Paul Harris (magician)
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Paul Harris is an inventor, magician, and writer. Described by the magic magazine Genii (December 1996) as "the most innovative magic mind of our day" and is listed in Magic magazine (August 1999) as one of "the 100 [magicians] who shaped the art [of magic] in America".
He has invented many original tricks including: "Linking playing cards", "a solid deck", a torn and restored card effect, coins materializing from mirrors, a card that appears to turning ninety degrees when pushed into the pack, and a torn and restored quarter.
Magic magazine (August 1999) states that "the feats of astonishments that Paul creates and teaches are in the repertoires of a multitude of working pros".
Harris has performed at the Dunes Hotel and at other locations on the Las Vegas Strip and was a technical advisor for David Blaine's Magic Man and Street Magic TV shows. He also contributed writing to the 1987 film Nice Girls Don't Explode, which starred Starring Michelle Meyrink, William O'Leary, Wallace Shawn, James Nardini, and Margot Gray--with special appearances by Dana Betz and Keith Knauer.
[edit] Bibliography
Magic Books written by Paul Harris:
- 1976: Magic of Paul Harris
- 1976: Paul Harris Reveals Some of His Most Intimate Secrets
- 1976: Super Swindle (Manuscript)
- 1977: Inside / Close up (Lecture notes)
- 1977: Cardboard Connection (Manuscript)
- 1977: Supermagic
- 1978: Las Vegas close-up
- 1979: Close-Up Entertainer
- 1980: Close Up Fantasies Book One
- 1980: Close Up Fantasies Book Two
- 1980: The Inner Circle (Manuscript)
- 1981: Close Up Fantasies Finale
- 1981: P.H. Breakthrough (Manuscript)
- 1983: Immaculate Connection (Manuscript)
- 1983: Close-Up Kinda Guy
- 1983: Brainstorm in the Bahamas (with Mike Ammar, Daryl)
- 1984: Close-Up Seductions
- 1991: Secrets of the Astonishing Executive with Bill Herz
- 1996: Art of Astonishment Vol 1-3
[edit] Noted illusions
Amongst the magicians who are known to have presented Paul Harris effects are Dana Betz, David Copperfield and Doug Henning.
In 1983, Dana Betz co-performed with Paul at the Aladdin Casino and Resort as the opening act for the Smothers Brothers.
Henning performed a routine called 'Twilight' on his third TV special (December 13, 1977). In the 'Twilight' effect a mirror and a Half Dollar are used, with the coin's reflection in the mirror becomes real, then becoming condensed, dematerialized, recreated and reproduced.
David Copperfield in a 1984 special (the one where he made the statue of liberty disappear) performed a linking card effect "The Immaculate Connection". In this routine, the magician tears holes in the center of three playing cards in order to create three "frames". The illusion consists in causing the frames to appear to link and unlink without damaging any of the cards. At the conclusion, the cards are sometimes passed for inspection; to appearances no extra cards or gimmicks are employed.
Rudy Coby, in his English TV-series, used Paul Harris odd idea of letting the helium in a balloon magically change place with the air in the performer's lungs - so, as the balloon slowly sinked to the floor, the performer simultaneously went up in the air with an all squeeky voice.
Paul Harris has been a technical advisor/magic consultant for David Blaine's TV Shows.
