The Victorian Era was something of a “golden age” for stage magic and illusions. I explain some of the conditions that helped magic shows become seen as a “respectable” form of entertainment, describe some of the venues in which shows were held, and introduce some of the larger-than-life performers whose craft is still emulated to this day.

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References

American Museum of Magic. “The History of Magic.” https://americanmuseumofmagic.com/history-of-magic/

Ashton-Lelliott, Beatrice. “The Prestige: the real-life warring Victorian magicians who inspired the film.” https://theconversation.com/the-prestige-the-real-life-warring-victorian-magicians-who-inspired-the-film-165707/

Greene, Bryan. “For Harry Houdini, Séances and Spiritualism Were Just an Illusion.” https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/for-harry-houdini-seances-and-spiritualism-were-just-an-illusion-180978944/

Hopkins, Albert A. (ed.) Magic: stage illusions and scientific diversions, including trick photography. https://archive.org/details/magicstageillusi00hopk/page/16/mode/2up

MacRae, Meghan. “Death Is Not The End…A Victorian Book Of Magic And Illusion.” https://cvltnation.com/death-is-not-the-end-a-victorian-book-of-magic-and-illusion/

Stephenson, Neal, and Nicole Galland. The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. New York: William Morrow, 2017.

University of Sheffield. “Magic and Illlusion.” https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/nfca/researchandarticles/magicandillusion

Wikipedia. “Egyptian Hall.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_Hall

Wikipedia. “Timeline of Magic.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_magic

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