Welcome to the Magic Shop!  I'll never forget my first visit to a magic shop. Some fifty years ago, Mom took me to the "Fun 'n Magic Shop," run by Louis Berkie in San Antonio. Berkie became my mentor, my guide to the world of magic. I even worked for him during the summers, starting in 1957. By then I was 14 years old, and I already knew that magic was my life!

photo by Anne White

Berkie's favorite trick, the trick that he sold me on my first visit, is now my favorite trick: the Ball & Vase. Berkie taught me many things, like why magic stores don't usually allow returns (part of what you are buying is the secret). He also reminded me that magic shops were not museums, that it was necessary to be a customer if I wanted to spend time there. Invariably, he would greet me with, "Hey! Whaddya wanna buy?"

I also worked for the Checker Fun Shop in Baton Rouge, while I was attending LSU. I dreamed of someday owning my own magic shop, and now that dream has come true…thanks to the magic of the Internet!

Berkie used to advertise, "1,753 tricks and jokes." I once asked him how he came up with that number, and he replied, "who's going to count?" It's not my goal to have anywhere near that many items in my shop. What I have done is selected some of the best tricks for beginners, the kinds of things that we teach at The Magic Camp, as well as some of my favorite magic tricks, juggling props and puppets. I also have a selection of books and videos, because most magicians learn their tricks from books.

So: "Hey! Whaddya wanna buy?"

 
Austin, Texas

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