Magic News Network

What a Surprise - Not: Body Guard Drops Suit Against Siegfried

We were not surprised former Siegfried & Roy body guard Louis Mydlach dropped his lawsuit against Siegfried on Monday.

We believed Siegfried's very talented counsel, John Moran Jr., and accepted his analysis of Mr. Mydlach's motivations.

Unfortunately, it also came as no surprise that the press hasn't covered the story with nearly the vigor and indignation seen just 20 days ago when Mr. Mydlach smeared Siegfried's good name.

It was just 20 days from the time he held his now-famous press conference at the Las Vegas Ritz Carlton until he dropped the lawsuit and admitted it was based in part on on "a lie."

The media machine had a full head of steam less than a month ago as he proclaimed himself defender of "Mr. Roy," and wronged victim of the evil Siegfried's vengeance. 

He even made a press-release summarizing his November 8th proclamations for those who read German.  (You can download a copy of the German press release here).

Mr. Mydlach now tells the few reporters who care to listen that his lawsuit was based, in part, on "a lie."  But he lied for a good cause, not for the money he hoped to earn in settlement or perhaps from a book deal.

He wanted to bring "the truth" about "Mr. Roy's" abuse to the public arena.  He asked to have a private meeting with "Mr. Roy" apparently to consult and console.  Some dismissed it as a publicity stunt.  Too many media outlets did not. 

Mr. Mydlach now claims he dropped the suit "because it had served its purpose of publicizing his concerns."

He admits he was not fired by Siegfried for standing up on Mr. Roy's behalf.  In fact, he acknowledges he was not wrongfully discharged at all.  He told the Las Vegas Sun that allegation was  "a lie." 

Rather than take responsibility, Mr. Mydlach said his lawsuit contained the lie because the document was "written up incorrectly."

This excuse might be acceptable were it not for the fact that Mr. Mydlach represented himself in the case.  The amended complaint was filed pro se - and not by counsel.

David Seebach: Two Great Shows on the Way!

We hear from Jack Straw that David Seebach will perform his outstanding "Wonders of Magic"
Saturday, January 7, 2006 at the beautiful Schauer Arts Center in Hartford, Wisconsin

This matinee appearance begins at 2:00 pm and will be jammed to the rafters with great classic and new illusions. 

Mr. Straw says there are at least nine major illusions including a classic version of the classic illusion, Sawing a Woman in Two, the very Beautiful Carl Owen Enchanted Temple, and
and The Lion's Bride with Mr. Seebach's very own Bengal Tiger, Tara.

We believe tickets are still available but likely to go very quickly.  Adults will pay $13.20, kids  can borrow $10.56 from their parents for their tickets, and if you have a group of ten or more, you can get in for $10.03 a person.  Why the uneven prices?  Well, these prices include tax. The box office is open from 11:30 am to 5:30 pm Monday through Friday (262/670-0560 ext 3).

Mr. Seebach will perform some of the same illusions in his next show scheduled for Saturday, February 4th at 7:30 pm.  The Black River Arts Allilance is sponsoring his presentation at the wonderful (and perfect for a magic show) Lunda Theater in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. 

Please visit the Black River Arts Alliance web site for more information on this unique opportunity to see magic performed in its proper setting.  You can visit the Alliance's web site at: www.BlackRiverArtsAlliance.org or give them a call at 715/284-4415.

While you're clicking your way around the web, check out Mr. Seebach's outstanding web site here: http://www.davidseebach.com

Tip of the Hatlo Hat to Jack Straw for the news.

magic news

magic news magic David Seebach

Magic Castle Review - Illicit

The Fortean Times specializes in the interesting and peculiar stories of interesting and peculiar people, places and events. 

Our favorite place for peculiar people is the very interesting place known as The Magic Castle. 

It makes sense, then, that The Fortean Times would soon find its way within the hallowed halls. 

The author describes our favorite haunt thusly:

The Magic Castle looks like a cross between the Disneyland fairytale palace and the house in Psycho, and even to get through its imposing front door is a feat in itself. The Magic Castle is strictly ‘Members Only’. Potential new Magician Members can’t just get nominated – they have to audition in front of the Castle’s membership committee. Only if they demonstrate sufficient magical prowess to pass muster are they welcomed into the Academy of Magical Arts, an exclusive club for the practitioners and performers of magic and illusions.

You should read the full article to get a lay-person's take on a place we never take for granted.  We were impressed by his observation about the "illicit" sense one feels upon entering.  We have always felt exactly that.  It was someplace very different -- very "not safe" and "not normal."

"The stained glass windows and chandeliers are Victorian gothic, and you reel like you’re leaving the bustle of 21st-century Hollywood and going somewhere different, and somehow just a little illicit.

"The Magic Castle is split into three floors and a basement and has, at times, the feel of a fairground haunted house: a staircase you’ve already explored suddenly leads to a room that you could swear wasn’t there before."

Finally, the author comments on one of our favorite members of The Castle, Irma.

Unsurprisingly, spirits are big in the Magic Castle. One old family friend called Irma returned from the grave and took up residence in ‘Irma’s Room’ on the second floor of the house, where she now plays for visitors; her repertoire can be surprisingly contemporary at times – even Britney Spears songs have been heard on occasion!

There is also another ghost in the castle; apparently one of the magicians once died on stage, and is still seen in the theatre where he last performed.

Read the full article in The Fortean Times here.
Visit The Magic Castle in person or virtually.  Your first step is here.

magic news magic The Magic Castle

John Carney - Great News and New Great Stuff!

We are in awe of many but few cause us awe as easily as John Carney. 

We were honored, then, to receive news of his upcoming show schedule. 

This Friday, Carney's Wonder Cabaret will take you to places far beyond the reach of a mere magic show. 

Mr. Carney's Wonder Cabaret is much more than a magic show after all.  Mr. Carney astounds as much with his stories, characters and unique presentations as with his world class sleight of hand.

His Wonder Cabaret combines Mr. Carney's love of magic, comedy, and music into a unique evening of entertainment.  If you have never seen Mr. Carney perform, you have not really seen real magic.

Romance on the High Seas - We Get Sick

   Magician Rakesh Syam works as a Carnival performer in that he is a performer aboard Carnival Liberty.

The 29-year-old magician hales from Madurai, India and works not on the stage in the Cabaret Lounge or the theater but from table-top to table-top.

We weren't aware of many table-hopping magicians working cruise lines and so the story in today's Orlando Sentinel was interesting-and-a-half.

The Sentinel's reviewer is charmed by Mr. Syam. Actually, charmed may be an understatement. She is darn right smitten. "Get a room!" we shouted as we read her account of the magical encounter on the high seas. "Why don't you marry him and kiss him all day if you love him so much!"

Our shouts had no effect on the article -- presumably because it was already written -- but enticed the young woman trying to carefully mix the Cola and Mountain Dew Code Red Slurpee mixture.

"Do you think I should?" she asked with the frozen drink now flowing freely over her small, shivering hands -- free of any rings or signs of engagement.

We returned to reading the out-of-town newspaper. The 7-11 manager seemed preturbed that we were reading his precious newspaper without paying but it was his fault the newspapers were set so closely to the counter area. We didn't set up the store. He did.

Back to the Love Boat article.

We have to caution you, it gets really weird and kinky at this point.

"Pick a card," he says. "Any card."

Oh, so it's going to be one of those tricks, I say to myself as I withdraw the two of diamonds from the deck. Syam turns his back and asks me to write my husband's name on the card with a thick black felt pen, replace it in the deck, and shuffle it.

Syam reshuffles the deck one last time, then tries to guess which card I picked.

Read the Whole Sordid Tale at Quinlan's Inside Magic . . .

magic news magic romance cruise

 

Random Image and Number Engine - Pure Magic from Today's Magic News

Here is an interesting random number - feedster:d693404e854d45a775725205bd337300

magic news magic random number Melissa Joan Hart Sabrina

M.A.G.I.C.B.U.D.D.I.E.S.

The Florida Today of Brevard County (FL) has great coverage of a great program. 

M.A.G.I.C.B.U.D.D.I.E.S. is a group of about 80 members spanning four different schools in the Spacecoast region of Florida.

Their mission is to help gifted and special needs students (as well as those between the two populations) to learn skills necessary to deal with their unique challenges.

The group was in town to film a television commercial and was joined by Hollywood Actress Cheryl Hines (from HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm).

The youthful magicians and the actress, Cheryl Hines of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" fame on HBO, collaborated on a televised public-service announcement designed to attract future teachers to UCF to train to work with students with disabilities.

The magicians are members of a group called M.A.G.I.C. B.U.D.D.I.E.S., which was formed in Brevard County three years ago by UCF special-education professors Dan Ezell, also known as Dr. Dan the Magic Man, and Colleen Klein-Ezell, his wife. Both have doctorates in special education.

"We're using magic to show how special everybody is, and to emphasize that everyone can be smart, regardless of who they are," Ezell said.

The words behind the acronym, ones that have deep meaning for educators, are Motivating Activities Geared to Instilling Confidence -- Building Upon Differences for the Dynamic Inclusion of Exceptional Students. In other words, the educators believe all types of young people -- special-needs students, those considered gifted and the majority of people in between the two -- can benefit from performing magic tricks with one another because of the attention to detail and camaraderie that develops among them.

But the filming of the TV public-service announcement on Nov. 22 provided an unusually exciting opportunity for the magicians to strut their stuff. UCF plans to broadcast the announcement on its digital-only TV channel 68.2 and distribute it to other stations across Central Florida.

Check out the full article at Florida Today.  It is not only inspiring, it also provides a pretty decent blueprint of a program you may want to introduce to your local school system.

magic news magic special education education

Master Magician Lance Burton to Host Rose Parade

The University of Michigan will not be there, but Master Magician Lance Burton will make the Rose Bowl festivities worth watching nonetheless.

NBC announced that the Tournament of Roses Parade will be hosted by LeAnn Rimes, Toni Braxton and magician Lance Burton.

The show will broadcast at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 2, NBC and will be the 117th edition of the Pasadena parade.

Congratulations to NBC for landing the finest magician in the business.

Visit Mr. Burton's outstanding web site here.

magic news magic Lance Burton Michigan Rose Bowl

Bid On Magic Offer Magicians Free Web Log Space

"Get your own free magic web log."

We love sentences using the words "free" and "get."  So we loved the email we received just seconds ago from Bid On Magic.

We received an email from the kind folks who run Bid On Magic about their new service designed to get your own web log (or blog) from which you can offer your thoughts on magic and your place in it.

The system seems to work very well and the webmasters have really put together a great package for free.  We don't know them, make nothing off the referral, and it only serves to set up others to compete with Quinlan's Inside Magic and Today's Magic News but we feel obligated to get past our petty jealousy and insecurity.

Here's the information we received.  Check it out and if you do set up a blog, please include a link to Quinlan's Inside Magic and Today's Magic News. 

Yep, you read that right! You can start your own FREE magic blog at
Bid-On-Magic.com! {http://www.bid-on-magic.com/aboutblogs.php}

What is a Blog? A blog (web log) gives you your own voice on the
web. It's a place to collect and share things that you find
interesting— whether it's your political commentary, self reviewed
magic shows, or links to web sites you want to remember. Your FREE
weblog enables visitors to leave public comments, which can lead to a
community of readers centered around your blog.

What can I do with my Free Blog

Publish your thoughts and receive feedback Publish a Photo Album
Keep a written journal of each show that you perform Give others your
unique blog URL and much more!

We are the same folks that bring you FREE magic auction services.
Many registered members have listed there new & used magic completely
free at Bid-On-Magic.com.

magic news magic free

Magic Taught to Help Handicapped

The New Kerala News features a group of magicians and entertainers teaching mentally and physically handicapped individuals how to perform. 

The lessons teach self-confidence, but to use the opportunity to search for a new job.

Men, both mentally and physically challenged, performed several acts, ranging from rope tricks to flying a saucer in the air, children learned to dance to the latest Bollywood music.

Groomed up by a government-run organization, the disabled performers were also on the lookout for new vocational activities.

The two-day long show was praised by the locals, who lent a helping hand to the disabled, mainly visually challenged people.

Jagdish Choudhry, a visually challenged magician, who performed the rope trick, said such performances gave people like him an opportunity to explore their talents and earn a living.

“I am here to get mental satisfaction and others who are blind they are coming out and proving their ability and they are getting mental satisfaction and now we have proved what we can do,” said Choudhry.

“While teaching the disabled children magic tricks, it was really good. As magic is not only about tricks but it is a kind of therapy. Then after watching magic it relaxes you,” said Sudhanshu, a magician.

The therapy and instruction is designed to bring those formerly marginalized into society.  Organizers of the event disagree with official statistics showing only two percent of India's population suffers from some physical or mental impairment.

Activists involved with these victims say the number is much higher.

New Kerala is also the site of the upcoming Mazma to celebrate the rich Indian history of Street Performing.  Read about this great street magic festival on Today's Magic News here.

magic news magic  India