Richard J. Kaufman
| Richard J. Kaufman | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born |
May 16, 1958 New York City, United States |
| Occupation | Writer, illustrator, publisher, magician |
| Genre | Magic |
| Website | |
| geniimagazine |
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Richard J. Kaufman (born May 16, 1958) is a prolific author, publisher, illustrator, and editor of books and magazines in the field of magic. Born in 1958 in New York City, he became interested in magic at age 5 after receiving some novelties from the S.S. Adams company sent by his uncle Alan Soffin. This was followed up by a gift of several magic books. Richard's father, Lewis C. Kaufman (later president of B. Altman and Co.), also encouraged his interest by purchasing tricks at a magic shop, learning them, and demonstrating them to his son. Mr. Kaufman currently writes for the Pop Culture website Boing Boing.
Richard slowly began spending time at several magic shops in New York City, among them Circle Magic run by Mike Tannen, Magic Center run by Russ Delmar, and Lou Tannen's Magic Shop run by the Tannen brothers Lou and Irv, and Tony Spina. By the age of 14 he was already inventing magic effects and he illustrated his first book at age 16 (Afterthoughts by Harry Lorayne).
He attended Queens College, and then New York University, graduating in 1981 with a double-major in both English and Acting (the latter after having studied at the Stella Adler Conservatory of Acting).
Kaufman illustrated many other books in the field through 1991, introducing a new style of cartoon-movement into technical magic illustration. He also began writing magic books, starting with the Interlocked Production of Coins in 1977. He self-published his first two modest books, then sought a partner for the financing required to publish larger books. Alan C. Greenberg, CEO of Bear Stearns, also a highly respected amateur magician, brought the financing that Kaufman required and the company Kaufman and Greenberg was born. For the next 20 years it published many of the most highly respected books in the field, capturing the sleight-of-hand methods and magic from many of the world's top magicians in printed form. In the mid-1990s, the business became Kaufman and Company and continued its successful publishing ventures.
In 1998, Genii, The Conjurors' Magazine—which had been run by the Larsen family of California since 1936, and which is the oldest continuously published independent magazine in the field of magic—was purchased by Kaufman, his wife Elizabeth, and partners Jane and Daniel Solomon. Kaufman became editor in chief and president of The Genii Corporation and the magazine continues its publication, now in both printed and digital formats. Genii also operates The Genii Forum an internet discussion group open to all and MagicPedia, the largest online encyclopedia of magic.
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