History Main / MagiciansAreWizards

** MickeyMouse in the WesternAnimation/ClassicDisneyShort "Magician Mickey". His tricks become more elaborate and implausible as the cartoon goes on.

* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': Hypnota does not have any magic, but they are a {{telepath}} who uses their powers in their show while disguising it as a hypnotist act in the middle of all the illusionist bits.

* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'' has Zatanna Zatara appear in the sequel as an Italian graduate of Beauxbatons and the new Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher, wielding a form of magic that her parents developed, which merges wandless and wanded styles. However, she mostly seems the aesthetic rather than actually working as a stage magician.

** He's also an absolutely ''dreadful'' magician.

** Averted for Harry's dad, Malcolm Dresden, who was a stage magician with no actual magic.

* David Blaine is portrayed as one of these in the street magic parodies by Thoselilrabbits.

** "The Oldest Trick in the Book" is from an Ancient Egyptian tale of a man who would pull the head off a chicken and then re-set it to the chicken completely unharmed. It is considered the oldest trick since the man never claimed to use magic or be blessed by the gods, just that he was skilled in ways that the audience was not.

** "The Oldest Trick in the Book" is from an Ancient Egyptian tale of a man who would pull the head off a chicken and then re-set it. It is considered the oldest trick since the man never claimed to use magic or be blessed by the gods, just that he was skilled in ways that the audience was not.

** "The Oldest Trick in the Book" is actually from Ancient Egypt when we have a tale about a man who would pull the head off a chicken and then re-set it. It is considered the oldest trick since the man never claimed to use magic or being blessed by the gods or whatever but that he was skilled in ways that the audience was not.

* In the ''Series/FreeSpirit'' HalloweenEpisode, MagicalNanny Winnie tries to help Jessie impress a SixStudentClique by performing a magic trick in which Winnie would make Jessie disappear. Unfortunately, Winnie's powers malfunction on Halloween (she blames all the mortals performing stage magic), complicating the process of making her re-appear.

** "The Oldest Trick in the Book" is actually from Ancient Egypt when we have a tale about a man who would pull the head of a chicken and then re-set it. It is considered the oldest trick since the man never claimed to use magic or being blessed by the gods or whatever but that he was skilled in ways that the audience was not.

* Not sure if this counts as an example, but in ''Manga/BlackButler'', [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Sebastian]] pretended to be a StageMagician to create a distraction. To be fair, though, he did say there were no tricks involved.

Characters of the first kind stereotypically wear [[RobeAndWizardHat robes and pointy hats]], have long white beards, and can perform impossible feats such as [[BackFromTheDead raising the dead]], casting spells, and summoning fabulous creatures. We call these kinds of characters ''wizards'' or ''sorcerers'' (among other things), and they don't exist in RealLife[[note]]at least, [[HereThereWereDragons not anymore]], or, [[TheMasquerade that's what we think]][[/note]]. Characters of the second kind wear capes and top hats, usually perform their acts before a wide audience, (or a children's birthday party) and can perform simpler tricks like [[PullARabbitOutOfMyHat pulling rabbits out of their hats]]. We call these kinds of characters ''{{stage magician}}s'', ''conjurers'' or ''illusionists'', and they do exist in RealLife. Their magic is not real; they use misdirection, special effects and optical illusions to create the impression of magic. As Daniel Dennett says, "'Real magic', in other words, refers to the magic that's not real, while the magic that is real, that can actually be done, is not real magic."

** "The Oldest Trick in the Book" is actually from Ancient Egypt when we have a tale about a man who would pull the head of a chicken and then re-set it. It is conciderd the oldest trick since the man never claimed to use magic or being blessed by the gods or whatever but that he was skilled in ways that the audience was not.

Characters of the first kind stereotypically wear [[RobeAndWizardHat robes and pointy hats]], have long white beards, and can perform impossible feats such as [[BackFromTheDead raising the dead]], casting spells, and summoning fabulous creatures. We call these kinds of characters ''wizards'' or ''sorcerers'' (among other things), and they don't exist in RealLife[[note]]at least, [[HereThereWereDragons not anymore]], or, [[TheMasquerade that's what we think]][[/note]]. Characters of the second kind wear capes and top hats, usually perform their acts before a wide audience, (or a children's birthday party) and can perform simpler tricks like [[PullARabbitOutOfMyHat pulling rabbits out of their hats]]. We call these kinds of characters ''{{stage magician}}s'', ''conjurers'' or ''illusionists'', and they do exist in RealLife. Their magic is not real; they use misdirection, special effects and optical illusions to create the impression of magic.

** Crrator/HarryHoudini himself may have started the trend when he caught a PhonyPsychic in the act and later set up safeguards with his wife to prevent others from 'raising his ghost' after his death.

[[folder:Roleplay]]
* Eleanor Smoke, from the ''Roleplay/GlobalGuardiansPBEMUniverse'' is a stage magician who, in her spare time, fights supernatural threats to humanity by way of the real sorceress powers she inherited from her great-grandmother, who was a hedge witch.
[[/folder]]

The opposite of FakeWizardry, where someone uses stage magic to pretend to have actual magic powers. Compare OurMagesAreDifferent for differentiating kinds of mages (especially the first kind mentioned above), and MagicalClown, which involves clowns and jesters instead of stage magicians. Contrast MagicianDetective, where training in the art of deception have given magicians an ability to see the mundane solution when no-one else can. Subtrope of this is the OccultDetective. Contrast ImpossiblyAwesomeMagicTrick, which is supposedly not true magic, yet is more spectacular than anything possible in real life.

* In ''Disney/TheHunchbackOfNotreDameII'', Sarousch steals La Fidele by putting a curtain over it and saying some magic words.

Sometimes, in fiction, the lines between realism and fantasy blur, and magicians really ''can'' perform feats of magic that would normally belong strictly in the wizards' territory. There are no smoke and mirrors here; the magic is all real, but the audience [[AllPartOfTheShow may not realize this]], and think that the magician is relying on [[YourCostumeNeedsWork the same old sleights-of-hand]]. There may be subtle differences - their magic may come [[FunctionalMagic from a different source]], and/or the two groups may operate at different PowerLevels (perhaps magicians can perform spells based on manipulating people's perception, whereas wizards can outright modify reality). If there is rivalry between the two factions, it falls under UnequalRites. If a legitimate wizard really does use his magic for a magic show, then it's a MundaneUtility. If he uses it ''only'' for his show, then it may be an example of MisappliedPhlebotinum.

[[folder:Comics]]
* ''ComicStrip/MandrakeTheMagician'' is, if not quite the UrExample, certainly the best known example, inspiring countless [[CaptainErsatz similar characters]] in UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks, including [[Creator/DCComics Zatara and Sargon]].

* In the Danish comic ''HieronymusBorsch'', the eponymous hero's mentor was a real magician who worked as a circus illusionist. However, he never used his magic in his act -- he didn't need to.

* Played with in ''ComicBook/SpirouAndFantasio'' with the recurring character Ito Kata. He is a stage magicians who is unambiguously explained as having no magical ability, even though he keeps pulling off stunts that seem [[BeyondTheImpossible beyond what even the most talented magician should plausibly be able to do]]. For example, he seems at any time capable of producing more rabbits from his hat then his entire volume would allow him to conceal, or one man could carry weight wise.

[[folder: Fan Works]]
* Trixie Lulamoon of Fanfic/RainbowDoubleDashsLunaverse is both a competent stage magician and one of the rare unicorns whose mark encompasses all forms of magic. But interestingly, her grandfather, from whom she inherited her mark and proficiency in stage magic, was an earth pony and thus had no spellcasting ability.
* The third edition of the anthology series ''Fanfic/HalloweenUnspectacular'' introduces [[OriginalCharacter Madame Athena]], a stage magician who turns out to be one of the last human practitioners of magic in the world, and one of the most powerful to boot.

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
* In ''Disney/TheHunchbackOfNotreDameII'', Sarousch steals La Fidele by putting a curtain over it and saying some magic words.
* WesternAnimation/TheCareBearsMovie features a young man named Nicholas, a magician's apprentice who finds a book containing an evil spirit who teaches him to perform real magic...[[DealWithTheDevil for a price]].

* Most of the tricks in ''Film/TheIllusionist'' are impossible without modern special effects. Ironically, the last trick, which wows the audience the most, is actually possible without advanced technology.
** According to the DVD extras, Eisenheim's effects are largely the result of an UnreliableNarrator, to show how his illusions must have appeared to an audience unaccustomed to CGI.
*** The Orange Tree trick, for instance [[spoiler: is a real trick involving an unbelievably complicated clockwork setup, some sleight of hand, and real oranges pinned to the clockwork tree.]]

* In Hong Kong film ''Magic To Win'', Charlie is a stage illusionist, but also uses his Metal Magic to perform incredible tricks, in the film he as assisted by Bi Yewu, perform an illusion where Charlie divides himself in 4, then one by one Bi Yewu makes each part of his body vanish.

* Odysseus Grant from the ''Literature/KittyNorville'' series does a stage show in Vegas, but when he puts someone in the disappearing cabinet, they go somewhere else entirely. He appears to be some sort of guardian or other.
** Grant knows both stage magic tricks and real magic. In ''Kitty's House of Horrors'', he [[WhatHaveWeEar pulls a quarter out of a skeptic's ear]]. He also practices hypnotism, carries around a set of lockpicking tools and can put himself in a state of hibernation which another character says is how real-life stage magicians spend long hours locked in chests or underwater. He finds a hidden half of a locket in record time, but it's never made clear how. He would be the most mundane character in this series, if it weren't for the necromancy...

** Averted for Harry's dad, Malcolm Dresden, was a stage magician with no actual magic.

[[folder: Live Action TV]]
* ''Series/TheXFiles'' episode "The Amazing Maleeni", which features a magician who dies from having his head fall off after performing a trick where he rotates his head the whole way around. [[spoiler: This turns out to be a subversion; unusually for this show, there was no magic or anything supernatural involved, and only mild foul play.]]

* Tarot from ''AceOfWands''.

* In ''Series/PowerRangersSPD'', an unskilled street magician is given a real magic wand by [[TheDragon Morgana]], and uses it to commit crimes.

[[folder: Music]]
* Invoked in the video for {{Music/Coldplay}}'s "Magic", where Chris Martin's good character figures out how to levitate things and people.

[[folder: Pinball]]

* ''Pinball/TheatreOfMagic'' is themed after stage magic, but the acts are presented as being done using genuine wizardry.

[[folder: Tabletop Games]]

* In the rebooted ''TabletopGame/MageTheAwakening'', the possiblity is still open, but game mechanics discourage it. Using magic for mere personal gain can be considered an act of Hubris and ding your KarmaMeter. Furthermore, "Vulgar" magic (which would be necessary for most stage tricks) risks attracting the attention of an EldritchAbomination.
** Primarily the difference is that certain classes of effects are now just classified vulgar by definition, and while covert magic can _become_ vulgar the reverse isn't true. So if you, for instance, conjure a flame the size of a lighter flame on top of an actual lighter, you take the penalty roll regardless of the impossibility of anyone calling you on it.
*** Though it does sometimes work the other way, too. Softening a stone wall to play-dough and digging your way out with your bare hands would get you paradox'd in the old world, but now it's still covert if no one's watching, even though the effect is pretty... blatant.

* Averted in the ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'' book ''Havens of the Damned.'' Despite his skills in illusion and special effects, Jesse Van Reginald doesn't know real magic, nor is he a member of the [[MasterOfIllusion Ravnos]] or the [[BloodMagic Tremere]] - as he no doubt [[IJustWantToBeSpecial would have preferred]]. Instead, he's part of clan Toreador, and currently laboring under a massive case of CreativeSterility.

[[folder: Video Games]]

[[folder: Web Comic]]
* The Great Kesandru, from ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'', who used legions of invisible enslaved spirits to perform the same stock magic tricks regularly performed by more mundane magicians.

* In ''WebComic/WildeLife,'' the witch Zulime has a traveling magic show that she uses to support herself and her crew of runaway teens, [[FriendToAllChildren who seem legitimately devoted to her]]. Which would be fine, if her other activities didn't include [[BalefulPolymorph turning people into monsters]], kidnapping and MindControl.

* Eleanor Smoke, from the ''Roleplay/GlobalGuardiansPBEMUniverse'' is a stage magician who, in her spare time, fights supernatural threats to humanity by way of the real sorceress powers she inherited from her great-grandmother, who was a hedge witch.
* Harrison from ''WebAnimation/CampCamp'' refers to himself as an [[InsistentTerminology illusionist]] and dresses accordingly. However, he has several times demonstrated that he really does have genuine powers, albeit difficulty controlling them due to a lack of experience.
* The Stranger, a formerly retired ''Podcast/RedPandaAdventures'' superhero, started life as a stage magician. However, around 1890, he gave up stage performance to seek out real magic and real power. He claims it found ''him'', rather than the reverse, and in the decades following he fought evil as a member of the League of Gentleman Adventurers.
* Inverted in ''Podcast/AcquisitionsIncorporated''. It's a ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' game, where real wizards are a dime a dozen. But when the resident mage, Jim Darkmagic, isn't adventuring with the group, he's using his powers to entertain the masses. He's apparently quite the celebrity, despite [[https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2009/06/15 some mishaps on stage]].

[[folder: Western Animation]]

* Moo Moo the Magician from ''WesternAnimation/WowWowWubbzy''.

* ''Franchise/{{DCAU}}'' Zatanna is an odd case. When she first appears in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', she's a skilled stage magician and EscapeArtist, [[AdaptationalMundanity with no implication that she uses actual magic]]. By ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', [[RetCon she's capable of real magic]] like the comic-book version. She explains that most of her acts are mundane stage magic but she will throw in a genuine magical feat somewhere in the show to help with the WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief.

[[folder: Real Life]]

* ''Franchise/{{DCAU}}'' Zatanna is an odd case. When she first appears in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', she's a skilled stage magician and EscapeArtist. By ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', she's capable of real magic like the comic-book version. She explains that most of her acts are mundane stage magic but she will throw in a genuine magical feat somewhere in the show to help with the WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief.