Author Archives: Tom Interval

About Tom Interval

San Diego Magician Tom Interval, owner of Interval Magic, provides magic entertainment and training to private and corporate clients locally and nationally. A member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM), Society of American Magicians (SAM), and the Academy of Magical Arts (AMA), Interval has captivated tens of thousands of people at numerous venues, including Busch Gardens theme park in Williamsburg, Virginia. With a BA in professional writing and minors in communications and business administration, Interval writes magic-related e-books, magazine articles, and blogs and produces tutorials and related videos for his YouTube channel. Most recently, Interval earned The Linking Ring Award of Excellence for a cover story he wrote for the magicians' publication. To learn more, please visit https://www.intervalmagic.com.

5-Week Magic Classes for Adults Start January 22

Posted on January 14, 2023 by Tom Interval

By Tom Interval New to magic or need a refresher? Register now for my winter magic sessions, which will occur every Sunday from January 22 through February 19. During these classes, students ages 18-plus will learn how to perform easy, … Continue reading →

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In Memory of Harry Houdini on His Deathday

Posted on October 31, 2022 by Tom Interval

By Tom Interval 96 years ago today—Sunday, Oct. 31, 1926, 1:26 p.m.—escapology pioneer, magician, and worldwide icon Harry Houdini died of diffuse peritonitis (streptococci). In memory of the man who deeply understood that audience perception is more important than reality.

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Houdini Jack-o’-Lantern 2022

Posted on October 30, 2022 by Tom Interval

By Tom Interval It’s unbelievable another year has gone by since last Halloween, but here we are. Each year I carve a Houdini jack-o’-lantern, and it’s time to share 2022’s edition with you: a young Houdini. For the source image, … Continue reading →

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New England Magic Collectors Association Chooses My Newsletter Name Idea

Posted on September 2, 2022 by Tom Interval

By Tom Interval In April, the New England Magic Collectors Association (NEMCA) announced on its Facebook page a contest to name its quarterly newsletter. Today they announced the winner: yours truly! Thanks to the NEMCA board for that. My name … Continue reading →

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Before You Do Card Tricks, Learn These 6 Things

Posted on August 28, 2022 by Tom Interval

By Tom Interval In the 37 years I’ve been teaching magic, many students hired me specifically to learn card tricks. Before meeting me, some of them didn’t know a spade from a club or how to properly: Remove the deck … Continue reading →

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Now You See It, Now You Don’t!

Posted on August 23, 2022 by Tom Interval

By Tom Interval It’s one of the most iconic illustrations in the modern history of magic literature: a pair of hands in sequence makes a red ball disappear in a flash of white light. It appears on the cover of … Continue reading →

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Magic Book Club

Posted on August 20, 2022 by Tom Interval

By Tom Interval Who doesn’t like a good book club? Well, probably a lot of people, actually. If you’re one of them, then you’ll be sad to know I’m starting one for magicians. Not an in-person book club, mind you, … Continue reading →

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Cups and Balls: the First Routine Magicians Learn

Posted on May 6, 2022 by Tom Interval

By Tom Interval Here’s a magic trivia question for you: What is the oldest magic trick ever performed? Many magicians would quickly answer, “The cups and balls!” But the truth is, while the cups and balls is one of the … Continue reading →

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How to Do the Ribbon-Spread Turnover

Posted on April 28, 2022 by Tom Interval

By Tom Interval If you love movies, you might have seen Paul Newman in The Sting (1973) manipulating cards like a magician or gambler. Of course, there was expert manipulation going on, but it mostly wasn’t Newman doing it. Why … Continue reading →

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How to Fan a Deck of Cards: The Pressure Fan

Posted on April 19, 2022 by Tom Interval

By Tom Interval You don’t have to be a magician to learn really cool flourishes with playing cards, but it does help if you’re already good at shuffling, cutting, dealing, and knowing your way around a deck in general. If … Continue reading →

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