Magic's Biggest Secrets Revealed: Reminiscing About the Original Masked Magician Specials

For decades, magic specials have become something of a spectacle on television. Numerous magicians would dazzle millions of viewers with a variety of illusions, ranging from sleight-of-hand to dangerous escapes. One thing that they would never do was to reveal how each of these tricks were performed. However, one magician would dare to expose the secrets behind well-known tricks, and in a series of specials that aired in the late 1990s, he would do exactly that. He became known as the Masked Magician on account that he always wore a mask to keep his true identity a secret. The specials, released under the title Breaking the Magician's Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed, were quite controversial on account of what they set out to do, but nevertheless, viewers would still tune in to find out how various illusions were performed. Let us take a look back at these amazing specials.

The specials took place at a secret warehouse where, under the cover of night, the Masked Magician would reveal a great deal of magical secrets. A number of tricks were featured on each special, and they would be presented twice. The first time, it would be shown as if one were to view it on stage or on television. The second time, it would be seen with the secrets revealed. Among the things that audiences never see are concealed trap doors featuring the people, animals, or other objects needed for the illusion being done; spaces that seem to have a tight fit, but actually have much more room inside them; and restraints that are rigged so that the magician can very easily get out of them. Accompanying the illusions was a wonderful musical score, and the song that played every time a secret was revealed was especially hypnotic and beautiful.

Often aiding the magician were some female assistants often dressed in rather skimpy outfits. They would sometimes even be involved directly in the tricks, such as one in which an assistant was seemingly trapped within a basket with the magician piercing through it with swords. Although no serious injuries were ever caught on camera here, there are some illusions that have actual threats of serious injury or even death should anything go wrong. Something else that made a brilliant addition to the specials was Mitch Pileggi, then a cast member of Fox's The X-Files. He would appear on camera during some parts of the specials, informing the audience about what they were about to see and warning them to change the channel if they did not want to know the secrets behind the illusions being presented. However, he mostly presented off-camera narration, with a great sense of knowledge and some rather humorous quips thrown in for good measure. So talented was Mitch with his commentary that I could not imagine anyone else doing it so well.

The first special, which aired on November 24, 1997, exposed some of magic's oldest secrets, such as pulling a rabbit out of a hat, sawing a woman in half, and levitating. Right off the bat, the features that would make these specials and the 2008 series were worthwhile, and the special quickly became a huge success. The Masked Magician returned for a second special on March 3, 1998, in which teleportation, the act of shooting an arrow through a body, and a performance of Houdini's water torture escape were among the illusions featured. In the third special, which was shown on May 5, 1998, we would learn the secrets behind careful knife throwing, catching a bullet in one's teeth, and how to make a large tank disappear. Some more dangerous illusions were presented in the fourth special, which aired on October 29, 1998 and featured escapes from a guillotine, a car crusher, and a coffin buried deep underground. All of these illusions were fascinating in their own right, and learning the secrets behind them was enlightening and excellent.

From the first special, it was a rule of thumb that no one should reveal who the Masked Magician really was, lest they, and he, would face serious trouble. However, it was ultimately the Masked Magician himself who revealed his true identity at the conclusion of the fourth special. The illusionist, whose real name was Val Valentino, explained that he exposed all those tricks so that magicians could be inspired to create brand new illusions. Following this last revelation, he would appear on a variety of entertainment programs, and guest starred on an episode of Diagnosis Murder in which he was killed when one of his illusions went terribly wrong. After this media blitz of sorts, he would not be seen on American television again until 2008, when a new series based on the classic specials aired on My Network TV (see my article "Save Breaking the Magician's Code" for more information on this rather brilliant show). Unfortunately, the series was canceled when the network became a syndicated package, and it may be a long time before we see the Masked Magician in action again.

Although Val did not appear in any further specials on Fox, there was a fifth special that aired on May 15, 2002 that tried to continue the specials' legacy. A new Masked Magician, complete with a different mask, revealed the secrets behind such tricks as using a buzz saw to cut a woman, traveling through a portal, and David Blaine's famous ice block stunt. A different narrator was used, though he would replicate Mitch's witty commentary. The familiar music was back, and was as haunting as it had ever been. The changes that were made here gave the special a different overall feel, and without some of the older features around, it just was not the same. After this special, no further installments aired on Fox, and as so far as is known, the identity of the new Masked Magician was never revealed. However, this special, and the other four, were later repeated on My Network TV in 2007 and again in 2008, prior to the start of the new series.

I was first exposed to these specials when I was in middle school, and being a fan of magic specials, I loved them immediately. Yes, they were doing the one thing that other magic specials would never do-revealing the secrets behind famous tricks-but they were fascinating, and I took a liking to the Masked Magician, mysterious as he was. The music added to the wonderful package, as did Mitch's superb narration. The fourth special is a particular favorite of mine because I enjoy some of the more dangerous tricks out there, and also because the Masked Magician's revelation at the end is memorable and interesting. However, I consider the fifth special to be the least of the bunch, since while it is still fascinating on its own, it sort of pales in comparison to the earlier specials and the 2008 series. I wish that someone would release these specials on DVD, as they were very much enjoyable and a great example of how to make something on television worthwhile.

It is unfortunate that the Masked Magician has disappeared for what may be a long while, as his specials, and the later series, were truly amazing. They were so good that many magic specials seemed boring by comparison. In fact, I would go as far to say that they were better in every way imaginable that other so-called reality shows. I am a fan of the Masked Magician, and hope that he makes another comeback someday. I also wish that the specials and series be made available for everyone to see again or for the first time. Maybe they succeeded in making magicians everywhere outraged, but they also succeeded in providing great entertainment for millions of people. If one wants to see an example of how a solid series of specials should be made, he or she should look no further than Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed.