Jerry Andrus
Encyclopedia
Jerry Andrus was an American magician
and writer known internationally for his original close-up
, sleight of hand
tricks and optical illusion
s, such as the famous "Linking Pins".
. At the age of 10, he moved to Albany, Oregon
, where he lived until his death in 2007. At 12, Andrus became interested in the art of illusion when he saw a performance of a reformed "spiritual medium
". He joined the International Society of Junior Magicians
when he was 16 and soon became known as a "magician’s magician".
, Doug Henning
, and Penn & Teller
, for this unique brand of close-up, sleight-of-hand magic.
International card magicians
knew Andrus for his "Master Move", a sleight-of-hand classic "pass" without "necessary false movement".
An early member of The Magic Castle
in Hollywood, California
, Andrus performed there semi-annually until shortly before his death.
In 1954, Andrus created the famous "Linking Pins", a close-up illusion in which closed safety pins are rapidly linked together in twos, threes and chains.
, Andrus often lectured at scientific and skeptic conferences, using his optical illusions and magic tricks to demonstrate the ease with which the mind can be fooled by the eye. He discussed a form of cognitive science
that attempted to explain that because the mind is working on an unconscious level, it can be fooled into misperceiving apparently normal sensory
experiences.
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...
and writer known internationally for his original close-up
Micromagic
Micromagic or close-up magic or table magic is magic performed in an intimate setting usually no more than ten feet from one's audience and is usually performed while sitting at a table....
, sleight of hand
Sleight of hand
Sleight of hand, also known as prestidigitation or legerdemain, is the set of techniques used by a magician to manipulate objects such as cards and coins secretly....
tricks and optical illusion
Optical illusion
An optical illusion is characterized by visually perceived images that differ from objective reality. The information gathered by the eye is processed in the brain to give a perception that does not tally with a physical measurement of the stimulus source...
s, such as the famous "Linking Pins".
Early life
Andrus was born January 28, 1918 in Sheridan, WyomingSheridan, Wyoming
Sheridan is a city in Sheridan County, Wyoming, United States. The 2010 census put the population at 17,444 and a Micropolitan Statistical Area of 29,116...
. At the age of 10, he moved to Albany, Oregon
Albany, Oregon
Albany is the eleventh largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon, and is the county seat of Linn County. It is located in the Willamette Valley at the confluence of the Calapooia River and the Willamette River in both Linn and Benton counties, just east of Corvallis and south of Salem. It is...
, where he lived until his death in 2007. At 12, Andrus became interested in the art of illusion when he saw a performance of a reformed "spiritual medium
Mediumship
Mediumship is described as a form of communication with spirits. It is a practice in religious beliefs such as Spiritualism, Spiritism, Espiritismo, Candomblé, Voodoo and Umbanda.- Concept :...
". He joined the International Society of Junior Magicians
Society of Young Magicians
The Society of Young Magicians is a group of magicians, age seven through seventeen, which is sponsored by the Society of American Magicians. The Society of Young Magicians has clubs, known as "assemblies" around the world usually associated with an adult S.A.M group.Youth aged 7 through 17 may...
when he was 16 and soon became known as a "magician’s magician".
Magic
A self-taught magician, Andrus preferred to develop his own style rather than learn the craft as traditionally handed down from other magicians, eventually becoming one of the "best and most-influential 'close-up magic' performers ever." He was known to many accomplished contemporary magicians, such as Lance BurtonLance Burton
Lance Burton is a stage illusionist. He has appeared on numerous television programs, and also performed for Queen Elizabeth and President Ronald Reagan...
, Doug Henning
Doug Henning
Douglas James Henning was a Canadian magician, illusionist, escape artist and politician.-Early life:...
, and Penn & Teller
Penn & Teller
Penn & Teller are Las Vegas headliners whose act is an amalgam of illusion and comedy. Penn Jillette is a raconteur; Teller generally uses mime while performing, although his voice can occasionally be heard during their performance...
, for this unique brand of close-up, sleight-of-hand magic.
International card magicians
Card manipulation
Card magic is the branch of conjuring that deals with creating magical effects using a deck of playing cards. Card magic is commonplace in magical performances, especially in close up magic or parlor magic and street magic. Some of the most recognized names in this field include John Scarne, Juan...
knew Andrus for his "Master Move", a sleight-of-hand classic "pass" without "necessary false movement".
An early member of The Magic Castle
The Magic Castle
The Magic Castle, located at 7001 Franklin Avenue in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California, is a nightclub for magicians and magic enthusiasts, as well as the clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts. It bills itself as "the most unusual private club in the world."-Nightclub:The Magic...
in Hollywood, California
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Hollywood is a famous district in Los Angeles, California, United States situated west-northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Due to its fame and cultural identity as the historical center of movie studios and movie stars, the word Hollywood is often used as a metonym of American cinema...
, Andrus performed there semi-annually until shortly before his death.
Illusions
Andrus created his illusions in his Oregon home, which he nicknamed "The Castle of Chaos" in reference to the numerous items he collected over the years with the hope of using them to "make something spectacular".In 1954, Andrus created the famous "Linking Pins", a close-up illusion in which closed safety pins are rapidly linked together in twos, threes and chains.
Skepticism
An avowed scientific skeptic and agnosticAgnosticism
Agnosticism is the view that the truth value of certain claims—especially claims about the existence or non-existence of any deity, but also other religious and metaphysical claims—is unknown or unknowable....
, Andrus often lectured at scientific and skeptic conferences, using his optical illusions and magic tricks to demonstrate the ease with which the mind can be fooled by the eye. He discussed a form of cognitive science
Cognitive science
Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary scientific study of mind and its processes. It examines what cognition is, what it does and how it works. It includes research on how information is processed , represented, and transformed in behaviour, nervous system or machine...
that attempted to explain that because the mind is working on an unconscious level, it can be fooled into misperceiving apparently normal sensory
Perception
Perception is the process of attaining awareness or understanding of the environment by organizing and interpreting sensory information. All perception involves signals in the nervous system, which in turn result from physical stimulation of the sense organs...
experiences.
Books and lecture notes
- Andrus Deals You in (1956)
- Sleightly Miraculous (1961)
- Special Magic (lecture notes for 1974 Japan Tour) (1974)
- More Sleightly Slanted (lecture notes) (1977)
- Andrus Card Control (with Ray HymanRay HymanRay Hyman is a Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon, and a noted critic of parapsychology.-Career:...
) (2000) - Kurious Kards and $5 Trix (2001)
- Safety Pin-Trix
Videos/DVDs
- Jerry Andrus: A Lifetime of Magic – Volume 1 (2001)
- Jerry Andrus: A Lifetime of Magic – Volume 2 (2001)
- Jerry Andrus: A Lifetime of Magic – Volume 3 (2001)
Documentaries
- A Thing of Wonder: The Mind & Matter of Jerry Andrus (2002)
- Andrus: The Man, The Mind and the Magic (2008)