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Stage magic reached its peak in the U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th century, when illusionists such as Harry Houdini and Howard Thurston fascinated audiences with feats of escapism, levitation and more. It had a resurgence in the late 20th century when David Copperfield, Penn and Teller and others brought their acts to television audiences.

In the age of reality TV stars and social media influencers, illusionists may seem like entertainment relics. So who’s still learning magic? What keeps the craft alive?

To answer those questions and more, we’re joined by George Alvarez, president of the Portland Society of Magicians, and Eric Pearson, founder of the magic performance group The Secret Society