Magic News Network

Whit Haydn - Quinlan's Inside Magic Celebrity Interview

   Magicians, audiences, booking agents, students, and even film producers all consider Whit Haydn their first choice.

When Caesars Palace chose its opening roster of magicians for their $60,000.000 Magical Empire, they picked Mr. Haydn. When the world's most prestigious cruise ships -- including the Queen Elizabeth II, the Norway and the Westerdam -- needs a great performer, they select the same person Jerry Seinfeld, Loretta Lynn and Gallagher hired, Whit Haydn.

His work is respected by audiences and professionals alike. He consulted and contributed to the Discovery Channel's documentary, Houdini: They Came to See Him Die.

When the Canadian Discovery Channel wanted someone for their 30-part series Grand Illusions, they selected Mr. Haydn. PAX Television in the US sought his help in their series Masters of Illusion.

End of an Era - Claude Perry Retires

   The Cambridge News (UK) has a great piece on the long and greatly appreciated career of magician Claude Perry.

Mr. Perry entertained the students at John Falkner Infant School for 38 years.

 

But pupils at John Falkner Infant School will not have that treat to look forward to this year - Claude, 84, has decided it is time to hang up his magic wand.

He always got his young audience, aged four to seven, involved in his conjuring.

"The tricks are geared for their age. There are tricks with silk handkerchiefs, with paintings, with packets of seeds.

"I always finished up by pulling the rabbit from the hat. Against a black opera hat a pure white rabbit shows up ever so well, but I've definitely given up the show this year. The rabbit is getting on a bit - though he's not 38!"

Scary, Not Stupid - Jonathan Goodwin Featured

We know "stupid."  Ask anyone.  We're expert in the ways of Stupid. 

So we knew when we saw the word "Stupid" on the newswire, we needed to read it. 

You know how that is.  Certain articles cry out to be read.  The February 1st edition of Communication Quarterly published a study report, "Get 'Real': Does Practicing Speeches Before an Audience Improve Performance?" was one. 

Public speaking texts and instructors typically encourage students to practice speeches as a means of managing anxiety and enhancing performance. The effectiveness of various speech practice methods has received little attention. In addition, students who practiced their speech before larger audiences received higher evaluation scores than students who practiced befor e smaller audiences.

But as mentioned, we love things stupid and so we had to rip and read the article from Catherine Jones of Wales Western Mail.  Its title "I'm with Stupid" is a real grabber. 

Jonathan Goodwin is a 24-year-old escape artist who one day hopes to be a 25-year-old escape artist. 

Unlike Billiard Ball production or Silk Fountain presentations, those who practice the theatrical art of escape (as opposed to fleeing felons) are required to innovate in some new death-defying manner. 

For us Billiard Ball guys, we're kind of tapped out at approximately four balls for each hand. 

But for the escape artist, it is now commonplace to be securely bound, wrapped in really itchy wool blankets, tied to the back of a drunk spring-break student, and given only minutes to escape before the student falls from a hotel balcony in his drunken attempt to climb to another room. 

PBS Magic Moment Series: Hardys in America

   From the upcoming 16-Part PBS Series, The Hardys in America. Teachers may request the classroom guide to help students better understand the series.

Introduction to The Hardys in South Carolina

South Carolina has a special place in the Hardy Family's history. It was nice to be back in the state responsible for many of the more important incidents and eras in America's First Family of Psychic Entertainment. We were in Columbia, the state's capitol for the South Carolina Association of Magicians convention and had a great time.

But our experience could not compare to those of our three relatives in the same town. Uncle Tubby, Aunt Melanie, and Aunt Sixtus came to Columbia for different reasons but all left profoundly affected by their stay.

Tubby Hardy - Little Big Man

Tubby was actually the ironic and hurtful nickname for our uncle Todd Hardy given to him by Tom Hardy Sr. to ridicule his unfortunate life-experience. He entered the Hardy business of magic after a career riding and then handicapping horses.

The New Essential Utility - Alex Lourido's Rainbow Coins

Alex Lourido is a talented man with energy and ideas to set him apart from others. We've reviewed favorably his prior inventions and products such as the instructional DVD Retro Magic, the visually stunning Osmosis, and the now classic Butter Coin.

His latest effort combines a special coin gaff and an instructional DVD in an offering he calls Rainbow Coins.

Mr. Lourido has demonstrated an expertise in producing video instruction and manufacturing coin gimmicks and his Rainbow Coins brings these two talents into one great package.

Gimmicked Coins for Real Magic?

"There are two arguments one must avoid when one attends a magic convention. Both will destroy relationships, hurt feelings, cause resentment, ulcers, and emotional distress.

They are the elephant-sized subjects we all pretend are not there. One of those two arguments is "should a great coin magician ever use gimmicked coins?"

Penn Jillette: It's More Than Money

We'll admit it.  We think Penn Jillette is funny, smart, and entertaining. If you don't think the same way, that's alright. That's America.

If you do, that's okay too that means we'll soon have a better America where everyone thinks like us.

BankRate .Com interviews Penn Jillette in their latest on-line edition. He talks about his love of Magic, performing, creating, entertaining, and poker. He does not profess or exhibit a love of money in his interview and thereby remains true to the magician we love (along with Teller).

Most recently, he has released a wonderful book titled "How to Cheat Your Friends at Poker." You can read our review later on Quinlan's Inside Magic. He also embarked on an additional career as radio broadcaster for CBS.

We gave a glowing (and flowing) review of his outstanding film The Aristocrats where top comedians gave their rendition of a bawdy, rude joke. BankRate .Com notes comedian Sarah Silverman caused a stir over her iteration in which she claims Joe Franklin acted in an improper but funny manner with (or near) her.

If you didn't have a chance to see The Aristocrats at the theaters - or you didn't want to be seen walking into the theater to view an NC-17 rated film - you'll have a chance to watch in the comfort and privacy of your own multi-media room soon. The DVD version is due out soon.

Those who saw the theater version, recall the invitation to submit their own twist on the twisted joke.

Vent Makes it Big - Again!

This morning's edition of the LA Daily News features renown ventriloquist Jay Johnson's move from Broadway to Los Angeles.

Mr. Johnson is known for his high-profile gigs including a run on the classic ABC Prime-time lampoon Soap.

The 55 year-old performer credits his friend and magician Harry Anderson for the show's name, Jay Johnson: The Two and Only!

The show incorporates his vent figures Bob, Darwin, Squeaky and Nethernore.

Something Wicked Your Way Comes - Derren Brown on the Loose

Derren Brown caused quite a stir in the UK last week with his TV show "Heist." 

True to its title, Heist featured Brown's ability to influence his subjects completely.  He persuaded four managers unwittingly to carry out an armed robbery.

From our read of the British papers, only one of the several potential subjects balked at Mr. Brown's order to steal, to commit a crime. 

That's pretty influential.

The UK press has gone wild for this young man (he's still only 34) who claims no supernatural power, only the refined skills of perception and influence.        

Tom Verner and Magicians Without Borders Help Give Hope

[Check out the remarkable work of Magicians Without Borders at their web site here.]

Towards the end of last year a tall, graceful, bearded man stood before mesmerized Somali refugees in an Ethiopian camp pointing at a long piece of white paper in his other hand.

"Imagine this is your life. It is a whole life, a good life. And then war comes, famine comes, and you lose your friends, you lose your work, you lose your family, you lose your home and finally you lose your homeland and have to flee to another country as a refugee.

"And then you lose years and years and years living in a refugee camp," said Tom Verner, a magician on a self-appointed mission to help refugees, tearing off a piece of the paper at each repetition.

"But, with hope, imagination and courage your life will come back together again because your suffering is like bread and if you eat the bread of your suffering" – he stuffs the pieces of paper into his mouth – "You will become even stronger.