The PIT Theatre, 123 East 24th Street
www.eventbrite.com/e/a-taste-of-magic-presents-mayhew-mayhem-tickets-17340640322

Monday Night Magic
Monday, June 29, at 8 p.m., featuring: David Schwartz, Dave Cox, and Michael Chaut (headliner), with Master of Ceremonies, David Corsaro. Close-up performances at intermission by: Mike Patrick, Ben Nemzer, and Matias Letelier
Monday, July 6, at 8 p.m., featuring: Alexander Boyce, Scott Alexander & Puck, Jeff Moche (headliner), with Master of Ceremonies, Harrison Greenbaum. Close-up performances at intermission by: David Oliver, Jason Suran, and Joe Maxwell
Monday, July 13, featuring: Jonathan Burns, Francis Menotti, and Michael Chaut (headliner) with Master of Ceremonies, David Corsaro. Close-up performances at intermission by: Noah Levine, Richard Cohn, and Peter Samelson.
Players Theatre, 125 MacDougal Street. For information: mondaynightmagic.com/MainMenu.html, 718-575-1349

Parlor of Mystery
featuring: Theaddeus, Adam Mesmer, Carl Mecurio
Sunday, June 28, at 7 p.m.
South Shore Theatre Experience, 315 West Montauk Highway
Lindenhurst, NY (Long Island)
For tickets and information: southshoretheatre.com
Parlor of Mystery shows are held the fourth Sunday of every month.

Penn & Teller on Broadway
July 7 through August 16
Marquis Theatre
For more information: pennandtelleronbroadway.com

Sam Eaton's The Quantum Eye
Saturdays at 5 p.m.
Theatre 80, 80 Saint Mark's Place
http://www.thequantumeye.com

The Magician, featuring Dan White
An intimate evening of magic, mystery, and deception.
Most weeks the show is presented Friday at 8 pm. and Saturday at 6 and 9:30 p.m.
Please check the show's web site for specific availability.
Nomad Upstairs, The Nomad Hotel, 1170 Broadway (and 28th Street)
www.thenomadhotel.com/#!/experiences/nomad-upstairs

Vinny DePonto: Mind Reader
Friday, July 31, 7:30 p.m.
Union Hall, 702 Union Street, Brooklyn
www.unionhallny.com/event/870401-vinny-deponto-mind-reader-brooklyn/

Gatherings

Cafe Rustico II, 25 West 35th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues)
Saturdays from approximately noon to 5 p.m.
Magicians gather at Rustico on Saturdays, in a longstanding tradition to share information, help each other with tricks, and socialize. The group is attended by magicians of all levels from beginners to working pros. Many future magic greats got their start by learning from fellow magicians at this weekly get-together. Anyone interested in magic is welcome to attend. 

The Magic Table
Times Square Diner & Grill, 807 Eighth Avenue (49th Street)
Fridays at 1 p.m.
The Magic Table is another longstanding gathering for magicians. It has always been based in the Times Square area, harking to the time when the neighborhood was home to multiple magic businesses like the Tannen's and Max Holden magic stores. The get-together is open to anyone interested in magic.

Magnets
The Atrium, 601 Lexington Avenue
Mondays at 6 p.m.
Magnets is a newer group that meets for weekly jam sessions and also occasionally sponsors its own lectures, workshops and shows. This group is also open to everyone interested in magic.

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Jerry Oppenheimer, who was recently named Magician of the Year by the Parent Assembly of the Society of American magicians, was profiled by the Riverdale Press, the paper covering the community where he lives with his wife, Lee in the Bronx. Click here to go to the article at the paper's web site.

Today's New York Times includes a feature article on Penn & Teller, in connection to their upcoming appearance on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre starting July 7. Click the image or here to read the story at nytimes.com.

The producers of The Illusionists have announced that the show will return to Broadway this year for a limited run during the holiday season. The show will play from November 19 through January 3 at the Neil Simon Theater on West 52nd Street.

The Illusionists ran on Broadway last year in a similar time frame prior to an extensive national tour. Notably Kevin James, Andrew Basso and Aaron Crow, who appeared in the earlier Broadway rendition of the production will not be part of the upcoming version and will be replaced by Jonathan Goodwin, James More, and Raymond Crowe. Goodwin, More, and Crowe have all performed with The Illusionists 2.0, a second company of the show. Goodwin is billed as "a high-risk stunt performer" and goes by "The Daredevil," in the ecosphere of The Illusionists. More, billed as "The Deceptionist," gained recognition through his appearances on Britain's Got Talent and specialized in stage illusions in The Illusionists 2.0. Raymond Crowe, "The Unusualist," is known as a ventriloquist, hand shadow performer, magician and variety artist. They will join magicians Yo Ho-Jin ("The Manipulator"), Jeff Hobson ("The Trickster"), Dan Sperry ("The Anti-Conjurer") and Adam Trent ("The Futurist") who will return to Broadway with the show.

The Parent Assembly of the Society of American Magicians held its 106th Annual Salute to Magic, June 11 at the Player's Theater (Parent Assembly is the New York City chapter of the S. A. M.). The show featured performances by magicians John Graham and Jason Bishop. Jerry Oppenheimer a long time member of PA1 was honored as Magician of the Year (please see the separate profile of Jerry for more on his contributions and accomplishments). A selection of photos taken at the event are included in the gallery below.

David Roth presented a lecture to the Parent Assembly of the Society of American Magicians Friday after the group's regular meeting at Fantasma Magic. Roth delved into variations on Coins Across, teaching multiple approaches to the trick. One unusual version used a champagne glass as a receptacle for the coins, providing an opportunity for an interesting deceptive technique which allows both hands to apparently be shown empty simultaneously. Roth also spent time reviewing the classic palm and performed his Winged Silver/Chinese Coins routine which has been a centerpiece of his performances. He also spoke about his process of developing some of his more creative routines like The Tuning Fork and The Portable Hole. Since emerging in the 1970s, Roth has been recognized as one of the world's most innovative and influential coin magicians. He has performed on national television in the United States, made international lecture tours, and released a wide range of teaching material.

Toward the beginning of the lecture Roth introduced Jim Boyd, a magician visiting from Scotland, who created the well-known coin routine The Hopping Halves. Boyd explained that the trick was originally published in 1967 in Harry Stanley's magazine, The Gen, under the name Confusing Coins. Stanley brought the trick to a magic convention in Baden, Baden, Germany which kick-started its popularity (Boyd never marketed or profited from the trick). His attendance at Roth's lecture was serendipitous, since he only learned of the event when he stopped by for a visit at Fantasma while in town for a friend's wedding.

During a break in the lecture Boyd reflected on his involvement in the Scottish magic scene over the years, including an encounter with Dai Vernon who he once picked up at the Edinborough airport and drove to the nearby town of Dundee. On the way they made a pit stop, which Boyd recalled in a wryly recounted anecdote.

"I had Dai Vernon at my house in Scotland. It was quite funny I was at the Magic Castle one year and i sat in his seat in the Magic Castle and somebody over there objected to me sitting there, so I turned around and said 'quite honestly, he came to Scotland, he came to my house, he sat in my seat in my house drinking my whiskey--and he liked Scotch whiskey--and entertained my son, making a mouse out of a handkerchief, so I said that's why I'm sitting in this seat, here.' I'm a typical Scot. If someone says ' you can't,' I object." Boyd has run local magic clubs in Scotland and was President of the Scottish Association of Magical Societies in 1974 and 2001.