42nd President of the United States

Our favorite escape artist turned illusionist, Michael Grandinetti got the surprise of his life this past week in Hollywood while visiting a producer at CBS Television City, the network’s major Los Angeles production facility.

As he was heading to his appointment, Michael came face to face with former President of the United States Bill Clinton, who was at the studio doing a live remote for a television appearance.

“I had the opportunity to say hello and shake his hand. He has such an enormous presence and was very welcoming to everyone around him. I?ve met many celebrities over the years, but the effect he had on the people was amazing. It was an honor meeting him.”

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Sidney Radner

In 1988, Sidney Radner lent many of his most important Houdini pieces to the Outagamie Museum to seed the exhibition. They had a good run, but now the museum wants to give back the exhibits so that it can use its own pieces collected through the years.

Radner was a prot?g? of Houdini?s brother, Hardeen and through that connection, was able to accumulate one of the finest Houdini collections in magicdom. The museum says it can no longer afford the lease agreement with Radner but won?t disclose the terms or cost.

?I was shocked and disappointed because I thought this would definitely be a forever thing, and my plans were for that,? Radner said. ?I thought the enthusiasm was there, but I guess I was wrong.?

The museum will keep the items donated by Radner ? a smaller portion of the total pieces from Radner ? and will use those pieces in the new exhibit, ?A.K.A. Houdini? set to open on June 2, 2004. ?As much as we admire the collection and appreciate our relationship with Sidney, the bottom line is we couldn?t afford it,? said Terry Bergen of the museum. ?I think the real difference will be really focusing on what people want and expect from the museum experience, which is quite different from when the exhibit first opened,? Kim Louagie, the museum?s curator of exhibits said. ?It will be a brand-new exhibit. We?re approaching it as a new project rather than adapting an old one.?

You still have until October 31, 2003 to see the ?Houdini!? exhibit. It really is something that should not be missed.

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Award Winning Alan Duncan

Alan Duncan is an accomplished magician in Scotland, a member of the Glasgow Magic Circle and is the past winner of the Max Raskin Cup for Children’s Magic. In 2000 he entered, performed and won.

He was, at the time, nine years old and competed against adult magicians. Alan began his still young career at the age of five performing for friends; at seven, he joined the Magic Circle and competed at the age of nine.

But this year, the Scottish Association of Magical Societies has decided the minimum age for entering is now 16. Alan offered, “I’m very disappointed I can’t enter the competition I won in 2000. I don’t understand why they changed the rules.”

His father, president of the Glasgow Magic Circle shares his pain, “He wanted to take part again and feels his age shouldn’t discriminate against him. If he’s good enough he should be able to take part.” But the Scottish Association of Magical Societies worries that judges will be swayed by the wrong factors. “When Alan entered in 2000 he brought the issue to our attention and we met to discuss it. It is very difficult when you are judging adults against nine-year-olds because the judges can be swayed by the cute factor.”

His dad, however, argues against the “cute factor.” (I should point out that I have never won any awards despite my incredible “cute factor.” Or maybe it was just jealousy of the non-cute factor possessing magicians that kept me from the top. I don’t think it could be that I’m not cute).

Alan’s pop points out, “The professional magicians who judge this won’t just vote for him out of sympathy. I think perhaps people are scared to compete against him because they know he’s too good.”

Until he hits 16, however, cute or not, he’ll have to compete in the Young Magician of the Year Contest. Good luck, Alan. We’ll look forward to your continued success.

Read the full story in the Glascow Evening Times.

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