Latest Magic News – January 27, 2004Inside MagicMagic News Updated Daily for the Professional Magician

Every morning when I read the news of the world to find the latest magic news, I look for themes. There must be some reason why these news outlets around the world have written about the magicians or aspects of magic they?ve chosen.

Right?

The best I can figure from today?s voyage into the wonderful world of Magic in the News is that it is a slow news day. We have articles floating around with nothing more than rumors on rumors. Very strange.

If you have news you?d like to see covered in the Inside Magic Daily News, drop a line to tim@insidemagic.com. It can be real news, a profile, a press release or even a rumor based on a rumor about a rumor.

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…

Right?

KTVU in Las Vegas reports that the rumors ?are flying fast and furious in the Las Vegas press about yet another Cirque du Soleil show going into the Mirage to replace Siegfried & Roy. Of course, no one is saying anything officially yet, but the ?where there’s smoke there’s fire? school of thinking suggests that this is pretty much a done deal.? (Emphasis in original). Ironically, the station doesn?t cite a single ?Las Vegas press outlet? in support of its suggestion that the rumors are flying ?fast and furious.?

To read pretty much nothing more than the reporting on a rumor that is not documented, click here.

Rumors on Rumors: This is not to say that the other rumor pages in the casino industry haven?t commented on the rumors in other rumor pages ? are you still with me? Check out the Inside Gaming Times column, The Gaming Gurus: ?If someone wants to be cynical or sarcastic, that’s something someone would smirk about,” said MGM Mirage spokesman Alan Feldman in defending the continued presence of Siegfried and Roy on signs at The Mirage. Feldman says the pair remains a part of the hotel-casino’s image, but we suspect that will change when owner MGM Mirage lands a successor show, now rumored to likely be yet another Cirque du Soleil.? (Emphasis supplied).

Read the Gaming Gurus page by clicking here.

Cool Link Watch: Dean Gunnarson has joined the ever-increasing Inside Magic Links of Fame. Dean is insane and should be stopped if it wasn?t so entertaining.

You likely remember him from any of the thousands of television shows but I recall seeing him for the first time during the NBC special back in 1987, The Search for Houdini. Do you remember that one? I know you do and I know why you do but we need to let some embarrassing moments die. Besides, that particular act is still the best at that particular effect ? there?s none faster. If you know what I?m talking about, you?ll know what I?m saying.

What?

The point, and I think I recall the purpose of this discussion, was that The Amazing Randi was scheduled to perform my favorite escape, The Milk Can. He had just crushed two vertebrae and asked the young escape artist Dean Gunnarson to give the escape a shot.

I remember turning to my first wife (she’sstill my first but I was trying to be accurate)and saying, ?Who?? I didn?t ask that again. His presentation of the Milk Can Escape was outstanding. So it is an honor that he has linked to Inside Magic through the much revered and yet programmatically challenged Inside Magic Links of Fame.

Not ironically, Mr. Gunnarson?s website has absolutely no reporting on rumors that ?another Cirque du Soleil? will open at the Mirage. Hmmmm. Maybe the lack of rumors is also a way to tell that something might be the subject of rumors and therefore true.

Check out his site by clicking here or go to the Inside Magic Links of Fame to submit your favorite site (perhaps you own) by mousing and clicking here.

The Orlando Business Journal reports that our favorite Orlando and now World Famous Magician Giovanni Livera will be addressing the prestigious International Business Roundtable on February 5, 2004.

Read the OBJ entry here. Good Luck to Mr. Livera. He?s a great guy and deserves all that he has received and even more.

Poor David Blaine, Jesus and Michael Jackson.

IAAFRICA, a press page related to the BBC and to local South African Radio, reports that a survey of British youth found that their hero is soccer player (?football player?) David Beckham.

Mr. Beckham is the husband of former Spice Girl ?Posh Spice? ? not her real name. This means, according to the report, that Mr. Beckham beat David Blaine, Tony Blair and Jesus Christ. The reporter noted: Bizarrely, Prime Minister Tony Blair was ranked 69th equal with David Blaine, the US illusionist who earned ridicule in Britain last year by spending 44 days without food suspended above London in a glass box.?

But even though Mr. Blaine and Mr. Blair tied for 69^th, they far out-paced Jesus Christ and U.S. President George Bush. The youth scored Mr. Bush and the Son of God the same and put them 123^rd on the list. Said the psychologist that arranged the poll, “They went for people with nothing much to say but who look good.”

So Jesus, Mr. Blaine, Mr. Bush, Mr. Blair and the editors of Inside Magic all fell behind Michael Jackson ? who came in fourth despite his alleged pedophilia and upcoming criminal trial.

Read the bizarre results by clicking here.

Magician Andy Hickman received outstanding props (that?s cool talk for ?kind praise?) in the Waxahachie (Texas) Daily Light. Mr. Hickman will be performing at The Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce is finalizing plans for its 76th annual banquet ? ?The Magic of Everyday Heroes? ? beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, at the Waxahachie Civic Center.

The article notes (provides props thusly): ?Hickman?s life-changing performance uses the art of illusion, humor and entertainment to deliver a powerful message that has inspired people of all ages.?

To read the entire story, go here. Wanna see an outstanding Public Speaker site? Check out Mr. Hickman?s here.