Magic has always been a subject of fascination and intrigue for people all over the world. It entices our imaginations, making us believe in the impossible. One such place where the magic of America comes alive is in the realm of entertainment. In America, the art of magic has found a thriving and enthusiastic audience. From Las Vegas to Broadway, there are countless shows and performances that showcase the incredible skills of magicians. These performers captivate audiences with their dazzling illusions, mind-boggling tricks, and enchanting charisma.
Dorothy : Oh will you help me? Can you help me? Glinda : You don't need to be helped any longer. You've always had the power to go back to Kansas. Dorothy : I have? The Scarecrow : Then why didn't you tell her before? Glinda : Because she wouldn't have believed me. She had to learn it for herself. The Tin Man : What have you learned, Dorothy? Dorothy : Well, I, I think that it, that it wasn't enough just to want to see Uncle Henry and Auntie Em. And it's that if I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own backyard. Because if it isn't there, I never really lost it to begin with. Is that right? Glinda : That's all it is.
Upon Dorothy s return to Oz since Oz was attempting to be taken over by the Jester, Glinda was kidnapped by the flying monkeys and was taken to the Jester s castle before turning her into a puppet. Dorothy Gale, Toto, Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, Cowardly Lion, Wizard of Oz, The Munchkins, Tom, Jerry, Tuffy, Hungry Tiger, Queen of The Field Mice, Spike, Tyke, Droopy, Wiser, Marshall Mallow, China Princess, Tugg.
These performers captivate audiences with their dazzling illusions, mind-boggling tricks, and enchanting charisma. One of the pioneers of magic in America is Harry Houdini. His daring escapes and supernatural acts mesmerized audiences during the early 20th century.
Glinda the Witch from Wizard of Oz
Before they went to see Glinda, however, they were taken to a room of the Castle, where Dorothy washed her face and combed her hair, and the Lion shook the dust out of his mane, and the Scarecrow patted himself into his best shape, and the Woodman polished his tin and oiled his joints.
When they were all quite presentable they followed the soldier girl into a big room where the Witch Glinda sat upon a throne of rubies.
She was both beautiful and young to their eyes. Her hair was a rich red in color and fell in flowing ringlets over her shoulders. Her dress was pure white but her eyes were blue, and they looked kindly upon the little girl.
"What can I do for you, my child?" she asked.
Dorothy told the Witch all her story: how the cyclone had brought her to the Land of Oz, how she had found her companions, and of the wonderful adventures they had met with.
"My greatest wish now," she added, "is to get back to Kansas, for Aunt Em will surely think something dreadful has happened to me, and that will make her put on mourning; and unless the crops are better this year than they were last, I am sure Uncle Henry cannot afford it."
Glinda leaned forward and kissed the sweet, upturned face of the loving little girl.
"Bless your dear heart," she said, "I am sure I can tell you of a way to get back to Kansas." Then she added, "But, if I do, you must give me the Golden Cap."
"Willingly!" exclaimed Dorothy; "indeed, it is of no use to me now, and when you have it you can command the Winged Monkeys three times."
"And I think I shall need their service just those three times," answered Glinda, smiling.
Dorothy then gave her the Golden Cap, and the Witch said to the Scarecrow, "What will you do when Dorothy has left us?"
"I will return to the Emerald City," he replied, "for Oz has made me its ruler and the people like me. The only thing that worries me is how to cross the hill of the Hammer-Heads."
"By means of the Golden Cap I shall command the Winged Monkeys to carry you to the gates of the Emerald City," said Glinda, "for it would be a shame to deprive the people of so wonderful a ruler."
"Am I really wonderful?" asked the Scarecrow.
"You are unusual," replied Glinda.
Turning to the Tin Woodman, she asked, "What will become of you when Dorothy leaves this country?"
He leaned on his axe and thought a moment. Then he said, "The Winkies were very kind to me, and wanted me to rule over them after the Wicked Witch died. I am fond of the Winkies, and if I could get back again to the Country of the West, I should like nothing better than to rule over them forever."
"My second command to the Winged Monkeys," said Glinda "will be that they carry you safely to the land of the Winkies. Your brain may not be so large to look at as those of the Scarecrow, but you are really brighter than he is--when you are well polished-- and I am sure you will rule the Winkies wisely and well."
Then the Witch looked at the big, shaggy Lion and asked, "When Dorothy has returned to her own home, what will become of you?"
"Over the hill of the Hammer-Heads," he answered, "lies a grand old forest, and all the beasts that live there have made me their King. If I could only get back to this forest, I would pass my life very happily there."
"My third command to the Winged Monkeys," said Glinda, "shall be to carry you to your forest. Then, having used up the powers of the Golden Cap, I shall give it to the King of the Monkeys, that he and his band may thereafter be free for evermore."
The Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman and the Lion now thanked the Good Witch earnestly for her kindness; and Dorothy exclaimed:
"You are certainly as good as you are beautiful! But you have not yet told me how to get back to Kansas."
"Your Silver Shoes will carry you over the desert," replied Glinda. "If you had known their power you could have gone back to your Aunt Em the very first day you came to this country."
"But then I should not have had my wonderful brains!" cried the Scarecrow. "I might have passed my whole life in the farmer's cornfield."
"And I should not have had my lovely heart," said the Tin Woodman. "I might have stood and rusted in the forest till the end of the world."
"And I should have lived a coward forever," declared the Lion, "and no beast in all the forest would have had a good word to say to me."
"This is all true," said Dorothy, "and I am glad I was of use to these good friends. But now that each of them has had what he most desired, and each is happy in having a kingdom to rule besides, I think I should like to go back to Kansas."
"The Silver Shoes," said the Good Witch, "have wonderful powers. And one of the most curious things about them is that they can carry you to any place in the world in three steps, and each step will be made in the wink of an eye. All you have to do is to knock the heels together three times and command the shoes to carry you wherever you wish to go."
"If that is so," said the child joyfully, "I will ask them to carry me back to Kansas at once."
She threw her arms around the Lion's neck and kissed him, patting his big head tenderly. Then she kissed the Tin Woodman, who was weeping in a way most dangerous to his joints. But she hugged the soft, stuffed body of the Scarecrow in her arms instead of kissing his painted face, and found she was crying herself at this sorrowful parting from her loving comrades.
Glinda the Good stepped down from her ruby throne to give the little girl a good-bye kiss, and Dorothy thanked her for all the kindness she had shown to her friends and herself.
Dorothy now took Toto up solemnly in her arms, and having said one last good-bye she clapped the heels of her shoes together three times, saying:
"Take me home to Aunt Em!"
Instantly she was whirling through the air, so swiftly that all she could see or feel was the wind whistling past her ears.
The Silver Shoes took but three steps, and then she stopped so suddenly that she rolled over upon the grass several times before she knew where she was.
At length, however, she sat up and looked about her.
"Good gracious!" she cried.
For she was sitting on the broad Kansas prairie, and just before her was the new farmhouse Uncle Henry built after the cyclone had carried away the old one. Uncle Henry was milking the cows in the barnyard, and Toto had jumped out of her arms and was running toward the barn, barking furiously.
Dorothy stood up and found she was in her stocking-feet. For the Silver Shoes had fallen off in her flight through the air, and were lost forever in the desert.
"My second command to the Winged Monkeys," said Glinda "will be that they carry you safely to the land of the Winkies. Your brain may not be so large to look at as those of the Scarecrow, but you are really brighter than he is--when you are well polished-- and I am sure you will rule the Winkies wisely and well."
Houdini became a symbol of magic and its limitless possibilities. His influence can still be felt in the modern-day performances of famous magicians like David Copperfield and Criss Angel. But magic in America is not limited to the stage. It has also found a place on our screens, with popular television shows like "Penn & Teller: Fool Us" and "Masters of Illusion" captivating viewers with their mystifying acts. These shows not only entertain but also inspire a new generation of magicians to push the boundaries of what is possible. The appeal of magic lies in its ability to transport us to a world where anything is possible. It makes us question our perception of reality and challenges us to believe in the extraordinary. The magic of America showcases the incredible talent and creativity of its performers, leaving audiences in awe and wonder. Magic has the power to bring joy and excitement to people of all ages. It appeals to our sense of wonder and keeps us on the edge of our seats. Whether it's a grand illusion or a sleight of hand trick, the art of magic continues to captivate and inspire audiences across America. In conclusion, the magic of America is alive and thriving. From live performances to television shows, it continues to capture our imaginations and leave us in awe. It reminds us that anything is possible and that the world is full of wonder. So, embrace the magic, let your imagination soar, and remember, in America, you can do magic..
Reviews for "The Great American Magicians: A look at the legacy of Houdini and Copperfield"
1. Emily - 1 out of 5 stars - I was really disappointed with "You can do magic america". The plot was confusing and disjointed, and I struggled to connect with any of the characters. The writing style was also choppy and inconsistent, making it difficult to follow along. Overall, I found the book to be a frustrating and unsatisfying read.
2. John - 2 out of 5 stars - As someone who enjoys fantasy novels, I was excited to read "You can do magic america". However, I found the world-building in this book to be lacking and underdeveloped. The magic system seemed contrived and poorly explained, leaving me feeling confused and unengaged. Additionally, the pacing was slow and the story failed to hold my interest. Overall, I felt let down by this book and would not recommend it to others.
3. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars - I had high expectations for "You can do magic america" but it fell short for me. The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to care about their journey. The dialogue also felt forced and unnatural at times. While the concept of magic and America merging was intriguing, the execution left much to be desired. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and unfulfilled after reading this book.
4. Alex - 1 out of 5 stars - "You can do magic america" was a complete letdown. The writing was amateurish and the storytelling lacked finesse. The dialogue was cringeworthy and the plot was predictable and unoriginal. I found myself rolling my eyes numerous times while reading. Overall, this book failed to captivate me and I would not recommend it to others.
5. Laura - 2 out of 5 stars - I was hoping for a magical and enchanting read, but "You can do magic america" fell flat. The pacing was slow and the story dragged on unnecessarily. The characters were forgettable and the world felt unoriginal. While the concept had potential, the execution left much to be desired. I was left feeling disappointed and underwhelmed by this book.