Latest Magic News – February 8, 2004Inside MagicMagic News Updated Daily for the Professional Magician

The Magic Castle?s Future is Unclear

Magic Castle

The Glover Family (owners of the physical location that is the Magic Castle) Milt Larsen (the genius behind the Magic Castle) and Castle Partners (a group of business folks including magicians) are working on what will dictate the future of The Magic Castle and the meeting place of the Academy of Magical Arts. Mr. Larsen believes the Glover Family has negotiated a deal behind his back to move control of the food and beverage and possibly the management of entertainment to the Castle Partners ? thus cutting him and the Academy out of the deal.

It is a complicated story but well described by Richard Kaufman and his interviews on the Genii Forum. The battle lines are clearly drawn between those who would prefer to move from the present location to a new clubhouse and those who believe the Castle Partners should be permitted to take control.

It is unfortunate, in my opinion, that there would be any suggestion of either taking control from Mr. Larsen and the Academy. The arguments that new management could increase the revenues through control that is more professional and refurbishing the physical plant seems misplaced. The Magic Castle is old, and it is crowded on occasion but it is ?old? in the sense of historic and crowded with those who love magic.

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The Magic Castle?s Future is Unclear

Magic Castle

The Magic Castle has real charm in both its physical surroundings and the people who visit to spend time with others who love magic. I hope the issue has not progressed so far that The Magic Castle will change in any substantive way or that it will lose its current management.

Check out the Genii Forum discussion on this issue by clicking here.

Six Flags Darien Lake Holds Auditions for Magicians

Audition Now

The amusement part, Six Flags Darien Lakes (New York) will be holding auditions for their summer entertainment corps. The live auditions will be February 21 and 22 at the UB Center for the Arts. The theme park and resort employs nearly 2,500 seasonal employees annually, 100 of which work in the park’s Entertainment Department. Prospective magicians should expect to perform up to five shows per day. If you?re interested in trying out, call Brian Cousins, entertainment manager at Six Flags Darien Lake at (585) 599-5352 for more information.

Read the full story here.

Check out the website, Thrill Network, for news about amusement parks by clicking here.

Penn Jillette, David Copperfield and Todd Robbins Hang Out

Todd Robbins

According to the rumor pages in the New York Daily News, David Copperfield and Penn Jillette, both showed up atTodd Robbins’“Carnival Knowledge” late last week. They were seated across from each other as they watched the critically acclaimed sideshow event where Mr. Robbins eats glass, swallows swords and performs other geek magic. According to the Daily News, the three magicians ?hung out at Copperfield’s huge penthouse till dawn. ?I have no idea what time it was when I got home,? an exhausted Robbins said.?

To read the full article, click here.

Visit the very cool Carnival Knowledge website here.

Read the Show Business Weekly review of the Carnival Knowledge show here.

Forty Years Ago Tonight, Fred Kaps Upstaged

Fred Kaps

Fred Kaps, the three-time FISM Champion was on the roster of acts to perform this night forty years ago. The Ed Sullivan Show always sported a wide variety of acts and this night was no different. Impressionist Frank Gorshen performed as did Mr. Kaps but it was a third act took all attention away. The British Rock and Roll band, the Beatles, made their American premier. It was likely the only time Mr. Kaps was upstaged.

Read an article about this historic night (mostly about the Beatles) here.

Read the review of the newly released Ed Sullivan DVD including Mr. Kaps performance here.

Check out the Fred Kaps Official Website dedicated to celebrating his amazing career here.

Jews in Magic has a nice biography of Fred Kaps here.

David Blaine is In Vogue

A-List

David Blaine is named in the Daily Vogue ? the Fashion bible ? as being ?as A-list as ever.? He is expected to be on the front row at the New York Fashion Week. He?ll be among the other ?A-Listers? including Mary Louise Parker, Iman, Harry Connick Jr, Bjork, Sarah Jessica Parker and his former girlfriend Daryl Hannah. Boy George will be providing commentary on the catwalk.

I think I would rather stay in a box for 44 days than to watch a week of fashion shows, but that?s me.

Check out the Fashion Week Special from Vogue here.

Magic on TV

Upcoming Magic on TV

David Blaine’s Street Magic

(Repeat) Impromptu audiences on the streets of New York, Los Angeles and foreign cities wonder at the illusions of the magician, which include inexplicable feats of levitation, mind reading, mind-bending card tricks.

The Learning Channel, February 15, 2004 at 9:00PM; February 16, 2004 at 1:00AM (The Learning Channel Show Description and additional showing times here).

Inside the Houdini Museum

Explore the secrets of Houdini’s greatest escapes and marvel at his props, including handcuffs, trick keys and straightjackets. Modern-day escape artists Lance Burton, Bill Shirk and Dean Gunnarson risk their lives attempting Houdini-inspired stunts.

The Travel Channel February 13, 2004 at 2:00 PM

(The Travel Channel Show Description and Automatic Reminder Service here).

The Drew Carey Show ? Penn & Teller

Drew leads an employee revolt right into court; guests Penn & Teller. Drew confronts the store management and once again encounters their sleazy attorneys Archibald Fenn and Geller (Penn and Teller).

TBS February 10, 2004 at 4:30PM

(Click here for full description of episode from the Drew Carey page).