Marvin's Magic Drawing Board Commercial

I wonder how many thousands of kids were introduced to the joy of magic from buying TV Magic Cards after watching this commercial that ran on TV ad nauseum in the early 1970s.

Magician/pitchman Marshall Brodien delivered his enthralling patter in a flat Midwest accent that has stuck in my mind for decades (he pronounced "card" as "cared"). The cards' effect was wondrous, at least to my 10-year-old imagination.A dollar ninety-eight was too dear for me, but I finally got a deck for my birthday. They truly were as wonderful as I'd hoped. I thought the way the cards actually worked was even cooler than the effects you could do with them.

Gareth Branwyn reminded me of this deck after he reviewed my new book, Trick Decks, at Make. He had the cards, too!

The cards are still available today, with the same cool shared-A logo on the cover! The price, $(removed) on Amazon, is cheaper than the original price when you adjust it for inflation. I just bought a deck for my daughter Jane. She's going to love it.

Quick change artist, Léa Kyle, stumps Penn and Teller

On Penn and Teller's Fool Us, French quick change artist, Léa Kyle, does just that. The magic duo admit they were not fans of the artform before seeing her act, as most of the trick is the same, but many aspects of this routine stumped them. Léa also designs and makes all of the costumes… READ THE REST
Magic trick revealed: how to escape from plastic handcuffs

If you want to add a fun new trick to your magic performance routine, watch this video, which explains how to escape from plastic handcuffs, Houdini style! READ THE REST
If you are stuck with little kids in the house, show them this magic trick

It's not too difficult for anyone over the age of six or seven to figure out this magic trick, in which a nickel seemingly passes through the cardboard of a matchbox. But show it to a kid and let them have fun trying to learn how it works. Image: YouTube READ THE REST
This LED corner lamp is under $75 during this Pre-Black Friday Doorbuster sale

We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. A good lamp can make or break the aesthetic of a room, especially if it takes away from the rest of your decor (unless that's what you're going for, of course). Well,… READ THE REST
Save on gifts this holiday with 20 Pre-Black Friday discounts on audiophile gear

We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Whether it's music, podcasts, or audiobooks, we all have that friend or family member who lives and dies for great sound accessories. But instead of searching blindly for the perfect gadget to… READ THE REST
Check out this Pre-Black Friday Sale on 20 gifts for Apple lovers

We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Apple is a well-known and popular brand, to say the least. If you're trying to get ahead of the holiday rush, check out our Pre-Black Friday Sale, which features a 15% discount… READ THE REST