Sammy, Siegfried, Smokies and Show-BizInside MagicMagic News Updated Daily for the Professional Magician

Many people ask me how I find the stories I find for Inside Magic. The truth is, I don’t really get asked that question by anyone but if I did, I could tell that person that I read as many magazines and on-line journals as I can find. But even with my usually reliable list of publications, I apparently miss very important sources ? like the Congressional Record. There was an important resolution voted out of the Resources Committee today and headed for a vote by the full house. If you’d like to know what the heck I’m talking about

Read On . . .

Siegfried and Roy Resolution Emerges From Committee. The House Resources Committee was charged in November 2003 with the task of “Marking Up” a proposed resolution by the representative from Nevada, the Hon. Ms. Berkley and the Hon. Mr. Porter. The title of the resolution (H.Res. 431) is “Honoring the achievements of Siegfried and Roy, recognizing the impact of their efforts on the conservation of endangered species both domestically and worldwide, and wishing Roy Horn a full and speedy recovery.”

You can read Ms. Berkley‘s wonderful presentation of H.Res. 431 on the floor of Congress by visiting the Inside Magic Library here. You can read the full bill in the Library …

Read On . . .

You can read Ms. Berkley‘s wonderful presentation of H.Res. 431 on the floor of Congress by visiting the Inside Magic Library here. You can read the full bill in the Library here. Both are in PDF format.

I am happy to report that according to the Congressional Record as of this morning, H.Res. 431 emerged from the Resources Committee with the unanimous support of the full chamber. It now goes to the floor of the House for a vote. I will let you know the date as soon as I find it.

Critic: Father of the Pride is Enormous Mistake. Describing the decision to include Father of the Pride in the fall line-up a disaster of Hindenburg proportions, Peter Carlin of the Oregonian suggests the animated serious produced in part by and inspired entirely by Siegfried & Roy, appeals to exactly the wrong audience.

“For while ‘Pride‘ looks exactly like a show for kids — albeit one that that might have the ‘Shrek’ multi-generational appeal — it’s actually intended for adults. The episode shown to critics was almost entirely about sex and the adult appetite for same.

“A subsequent episode takes on drugs. And though Katzenberg and company make it very clear that it’s a show ‘that’s made by adults for adults,’ it’s hard to imagine how children won’t be interested in the cute cartoon lions they see cracking jokes on the show’s promos. And conversely, it’s hard to see why their parents will be interested in hearing adult talk out of the mouths of cute cartoon lions.”

You can read the entire article here.

Michael Keating

Michael Keating to Star in Black Bear Jamboree Theater. Michael Keating, formerly David Copperfield‘s right-hand man, has taken on the starring role in the second annual “Magic Beyond Belief” Breakfast Show at the beautiful Black Bear Jamboree Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The show will run through August 6^th.

Mr. Keating told reporters, “I perform many large illusions, with several set changes, and I have a lot of tricks up my sleeve.” “This is more than just a magic show. It is a full production show the whole family will enjoy, with fantastic dancers and singers.”

Read the full article here.

Sammy Smith Slays Students Surpasses Cinema Star. Can a low-tech magician make it in a world of Harry Potter-influenced kids? Well, we have never heard Samuel Patrick Smith, the famous “Sammy Smith,” described as “a low-tech magician” but assuming the Daytona News article was correct in pegging him as “low tech,” the answer comes back affirmatively.

Sammy Smith

Mr. Smith, the inventor of so many effects that we all use or have adopted as part of a new routine, is decidedly better at impressing young people than the faux magic in the Harry Potter movies.

Check out this article if only for the novelty of reading what someone who is not biased by Mr. Smith‘s renown has to write about him. The reporter refers to Mr. Smith as “a businessman from Eustis, Florida” and seems to be surprised by the incredible reception this “businessman” received. After you read the article, make sure you check out Mr. Smith‘s site. Not only is it well-constructed, but it is also rich with new ideas for magic in general and Kids’ Magic specifically.