Jerry Andrus Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Jerry Andrus

Born	(1918-01-28)January 28, 1918 Sheridan, Wyoming, United States
Died	August 26, 2007(2007-08-26) (aged 89) Albany, Oregon, United States
Occupation	Magician, writer, inventor, scientific skeptic
Known for	Creator of world-renowned magic tricks and optical illusions

Jerry Andrus (born January 28, 1918 – died August 26, 2007) was an American magician and writer. He was famous around the world for his amazing close-up magic, clever sleight-of-hand tricks, and mind-bending optical illusions. One of his most well-known tricks was called the "Linking Pins".

Jerry Andrus's Early Life
Jerry Andrus: A Master of Magic
Amazing Optical Illusions
Jerry Andrus: A Scientific Skeptic
The Castle of Chaos
Death and Tributes
Jerry Andrus's Famous Quotes
Images for kids
Jerry Andrus's Works
- Documentaries
- Performances
See also

Jerry Andrus's Early Life

Jerry Andrus was born on January 28, 1918, in Sheridan, Wyoming. When he was 10 years old, his family moved to Albany, Oregon. He lived there for the rest of his life.

At age 12, Jerry became very interested in magic. This happened after he saw a show by a "spiritual medium" who had changed their ways. When he was 16, he joined the International Society of Junior Magicians. By the time he was in his 40s, other magicians called him a "magician's magician." This meant he was highly respected by other people who did magic.

Jerry became a scientific skeptic when he was about 12. He started to question things he had always believed. He learned to challenge ideas and look for proof.

Jerry Andrus: A Master of Magic

Jerry Andrus taught himself how to do magic. He liked to create his own unique style instead of just copying others. Because of this, he became one of the best and most important "close-up magic" performers ever.

Many famous magicians, like Lance Burton, Doug Henning, and Penn & Teller, knew Jerry. They admired his special way of doing close-up, sleight-of-hand magic.

Jerry was also known for his "Master Move" in card magic. This was a very smooth pass that looked completely natural.

Jerry was an early member of The Magic Castle in Hollywood, California. This is a famous club for magicians. He performed there often until just before he passed away.

Amazing Optical Illusions

Jerry Andrus was also a master of optical illusions. These are tricks that fool your eyes and brain. He believed that understanding illusions helps us see how our minds work.

He said that illusions show us our minds are actually working correctly. Our brains try to make sense of the world. For example, if we see part of a car, our brain assumes the rest of the car is there too.

In 1954, Jerry created his famous "Linking Pins" illusion. In this trick, closed safety pins quickly link together. They can form pairs, threes, or even long chains.

Jerry often brought his illusions to the Skeptic's Toolbox event. This event happens every August at the University of Oregon. Two of his popular illusions were the "impossible box" and the "Oregon vortex plank illusion."

Even in the months before he died, Jerry kept inventing new illusions. He used everyday items like springs, rope, wire, and cardboard. Many of his illusions can be seen online. Some of his illusions, like "Crazy Nuts," are on display at Puzzling World in New Zealand.

Jerry Andrus: A Scientific Skeptic

Jerry Andrus was a strong scientific skeptic and an agnostic. This means he liked to question things and look for scientific proof. He often gave talks at science and skeptic events.

He used his magic tricks and illusions to show how easily our minds can be fooled. He explained that our minds often work without us even knowing it. This can make us see things differently than they really are.

In 1975, Jerry Andrus and his friend Ray Hyman appeared on a TV show. They showed how they could do the same "paranormal" tricks that Uri Geller had performed earlier. When asked if Uri Geller had special powers, Jerry simply said, "No."

Jerry Andrus was honored by the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI). He was added to their Pantheon of Skeptics. This group remembers people who have made important contributions to scientific skepticism.

The Castle of Chaos

Jerry Andrus called his home in Albany, Oregon, the "Castle of Chaos." He named it this because he collected so many items over the years. He hoped to use these items to create something amazing.

This was the place where he invented and built his illusions. He often invited other magicians and fans to visit his home. In 1982, a magician group called M-U-M visited. They said Jerry was a great host.

In 1996, Jerry showed some of his inventions at his home on the TV show Bill Nye the Science Guy.

In October 2011, the "Castle of Chaos" was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical building.

In 2013, the "Castle of Chaos" was part of a historic home tour. The new owners have kept many photos and items from Jerry's life.

Death and Tributes

Jerry Andrus died from cancer when he was 89 years old. Many people remembered him as a very honest and talented person.

Magician James Randi said Jerry was "the most honest man I ever knew." He also called Jerry a "genius" and said he missed him every day.

Ray Hyman said Jerry was "legendary for his honesty."

At Jerry's memorial service, people shared their thoughts:

Michael Shermer said Jerry showed "how easy it is to fool" people. This teaches us about how the mind works.
Dai Vernon said Jerry's magic ideas were "revolutionary."
Harry Blackstone Sr. called Jerry's close-up magic "the best I've ever seen."
Martin Gardner said Jerry's magic "completely knocked me over." He said Jerry was truly original.

Jerry Andrus's Famous Quotes

"I can fool you because you're a human," Jerry said. "You have a wonderful human mind that works no different from my human mind. Usually when we're fooled, the mind hasn't made a mistake. It's come to the wrong conclusion for the right reason."
"Each of us possesses a unique brain that could conceivably be the most amazing thing in all of the universe. What do we do with it? Most of us just let it lie there and rot."
"We jump to conclusions based on our past experiences and how we look at things."