Magicians connected to the New York Magic Scene are in the news.

Penn & Teller & Jimmy
Jimmy Ichihana will appear Thursday, July 20 on Penn & Teller: Fool Us. During his time in New York in 2014 and 2015 Jimmy performed with A Taste of Magic and was an active participant in the local scene. Since moving to Central Florida he has performed at a variety of venues and regularly performs as part of Kostya Kimlat's See Magic Live team (seemagiclive.com). Did Jimmy Fool Penn & Teller? All will be revealed on the 20th, so tune in. Here's some more info about Jimmy.

Ricky Smith Wraps Up His Run at As Is
This Tuesday July 18 marks Ricky Smith's final regular performance at As Is, the Tenth Avenue Bar where he has been performing weekly. There's one last chance to check out Ricky's magical sleight of hand. As Is is located at 734 Tenth Avenue (at 50th Street). Here's more info about Ricky.

Henry Richardson on America's Got Talent
Henry Richardson made a splash on America's Got Talent, performing a card transposition that then intersected with a mentalism effect and an item in an impossible location. Not only was his segment the first one broadcast on the June 27 "audition" episode, but his segment was "leaked" ahead of the show's broadcast that week as part of AGT's promotion campaign. His performance was enthusiastically received by the judges who all voted "Yes" on his "audition." Check out the link to see his performance. Henry is 15 year-old who is part of the Society of Young Magicians group which meets monthly at Tannen's.

A number of online sources have reported the death of Kenneth Silverman, perhaps most known in magic circles as the author of Houdini!!!: The Career of Ehrich Weiss. Silverman, a professor of English at New York University, was a noted biographer who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1985 for his book The Life and Times of Cotton Mather. His other biographies included Lightning Man: The Accursed Life of Samuel F. B. Morse; Edgar A. Poe: Mournful and Never-Ending Remembrance, and Begin Again: A Biography of John Cage.

Magician George Schindler, Dean of the national Society of American Magicians, wrote on Facebook: "It is especially difficult to lose a boyhood friend. Kenneth Silverman died peacefully at age 81 in New York. He was one of the few remaining members of Peter Pan’s magic club of the 1940’s. . . .The magic community mourns his loss."

Silverman was born in Manhattan and as a teenager performed as magician Ken Silvers. The Peter Pan magic club, which was sponsored by the New York City Department of Parks, was a nexus of magic among young New Yorkers for decades and included many figures who eventually became influential in magic and remained friends for decades. Silverman was a life member of the Society of American Magicians and was a member of Parent Assembly, the local New York City chapter of the S. A. M., for more than fifty years.

Silverman's 1996 book on Houdini received a lengthy New York Times review written by Teller, who pointed out the many new threads of information about the escape artist that Silverman discovered in his extensive research. "To uncover so many previously unknown details of the master mystifier's life would be enough to merit applause," Teller wrote. "To examine Houdini and his world with such originality and depth deserves a standing ovation."

According to an obituary on the blog ​Wild About Harry Silverman is survived by his partner Jane Mallison, by his two children, Willa and Ethan, daughter-in-law Ronit, and three grandchildren: Benjamin, Eve and Isaac.

In 2006, after David Blaine's underwater endurance performance on the outdoor plaza at Lincoln Center, Silverman explored the history of public magic events in an opinion piece he wrote for The New York Times. It can be read here.

Upcoming New York City Magic Shows, Events, Get-Togethers & More
As of: July 3, 2017

Magic Shows

A Taste of Magic
Friday, July 7, at 8 p.m., Dock's Oyster Bar, 633 Third Avenue 
Saturday, July 15, at 8 p.m., Ben and Jack's Steakhouse, 255 Fifth Avenue
Friday, July 21, Gossip Restaurant, 733 Ninth Avenue 
Saturday, July 29, Dock's Oyster Bar, 633 Third Avenue 
Friday, August 4, Ben and Jack's Steakhouse, 255 Fifth Avenue
A Taste of Magic includes dinner plus performances of close-up magic before the meal and between courses. Guests usually see three or four magicians at their table as well as tricks performed for the whole room by the show's host. 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.
Chamber Magic features is now performed at Lotte New York Palace Hotel, 455 Madison Avenue (b/t 50th & 51st Streets). 
Cohen's long running show (which has a dress code for audience members) harks to an earlier era of parlor magic. Cohen has drawn together rarely seen effects from a across a span of magic's history. He has refined the show over the years into a powerful and effective evening of magic. For more information: www.chambermagic.com, or 866-811-411

In & of Itself
Created and Performed by Derek Delgaudio
Extended through December 30
Daryl Roth Theatre
101 East 15th Street
Delgaudio's innovative show explores new territory in magic. For more information, click here.

Magic After Hours, with Noah Levine
Now playing most Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8 p.m. at Tannen's Magic, 45 West 34th Street, 6th Floor
The show provides an insider's view of Tannen's magic shop, focusing on its history and legacy, as well as a  performance of close-up magic by Noah Levine.
For tickets and more information: http://www.magicafterhours.com

Magic at Coney
Sundays at noon at the Coney Island Museum, 1208 Surf Avenue, Brooklyn
Sunday, May 21,  featuring: Carl Mercurio, Thomas Solomon, and Jim Vines, hosted by Gary Dreifus
For more information and tickets: www.coneyisland.com/programs/magic-coney

Miles Thorn: Master Illusionist
The show is currently scheduled for Fridays at 7:30 and Saturdays at 7 p.m. plus other days of the week which vary, through July 30. Check the web site below for up to date schedule information.
Elecktra Theatre, 300 West 43rd Street, 2nd Floor.
www.milesthorn.com

Monday Night Magic
Monday, July 3, at 8 p.m., featuring: Torkova, Throwdini, Eric Dittelman (headliner), with Master of Ceremonies, David Corsaro. Close-up performances at intermission by: Peter Samelson, Mike Patrick,and Michael Chaut
Monday, July 10, at 8 p.m., featuring: Will Shaw, Jeff Moche, and Peter Samelson (headliner), with Master of Ceremonies, Todd Robbins. Close-up performances at intermission by: Matias Letelier and more.
Monday, July 17, at 8 p.m., featuring: Alexander Boyce, Francis Menotti, and Eran Raven (headliner), with Master of Ceremonies, Todd Robbins. Close-up performances at intermission by Richard Cohn and more.
Monday, July 24, at 8 p.m., featuring: David and Dania, Ben Nemzer and Michael Chaut (headliner), with Master of Ceremonies, David Corsaro. Plus, close-up performances at intermission, t.b.a.
Monday, July 31 at 8 p.m., featuring Dave Chandler, Jason Suran, and Harrison Greenbaum (headliner). Plus, close-up performances at intermission, t.b.a.
Players Theatre, 125 MacDougal Street. For information: mondaynightmagic.com/MainMenu.html, 718-575-1349

Parlor of Mystery 
Sunday, July 23, at 7 p.m.
"Cons, Cheats & Scams," a show with Jason Ladanye and Sean "The Prankster" Doolan. The show is billed as a demonstration of how con artists try to beat the system. It features Jason Ladanye, who has gained a reputation for world class sleight of hand skill and Sean Doolan, a magician and attorney who helped prosecute street scammers and hustlers.
Sunday August 27, at 7 p.m.,
"Magic and Comedy," with performances by Jordi Magomero, Bob Greenberg, Jeff MIller, and Joe Silkie
South Shore Theatre Experience, 315 West Montauk Highway
Lindenhurst, NY (Long Island)
For more information: parlorofmystery.com, 631-669-0506
Parlor of Mystery shows are held the fourth Sunday of every month.

Ricky Smith at As Is
734 Tenth Avenue (at 50th Street)
Tuesdays, 6 to 9 p.m. (note: Ricky's final performance at As Is will be held July 18).
Ricky Smith amazes the bar crowd at As Is, a sleek and comfortable lounge on Tenth Avenue. Smith is widely recognized for his sleight of hand with cards and for his loopy sense of humor.
http://www.asisnyc.com

Sam Eaton's The Quantum Eye: Magic and Mentalism Show
The show plays most Saturdays at 4 p.m. It resumes performances August 5. Please check the current schedule via the Quantum Eye web site.
Theatre 80, 80 Saint Mark's Place
For more information: www.thequantumeye.com

The Magician, featuring Dan White
An intimate evening of magic, mystery, and deception.
The show is presented Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings.
Please check the show's web site for specific availability. 
Nomad Upstairs, The Nomad Hotel, 1170 Broadway (and 28th Street)
For more information: www.nomadupstairs.com

Lectures and Workshops

Jason Ladanye
Thursday, July 27, Tannen's Magic, 45 West 34th Street, 6th Floor
For more information: www.tannens.com

Get-Togethers

Cafe Rustico II
Saturdays from approximately noon to 5 p.m.
25 West 35th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues)
Magicians gather at Rustico on Saturdays, in a longstanding tradition to share information, help each other with tricks, and socialize (the group traces its heritage to the 1940s). The Rustico get-together 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 meet-up. Among the regular attendees are a core group of skilled practitioners, all of whom are willing to pass along knowledge to other magicians. Anyone interested in magic is welcome to attend. [Please note that the group normally does not meet on the weekends of major holidays such as Labor Day, Memorial Day, and July 4th].

The Magic Table
Fridays at 1 p.m.
Times Square Diner & Grill, 807 Eighth Avenue (49th Street)
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. This get-together often stretches out from lunchtime until early evening as magicians schmooze over omelets, sandwiches, and soup. It is frequented by a group of dedicated regulars as well as magicians visiting New York and occasional surprise guests. (See a Today show piece about the group here).

Magnets
Wednesday evenings, 6 p. m.
Gossip Restaurant, 733 Ninth Avenue
Magnets is a newer group that meets for weekly jam sessions and workshops and also occasionally sponsors its own lectures, workshops and shows. The group skews toward magicians in their 20s and 30s, supporting each other with feedback on performances, booking and marketing information, and help achieving long-term goals. Many of the Magnets members perform in the show, A Taste of Magic, which is a spin-off of the group. Anyone interested in magic is welcome to attend the Wednesday night sessions.

New York City's Magic Shops

Tannen's, 45 West 34th Street, Suite 608
Tannen's is New York's oldest magic shop and is a hub of magic activity in the city. The store's Chief demonstrator Magick Balay and a crew of other skilled staff keep a stream of tricks flowing from behind the counter while often a wide range of magicians, magic lovers, (and parents of budding magicians) hang out at the table in the center of the room. Notable magicians are known to pop by and the store is on the itinerary of many conjurors visiting from out-of-town. Although the decor feels a bit home-grown, the store is very well-stocked with the latest tricks, an extensive selection of books and DVDs as well as supplies and basics like cards, silks, rope, flash paper, etc. There is a treasure of magic books - which may be borrowed free of charge. Just look to the left of the large elephant in the room. www.tannens.com

Fantasma Magic, 421 Seventh Avenue, third floor
Fantasma is characterized by its personable staff as well as by the extensive collection of rare and original Houdini memorabilia on display. These include a selection of professionally displayed posters, handcuffs, photographs, props and other items. The free Houdini Museum is definitely worth visiting for anyone interested in the noted escape artist. Although its stock may not be as deep as Tannen's, the store carries a wide range of interesting items including some unique and collectible tricks, a wide selection of playing cards and an extensive selection of second hand books including some hard-to-find classic volumes. Fantasma is a great choice for anyone getting a start in magic who wants personalized help and attention as they begin their journey. Nick and the other demonstrators keep a lively stream of chat and sales talk going, and Fantasma has its own hang-out scene among magicians loyal to the shop. Many of the products Fantasma sells are those manufactured by their parent toy company, including a smorgasbord of magic sets and individual tricks. www.fantasmamagic.com

Abracadabra, 19 West 21st Street, New York City, NY
Abracadabra has a magic section within the larger store that sells costumes and other items.
www.abracadabranyc.com

Halloween Adventure, 808 Broadway
Halloween Adventure also has a magic section in its large store.
www.newyorkcostumes.com