The Magic of Uri Geller
Possibly one of the most controversial magicians of the 20th century and in the history of magic is the Israeli pseudo psychic Uri Geller who continues to this day to deny that he is a magician. Fortunately his performances belie that claim, 
as his shows are really that of a magician. Geller was born in Tel Aviv in December 1946. When he was a young child he claims a ‘bright light’ from above engulfed him that he later stated gave him strange powers. When of age, he was conscripted into the Israeli army and was wounded during the 1976 Six-Day War. In 1978 he began to perform as a nightclub magician around Tel Aviv with his friend Shipi Shtrang that led to performances at universities, theatres and military bases, performing card and fairly standard magic tricks. Geller had an unusual personality, that of a humble performer who didn’t really understand how the tricks he was doing actually came about. He began to claim that his powers were paranormal and that he was psychic. It was not long before the public and magicians began to take more serious notice of this new phenomenon, as did the scientific fraternity. Despite being exposed as a mere trickster, his claims of metal bending, telepathy, and psychokinesis were done with the power of his mind, he still attracted a huge almost cult like following of believers.