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184 | Jamie Allan (Illusionarium)

Posted on January 19, 2021March 5, 2024 By Sammy Younan No Comments on 184 | Jamie Allan (Illusionarium)

My Summer Lair Chapter #184: Do You Have A Favourite Magic Era?

Today’s adventure is interviewing Jamie Allan an iMagician. He combines magic with iPads though as you’ll hear magic has a compelling history of employing technology to create innovative solutions. Magicians were the original Silicon Valley.

As Arthur C. Clarke pointed out, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to roll with a number of magicians and I find it irritating when they attempt to dispel the magic: it’s a card trick or using a previously bent coin. No it’s not!

I’m fully invested: the magic is 100% real magic. That even in an era laced with science and where enlightenment is peddled as a drug: I make room for magic. It is one of my pop culture food groups.

Which is why I so hope Illusionarium opens as expected: ready for this?

“Conceived by British magician Jamie Allen, this experiential exhibit blends Jamie’s encyclopedic knowledge of the history of magic with state-of-the-art technology, bringing the illusions of the past into the 21st century. Comprised of a series of four magical rooms, each representing a different era starting with the 17th century, visitors are guided through ever-evolving styles of magic spanning hundreds of years.” Clearly: I’m 100% IN.

Penn & Teller are part of this; that right there is worth the price of admission; David Copperfield made some valuable contributions, Harry Houdini who died in 1926 makes an appearance and this all takes place in Toronto…Canada which was the home of magician Doug Henning.

Illusionarium @ W • T • F

Host Sammy Younan

Recorded: Saturday December 12, 2020 at 1:00 pm

Stress free pop culture tastefully harvested for your divine delight. Once a week a carefully curated edition of My Pal Sammy goes directly to your inbox. Sign up for my newsletter so we can have some fun…because newsletters are magic!

My Summer Lair, Podcast Tags:David Copperfield, Harry Houdini, Illusionarium, Jamie Allan, Magic, Penn & Teller

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