Breaking the Magicians' Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed
Encyclopedia
Breaking the Magician's Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed is a series of television shows in which the methods behind magic tricks and illusions
are explained
. In its original incarnation there were four shows broadcast in 1997-1998 on the Fox
network in the United States, and on Sky
and ITV
in the United Kingdom. In 2008-2009, a new series of thirteen shows was broadcast by MyNetworkTV
in the United States and ITV4
in the United Kingdom.
. The first four specials featured incognito magician
Val Valentino
as the Masked Magician, who performed large-scale illusions and a few smaller-scale close up magic tricks before revealing the secrets of the tricks.
The Masked Magician was promoted as a well-known magician who wore a mask to avoid recrimination from fellow magicians.
Based upon the books written by Herbert L. Becker
, Breaking the Magicians' Code brought Becker's books to life.
The title alluded to the magician's code: the promise by working magicians not to reveal the basis of their tricks, or else risk getting blackballed by fellow magicians.
bought thirteen new episodes for broadcast in the U.S. starting in the fall of 2008, with the first episode shown on October 2. They were shot at a secret location somewhere in the U.S. during the summer of 2008. The assistants learned the illusion the same day they shot it and filmed 4 - 6 illusions per day. These specials were also shown on TVB Pearl
in Hong Kong, with the first episode shown on June 13, 2010. Val Valentino
was credited as a producer and Mitch Pileggi
returned as narrator, although he did not appear on camera. The show also aired in the UK on ITV4, and in Australia on 7Two
with new narration by Grant Denyer
. WWE Divas Maria Kanellis
and Eve Torres
appeared in the first episode.
This list covers only large-scale illusions. Other smaller tricks were exposed in between those listed above.
. This is the same show as the US version with some minor changes. This show also began to air on Australian pay television network Fox8
on Wednesday 21st of September. This version is a duplicate of the American version.
This list covers only large-scale illusions. Other smaller tricks were exposed in between those listed above.
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
are explained
Exposure (magic)
Exposure in magic refers to the practice of revealing the secrets of how magic tricks are performed.The practice is generally frowned upon as a type of spoiler that ruins the experience of magical performances for audiences.-Background:...
. In its original incarnation there were four shows broadcast in 1997-1998 on the Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
network in the United States, and on Sky
British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
and ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
in the United Kingdom. In 2008-2009, a new series of thirteen shows was broadcast by MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
in the United States and ITV4
ITV4
ITV4 is a British television station which was launched on 1 November 2005. It is owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc, and is part of the ITV network. The channel has a male-oriented line-up, including sport, cop shows and US comedies and dramas, as well as classic ITV action...
in the United Kingdom.
The Original Specials
The series is made by production company Nash EntertainmentNash Entertainment
Nash Entertainment is a reality television and feature film production company. Founded in 1994 by Bruce Nash, the first production under its name was Before They Were Stars. The company is located at Sunset Gower Studios in Hollywood, California...
. The first four specials featured incognito magician
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
Val Valentino
Val Valentino
Val Valentino is an Italian American illusionist, and actor, who gained fame by starring in four magic specials exposing magic secrets on the Fox network, using the stage name the Masked Magician.-Biography:...
as the Masked Magician, who performed large-scale illusions and a few smaller-scale close up magic tricks before revealing the secrets of the tricks.
The Masked Magician was promoted as a well-known magician who wore a mask to avoid recrimination from fellow magicians.
Based upon the books written by Herbert L. Becker
Herbert L. Becker
Herbert Lawrence Becker is a magician and the inventor and patent/copyright holder for BOIP...
, Breaking the Magicians' Code brought Becker's books to life.
The title alluded to the magician's code: the promise by working magicians not to reveal the basis of their tricks, or else risk getting blackballed by fellow magicians.
List of Grand Illusions Magic (illusion) Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means... Revealed |
|
---|---|
Show One November 24, 1997 |
|
Show Two March 3, 1998 |
Chinese Water Torture Cell The Chinese Water Torture Cell is a predicament escape made famous by Hungarian-American magician Harry Houdini. The illusion consists of three parts: first, the magician's feet are locked in stocks; next, he is suspended in mid-air from his ankles with a restraint brace; finally, he is lowered... |
Show Three May 5, 1998 |
Haunted attraction A haunted attraction is a form of entertainment that simulates the experience of entering a haunted location that might be inhabited by ghosts, monsters, criminals, humorous characters, and other such creatures... Bullet catch The bullet catch is a conjuring illusion in which a magician appears to catch a bullet fired directly at him—often in his mouth, sometimes in his hand or caught with other items such as a dinner plate... Mismade Girl The Mismade Girl is a stage illusion, designed by American magician Chuck Jones.-Basic effect:Four cubes with open tops and bottoms are stacked to form a cabinet. An assistant stands inside and the cabinet is closed. Metal blades are slid into the cabinet, apparently slicing the assistant into four... |
Show Four - Unmasking the Magician: The Final Reveal October 29, 1998 |
Guillotine (magic trick) The Guillotine is a magic trick where it appears that a blade of a guillotine passes through a person's neck without harming him/her.-History:... |
This list covers only large-scale illusions. Other smaller tricks were exposed in between those listed above. | |
* Denotes illusions only shown on the VHS release. |
2002 special
Fox returned on May 15, 2002, with Breaking the Magician's Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed 5. A new magician was wearing a new mask with artificial hair, and a purple glistening outfit. It is unknown who portrayed the magician in this episode.List of Grand Illusions Magic (illusion) Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means... Revealed |
|
---|---|
Show Five - Escape From The Ice May 15, 2002 |
|
This list covers only large-scale illusions. Other smaller tricks were exposed in between those listed above. |
2008 series revival
MyNetworkTVMyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
bought thirteen new episodes for broadcast in the U.S. starting in the fall of 2008, with the first episode shown on October 2. They were shot at a secret location somewhere in the U.S. during the summer of 2008. The assistants learned the illusion the same day they shot it and filmed 4 - 6 illusions per day. These specials were also shown on TVB Pearl
TVB Pearl
TVB Pearl is one of the two free television services in Hong Kong that mainly broadcast in the English language, the other being ATV World. It is owned and operated by Television Broadcasts Limited, and together with its sister Cantonese language station TVB Jade, is broadcast from TVB City at 77...
in Hong Kong, with the first episode shown on June 13, 2010. Val Valentino
Val Valentino
Val Valentino is an Italian American illusionist, and actor, who gained fame by starring in four magic specials exposing magic secrets on the Fox network, using the stage name the Masked Magician.-Biography:...
was credited as a producer and Mitch Pileggi
Mitch Pileggi
Mitchell Craig "Mitch" Pileggi is an American actor. Pileggi is known for playing FBI assistant director Walter Skinner on the long-running popular series The X-Files. He also had a recurring role on Stargate Atlantis as Col. Steven Caldwell...
returned as narrator, although he did not appear on camera. The show also aired in the UK on ITV4, and in Australia on 7Two
7Two
7TWO is an Australian free-to-air standard definition digital television channel which was launched by the Seven Network on Sunday 1 November 2009 at 12pm....
with new narration by Grant Denyer
Grant Denyer
Grant Denyer is an Australian television reporter, personality and motor racing driver.-Television career:In 1997, Denyer began his career in the media, he gained a position at Prime Television in Wagga Wagga as a news reporter and journalist...
. WWE Divas Maria Kanellis
Maria Kanellis
Maria Louise Kanellis, , or simply Maria, is a singer-songwriter, actress, model, and professional wrestler, best known for her time with World Wrestling Entertainment. Kanellis's career began as a contestant on the reality show Outback Jack in 2004...
and Eve Torres
Eve Torres
Eve Marie Torres is an American dancer, model, and professional wrestler. She is working for WWE on Raw brand. She is a two time WWE Divas Champion.Torres began her career as a model and dancer...
appeared in the first episode.
List of Grand Illusions Magic (illusion) Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means... Revealed |
|
---|---|
Show One October 2, 2008 (US) June 13, 2010 (HK) |
|
Show Two October 6, 2008 (US) June 20, 2010 (HK) |
|
Show Three October 13, 2008 (US) June 27, 2010 (HK) |
|
Show Four October 20, 2008 (US) July 11, 2010 (HK) |
|
Show Five November 3, 2008 (US) July 18, 2010 (HK) |
|
Show Six November 10, 2008 (US) July 25, 2010 (HK) |
|
Show Seven November 17, 2008 (US) August 1, 2010 (HK) |
|
Show Eight November 24, 2008 (US) August 8, 2010 (HK) |
|
Show Nine February 7, 2009 (UK) August 15, 2010 (HK) |
|
Show Ten February 9, 2009 (UK) April 27, 2009 (US) August 22, 2010 (HK) |
|
Show Eleven February 14, 2009 (UK) May 4, 2009 (US) August 29, 2010 (HK) |
|
Show Twelve February 16, 2009 (UK) May 11, 2009 (US) September 3, 2010 (HK) |
|
Show Thirteen February 21, 2009 (UK) May 18, 2009 (US) September 12, 2010 (HK) |
|
This list covers only large-scale illusions. Other smaller tricks were exposed in between those listed above.
Australian Version
This show first aired at 7:30 Monday, June 14, 2010 on Network Seven and has changed to Sundays at 6:30 on 7Two7Two
7TWO is an Australian free-to-air standard definition digital television channel which was launched by the Seven Network on Sunday 1 November 2009 at 12pm....
. This is the same show as the US version with some minor changes. This show also began to air on Australian pay television network Fox8
FOX8
Fox8 is an Australian cable and satellite channel available on Foxtel, Austar and Optus Television's subscription platforms...
on Wednesday 21st of September. This version is a duplicate of the American version.
List of Grand Illusions Magic (illusion) Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means... Revealed |
|
---|---|
Show One June 14, 2010 |
|
Show Two June 21, 2010 |
|
Show Three July 4, 2010 |
Twister (magic trick) The twister is a famous stage magic trick. A girl is placed in an upright cabinet, with her head and feet visible. The magician spins the cabinet, then opens the front. The girl's body is now a narrow, twisted rope from which her fingers protrude. The magician closes the cabinet, rotates it in... |
Show Four July 11, 2010 |
Assistant's Revenge The Assistant's Revenge is a transposition illusion in which two performers change places. It was created by magician and inventor Robert Harbin.-Description:... |
Show Three July 18, 2010 |
This episode was a repeat of show three in a different order and with a different narrator.
|
Show Five July 25, 2010 |
|
Show Six August 1, 2010 |
|
Show Seven August 8, 2010 |
|
Show Eight August 15, 2010 |
Asrah levitation The Asrah levitation is an illusion effect whereby the magician hypnotizes an assistant and commands them to recline on a table or couch. The assistant is then fully covered with a cloth and levitated under the cloth. The form of the assistant is still visible while levitating. Moments later, the... |
Show Nine August 22, 2010 |
|
Show Ten August 29, 2010 |
|
Show Eleven September 5, 2010 |
|
Show Twelve September 12, 2010 |
|
This list covers only large-scale illusions. Other smaller tricks were exposed in between those listed above.