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Minerva was a female escape artist who performed the same time as Houdini. I covered a bit of her story here on the blog and also on Episode 26 of my podcast. One of the things I uncovered on the podcast was the face she was married 5 different times. Her fifth marriage only lasted a few weeks as she died. As it turned out, she was then buried with her 4th husband George Backus who died before she did. The unfortunate thing is, the grave marker for George Backus is there, but the blank area for Minerva is blank, never having been carved in. Probably because she went and married someone else. But fore whatever reason, she is buried with husband #4. Above is Minerva's grave along with a small memento, which likely will not be there very long. Both the memento and the photos were provided by Michale Stroud.
Episode 59 of The Magic Detective Podcast, begins with a feature of The Magic Genii. She is a hidden gem in the Bay area. She is a magician's assistant, a magic shop owner, a dancer, a choreographer, a gymnast, an acrobat, a magician, and many other things. She works with Majinga the Magician. I thought you'd like to see first hand who I was talking about. So enjoy these video images of Magic Genii doing what she does best, entertain!
Listen to what others in her industry have to say about her....
“Genii really is the epitome of a magic genie. She took a magic store and made it into a successful business which continues to thrive in today’s world where brick and mortar stores have fallen by the wayside. Not only has she taken a magic shop and turned it into a success but she has also parlayed it into an online business.
Her beauty and grace is abundantly clear and she has the ability to float across the stage during her performances. Genii is the consummate magicians assistant always there fitting into whatever prop she needs to squish herself into. Whether it’s costume changes, dance numbers, or magic tricks- she’s got you covered. Genii brings her joy of life to every performance.
Not only does she run a San Jose Magic Shop and perform, she also posts a radio show and podcast- Genii does it all. And she does it with a smile and her podcast is a go-to for most magicians as her interviews are a delight, and enlightening.
With so many years ahead of her I can’t wait to see what new things she will bring to the world of magic!
-Ariann Black,Las Vegas Magician of the Year in 2014, and Female Magician of the Decade
Next let's take a look at Genii in her own shop. Here she demonstrates a piece of magical apparatus. I have been in a lot of magic shops. You rarely see someone demonstrate Apparatus magic and do it well!
And here is another quote about Magic Genii.
"Genii presents magic with such grace and professionalism! Thank you for being one of the few women in magic that loves and respects the art form!” -Jade
Finally, watch Magic Genii assisting Majinga with a levitation. Watch how she gets onto the board, pure gracefulness! This is from their venue at the Improv, which they had for 7 consecutive years.
“Dear Genii, I just wanted to take a moment to congratulate you for your wonderful lifetime in magic.
I am in awe of everything you have done. Your skills onstage as a dancer- both in assisting as well as playing the role of the magician- are impressive. You move well on stage and have extreme grace and charisma.
You not only own a magic shop, but are a producer, director, guide and teacher to so many. What a great inspiration you must be to those who know you!
The magic world is in good hands with you and Majinga. I wish you continued success in your career, and wish you the best life can offer.
With Respect and Admiration,
Lupe Nielsen
Nielsen Magic
One particular thing I found amazing about Genii is that she had her own podcast several years ago. In other words, she had a magic podcast before most of the current top magic podcasters. THAT is pretty impressive. From what I understand from Majinga, they are trying to get the podcasts moved over to a new hosting platform. The previous one has since gone defunct, as it were. But this is great news, because we will soon be getting a great deal of magic content to listen to.
Let me just add, Genii, Majinga, the Magique Bazaar, is a throwback to another time, an older way of performing magic. It is essentially historical in nature, yet theatrical in it's purity. So many people try to define magic as one thing or another, like magic has to fit inside a little box and it can ONLY be that, and nothing more. But magic is enormous. And many of todays artists, as wonderful as they are, have seemingly forgotten that magic is a theatrical art. Many have stripped away the theatrics in order to make it seem more real. That worked for a time. But things are turning again, in my opinion. The 'theatrics' might be a bit different, but it is what magic needs, THEATRE!
Magic Genii and Majinga keep the art of stage magic alive through their presentations. They are masters of apparatus magic. And again, this is another thing modern performers have left behind. Watch the videos, there are (700+) videos and you'll see they also carry on a tradition of multi-cast performances, something you rarely see today. In other words, there are more than 2 people on the stage. The Le Grand David show is the only other show I can think of that really captured this well. Blackstone Jr. back in the early 80s with his huge show, also had multiple people on stage. Its a different way of doing magic and a form of magic that I really wish there was more of. It's not for the weak of heart. But it sure does showcase magic in a grand manner. In much the way that Cesareo Pelaez's old world approach worked for LeGrand David, so it does with the Magique Bazaar. What is old is new again!!!!
For an illusionist, a magician's assistant/dancer is the backbone of the performance. They are just as much part of the act as the magician, and honestly, maybe even a bit more important. A magicians assistant may not be out there doing fancy card manipulations, or sleight of hand routines, but they are none the less, doing magic with the way they utilize their bodies in the execution of large scale illusions. There is a dynamic difference between a good assistant and a great one. A good assistant will present their part of the illusion well, but will not add much to the routine other than being the person involved in the illusion. A great assistant on the other hand will stand out. They will make that routine unique. Their very presence can pull you in and arrest your attention on them. A great assistant can make an illusionist look like a super star!
I just heard the news today that Nathalie Padberg Hoop passed away. I felt like someone punched me when I heard the news. I never knew Nathalie. Never had the good fortune to meet her. But she was one of my favorite assistants in magic, she was a GREAT assistant! Her work with Hans Klok was phenomenal. She made every trick, every illusion look like a million dollars. I often thought when searching for my own assistants, that this young lady is what I'm looking for, she is the example of the perfect female assistant.
I might add, I dislike that term assistant. I think Hans Klok must have also hated it because he referred to his girls as the Divas of Magic. THAT is a more fitting term, especially for his dancers and assistants. They had their own personalities on stage, they were not carbon copies of each other, easily interchanged. I love when a performers personality shines through and it sure did with Nathalie.
Her intro into the world of magic began with Dutch Illusionist Hans Kazan. And then after being with him for a short time, she went to work with Hans Klok in 1999. In 2016 she retired from showbiz to work on her own business and to be a Mom. Though, apparently the larger story was she had been diagnosed with cervical cancer. In 2019 when Hans Klok came to Vegas with this big show, she appeared in the show on one special night, as I recall.
She passed away this week from cancer at the age of 43. She leaves behind a son and daughter and husband. And she leaves behind many friends and fans from the magic community. RIP Nathalie.
The only thing I can add is, I HATE CANCER. I've lost uncles and aunts and my Mom to cancer. I hate this disease.
