1584
Magic in print
Reginald Scot’s The Discoverie of Witchcraft includes descriptions of conjuring alongside its arguments about witchcraft. The Library of Congress preserves a first edition.
Library of Congress ↗ (opens a new tab)← Back to the theater
THROUGH THE YEARS
A very long story.
A few moments in magic’s story: a selective trail through books, communities, performance, and new kinds of stage.
Magic has many histories across cultures. This short opening collection focuses on a handful of documented milestones; it is not a complete global timeline.
1896
The screen becomes a stage
Georges Méliès brings theatrical illusion to early cinema in Le Manoir du diable. The film offers a glimpse of magic’s possibilities on a new kind of stage.
British Film Institute ↗ (opens a new tab)1905
A circle of magicians
Amateur and professional magicians form The Magic Circle in London, creating a gathering place for people devoted to the craft.
The Magic Circle’s history ↗ (opens a new tab)1922
A community across borders
The International Brotherhood of Magicians begins through correspondence between enthusiasts. Local groups, known as Rings, bring its community together in person.
I.B.M. history ↗ (opens a new tab)1936
A magazine for the craft
William and Gerrie Larsen launch Genii, a magazine devoted to magic. Publications offer another place for practitioners to exchange ideas and preserve their art.
Magic Castle history ↗ (opens a new tab)1963
A home in Hollywood
The Magic Castle opens its doors on January 2 as the home of the Academy of Magical Arts. Its clubhouse brings performers and enthusiasts together around live magic.
Magic Castle history ↗ (opens a new tab)2012
Stories meet augmented reality
At TED, Marco Tempest combines live performance and augmented reality in a piece about storytelling. New tools offer another way to invite audiences into a shared fiction.
Watch the TED performance ↗ (opens a new tab)