Browse by era
Two centuries of magic divided into five eras — what changed in each, and who defined it.
- 1700–1800 Fairs and Courts Before purpose-built theatres, conjurers worked the fairgrounds and the courts of princes, selling to crowds or to aristocrats. The paying ticket-holder in between did not yet exist.
- 1800–1880 Dawn of Modern Magic The era in which conjuring shed its fairground roots and became a theatrical art. Performers set aside wizard robes and walked on stage in evening dress.
- 1880–1930 The Golden Age Full-evening touring shows filled grand theatres worldwide. Magicians became international stars, and Japanese troupes toured Europe and America.
- 1920–1970 Refinement of the Craft An era that prized the performer's hands and timing over machinery. Close-up work and pared-down stage acts were established as art forms.
- 1960–2000 The Television Era Television specials delivered magic into millions of living rooms overnight, expanding the audience by orders of magnitude.
- 1990– Contemporary Close-up work returned to centre stage, and talent shows and streaming keep producing new stars.