The maxim for authors is “write what you know.” If you are a hard-boiled detective looking to break into the writing biz, it makes sense to pen great hard-boiled detective novels; tricky dames, fast cars, dark alleys. Cowboys can write about cowboy things; roping and doggies and six guns. Brain surgeons should stick with exciting dramas about doing brain surgery; with brain surgery like themes and items — we couldn’t think of any.
This maxim guides us here at Inside Magic.
You will note most of articles contain a combination of certain subjects: magic tricks, magic history, the hey-day of Citizens Band radio, over-the-counter personal itch cream and ointments, emotional instability, inferiority complexes, system effects of poor dental hygiene, the careers of 1970’s female television sitcom stars, federal prisons in the U.S. and Mexico, third and fourth century patristic writings, and holistic approaches to mucous reduction.
Nate Kranzo knows restaurant magic. He knows how to get the job, how to keep the job, and how to make money from the job. We know how to eat a restaurant but because we are now without a job, we don’t do that so much any longer.
We were going to blame it on a typo but knew we would be caught out. How can someone mean to type “Tim Ellis and Sue-Anne Webster” but instead type “Dr. Alexander”?
In yesterday’s award-winning article about India television and Dr. Alexander, we did not do our fact checking.
We wrote, with our typical aplomb:
We hear that Dr. Alexander – Guiness World Record Holder for the the Longest Magic Show – will perform on the series.
Yes, Dr. Alexander will appear on the series but he is not the Guiness World Record Holder for the Longest Magic Show.
Even as we typed the Dr. Alexander story, we seemed to remember reading some where about an attempt at the Guiness World Record for Longest Show being performed by Tim Ellis and Sue-Anne Webster.
Maybe it was on one of those message boards or a mailing list, we thought.
We could not remember where we read that Tim Ellis and Sue-Anne Webster held the Guiness World Record and, in fact, had beaten Dr. Alexander’s own record.
Inside Magic Favorite, the beautiful Gay Blackstone always has something interesting going on. We learned of her newest project as Executive Producer for a new 13-part Magic television series set to air on Fox MyNetwork in 2009.
I would like to personally invite you and your families to join me for a MAGICAL Television event.
With the success of the 2008 World Magic Awards, Associated Television International, some of the brightest names in magic and myself, the Executive Producer of this event, are bringing to Television a 13 part MAGIC series airing on Fox MyNetwork beginning January 2009.
John Luka, the Motor City Magic Master, sends news that there is still some space available for the incredible Motor City Magic Convention in Detroit.
This is a must-attend event.
Mr. Luka’s twelfth iteration of what most agree is the close-up event of the year will be held this weekend, November 14th through the 16th at the perfectly appointed Ramada Inn of Taylor, Michigan.
If you are within driving distance of Detroit, and have interest in watching and learning top-notch magic with no fluff or downtime, you should attend.
Mr. Luka writes that “this will be one of the strongest line-ups of recent years. The magic WILL BE outstanding!” Continue reading “Motor City Magic this Weekend”→
Contributing Editor Barry Gibbs kindly granted Inside Magic permission to publish his memorial for Mike Ellis, who passed away on October 2, 2008. Mr. Ellis was certainly an influence on our love for Magic and perhaps yours. He will truly be missed.
I was saddened today to discover that Mike had passed away, yet happy to remember that I was his “magic teacher” that started him on his way to another adventure in his life.
Yes, it was my “Adult Education” class that Mike first attended in Boynton Beach, Florida. I sponsored Mike into IBM Ring #117, of which I am a past President. Today IBM Ring 117 is the Mike Ellis Ring.
Mike was a wonderful, very modest man. I knew him for almost a year, before I became aware of his theatrical background, not that he told me, but I discovered it when he booked me to perform at a private party in his home.
I will never forget walking into his home and seeing all the autographed photographs to Mike, from any star you could think of. It was only after that occasion Mike explained his background to me. How modest could you be? Continue reading “Barry Gibbs Recalls Mike Ellis”→
Inside Magic Favorite, Lee Asher has great stuff. But there are a lot of magicians with stuff ranging into the “great” category. Few, however, come close to conveying the secrets behind the “great stuff” to folks of average skill but above average lust for the innovative, practical magic that impresses.
Mr. Asher’s Pulp Friction was Inside Magic’s first brush with the life-changing power of his ability to teach truly amazing magic that real magicians can perform in the real world for real audiences.
Since Pulp Friction, Mr. Asher has released manuscripts, effects, videos, and packages with incredible material through his store on the web.
The Times and Transcript (CA) has a wonderful profile of an amazing performer, producer, and inspiration, Peter Reveen.
The profile traces Peter “The Impossibilist” Reveen from his early beginnings in the circus sideshows of Australia to his current home in and about Las Vegas as part of Lance Burton’s long-running show.
The paper included the feature in advance of Mr. Reveen’s scheduled run at Moncton’s Capitol Theatre October 26 and 27th.
What’s the secret to his success? Peter Reveen says there is one golden rule that has carried him through a career in show business that has spanned nearly half a century.
“Keep the show clean. You won’t have people coming back if you keep throwing filth at them. We’ve always followed that rule and its never let us down.”
As hard as it is to believe, Mr. Reveen is 74 years-old.
He is in good health but needs his rest to keep up with the physical and mental demands of performing his legendary hypnosis show. Although the show has changed many times over the years, the premise remains basically the same.
Through the performance, Reveen brings volunteers from the audience to the stage, gives them a quick test and quickly evaluates their hidden talents. He then hypnotizes them and allows them to search for their own inner hidden talents. It’s a scenario he has played out thousands of times over the last 50 years in theatres all over the world, often with some surprising results.
Mr. Reveen easily resists the tendency of many stage hypnotists by always maintained a sense of dignity to the show, never asking the people to do anything lewd or “filthy,” unlike some other hypnotists who play to the darker side for a quick laugh.
“We don’t make fools of people.”
Check out the full article for a great review of Mr. Reveen’s formative years in Melbourne, Australia. Whilst his dad was fighting in World War II, relatives brought him to vaudeville shows to see magicians, comedians, singers and other performers.
He loved watching the techniques performers used to “lure in the crowds, make their entrance and keep the people interested.”
That interest, obsession, eventually brought him to Canada with less than a dollar to his name. Through his dedication to the craft and his maxim, Mr. Reveen became a star in his own right. Read the article, however, to learn why he has an aversion to the title “star.”
Mr. Reveen’s abilities and philosophy have enhanced the success of Inside Magic Favorite Lance Burton. He describes himself as “settled into the lifestyle of Las Vegas.”
A great and well-deserved profile of one our art’s best.
Andre Kole’s article urging the IBM to sanction individuals stealing his illusions included a reference to the World Record for the longest magic show. Unfortunately, Mr. Kole credited Dr. Alex with the record.
(Although, if Dr. Alex claims the record for a single person performing, he may be right).
The Guinness people have not yet updated their information but the new official holders of this endurance feat are participants in the appropriately named World’s Longest Magic Show (“WLMS”) including Tim Ellis and Sue-Anne Webster.
In fact, as we typed this late-breaking news, Mr. Ellis said he just received the certification from the Guinness people. It is now official.
The maxim for authors is “write what you know.” If you are a hard-boiled detective looking to break into the writing biz, it makes sense to pen great hard-boiled detective novels; tricky dames, fast cars, dark alleys. Cowboys can write about cowboy things; roping and doggies and six guns. Brain surgeons should stick with exciting dramas about doing brain surgery; with brain surgery like themes and items — we couldn’t think of any.
