Bobo: A Lifetime of Amazing the Masses
There are only a handful of magicians whose one-word names are instantly recognized throughout the world - Bobo is one of them. Adults throughout states adjoining his Texarkana, Texas home, and even across the country, remember him for bringing his magic shows to their schools when they were children. Magicians around the world own copies of his book on coin magic, universally agreed to be a seminal work on the subject. It seems fitting that upon the tenth anniversary of J.B. Bobo's death this month, our four-page story revisits the life and career of this charismatic magician.

By C. Dennis Schick

Michael Finney's Cazuse...and Effect
Take a comedy and magic show masquerading as a golf tournament, add a charity auction and some sports celebrities, and what do you get? The Dry Heat Classic, entertaining their way to saving lives. Michael Finney decided ten years ago that he wanted to do something for the kids of Phoenix, and to date his foundation has raised over $600,000 for local charities.

By Mark Nelson

Milt Larson's "Stupid Little SHow" Turns 50
In the old Our Gang comedies, whenever Spanky and his pals decided to put on a show, all they ever seemed to require was a big banner and tickets to sell. Each one of his friends would pitch in with whatever they could do to help, and somehow, no matter how unlikely, the gang would prevail. Milt Larsen personifies this in everything he does, whether it's producing a magic show or creating a world-renowned magic clubhouse. With determination and a little help from his friends, he has always been able to envision a dream and make it come to fruition. Fifty years ago, Milt produced - in his words - "a stupid little magic show," and this month It's Magic celebrates its golden anniversary. And to help in that celebration, we've devoted six pages of behind-the-scenes story along with almost 50 images.

By Shawn McMaster

Steve Coiffo: Playing the Part
With an award-winning magic background, as well as a multitude of critically acclaimed theatrical roles under his belt, Steve Cuiffo [pronounced "chiffo"] has creatively stretched the role of "the magician" and is redefining "the show." He has most recently finished a successful three-week run of Orange, Lemon, Egg, Canary, a play that essentially uses a large-scale illusion, Impaled, to thoughtfully explore the magician/assistant relationship and call to question truth vs. illusion.

By Ryan Oakes

In Their Words: 15 Years of Conversation
Inventors, performers, producers, consultants, historians - the gamut has been run. From the all-time greats to the mere footnotes in history, many of magic's notable personalities have been interviewed in MAGIC. Celebrating our crystal anniversary, this issue offers excerpts both thoughtful and provocative - Simon Aronson, David Blaine & Bill Kalush, Lance Burton, Paul Daniels, Doug Henning, Max Maven, Penn & Teller, Siegfried & Roy, Jim Steinmeyer, Eddie Tullock, Valentino, Alan Wakeling, Don Wayne, Mark Wilson, and Dick Zimmerman - 15 interviews from the past 15 years.

By Gabe Fajuri

Update
In our six-page "Update" this month, you will learn all about the heavy competition - and eruptions - that magicians were a part of in this summer's America's Got Talent; how Hollywood is turning more and more to magic as a subject for their films, and how magicians are showing up to help out; celebrate 100 years of magical and practical joking excellence with S.S. Adams; "A Moment With... Roger Dreyer" as he talks about why thinks he can make it big with his state-of-the-art magic shop in an age when most stores are closing down; why Danny Orleans will be popping up in your kids' school book order forms this fall; plus the convention buzz from the SAM and Abbott's.

By Shawn McMaster

Marketplace
Reviewed This Month are:
· Third Degree Burn by Joason Palter
· Entourage by Gordon Bean
· Stigmata by Wayne Houchin
· Anatomy of Keys by Steven Price
· As I Recall (Slydini)
· Life of the Party by Kirk Demaris
· Power Plays High Foltage Magic
· Prime Cut / Phone from Bob Kohler
· Long Distance Card Trick by Chris Mitchell
· Just the Backs / Gambler's Wildest Dreams by Reed McClintock
· 100% Commercial with Andrew Normansell
· Long Distance Card Trick by Chris Mitchell

Classic Correspondence: Mike Caveney
David Price built one of the world's largest repositories of conjuring ephemera, mostly by just asking for it. During May of 1969, he wrote to Edgar Benyon in far-off New Zealand asking if he could spare any printed matter from his long career. The two-page, typed letter that he received back from Mr. Benyon was in itself a historically valuable document and a wonderful addition to Egyptian Hall Museum's ever-growing archive.

Talk About Tricks with Joshua Jay
This month, Joshua introduces new card work by Francis Menotti, Rafael Tubino, Max Maven, Karl Hein, and Luis Otero. Plus John Lovick offers a borrowed ring transposition out of his cabaret show, which the volunteer reading instructions printed in MAGIC magazine.

Turn it Around: David Kaye
It's a puzzle. It's a message. Detroit magician Doug Scheer offers up his "Circus Teamwork Puzzle," which delivers a powerful message to young people and works simply by "turning it around." A special cut-out version is included with this issue. Download the Circus Puzzle!

Career Building 101: Tobias Beckwith
Last month, the base of a successful business plan was explained. Now Tobias creates a strong pyramid atop that base, with sides of Strategy, Teamwork, and Leadership.

Out of My Mind: ANothony Owen
In his first installment of his new mentalism column, Anthony shares an effect based on the hit television program, Deal or No Deal. And while we're not offering $1-million in prize money, there's arguably that much entertainment value included this month.

Eccentricks: Charlie Frey
Rather than the old, hackneyed stunt of catching a fly in a pair of chopsticks, you choose to display your lightning quick, hands-are-quicker-than-the-eye skills in a different and more impressive way: by catching an airborne penny betwixt the tines of a fork.

The Magic WOrd: David Parr
This is the first in a series of essays, each exploring a single word. David starts out with acceptance - the baggage that sometimes accompanies the terms magic and magician, and how he has come to terms with that.