No disappearing for veteran local magician
Trace Cooper, his props and a copy of The Madison County Record from 1978 in which Cooper was featured in. (RECORD PHOTO/ALDO AMATO)
By Aldo Amato
Staff Reporter
MADISON — Just over 35 years ago, a young magician named Trace Cooper had burst onto the magic scene in Madison.
Today, that same magician is still putting smiles on the faces of Madison residents with a new act each year.
“I just love it,” Cooper said. “There are always new things you have to add when you are a magician and a lot of kids just buy a magic kit and end up selling it. I fell in love with magic and I love displaying it across the community.”
Cooper, who splits time between his job at Redstone Arsenal and his magic act, said he has kept up his devotion to a hobby he has loved ever since he can remember.
“I remember my father took me to see a Doug Henning magic show and he did this one trick with a rope that just blew my mind,” he said. “It had a great effect on me and I actually performed that trick at Mill Creek Elementary and I saw the same reaction on the children’s faces that it had on mine over 30 years ago.”
Cooper’s performances are not limited to children. He said he puts on shows for adults, church events, birthdays and various other events.
“Magic defies all logic, all meaning and that is what really drew me to magic,” he said. “I plan on retiring in 10 years and I plan on magic being my retirement job.”
Though Cooper said he likes to add flair once in a while to his act, he does not overly distract the audience. Rather he includes them in his acts filled with various props like cards, giant dice, coins, and a guillotine finale.
To go along with his props, Cooper likes to mix in messages.
“I am a Christian magician and I like to relate scripture to some of the tricks I perform,” he said. “I also do an anti-bullying act. So you have to be creative and love what you do and I’ve loved what I’ve done for a long, long time.”
For more information, visit www.coopermagic.com or call (256)-679-3856.
