Ballooning Brothers

Although not directly connected to magic, I enjoyed this article on the Zambole boys from San Francisco, expertly written by Delfin Vigil for the San Francisco Chronicle..

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Ballooning Brothers
Delfin Vigil
Sunday, September 24, 2006


It used to take a lot of guts to make a living as a balloon entertainer.

Seriously.

Some of the earliest known balloons were made from animal bladders, intestines and other entrails, as they could easily be "manipulated into amusing shapes," according to balloonhq.com, a Web site dedicated to all things balloon.

But while balloons made from bowels might have been used in ancient Aztec sacrificial ceremonies hundreds of years ago, it wasn't until as recently as the 1980s that the art of balloon twisting really exploded.

That's when the National Association of Balloon Artists and the International Balloon Association were both born. Soon after, several balloon-related conventions popped up across the country, including the big four: Twist & Shout, Diamond Jam, Millennium Jam and Ballooniversity, where thousands of the world's best balloon twisters have a blast competing for big money and bragging rights.

During our research into ballooning, the Pink found a bunch of balloon lovers, including two Bay Area brothers.

The Zambole boys .... Read More

Dueling Magicians - E.Walton & R.Jay

Campbell Robertson wrote this interesting article for the New York Times, in which Ricky Jays opinions are aired publicly. It seems as if there's a little animosity in play...

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Dueling Magicians: Whose Trick Is It Anyway?
By Campbell Robertson

The Knight’s Tour, a feat of mental agility in which you trace the path of a knight to every square of a chess board, landing on each square only once, is at least a thousand years old, Eric Walton explains when he performs it in the finale of his show “Esoterica” at the DR2 Theater. But it was hardly esoteric to the woman in the audience on Monday night who whispered that she knew how it worked.

“Oh, I’ve seen Ricky Jay do that,” she said.

Mr. Jay, the sleight-of-hand artist and magic historian, did the Knight’s Tour in “Ricky Jay: On the Stem,” his 2002 show. It wasn’t the only overlap between Mr. Jay’s and Mr. Walton’s acts. “I paid for a ticket and I sat through the show,” Mr. Jay said, “and I would very much like my money and my material back.”... Read the Rest

The Ghosts of Broadway

The Ghosts of Broadway
Starring The Pendragons

To visit the Newberry Opera House
October 12 at 8pm
ONE SHOW ONLY!

NEWBERRY, SC – The Newberry Opera House is especially proud to bring to its stage, the world’s most magical theatrical illusionists, The Pendragons, who have performed around the world, in their award winning and memorable presentation of “The Ghosts of Broadway,” on Thursday, October 12, 2006, at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now!

Broadway’s most unforgettable characters are resurrected through magic and stagecraft by the groundbreaking magical couple, Jonathan and Charlotte Pendragon. Through vividly achieved theatrical vignettes of illusion, The Pendragons amaze their audiences by summoning the spirits from the glory days of Broadway, including Hamlet, Phantom of the Opera, and the Invisible Man.

The Pendragons have performed together for more than 25 years, stunning audiences that have included the President of the United States, the Queen of England, the Prince of Wales, and the Royal Family of Monaco. The couple holds the Guiness World Record for their split second illusion, “Metamorphosis,” which The Times of London reported “Would have fooled Houdini.”

Jonathan Pendragon is one of only five contemporary performers named in “100 Most Influential Magicians of All Time” by Magic Magazine.

Charlotte Pendragon was voted into England's famed Inner Magic Circle, the first woman to ever receive this honor in the 100 plus years of the organization. Charlotte was also the first woman to receive "The Magician of the Year Award" from the famed Magic Castle.

Together The Pendragons have won this prestigious award twice, a feat that only four other living magicians have accomplished. The Pendragons have entertained audiences in theaters and on television in over 50 countries resulting in more international television appearances than any magician in history. The magical duo has also starred in 14 prime time magic specials in the United States.

For an unforgettable evening of magic and things that go “bump” in the night: “Ghosts of Broadway” – save this date – Oct. 12, at the Newberry Opera House. For tickets and information please call 803-276-6264 or visit online www.newberryoperahouse.com

(editors note: I'll be there... will you?)

Magic Roadshow 55

Just a quick post to let you know that issue# 55 of the Magic Roadshow was posted online several days ago. Subscribers to the Roadshow always get advanced notice of new issues. If you aren't a subscriber, you'll find a link in the right nav bar that will get you signed up once and for all.

Why wait? You can unsubscribe at any time if you aren't happy with your advanced notification.

In this issue:

-How to Use Free Special Reports to Fill Your Calendar
-Ask a Pro
-Whit Haydn's Performance Video's
-CardTricks1 Balloon Modeling Update
-The Magic Roadshow Readers Guide to the REAL Criss Angel
-Toothpick Trick
-Elliot's Magic Corner
-La Magie Cabaret
-Unlocking the Real Secrets of Magic
-The Hubble Deep Field: The Most Important Image Ever Taken
-Rock 101
-Fraud

http://StreetMagic.info/eMagic55.html

Master of Magic

From the Washington Post...

A Master of Magic Revealed
By Daniel Stashower,

"On the night of Feb. 6, 1922, more than 60 magicians in formal attire gathered at a hotel banquet room in Chicago to honor Harry Houdini, the self-styled "eclipsing sensation of the world." Then as now, such banquets were little more than an excuse for magic enthusiasts to show off, often at considerable length. So it was past 3:30 a.m. before Houdini himself was finally invited to perform. He was 48 at the time, but that evening he reached back to his earliest days as a "King of Cards" and treated the room to a flashy display of card fans, waterfalls and other flourishes. The audience responded with a warm ovation.

As the applause died down, a man named Sam Margules took Houdini by the arm and led him across the room. Margules wanted Houdini to see a gifted young performer, Dai Vernon, whom he considered the finest sleight-of-hand artist he'd ever known..." Read On

Making a Living..

The South Bend Tribune of Sept. 17th features an article on JOBS, and what it takes to make a living as a Magician...

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Magician says it takes more than magic to make a living.


Mike Powers has always been interested in magic, but it wasn't until magician Doug Henning began performing in a tie-dye T-shirt on Johnny Carson that Powers became more focused on the art.

Powers, a former math teacher, recently spoke with Tribune staff writer Robin Toepp about his occupation.

Read More

The Science of Illusion Exhibition

DETROIT, MI -- (MARKET WIRE) -- September 14, 2006 -- Rise in the air on a floating chair. Have famous mentalist Max Maven read your mind. Can your head live without your body? It can at The New Detroit Science Center's new blockbuster exhibit, Magic: The Science of Illusion, opening Saturday, Oct. 7, 2006.

At the heart of Magic are four unique illusions, designed with the help of professional magicians -- mind reading, levitation, transformation and the disembodied head. By exploring how magicians create magical illusions, visitors will learn about basic math, physical science, psychology and the art of performance as well as gain an appreciation of magicians as innovators who continually experiment with science and art to keep one step ahead of their audience.

"The Magic exhibit will encourage our visitors to question how and why we see illusions, and inspire them to explore the science behind the illusions. By focusing a subject that is appealing, we can make science learning even more fun and relevant for our visitors," said Kevin F. Prihod, President and CEO of The New Detroit Science Center.

Visitors will explore the science and art of each of the four illusions from two perspectives -- as the magician's apprentice and as the audience. As the magician's apprentice, they'll enter a "backstage" environment and explore, through hands-on exhibits and video, how physical science, psychology and math are made magical with the art of performance. As the audience, visitors will enter a "front stage" environment to experience the emotional impact of magical performances, and learn about an illusion's cultural history.

Visitors can learn about the history of magic and its most famous performers -- from Houdini to Henning, Penn & Teller, Goldfinger & Dove, Max Maven, and Jade -- in the Magicians and Performances area, while the film "Magic at Work" looks at magical thinking (in the form of superstitions) in modern life. They'll see authentic magical artifacts, including a milk can and handcuffs used by Houdini in his famous escapes, and discover the history of performance magic through posters, photos, text and film.

Magic: The Science of Illusion will be at The New Detroit Science Center from Oct. 7, 2006 through Jan. 15, 2007. Tickets start at $10.95 for children and seniors, and $11.95 for adults. General admission to the Science Center is included.

An Educator Preview Event will be held on Thursday, Oct. 5, from 4:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. for teachers and school administrators to explore the Magic exhibit and other field trip offerings. For more information about this event, please e-mail educatorevents@sciencedetroit.org.

A Magical Members Preview Party will be held on Friday, Oct. 6, from 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. for Science Center Members. For more information about this event or about Science Center membership, please call 313.577.8400, ext. 433.

The New Detroit Science Center features 110,000 square feet of scientific exploration, including Michigan's only IMAX® Dome Theatre; the Dassault Systèmes Planetarium; the Ford Learning Resource Center; the DTE Energy Sparks Theater; the DaimlerChrysler Science Stage; an 8,700 square-foot Science Hall for traveling exhibits; hands-on exhibit galleries focusing on space, life and physical science; an SBC Children's Gallery for pint-size scientists; and a Special Events Lobby.

The Science Center has served more than 1.5 million visitors since its grand re-opening on July 28, 2001. For more information, please call 313-577-8400 or visit the website, http://www.detroitsciencecenter.org.

Note: A Media Preview of the Magic exhibit will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2006. A local school group will be invited to view the exhibit along with members of the media. There will be an opportunity at 11 a.m. to view the Science Center's new laser shows in the Dassault Systèmes Planetarium. For more information about this event, or to RSVP, please contact Kelly Fulford at 313.577.8400, ext. 430, or kfulford@sciencedetroit.org.

Media Contact:
Kelly Fulford
Director of PR & Marketing
313.577.8400 x430
248.496.1170 (cell)
Email Contact

Magic that Rocks

I found this article in the Arizona Republic, carefully written by Dolores Tropiano, detailing what may be the future of magic ..??!!

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Magician's trick: Add dose of rock, smidgen of comedy

Curtis Adams describes his "Magic That Rocks" show as high-energy. And if it's anything like our phone conversation, audiences will be swept away by the speed of his sleight of hand.

"The show is something that has never been done before," said the 23-year-old Adams, who looks more like a rock star than a magician. "I would describe it as the rock concert of magic shows simply because it is such a high-energy, fast-paced show. It hits the audiences with one trick after another. Bam, bam, bam."

That, of course, could just be the boastings of a self-promoter, but Adams is coming off shows at the Plaza Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and the Tropicana Casino & Resort in Atlantic City, N.J., where he has been applauded for creating a "now" atmosphere and given four stars by reviewers on the Strip..... Read more

Jason Willinger in the News..

From the Mauldin Observer comes this nice article by Dan Baer...

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The magic man: Local magician is building a fanbase

Jason Willinger isn’t the kind of magician who levitates from rooftop to rooftop, or buries himself alive.

Instead, he walks up to a person, shows them a card trick and makes them shake their heads in awe.

Yes, the 26-year-old Malden native specializes in good old-fashion magic. He manipulates the mind with sleight-of-hand tricks and close-up magic that leaves audiences wondering who or what is playing with their sense of logic.

For a kid who worked at the craft from the first magic kit his father bought him at age 5 straight through high school talent shows and a stint in Hollywood, those are the kinds of reactions Willinger lives for.

(Staff photo by Erin Yunes)

Full Article

Magic Roadshow # 54

Another issue of the Magic Roadshow has been posted online. If you aren't a subscriber, you should be. You can sign up using the link in the right nav bar. For those of you who are subscribers but haven't clicked the link yet... here it is..

http://streetmagic.info/eMagic54.html


--------------In This Issue:--------------

(1) Between a Rock and a Hard Place - Steve Owen gets it right... again.
(2) Magic Reviews - Caleb Wiles Calls 'em as he see's 'em..
(3) Questions Anyone ? Your chance to 'Ask a Pro'
(4) The Card From The Pocket - One of magic's classic effects
(5) CardTricks1 - New name, same great site
(6) The Power of Suggestion - Carson Kahn's psychic mystery
(7) The Floating Banknote - Combining Mike Bornstein & PubTricks
(8) Gregg Webb Free Magic Ebook - Two strong effects from a magic guru

As I Mature...

I've learned that you cannot make someone love you-
All you can do is stalk them, and hopefully, make them give in...

I've learned that no matter how much I care-
Some people are STILL ___holes...

I've learned it takes years to build up trust-
And only suspicion, not proof, to destroy it...

I've learned women can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes-
After that, you'd better have really big boobs...

I've learned that you can keep vomiting-
long after you thought you were through...

I've learned we are all responsible for what we do-
unless we're celebrities...

I've learned that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first-
In time the passon will fade, and there had better be a whole lot of money to take it's place...

I've learned that all the really important people in our life seem to go away too soon-
And all the lesser important ones seem to never go away...

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Yes, in college they called me 'crass, crude, and rude Carruth'...