Eric Mead

Snowmass Village, Colorado is famous for magic and magicians including Bob Sheets, Doc Eason, and Eric Mead.  Now, Mr. Mead has made it into the highly anticipated new film from director Paul Provenza and Penn Jillette, “The Aristocrats.” 

The premise of the film is simple but intriguing.  Over 100 comedians, actors, celebrities and magicians are filmed telling the same dirty joke.  Mr. Mead was not in the original cut.  When he heard about the concept, he asked Mr. Jillette why he wasn’t included.  Fortunately, Mr. Jillette is the producer of the film and in a perfect spot to include Mr. Mead if it was possible.  Unfortunately, the film was already edited and in the can.  Fortunately, one of the big names wanted to be cut from the film for fear of offending some with the raunchy humor.  Fortunately, Mr. Jillette arranged to have Mr. Mead filmed and spliced into the picture. 

Attendees of the Magic Live seminar this summer in Las Vegas may recall Mr. Jillette’s discussion about the film’s concept and his invitation to talented members of the audience to try out as one of the joke-tellers. 

Mr. Mead told the Aspen Times that the joke is dirty but certainly not one of the “great, hilarious jokes ever.  It’s like a jazz chart ? it’s got a beginning and an end, but in the middle, it’s all about putting your stuff in there.” 

The film premiered at Sundance last month and has been picked up by a distributor.  Look for it, and Mr. Mead, coming soon to a theater near you. 

Read the full article in the Aspen Times by clicking here.

Continue reading “Eric Mead Added to Film “The Aristocrats”” →

Terry “The Magic Guy” Sangrene

The non-profit organization Be Ready Against Violence Everywhere (“BRAVE”) developed two programs to help school-aged children increase their awareness of violence, and thereby decrease the number of violent events.  They enlisted the assistance of Terry “The Magic Guy” Sangrene to use magic and humor to deliver this very important, and unfortunately, timely message. 

Mr. Sangrene‘s latest presentation of BRAVE’s program was to Wallace Elementary Schools in Des Moines, Iowa. With a mixture of magic and message, Terry the Magic Guy wants to help students “feel empowered next time they see a bully to do something about it and not just keep getting picked on.” 

Mr. Sangrene has presented the BRAVE programs — “Be BRAVE and Not a Bully,” and “Be BRAVE, Be a Hero” ? over the last two years throughout central Iowa.  BRAVE designed the programs to entertain and equip the children with the tools necessary to handle the inevitable encounters with bullies. 

Through the program, “Be BRAVE, Be a Hero,” Mr. Sangrene taught students that the best method of dealing with a potentially violent student is to: ignore the bully, walk away from the bully, tell the bully to stop and, if none of those work, to get help.  In “Be BRAVE and Not a Bully,” he encourages potential bullies to change. 

…
Continue reading “The Magic Guy & BRAVE – How to Cope with Bullies” →

Bill Abbott and Volunteer

The beautifully appointed rear room of the Garden City Magic Shop was our home for the evening and Carlos Blades was our host.  Carlos is to hospitality as white is to snow.  It is his essence.    

Speaking of snow, Bill Abbott is a working professional from Toronto, Ontario.  And while his background ? and apparent passion ? is mentalism, the effects presented this evening were decidedly non-mentalism. 

Mr. Abbott is a quiet but quick man.  His ability to work the room and stray from what must be a rather well-rehearsed script was commendable and entertaining.  Each lecture has a central theme.  In the past, some lectures have focused on: developing stage presence, being original, buying tricks and lecture notes, or even how to develop original methods of getting magic club audiences to buy lecture notes on stage presence. 

Mr. Abbott?s focus was on the development of the character through the presentation and selection of magic.

In keeping with Mr. Abbott?s character, the lecture began with a calm, low-key presentation of a cut and restored rope but with a double production of the slip knot.   The routine was standard, but nicely introduced with the fiery transformation of flash string to a full length of rope.  It was a nice introduction into the routine with flash string taken out of his button hole. 

The second effect was a complete contrast to the first. Mind Control borrows from standards such as the Equivoque or Magician?s Choice as well as the old Mental Prediction.  The effect, however, was more powerful than the two ploys independent of each other. …
Continue reading “Bill Abbott Lecture ? Delivers on Promises” →

Joshua Seth

Comedy hypnosis shows are one of the most popular forms of entertainment in Las Vegas and on college campuses across the country. Yet despite their appeal, it?s been years since anyone?s mounted such a production in the Los Angeles area. Thankfully, that?s about to change.

On Saturday, February 12th, ?Magicopolis? will become home to ?The Joshua Seth Comedy Hypnosis Show?, a fast paced, high-energy production that combines side-splittingly funny interactive-comedy with the mysteries of the human mind. Joshua’s comedy hypnosis show is unscripted and stars the audience, so every performance is unique.

The Feb. 12th performance will feature a live TV taping the show for inclusion on the upcoming Special ?The World?s Greatest Hypnotists,? Mr. Seth will be flying to Tokyo the following week to make media appearances in support of the show.

“I hope to do for hypnotism shows in the 21st Century, what David Copperfield has done for magic,” says Mr. Seth. And with his extensive Hollywood connections, he looks to be the perfect person to do it too. Joshua?s been around the Hollywood entertainment field for over a decade, lending his hypnotic voice and comedic sensibilities to such movies as “Akira” and “Spongebob Squarepants” as well as cracking people up in dozens animated of TV shows. But it?s performing on stage that remains his passion.

“The thing that makes this show so great is that it’s the volunteers from the audience who are being so incredibly funny. Everyone knows the people up on stage, so it’s truly shocking and amazing when they go into hypnosis and begin to act out hilarious comedy routines.” And when they?re directed by Master Hypnotist Joshua Seth, it truly is like having a dozen comedians up on stage at once!

Joshua Seth is a certified member of the National Guild of Hypnotists has been featured on Discovery Channel, Kids WB, ABC Family, Fox Kids, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and Internationally on TV specials in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan (upcoming).

Date: Saturday, Feb. 12

Time: 10:30pm

Location: “Magicopolis” 1418 Fourth St. Santa Monica, CA

Full Price at the door: $10.00

Advance Web-only Sale Price: $7.00

…
Continue reading “Comedy Hypnotist Joshua Seth to Launch New Show in Santa Monica, CA” →

Mark Walker and Troupe to Play Garland

The Grand Illusions of Rick Walker & Company will be featured in two evenings of magic to benefit Cooper Elementary School as well as provide some fantastic entertainment.

The show, called It’s Magic, will bring a full evening of magic to lucky audiences.

For the price of a ticket, $10.00 general admission, you can see the magic and comedy of Jeff Lee as well as former Ringling performer and artiste Fanny Kerwich.  Ms. Kerwich peformed with the elite and boutique Ringling’s Kaliedescape.

The show will be held at Garland’s beautiful Plaza Theatre, 521 W. State Street, on March 3rd and 4th.  Both shows will begin at 7:30 pm.  Do not miss this chance to see a family-oriented full-evening show.

Check out Mr. Walker’s impressive website by clicking here.

You can learn about Ms. Kerwich’s work and range of characters by clicking here.

Continue reading “It’s Magic Show – Garland, Texas” →

Natan Burton – A Brave Man

We have no idea how Magician Nathan Burton fare at the end of the E! cable network series, “The Entertainer,” but we know he is still in the running and he will be managed by Mr. Las Vegas, Wayne Newton.

Mr. Burton’s agreement with E! specified that the veteran entertainer had the option of taking over the management of the young magician. Mr. Newton accepted representation for Mr. Burton as well as singer Jennifer Joseph and prop comic Joe Trammel.

What the new management will mean for Mr. Burton and his current gig at the Desert Passage mall in “V – The Ultimate Variety Show,” is not clear. David Saxe, brother of Inside Magic’s Favorite, Melinda, told the Las Vegas Review Journal that “the concept of ‘V’ doesn’t rely on any one particular person.”

Hmmm. That’s reassuring, not.

But perhaps more significant than his new management, his great exposure on national television, his tremendous work in ‘V,’ is the foolhardy risk of his own life he intends to carry out. In a stunt set for March 9th through the 15th, the young man will push the envelope one more time.

From his press release:

Houdini submerged himself while shackled in chains; David Blaine was enclosed in a box by himself; but Nathan Burton will be accomplishing this feat Vegas-style — sandwiched between seven sexy, scantily-clad showgirls. No food, no water — only an endless supply of energy drinks! Upon completion of the seven-day challenge, the glass box will be transported under heavy security to a network television studio in Hollywood to be opened before a live national audience.

From memory, we recall Houdini had contemplated almost exactly the same stunt. Houdini’s sexist mentor Harry Kellar urged him to give up the notion saying:

“no man of our manner can survive such foolishness. I fear, my good friend, you will go mad, else die of exhaustion, frustration, or die by gunshot from Bess ostensibly to put you out of your misery. Remember Chung Ling Soo. Women, Houdini, Women!”

We wish Mr. Burton good luck in the competition and his new management situation. We fear for his safety and sanity in the upcoming stunt.

Mr. Burton promises to have a live webcam feed to allow you to watch his ordeal. Click here.
You can read the full article in The Las…
Continue reading “Nathan Burton to be Managed by Wayne Newton & Live with Seven Show Girls” →

Rick Thomas

Mike Weatherford, Entertainment writer for the Las Vegas Review Journal, reports this morning that Rick Thomas has decided to leave the Tropicana to accept a contract with the Stardust Hotel and Casino.  Mr. Thomas will perform his last show at the Trop on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17^th, and open at the Stardust just one week later, March 25^th. 

Mr. Thomas is too professional and too much a gentleman to discuss the reason for his departure.  He has been with the Trop since 1997 and does not want to discourage ticket sales or be seen as disloyal to his long-time employer. 

There has been speculation for months whether the Trop would remain a going concern.  Mr. Thomas’ departure would seem to indicate he was seeking the relative certainty of the Stardust over his present home.

Mr. Weatherford quotes an unnamed source close to Mr. Thomas as saying the illusionist was “waiting for news like everyone else.”  Ultimately, the source said, “everyone had to make some educated choices.” 

Coincidentally, Reuters is reporting today that Aztar Corp., the Trop’s parent, missed expectations by announcing a dramatic loss in profit for the fourth quarter of 2004.  Read Reuters’ article here.

Mr. Thomas will continue performances in the afternoon as at the Trop.  He is consistently rated one of the best shows on the Strip ? day or night.  We’ve seen his show several times and have been so impressed by not only his style and presence but the originality of his effects.  Mr. Thomas received a standing ovation at the recent Magic Live convention.  His performance of Asrah ended with a twist that completely devastated the audience.  We won’t give away the surprise ending ? trust us, though. 

The Trop says they’ll fill the afternoon show schedule with a new act soon.   We wish Mr. Thomas, his troupe, his cats, and family the best of luck on the start of their next venture.

…
Continue reading “Rick Thomas Leaves Tropicana Heads to Stardust” →