 |
Richard J. Kaufman | |
|---|---|
 Kaufman in 2017 | |
| Born | May 16, 1958 New York City, United States |
| Occupation | Writer, illustrator, publisher, magician |
| Alma mater | Queens College New York University |
| Genre | Magic |
| Website | |
| richardkaufman | |
Richard J. Kaufman (born May 16, 1958) is an author, publisher, illustrator, and editor of books and magazines in the field of magic and amateur magicians of noted skill.
Richard Kaufman was born in 1958 at French Hospital in New York City. He became interested in magic at age 5 after his uncle, Alan Soffin, sent him some novelties from the S.S. Adams Company. His father, Lewis C. Kaufman, encouraged his interest by purchasing tricks at a magic shop, learning them, and teaching them to his son. [1]
By the age of 14, Kaufman was inventing magic effects He marketed his first two tricks through Lou Tannen’s Magic Shop at age 15 and he illustrated his first book for Harry Lorayne, Afterthoughts (1975) [2] at age 16. He attended Queens College, and then New York University, graduating in 1981 with a double major in English and acting, having studied at the Stella Adler Studio in New York City with Pearl Pearson and Mario Siletti. [3]
Kaufman illustrated many books in the field through 1994, popularizing a style of cartoon-based movement into technical magic illustration. He also began writing magic books, starting with the Interlocked Production of Coins in 1977. He self-published his first two books, then sought a partner for the financing required to publish larger books. Alan C. Greenberg, CEO of Bear Stearns, also a highly respected amateur magician, brought the financing that Kaufman required and the company Kaufman and Greenberg was formed as a result.
In 1998, Genii, The Conjurors' Magazine was purchased by Kaufman, his wife Elizabeth, and partners Jane and Daniel Solomon. Kaufman became editor in chief and president of The Genii Corporation and the magazine continues its publication, now in both printed and digital formats. Genii also operates The Genii Forum [4] an internet discussion group and MagicPedia, [5] an online encyclopedia of magic. The magazine and its associated entities was sold to Randy Pitchford, CEO of Gearbox Software in July 2017. Richard and Elizabeth Kaufman continue as Editor and Art Director. [3]
For the public, Kaufman wrote The Project Magic Handbook (2002) for David Copperfield; the trick section in Mindfreaks(2007) for Criss Angel and Knack Magic Tricks for Globe Pequot Press (2010). [3]
Recognition of Kaufman's influence as a magic illustrator is described in Chuck Romano's book, The Art of Deception (1997) ISBN 0-578-00752-5.
Kaufman has appeared on the covers of Genii, The Conjurors' Magazine (1987); Magic Magazine (1993); The Magic Circular (2006); M-U-M (2011) and has given presentations at numerous magic conferences including the Los Angeles Conference on Magic History, The Magic Collectors Association, The Magic Circle Collectors Day, and Magic-Con 2011. [6] He has received the 1997 Literary Fellowship from the Academy of Magical Arts (the Magic Castle), [7] the J.N. Maskelyne Award from the Magic Circle in London in 2001, [8] the Milbourne Christopher Award in 1995, The Allan Slaight Award for “Sharing Secrets” in both 2016 and 2019 [9] (the only person to have received the award twice), and the Special History, Research & Scholarship Award from FISM in 2022. [10] He has also been made an honorary life member of the Society of American Magicians and The Academy of Magical Arts at The Magic Castle, [3] a Member of the Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star at London’s Magic Circle, and has received a president's citation from the International Brotherhood of Magicians. [3] Kaufman wrote for the Pop Culture website Boing Boing through 2018. [11]
Edited by Richard Kaufman: [12]
Written, illustrated, and/or published by Richard Kaufman: [12]
Future books that Kaufman has announced:
Darwin Ortiz was a magician, who was an authority on gambling and card manipulation.
Harry Lorayne was an American mnemonist, magician, and author who was called "The Yoda of Memory Training" and "The World's Foremost Memory-Training Specialist" by Time magazine. He was well known for his incredible memory demonstrations and appeared on numerous television shows including 24 times on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. His book The Memory Book was a New York Times bestseller. His card magic, especially his innovations in card sleights, is widely emulated by amateur and professional magicians.
Eugene Burger was an American magician. He was born in 1939 and was based in Chicago, Illinois. He was acclaimed for his close-up skills and his work in mentalism and bizarre magic.
MAGIC, also known as The Magazine for Magicians, was an independent magazine for magicians that was based in Las Vegas, Nevada. A creation of Stan Allen, it debuted in September 1991, with its first issue featuring Lance Burton on the cover. Over the years, David Copperfield, Siegfried & Roy, Penn & Teller, Mike Caveney, and Mac King were also featured on the cover. Its final issue was #301 in November 2016.
Derek Dingle (1937–2004) was an English close-up magician.
David Devant was an English magician, shadowgraphist and film exhibitor. He was born David Wighton in Holloway, London. He is regarded by magicians as a consummate exponent of suave and witty presentation of stage illusion. According to magic historian Jim Steinmeyer, Devant was “England’s greatest magician—arguably the greatest magician of the 20th Century”.
John Nevil Maskelyne was an English stage magician and inventor of the pay toilet, along with other Victorian-era devices. He worked with magicians George Alfred Cooke and David Devant, and many of his illusions are still performed today. His book Sharps and Flats: A Complete Revelation of the Secrets of Cheating at Games of Chance and Skill is considered a classic overview of card sharp practices. In 1914 he founded the Occult Committee, a group to "investigate claims to supernatural power and to expose fraud".
Genii, The Conjurors' Magazine is a magazine devoted to magic and magicians. It is a monthly magazine first published in September 1936, currently edited by Richard J. Kaufman and owned by Randy Pitchford. The magazine is based in Washington, DC.
David Berglas was a German-born British magician and mentalist. His secret technique of locating a particular card within a pack has been described as the Holy Grail of card magic. He was one of the first magicians to appear on UK television.
Larry Jennings was an American magician, best known for his card techniques. He has nine books published by, or written about him. He is also known for being close friends with fellow magician Dai Vernon.
Brother John Charles Hamman S.M. was a close-up magician and Marianist Brother. The tricks he invented are still an integral part of many close-up magician's repertoire. Hamman was world-renowned in the magic community. His initial interest in the art started as a child. As he recuperated from polio, he spent hours learning, practicing and inventing card tricks and other magic involving sleight-of-hand. In many cases, he "reinvented" classic maneuvers or streamlined them. He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, the Catholic Magicians' Guild and the Society of American Magicians.
Magic, which encompasses the subgenres of illusion, stage magic, and close-up magic, among others, is a performing art in which audiences are entertained by tricks, effects, or illusions of seemingly impossible feats, using natural means. It is to be distinguished from paranormal magic which are effects claimed to be created through supernatural means. It is one of the oldest performing arts in the world.
John Lovick is an American magician, writer, and director. Since the 1990s he has performed as a magician throughout the United States and Canada, as well as England, Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia.
David Ben is a Canadian stage magician, sleight of hand artist, illusionist, author, publisher, keynote speaker, magic historian, magic consultant, magic collector and former tax lawyer.
Magicana is a Canadian federally incorporated not-for-profit arts organization dedicated to the study, exploration and advancement of magic as a performing art. Magicana is governed by a volunteer board of directors. Julie Eng serves as Magicana's executive director and David Ben as its artistic director.
Aldo Colombini was an Italian-born magician, lecturer, author and media producer. At the time of his death he was married to Rachel Colombini, also a magician. Rachel died circa 2018, after rumors of her death circulated on the internet in 2017. When he first moved to the United States in 1993, he spoke no English. He created and marketed hundreds of magic tricks, along with numerous books and instructional videos on the topic of magic. He wrote a long-running column for The Linking Ring magazine, entitled, "As Always, Aldo".
Stewart James was a Canadian postman who became one of magic's most prolific inventors. He spent most of his life in Courtright, Ontario.
Roberto Giobbi is a professional magician from Switzerland, noted for his many contributions in teaching card magic, such as his five volume Card College series.
David Williamson is a professional sleight-of-hand artist, magician, and author. David Britland of Genii magazine called him "an exceptional stage performer" and "a magician who changed the way we do magic." He was named Magician of the Year in 2017 by the Academy of the Magical Arts, and was named an Honorary Member of prestigious British association The Magic Circle.
Bruce Cervon was an American magician who was best known for his close-up magic, both through performance and invention. He published a series of books and helped to create a permanent record of the magic of Dai Vernon through The Vernon Chronicles, and Bruce Cervon's Castle Notebooks.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
