Professor Pinetti was an eighteenth century stage magician who billed himself as a natural philosopher to cash in on what was popular at the time. Ironically, because natural philosophy was popular, he was subject to a kind of scientific investigation by the public that exposed all his tricks and disrupted his livelihood.

In the fall of 1896, early filmmaker and performance magician, Georges Méliès, was making a short movie on a Paris street. He developed a...

In 1781-82, an influenza pandemic swept through Europe. A scientific lecturer and magician, Gustavus Katterfelto, had recently arrived to...

In 1749, notices appeared for a new magical act in London. This performer was promised to accomplish a variety of near-impossible feats....

DECEIVING ROMMEL'S AFRIKA KORPS “All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using...