Richard J. Kaufman (born May 16, 1958) is an author, publisher, illustrator, and editor of books and magazines in the field of magic and amateur magicians of noted skill.
Early life and education
Richard Kaufman was born in 1958 at French Hospital in New York City. He became interested in magic at age 5 after his uncle, Alan Soffin, sent him some novelties from the S.S. Adams Company. His father, Lewis C. Kaufman, encouraged his interest by purchasing tricks at a magic shop, learning them, and teaching them to his son.[1]
By the age of 14, Kaufman was inventing magic effects He marketed his first two tricks through Lou Tannen’s Magic Shop at age 15 and he illustrated his first book for Harry Lorayne, Afterthoughts (1975)[2] at age 16. He attended Queens College, and then New York University, graduating in 1981 with a double major in English and acting, having studied at the Stella Adler Studio in New York City with Pearl Pearson and Mario Siletti.[3]
Career
Kaufman illustrated many books in the field through 1994, popularizing a style of cartoon-based 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 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 formed as a result.
In 1998, Genii, The Conjurors' Magazine 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[4] an internet discussion group and MagicPedia,[5] an online encyclopedia of magic. The magazine and its associated entities was sold to Randy Pitchford, CEO of Gearbox Software in July 2017. Richard and Elizabeth Kaufman continue as Editor and Art Director.[3]
For the public, Kaufman wrote The Project Magic Handbook (2002) for David Copperfield; the trick section in Mindfreaks(2007) for Criss Angel and Knack Magic Tricks for Globe Pequot Press (2010).[3]
Recognition of Kaufman's influence as a magic illustrator is described in Chuck Romano's book, The Art of Deception (1997) ISBN0-578-00752-5.
Kaufman has appeared on the covers of Genii, The Conjurors' Magazine (1987); Magic Magazine (1993); The Magic Circular (2006); M-U-M (2011) and has given presentations at numerous magic conferences including the Los Angeles Conference on Magic History, The Magic Collectors Association, The Magic Circle Collectors Day, and Magic-Con 2011.[6] He has received the 1997 Literary Fellowship from the Academy of Magical Arts (the Magic Castle),[7] the J.N. Maskelyne Award from the Magic Circle in London in 2001,[8] the Milbourne Christopher Award in 1995, The Allan Slaight Award for “Sharing Secrets” in both 2016 and 2019 [9](the only person to have received the award twice), and the Special History, Research & Scholarship Award from FISM in 2022.[10] He has also been made an honorary life member of the Society of American Magicians and The Academy of Magical Arts at The Magic Castle,[3] a Member of the Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star at London’s Magic Circle, and has received a president's citation from the International Brotherhood of Magicians.[3]
Kaufman wrote for the Pop Culture website Boing Boing through 2018.[11]
1998 The Book or Don't Forget to Point by the Flicking Fingers (published by Kaufman)
1998 Vis a Vis: A Jack Avis Book By Jack Avis and John Derris, illustrated by Joseph K. Schmidt
1998 The Mysteries of My Life: Rene Lavand By Richard Kaufman and Rene Lavand (Published by Kaufman)
1998 Street Magic by Jeff Sheridan and Edward Claflin (published by Kaufman)
1998 Five Times Five: Scotland By Peter Duffie (published by Kaufman)
1998 The Now You See It, Now You Don't! Notebook Written and Illustrated by Bill Tarr (published by Kaufman)
1998 Stodare: The Enigma Variations By Dr. Edwin Dawes (published by Kaufman)
1999 Trickery Treats by J.K. Hartman, illustrated by Joseph K. Schmidt(published by Kaufman)
1999 Artistic and Magical Life of Bob Kline By Bill King (published by Kaufman)
2000 Mastering the Art of Magic By Eugene Burger, (published by Kaufman)
2000 Facsimile 4 by Jon Racherbaumer (published by Kaufman)
2000 Other Voices: Ventriloquism from BC to TV By Stanley Burns (published by Kaufman)
2001 The Lost Notebooks of John Northern Hilliard (Published by The Genii Corporation)
2002 Sexy Magic written and illustrated by James Hodges; translated from the French by Jane Solomon (published by Kaufman)
2002 Stanley Collins, Conjuror, Collector and Iconoclast By Dr. Edwin Dawes (published by Kaufman)
2003 David Copperfield's Project Magic Handbook by Richard Kaufman
2005 Seriously Silly By David Kaye (published by Kaufman)
2005 One Hundred by Warlock By Elizabeth Warlock illustrated by Joseph K. Schmidt (Published by The Genii Corporation)
2006 The Vernon Touch By Dai Vernon (Published by The Genii Corporation)
2007 Mindfreak by Criss Angel and Richard Kaufman (Trick Section) ISBN0-06-113761-8
2010 Knack Magic Tricks: A Step-by-Step Guide to Illusions, Sleight of Hand, and Amazing Feats (Photographs by Elizabeth Kaufman and Foreword by David Copperfield) ISBN1-59921-779-1
2011 The Berglas Effects by Richard Kaufman and David Berglas(published by Kaufman)
2013 Japan Ingenious by Richard Kaufman and Steve Cohen (published by Kaufman)
2014 The Skinner Tapes (13 disc set of audio CDs and DVDs) (published by Kaufman)
2015 Labyrinth by Stephen Hobbs (published by Kaufman)
2015 Tenyoism (Written, photographed, and published by Richard Kaufman)
2016 The Secrets of So Sato by So Sato and Richard Kaufman (published by Kaufman)
2016 Super Sized Silly (David Kaye) (published by Kaufman)
2017 Spoiler Alert (Ryan Matney) (published by Kaufman)
2018 Totally Out of Control: SUPREME MME EDITION by Chris Kenner (published by Kaufman)
2018 DeLand: Madness and Mystery (Written and published by Kaufman)
2021 Mr. Jennings Takes it Easy (Written and published by Kaufman)
