Genii Magazine - April 2026

April 2026 • Volume 89, Number 4

In this issue...
The Genii Speak • Will Houstoun
We spill the tea on this month’s magazine

Mailbox
A month with a monthly magazine, and some notes

The March Almanac
Shocking events and problematic predictions

In Memoriam: Harry Monti • Randy Kalin
Remembering a magician with a record Castle run

The Eye • Vanessa Armstrong
Derren Brown, David Haig, a diner, and more...

Features

Mary Naylor Kodell: A Celebration • Vanessa Armstrong
Nearly a century of experience comes to the fore as Lance Burton talks to Mary about life, show business, and magic in celebration of Mary’s forthcoming big birthday

René Lavand & His Knives • Roberto Mansilla
René credited the color-changing knives as the piece that secured his relationship with his future wife: Uncover the history of his infatuation with this effect

Voices

The Perpetual Beginner • R. Paul Wilson
The joys of remaining a passionate student

The Genii Questionnaire • Laura London
Laura London responds to our questionnaire

The Quality White Balance • James Harrington
Recalibrate your neutral and improve your work

The Problem With App Magic • Marc Kerstein
How technology can serve the effect, not just the method

In Practice

Magicana: Los Bailarines • Luis Carreon
A fast and flourishy routine with four Aces

Magicana: The Miracle Fold • Alex Linian
An exploration of Marlo’s Miracle Card Change repurposed to secretly fold a card

Magicana: Paper Balls Over the Head • Danny Orleans
A road-tested version of the classic routine featuring some novel moments

Oops! (When Something Goes Wrong But Is Still Magical) • Roberto Mansilla
Two classic routines combine to form something that is more than the sum of its parts

Inventing Magic • Blake Vogt
Michael Carbonaro drops in and, in just 60 minutes, he and Blake create a fun routine with a surprising ending

In Performance

The Magic Castle • Shawn McMaster
Sharing memories and exploring the rich history of the mansion on the side of the hill

Bar Mágico • Vanessa Armstrong
We hop on a flight to Argentina, where we visit Marcelo Insúa’s magic theater

Marketplace

Book Excerpt • Harapan Ong
We share an excerpt from Harapan’s latest book Family x Man

Reviews
Ed Marlo Forty Years Later; Expert Dice Magic; On Second Thought; The Mal-Observation Report; The Business Side of Show Business

Advertiser Index

Workshop

The Elephant Crusher • Dr. Matt Pritchard
Mirror, mirror, on the table, are you there?

Insurance • Sara Crasson
Protecting yourself in case the worst should happen

You’re Looking at the Wrong Curve • Roland Sarlot
A data-driven approach to ticket sales

A Search for Easter Eggs • Justin Higham
Secret tricks within your tricks

Perspectives

Sleightly Astonishing • Jim Hagy
If you’re happy and you know it flap your wings

Inhabiting Uncertainty • Ben Winn
Ouija boards and séances

Smoke • Peter Samelson
Smoke, a bar, and a deluge of silver

Coffee With... Jack Goldfinger
Meet The Magic Castle’s Director of Entertainment