Happy Samhain to all my Ruseletter readers! đ This ancient Celtic festival marks the end of harvest and the beginning of winter, and is celebrated from October 31st to November 2nd. Traditional observances include honouring ancestors, lighting bonfires, and performing divination ritualsâmany of todayâs Halloween traditions, like wearing costumes and trick-or-treating, have their roots in these ancient Samhain practices. (Iâve mentioned Samhain before, see Monthly Update #10, if youâre interested).
Iâve been sharing some of the darker elements of Irish folklore with my daughters, including the legend of the people of Nemed, who were forced to give two-thirds of their children, corn, and milk to the monstrous Fomorians of Irish mythology (supernatural beings and enemies of Irelandâs first settled people). Thankfully, rather than dancing around bonfires and making any difficult decisions about which two of our three daughters to sacrifice, weâre spending the weekend with a different kind of supernatural threat: the Ghostbusters franchise. Weâre starting with the 1984 classic and working our way through to Frozen Empire (which I havenât seen yet).
The Cabinet of Calamari đ©đȘ
As a somewhat geeky kid, I was into drawing, Lego, comics, cartoons, computer games, and, of course, magic. The Real Ghostbusters was one of my favourite series of the 1980s, so I thought Iâd revisit it through a magical lens: which episodes feature magicians or magic as a prominent plot point?
The standout episode is âThe Cabinet of Calamariâ1 (Series 2, Episode 13). It features the vengeful spirit of a renowned magician and escape artist (can you guess who?) and a supernatural cabinet that transports Peter Venkman to a Salvador DalĂ-inspired ghost dimension. This really wasnât your typical, run-of-the-mill Saturday morning kidsâ cartoon!
The other magic-themed episode is far less impressive. âYou Canât Teach An Old Demon New Tricksâ (Series 5, Episode 2) relies heavily on lazy stereotypes about magiciansâthis TV Tropes article breaks them all down. By Series 5, the showâs quality had declined significantly as network executives interfered with storylines and character profiles, sanitising the violence and dumbing down the content for younger audiences. Most fans believe this approach backfired, contributing to the showâs cancellation a couple of years later.
This episode features yet another supernatural magicianâs cabinet, this time belonging to The Great Strazinski, whose assistants are genuinely disappearing. The Ghostbusters are accidentally transported to an alternative dimension (another tired and overused trope in the later seasons) ruled by Gorgar, a powerful demon who canât perform a simple pick-a-card trick but desperately wants to learn magic.
Both episodes, although thoroughly entertaining for a Ghostbusters fan, reinforce the tired stereotype of the male magician and his lovely female assistant. This trope deserves a one-way trip to the ghost dimension! đ»
If you want to watch these episodes, you can currently find them on YouTube (although theyâll likely be removed soon due to copyright infringement).
Old Stuff on MBOT: A Little Halloween Magic! .Ëâč.đđŠđžïžđ·âËđŠčâ
I donât have any new spooky tricks to share with you this Halloween. However, Iâve compiled a few older blog posts that will send a shiver down your spine this spooky season. As well as âTwodoo Voodooâ, a two-person handling of Guy Hollingworthâs âThe Voodoo Cardâ, you can learn two macabre card tricks inspired by the terrifying Axeman of New Orleans, and a packet trick based on the haunting poem known as âAntigonishâ or âThe Little Man Who Wasnât Thereâ.
Easy Does It #8: Double Happiness ć
Iâm still compiling romantic tricks for couples for a forthcoming edition of Tricks, Tricks & More Tricks. However, Iâve decided to release âDouble Happinessâ early as part of my Easy Does It column.
In this routine, a bride and groom use a numerological chart to discover their unique âPlanetary Colour Numberâ, which guides them through a series of choices with a shuffled deck. Against impossible odds, they each arrive at one of the two red Eightsâcards that mirror the ancient Chinese symbol of double happiness adorning a lucky red envelope. đ§§
Be warned, this is a longer write-up than usual, but it includes a detailed performance script inspired by the comedy styling of Morecambe and Wiseâbecause even the most heartfelt magic benefits from a bit of English Northern charm!
Three Videos Worth Watching
And, as usual, here are three videos that I think are worth watching.
Playing Card Tarot Readings with Jo Diamond
Duration: 21 minutes
This tutorial from The Modern Rogue (Brian Brushwood and friends) teaches a practical card reading system by magician Jo Diamond. Itâs an excellent introduction to cartomancy (fortune-telling with regular playing cards) and perfect for magicians wanting to add a mystical element to their performances.
A Spooky Short from Kevin Parry
Duration: 7 seconds
This is SFX magic, not sleight of hand, but I still find it impressive and inspiring! Kevin is a highly talented stop-motion animator and special effects expert whose creative approach to âimpossibleâ moments provides genuine inspiration for magicians contemplating visual storytelling.
Lawrence Leung speaks to the dead! đđ
Duration: 4 minutes
Finally, hereâs a quirky video from State Library Victoria featuring comedian Lawrence Leung and some genuinely clever, spiritually inspired magic. Stick with it until the endâthe payoff is worth it, and the historical context makes it particularly fitting for this Halloween edition of the Ruseletter.
Thatâs all for another month. Have fun this Halloween season.
Yours Magically,
Marty
P.S. Remember, if someone asks if youâre a god when youâre performing a magic trick, you say YES! đ»
The title of this episode is a clear parody of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, a pivotal work that defines early German Expressionist cinema. The visual style and jazz-inspired soundtrack are outstanding. This silent film, often considered the first true horror film, also features an evil hypnotist, linking it closely to carnival culture and magic. You can watch the entire movie on YouTube.