The Magician Who Never Was: The Great Bottle Conjuror of 1749

Historic Magician. Source: Andrey Kiselev / Adobe Stock

Magic shows were already massively popular by the 18th century. In the 17th century, many books described magic tricks and were a common source of entertainment at fairs and festivals. As the belief and fear of witchcraft waned, the 18th century saw magic tricks and illusions becoming respectable and were hugely popular to both nobles and commoners alike. But why were people so fascinated by it? And how, in this case, were so many people incensed by it that in London in 1749, they rioted, destroying a theatre and its surrounding area?