Magic (company)

Magic, Inc. is a publisher of magic books and retailer of magic products in North America.

Magic, Inc.
IndustryEntertainment, Retail, Publishing
PredecessorIreland Magic Company
Founded1926 as Ireland Magic Company (incorporated 1963 as Magic, Inc.)
FounderLaurie L. Ireland
HeadquartersChicago, Illinois, U.S.
Key people
James Ward Marshall
Frances Ireland Marshall
Productsmagic sets, books, collectibles
Servicesmagic lessons
OwnerAlexander "Sandy" Marshall
WebsiteMagic, Inc.

It is one of the oldest continuously family-run brick-and-mortar magic companies in North America.[1]

Location

The original store, then called the Ireland Magic Company, was located on 109 N. Dearborn in the Chicago Loop. In 1963, the store was renamed Magic, Inc. and moved to its long-occupied location at 5082 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, Illinois.[2][3] As of 2016, the store relocated to a new space at 1838 W. Lawrence Avenue, in Chicago.

The company's store has been frequented by several magicians and illusionists such as Penn & Teller, Harry Blackstone Sr. & Jr., and Lance Burton.[1]

History

In 1926, Laurie L. Ireland founded the original business, the Ireland Magic Company. Soon after his death in 1954, James "Jay" Ward Marshall married his widow, Frances Ireland, and took ownership of the magic shop.[2]

In 1963, the company was relocated and incorporated as Magic, Inc. by Jay Marshall and Frances Ireland Marshall.[1][2]

After spending her whole life with magic, Frances Ireland Marshall died at the age of 92 on May 26, 2002.[4][5]

Jay Marshall later died of a heart attack in 2005. His son Alexander "Sandy" Marshall is now owner of the company.[2][6]

Publications

The company published several original titles in its early years and up to today, continues to sell copies. Frances Marshall was an early originator of publishing books on a single magic-related topic.[7]

The Ireland Magic Company published Match-ic (1935) and 12 Tricks with a Borrowed Deck (1940) by American mathematics and science writer Martin Gardner.[8][9][10]

Products & Services

The company sells a variety of magic products including books and pamphlets, magic sets and accessories, and collectibles. The company also has a staff of professional magicians who provide magic lessons for beginners and experienced magicians alike.[1]

References
  1. "Magic Inc. - Magic to Boggle Your Mind - About Us". magicinc.net. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
  2. "The Columbia Chronicle". Archived from the original on 2013-01-19. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
  3. "MAGIC INC. HOURS & DIRECTIONS - OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK". magicinc.net. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
  4. "MagicTimes News Archives - Week Of May 27 - June 2, 2002". magictimes.com. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
  5. "Biographies Page KLM". magicnook.com. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
  6. "The New York Times". nytimes.com. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
  7. Miller, Robert (April 2002). "Chicago's Magic, Inc.: Celebrates Its 75th Year". The Linking Ring. pp. 43–46.
  8. Gardner, M.; Tarbell, H.; McManus-Young Collection (Library of Congress) (1940). 12 Tricks with a Borrowed Deck. L.L. Ireland. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
  9. Gardner, M. (2007). Match-IC. Wildside Press. ISBN 9781434496522. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
  10. "Staff View: Math-ic : | Brown University Library". library.brown.edu. Archived from the original on 2012-12-10. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
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