Magic of Baltimore

The Magic of Baltimore centers around our famous local magician and shop owner, Phil Thomas and his Yogi Magic Mart located in the heart of Baltimore. Many magicians, local and known throughout the country passed through Phil’s doors and inspired a following that grew up with the mentoring of magicians who called the Yogi Magic Mart their second home.

In addition to Phil Thomas, the Magic of Baltimore included many local and nationally recognized magicians who would frequent the Yogi Magic Mart.

Visit the Magic of Baltimore HERE

Yogi Magic Mart – Phil Thomas

Phil Thomas – Maryland’s Ambassador of Magic

• Yogi Magic Mart: Thomas operated his magic shop, which was considered the “center of the magic universe in Baltimore” and “The Mecca of Magic,” for almost fifty years. It served as a gathering place for magicians to meet and exchange ideas.
• Performer and Mentor: He was a first-rate magician who emphasized the mystery of magic and continued performing well into his 80s. He loved children and gave an annual Christmas Eve show at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
• Industry Figure: Beyond his local shop, Thomas was a respected figure in the broader magic community, serving as president of the Magic Dealers Association and working as a “jobber” who wholesaled magic to other dealers across the country.
• Connections: As a teenager, he was part of a group known as “The Unholy Trio” with future notable magicians Milbourne Christopher and Hen Fetsch.
• Legacy: His life and influence are chronicled in the book Maryland’s Ambassador of Magic: Phil Thomas and the Yogi Magic Mart, co-authored by Mark Walker and Mike Rose.

Denny & Lee Magic Studio in Rosedale, MD

Career and Legacy

• Performer: Haney was a professional magician who, with his wife Lee, achieved success performing in nightclubs and corporate shows across the United States. During the Vietnam War, he performed as a magician for the troops while also serving as an interpreter.
• Mentor and Teacher: In the later years of his career, Haney became a beloved and influential teacher. He operated a legendary magic store in Baltimore, where he mentored countless novices, hobbyists, and professionals.
• Authoritative Source: Known for his vast knowledge and insatiable desire to learn about magic, he was considered an eccentric and brilliant figure within the magic community.
• Baltimore Connection: He was a long-time Baltimore resident and a notable local figure, once featured in the Baltimore Sun.

Denny Haney’s signature magic tricks and illusions, many of which he taught and performed throughout his career, included: 

• The Egg Bag: Haney was a major proponent and “evangelist” for the classic Malini Egg Bag routine, performing a version that some considered better than the original. He taught his specific handling and presentation to countless other magicians.
• The Multiplying Bottles: He performed a widely recognized version of the “Ken Brooke Multiplying Martini Routine,” which was his closing trick for some time.
• The Bill in Lemon: This classic parlor or stage effect, where a signed bill appears inside a lemon, was a featured part of his repertoire.
• Cards Across: This was another of his well-known stand-up effects, involving cards traveling from one location to another in a seemingly impossible fashion.
• Large-Scale Illusions: In his corporate and touring shows, Haney and his assistant (initially Lee, then Minh Dang) performed grand illusions, such as floating a person on a bed of swords, and even making a client’s old tractor-trailer disappear to reveal a new one.
• Various Card Effects: A book detailing his methods, Denny Haney: Collected Wisdom, describes numerous close-up and parlor card effects he developed and perfected over decades.

Milbourne Christopher

Prominent American Illusionist, Magic Historian, & Author

Born and Raised in Baltimore, Maryland

Career Highlights and Baltimore Connections

• Early Life and Vaudeville: Born in Baltimore on March 23, 1914, Christopher began his career in entertainment at a young age, entering vaudeville as a teenager and touring Europe in the 1930s.
• “Topflight Man of Mystification”: The Baltimore Sun referred to him as a “topflight man of mystification”. He performed for a wide range of audiences, on stage, in intimate settings, and eventually on national television, where he popularized magic shows during the 1950s.
• Author and Historian: Christopher wrote 24 books on magical entertainment, including the acclaimed The Illustrated History of Magic and a biography of his hero, Harry Houdini, titled Houdini: The Untold Story. He contributed to the Baltimore Sun, including an article in 1969 about Houdini’s feats in the city.
• Skepticism and Investigation: Like Houdini before him, Christopher was a dedicated skeptic of paranormal claims. He served as the chairman of the Occult Investigating Committee of the Society of American Magicians and was a founding member of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI). His writings on the subject were known for their careful research and scholarly approach.
• Magic Collection: During his lifetime, Christopher amassed one of the world’s largest private collections of magic memorabilia, including prints, paintings, letters, and photographs. This extensive collection was later cataloged in a two-volume work, The Milbourne Christopher Library.
• Legacy: Christopher died in New York in 1984, but his connection to Baltimore was enduring, as his graveside funeral services were held at Moreland Memorial Park in the city. The Milbourne Christopher Foundation was established posthumously to encourage excellence and originality in the magical arts, presenting annual awards in his honor.