Mike Caveney – The Conference Illusions

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For the last five years, I have dedicated myself to compiling a comprehensive set of books that encapsulate my entire performance history. What began as a simple project has evolved into two volumes spanning 700 pages. As a passionate collector of magic literature, I aimed to create a legacy that reflects my journey in the art of magic, and I am thrilled with the final result.

While I could easily document the methods, theories, and amusing anecdotes behind each routine, I faced the challenge of illustrating them effectively. Thankfully, my long-time friend and Hollywood special effects expert, Bill Taylor, stepped in to help. He transformed my basement into a photo studio, and over fourteen months, we captured hundreds of images. The clarity of these photographs is unmatched in magic literature, and with both volumes printed in full color, every detail is vividly presented.

Volume II, titled The Conference Illusions, offers a unique perspective. Over the past twenty-two years, I have revived several forgotten tricks and illusions for the Los Angeles Conference on Magic History, each presenting its own set of challenges. Some routines utilized original apparatus from legendary magicians like Howard Thurston and Charles Carter, while others required us to construct equipment from scratch. This book details the research into the history of these illusions, the original performances, and our efforts to enhance the mechanics and presentation for contemporary audiences. After debuting at the History Conference, many of these effects were successfully showcased numerous times for lay audiences at the Magic Castle, proving their effectiveness even a century after their inception. Each chapter features vintage photographs and posters from the Egyptian Hall Museum archives, along with behind-the-scenes and performance shots. While few may incorporate these mysteries into their acts, there is invaluable knowledge to be gained from the innovative ideas of magic’s Golden Age.

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