Jaq Greenspon put together a really neat essay/article/review for Las Vegas City Life today.He notes, ?In a city built on artifice, it seems rather ironic that the most truthful thing is deceit itself.? His article traces the history of magic in the Glitter Gulch with a real understanding of both our art and the commercial realities of Las Vegas.
He posits Siegfried & Roy?s appearance within the 1967 hit Tropicana?s FoliesBergere and 1990 move to the Mirage did not cause the ?flood that followed.Really all they did was show that a magic act could hold its own on the strip.? The duo spawned imitators and other ?classic? magicians such as Lance Burton.But in all the commotion, the avant-garde entered the big tent with seemingly rebellious approach to magic.
Mr. Greenspon considers Penn & Teller?s philosophy: “Most magicians, like comedians, measure success by the audience’s reaction, not how well they’re getting their point across. If it gets a big reaction, then it’s a good trick. F–k them. If it does what you want it to, then it’s a good trick.”
Kellar, Houdini and Tim Quinlan (R to L)
It is the visceral smashing into the intellectual that matters to the Bad Boys of Magic. Kevin James agrees with this approach: “Magic happens in the head and not on stage.”
The next big thing will be likely be the next new thing.
Jaq Greenspon put together a really neat essay/article/review for Las Vegas City Life today.He notes, ?In a city built on artifice, it seems rather ironic that the most truthful thing is deceit itself.? His article traces the history of magic in the Glitter Gulch with a real understanding of both our art and the commercial realities of Las Vegas.
He posits Siegfried & Roy?s appearance within the 1967 hit Tropicana?s FoliesBergere and 1990 move to the Mirage did not cause the ?flood that followed.Really all they did was show that a magic act could hold its own on the strip.? The duo spawned imitators and other ?classic? magicians such as Lance Burton.But in all the commotion, the avant-garde entered the big tent with seemingly rebellious approach to magic.
Mr. Greenspon considers Penn & Teller?s philosophy: “Most magicians, like comedians, measure success by the audience’s reaction, not how well they’re getting their point across. If it gets a big reaction, then it’s a good trick. F–k them. If it does what you want it to, then it’s a good trick.”
Kellar, Houdini and Tim Quinlan (R to L)
It is the visceral smashing into the intellectual that matters to the Bad Boys of Magic. Kevin James agrees with this approach: “Magic happens in the head and not on stage.”
The next big thing will be likely be the next new thing.
There is an interesting, if self-contradicting, story in today?s Las Vegas Business.The report commemorates the start of demolition within the now-closed Siegfried & Roy Theater at the Mirage.
The paper quotes Mirage President and Chief Operating Officer Bill McBeath on several aspects of the transformation planned for the theater.
Mr. McBeath notes the $100 million dollar cost for the transformation is within reason ?in light of the loss of foot traffic with the demise of the Siegfried & Roy show.We lost 10,000 people a week flowing through the building.That made a direct contribution to the bottom line.?
Okay.Hold the cellular phone, Babe.
Mr. McBeath then apparently says the Siegfried & Roy show was on its way out anyway.
“[The Siegfried and Roy show] was starting to get tired,” McBeath says, “We reduced it from 10 shows to seven. We had talked about winding it down [before the accident]. Two years ago, [Mirage Resorts CEO] Bobby Baldwin was talking to Laliberte [Cirque du Soleil founder] about developing a show. When we got closer, it fell into place and made sense.”
Not to be cynical or bitter or angry but what the heck is he saying?I know Mr. McBeath cannot be saying, can he, that the tragic end of the Siegfried & Roy show came at a good time?Is he saying two years ago ? one year before Roy was nearly killed ? they were getting ready to… Continue reading How Important Were Siegfried & Roy? An Open Letter to Mirage
From time to time and as necessary or as demanded, Inside Magic provides retractions, corrections and letters to the editor.We would rather not make mistakes ? or having made the mistakes ? we would rather not have them pointed out.Given our proclivity to be above reproach, we hesitantly open any email directed to editor@insidemagic.com and carefully read the contents with an eye towards avoiding any culpability.The following are issues we were not able to dodge.
Read On . . .
Q:Why is it that you don’t have more articles about Sno-Kone Makers or Cotton Candy Machines?Did you know that miniature donuts are the third leading food sold at carnivals and flea markets (behind Elephant Ears/Funnel Cakes and Corn Dogs)?C.Letus ? Holland, Michigan.
A: I think you have this site confused with Carney Food Insider.We have long taken the position that the food statistics given for carnival and flea markets are often inaccurate and manipulated by the three major grease manufacturers.
In 1974, Senator Fullbright of Arkansas held his famous hearings on the then five major grease manufacturers (Flaming Fat merged with Cloggco in 1985 and Pure Lard was bought out (except for the assets in Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nevada) by Saturate in 1992 after the so-called ‘Mad Fat Disease’ scare that nearly destroyed the industry).I bring your attention to the questioning of Darren Althou of Cyst Oil by the Chairman:
Chairman: Isn’t it true that the figures given for so-called elephant ears is grossly exaggerated to promote the idea that, quote, ‘everyone eats carny food?’
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