Updates to the Magic Detective Blog

 After working on my previous podcast and seeing the amount of work and research that went into  it, I've decided that the future podcasts will all be transcribed with notes and references over here on the blog. I had started to do that in the past but got away from it.

By doing that I may also change the podcast narrative a bit, by not giving all the references while I'm talking. But instead, give a cleaner narrative. I'm sure I'll still mention a newspaper here and there but if you want to find the place I found the information, it will be over here on the blog. 

Tonight I have an interview with a fellow for the next podcast. It's all for information because the fellow I'm interviewing was a student and close friend of the podcasts subject. No, I'm not revealing who it is yet, lol. But I am expecting to get some great info. WHEN will it go out? Not saying, because if I say soon, it will take me forever, lol. Dont want to curse myself. 

By the way, if you have magic history news or stuff you'd like to share in regards to your collection or magic history on the Facebook GROUP page, please feel free to do so. IF you are not already a member of the group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/MagicDetectiveGroup  and send me a request. I have only ever turned down one person who appeared to be a BOT and not a real person. 

The Anamorphic World of Judge Gary Brown

 Judge Gary Brown is a friend of mine, I state that up front. But even with that, he is able to create some of the coolest effects. He has a rather large repertoire of original material, some very off beat and yet quite remarkable.

His latest creation was his website JudgeBrownMagic.com. And being the genius that he is, he created this brilliant way to drive traffic to his website. He created a playing card size 'activity card' filled with optical illusions galore.  It's printed front and back with some very unusual artwork. From his own write up, "This priceless marvel contains TWO MIND-BLOWING SCIENTIFIC OPTICAL ILLUSIONS guaranteed to BAFFLE and AMAZE! And, as if that weren't enough, the card also contains more than  a half dozen hidden magical messages using ARCHAIC SYMBOLS and MODERN CODES developed over some 3,000 years, encompassing  everything from ANCIENT WISDOM to SPACE AGE ALGORITHMS."

In other words, it's very cool AND here is the great news, you can get one for FREE. You'll need to send Judge Gary a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope. For you younger readers, you may need to see if there is a Youtube tutorial for that. For everyone else, just go to JudgeBrownMagic.com and click the link for the Free Magic! Enjoy.

Batman the Escape Artist

 

I watched Batman with Adam West growing up. Now everyone refers to it as Batman66, because it came out in 1966. I saw every episode there ever was, but I saw them as a kid. Imagine my surprise to come upon THIS episode called, "Zelda the Great". It starred Anne Baxter as Zelda the Great. She was a criminal, but also an illusionist and escape artist. Hanging in her secret warehouse was this huge poster (see above) which reads at the bottom, "EVEN GREATER THAN HOUDINI". 

Houdini is mentioned in the episode as well. And this interesting line is said, "and you know Batman, he's the greatest escape artist alive!"  Pretty cool stuff. Below is the contraption that is built as Zelda's new show piece. Except there is one problem. Neither Zelda nor the builder know how to open the device. So they set a trap for Batman and Robin.  They trap Batman and Robin and then watch closely on how Batman escapes. That will then reveal to Zelda HOW to escape!!!! Holy Houdini Batman!