In 1954 the Magic Circle presented the Hoffmann Memorial Lecture by Charles Harrison on "The Qualities of a Classical Feat of Magic." In it he suggests eight common features of a trick which make it a "classic."

Not everyone is on the same page. In his introduction to "Magic By Misdirection" Dariel Fitzkee makes the opposite argument; that no trick is, in itself, "great."

In this episode Ryan Pilling takes a look at both sides, and asks why any particular trick does or does not become immortalized as a classic of magic, including one curious trick which was once a regular feature, now lost to history.

Corrections:

The "Six Card Repeat" was originated by Tommy Tucker, not Tommy Windsor. (Windsor is known for inventing the Dye Box... which is different than the Die Box!)

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References:

"The Qualities of a Classical Feat of Magic" - A lecture by Charles Harrison, published as a bonus supplement with the Magic CIrcular, August 1954.

"Magic by Misdirection" - Dariel Fitzkee, 1945

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