Archive for December, 2003

Blaine to World: Watch Me, Look at Me, Touch Me.

DELETED

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Inside Magic Seeks Writers and Contributors

Paw’s Mouth

We had an editors? meeting last night at the famous Murphy?s Magic Buffet. We hadn?t been there in a while.

Murph just got his license back after that unfortunate ptomaine incident and it is a credit to the youth of today that the junior high school kids did not sue or even make a big deal out of their prolonged sickness.

By the way, it is well-known in the world of restaurants that the best time to visit a restaurant isright after a major bacterial exposure. Chances are that unless the local authorities are paid-off, the place couldn?t re-open without the once and twice over by the food cops.

I mention Murphy?s Magic Buffet because it is one of the few places left in the Greater Mystic Hollow area of Michigan where a family of five can eat, have great wines and hard liquor, and see outstanding close-up magic while they are getting their food.

In keeping with the buffet theme, Murph has set up ?Magic Stations? where you take your freshly dished food and watch a trick or two while you await some of the carved meat or freshly scooped ice milk. It was the kind of genius idea that brought the crowds to Murphy?s and brought him instant cash-oriented success. He takes no credit cards or checks and provides no receipts for payment. You walk in the front door and are greeted by one of Murph?s Missus ? one of Murphy?s five former wives who not only direct you to your seat but are able to watch closely the amount you pay Murph for your meal.

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Hey Tim, Going to Appleton, Wisconsin This Summer? I Dunno.

Have you been? Are you experienced? Have you gone to Appleton, Wisconsin? Have you seen this sacred ground where young Erich Weiss and his family moved after leaving Budapest, Hungary and where his father Mayer Samuel Weiss served as Rabbi for the reformed Synagogue?

Have you seen the Houdini Museum in this bucolic hamlet? It is truly a magical experience. You can walk the streets where young Erich walked and see the Synagogue where his father served until supplanted by a younger Rabbi.

Soon, you?ll be able to see how Houdini?s most famous effect, The Metamorphosis, was not only performed but also how it was accomplished. That?s right, you?ll be able to see and crawl through the trunk and learn the secret of the effect that fed Houdini and his brother, Hardeen, and later Houdini and his beloved Bess.

In Jim Steinmeyer?s new book, Hiding the Elephant, he credits Houdini with improving Metamorphosis by increasing the speed of the effect. And what an effect it was and still…
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