The Fantasma Magic company (also known as Fantasma Toys) was founded in December 2001 by
Roger Dreyer and
Mark Setteducati
Mark Setteducati (born November 1, 1955) is an American magician and inventor of magic, illusions, games and puzzles. He is also an author, known for the book, The Magic Show, and featured on PBS Inventors.
Early life and education
Setteducati ...
.
Fantasma Magic is a manufacturer of magic tricks, magic sets, science-based toys and
Rubik's
The Rubik's Cube is a 3-D combination puzzle originally invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Ernő Rubik. Originally called the Magic Cube, the puzzle was licensed by Rubik to be sold by Pentangle Puzzles in t ...
items as well as other novelties. Fantasma Magic supplies magic tricks, specialty magic sets and other toys to retailers such as
Costco
Costco Wholesale Corporation (doing business as Costco Wholesale and also known simply as Costco) is an American multinational corporation which operates a chain of membership-only big-box retail stores (warehouse club). As of 2022, Costco i ...
,
Toys R Us,
,
Walmart
Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores from the United States, headquarter ...
,
Target
Target may refer to:
Physical items
* Shooting target, used in marksmanship training and various shooting sports
** Bullseye (target), the goal one for which one aims in many of these sports
** Aiming point, in field artillery, fi ...
and others.
The first iteration of the Fantasma company was formed by Roger Dreyer in 1987 as a manufacturer of
holograms. This led to Fantasma manufacturing clocks and watches for
Disney
The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...
. In 1999,
Foster Grant purchased the company.
In 2001, after a stint with
Marvin's Magic
Marvin's Magic is a producer and creator of magic products in the United Kingdom.
It was founded in 1987 by award-winning magician and entrepreneur Marvin Berglas, son of David Berglas, and is the world's largest magic company.
The company is ...
, Dreyer partnered with Setteducati, an inventor and consultant with
Tenyo and creator of
Milton Bradley's
Magic Works line, to form Fantasma Magic. In February 2003, Fantasma Magic became the exclusive magic supplier to the
FAO Schwarz flagship store in New York City and remained their exclusive magic supplier until FAO Schwarz closed their flagship store in July 2015.
In spring of 2006, Fantasma Magic left their offices at the
International Toy Center when it was revealed the center had been sold. Fantasma opened its first retail location on the corner of 7th Avenue and 33rd Street. The store featured magic tricks and sets from Fantasma Magic as well as amateur and professional magic effects from a variety of other manufacturers. The store also housed the first
Houdini Museum of New York
The Houdini Museum of New York is a museum exhibiting memorabilia related to the escape artist, Harry Houdini. It is located at Fantasma Magic, a retail magic manufacturer.
History
Opened in October 2012, the Houdini Museum of New York contains s ...
. The store and museum have since moved to 213 West 35th Street, Room 401, New York City.
As of 2010, Fantasma Magic reported profits of $950,000 on $10 million in sales.
Fantasma Magic is the only magic manufacturer to receive the unpaid endorsement of the
International Brotherhood of Magicians. Fantasma Magic has founded and sponsors their own I.B.M. Ring (Ring 257) in
Las Vegas
Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...
, Nevada.
References
{{reflist
Magic shops
American companies established in 2001
Companies based in New York City