This year’s Sheffield Circle of Magicians Christmas Quiz was compiled by Julie; it seemed appropriate as she’d won for the two previous years.

  1. Perhaps the most well-known magic word is Abracadabra. But what does Abracadabra actually mean?
  2. Which magician cut Daisy Duke (Catherine Bach) into six pieces in 1981, Jennifer Lopez into six pieces in 2001 and sawed Taylor Swift in half in 2009?
  3. P T Selbit was an English magician who invented and presented one of the first jaw-dropping stage illusions. What was it?
  4. David Wighton is better known by his stage name. What is it? And what relation does he have to The Sheffield Circle of Magicians?
  5. Up until 3 October 2003 Siegfried and Roy were the headliners at which Las Vegas hotel?
  6. What was Houdini’s occupation before he quit in 1891 to pursue a career in magic?
  7. In 1988, who was one of the first women to successfully perform The Bullet Catch Trick?
  8. Most magicians use misdirection; one of these, born in 1849, was a master. Some believe he was the inspiration for the charcter in the wizard in L Frank Baum’s book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Who was he?
  9. For which category of trick would you use an Elmsley Count?
  10. In the 2013 film ‘Now You See Me’, what was the name of the team of magicians?
  11. Name the actor who played Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films.
  12. ‘It’s a Kind of Magic’ by Queen featured in which supernatural action movie?
  13. A magician makes a coin vanish from his or her hands. Which European country is connected with this sleight?
  14. It is believed that the first recorded magic act was by the magician Dedi who performed in Ancient Egypt in 2700 BC. What trick is he credited with as being first to perform?
  15. The badge of The Sheffield Circle of Magicians is known as the Scaratika. Which two magical symbols does it incorporate?

Tiebreak Question: How many miles is it from Sheffield to Salem in Massachusetts? (Nearest takes it.)

I’ll post the answers here after Christmas.

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