Today5 Questions: Area magician answers questions about his craft
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On Halloween in 1926, the legendary magician Harry Houdini died from inexplicable injuries that some claim were from a punch to the abdomen seven days before his death.
Because of Houdini’s legacy to the world of magicians, Oct. 31 — Halloween — is also known as Magic Day, in honor of the late master of magic.
Magic continues to be a passion for many people, including Montgomery County developer Marc DeSouza of DeSouza Brown, who is currently managing housing developments being built at Bumble Bee Hollow in Upper Allen Township and the Hess farm in Mechanicsburg. While DeSouza may also be known in Cumberland County for his work with area municipalities on residential development products, he also moonlights as a magician.
DeSouza is a performer, inventor, author lecturer and motivational speaker who has performed magic for more than 40 years, receiving national and international acclaim and awards.
The two-time winner of the Society of American Magicians National State Magic Competition answered a few of The Sentinel’s questions about his craft.
Question 1: How did you get started with performing magic tricks?
DeSouza: “I saw a magician perform at a friend’s birthday party when I was 5 years old, then shortly after, I saw a magician on the Ed Sullivan TV show. I was blown away and decided that’s what I wanted to learn to do.”
Question 2: What type of tricks were you known for, or what did you do during competitions to become a national and international champion magician?
DeSouza: “I am best know for sleight-of-hand- based magic. My stage competition act is what we refer to as classical-style magic, while my close-up performances are mostly done with unprepared objects like cards, coins, balls cups, etc. My last championship act was based on a theme of time and incorporated hourglasses and giant alarm clocks along with some of the more classic props.”
Question 3: Do you prefer sleight-of-hand magic or performing larger tricks on a stage?
DeSouza: “My first love has always been sleight-of-hand magic, especially since that is what most magicians respect the most. As a collector, however, I love acquiring interesting pieces of specialized apparatus that is specially constructed for magicians. My favorites are props actually used by famous magicians.
“The props I collect are pieces of apparatus that magicians use to perform their magic effects. Some of the significant pieces belonged to magicians who have died, but whose names would not be known to the public. The exception was Harry Blackstone Jr. I have two of his tables that he used on stage, as well as a large Glass Penetration effect.”
Question 4: Do you still perform magic tricks?
DeSouza: “I still perform, but not as frequently. Between my career as a real estate developer and having a young family, it’s difficult to make time for magic. I still spend at least one hour per day either practicing, researching or creating new magic effects.”
Question 5: Can you tell us a secret about any of the frequently used magic tricks?
DeSouza: “I could tell you the secret, but then I’d have to kill you! But seriously, just knowing how a trick works is not important. The real secret is in the presentation of the effect and how you make it magic instead of just a trick. Besides, that is against the code of ethics of magicians and as chairman of the Ethics Committee of The Society of American Magicians, I would lose my position.”
