Indian Magic, Sioux City, Coffins and SunglassesInside MagicMagic News Updated Daily for the Professional Magician

Magic News and Notes for Monday June 28, 2004

Trixie Bond

Before we get to the serious magic news, I wanted to bring to your attention a really neat article in this month?s Genii. Trixie Bond has recorded her experience at the famous and exclusive 4F conclave. Trixie included the observations of three other female magicians to provide several perspectives on the close-up convention held this year in Batavia, New York. Check it out.

Do Not Smell This Casket

One of the questions we get here at Inside Magic is, ?What?s the longest anyone has ever spent buried underground with only a breathing tube, turban and a ruby??

Well, we don?t know the previous record holder but Zdenek Zahradka ? known to his fans as ?Fakir Ben Ghan? ? made it ten days through sheer willpower. His reward may be a Guinness World Record or at least a Guinness.

Zdenek Zahradka

Fakir Ben Ghan has received incredible press for his buried underground stunt. Newspapers and Internet sites around the world covered the event with far more reverence and less skepticism than they did David Blaine?s 44 days in a plexiglass box or his buried alive illusion.

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Magic News and Notes for Monday June 28, 2004

Trixie Bond

Do Not Smell This Casket

One of the questions we get here at Inside Magic is, ?What?s the longest anyone has ever spent buried underground with only a breathing tube, turban and a ruby??

Zdenek Zahradka

In a perfect metaphor, Fakir Ben Ghan emerged from his coffin Sunday with his turban intact and his sunglasses on. He was ready to move into his spotlight.

You can read articles from the BBC here and the Sydney Morning Herald here.

From the City of Big Shoulders to the Oxford of the East

Shreeyash Palshikar is no stranger to Inside Magic. His work has been reported in the Chicago Tribune and other Midwest papers. Mr. Palshikar is currently in Pune, studying on a Fullbright Scholarship and performing magic as he performs his research.

Express India has a complimentary article about him and his ?western approach? to magic. The difference between the western magician and an Indian magician appears to be the Indian?s use of color and midgets.

??Most Indian magicians will have a dwarf routine while Western magicians rarely do. Then, Indian acts are flamboyant with the use of colour and clothes changes while Western acts are not. I am working on fusion magic by combining the two styles.??

We wish Mr. Palshikar good luck in his studies and a speedy return to Chicago.

You can read the article about Mr. Palshikar in the Express India here.

Test Tube Tot Tops

Kruti Parekh

While on the subject of Indian magic, Kruti Parekh, India?s first test-tube baby recently turned 19 years old and claims that magic is in her blood. She has been performing throughout her life and now as an engineering student, she uses her talents to promote conservation and environmental consciousness.

In one of Ms. Parekh?s most innovative effects, she eats waste (torn) paper and magically produces a long ribbon of restored, clean (and dry) paper. Ms. Parekh donates the money she receives from her appearances to a fund to help children living in India?s slums.

You can read more about Ms. Parekh in this morning?s The Star here.

So, Sioux Me!

Finally, the Sioux City Journal has a very nice feature piece on that city?s magic club, the T. Nelson Downs Ring of the IBM. The article notes that the club has been going continuously since 1941 and still receives a regular infusion of new blood and inquiring members.

One of its members appeared with David Copperfield in Las Vegas. He was transported magically from Las Vegas to New York City. Congratulations to the Sioux City Magic Club.

You can read their article here.