We lost one of our very talented performers yesterday – Curtis, known to many as “The Half Man”, Working with Kevin James, and featured on the cover of this month’s MAGIC Magazine, has passed away at the age of 22.
Curtis had always wanted his legs (which were of no use to him, thanks to a defect he was born with) removed. After much searching, he was facing a trip to Mexico to have the operation performed on him. However, he recently found a Doctor in California who was willing to do such an operation. A couple of weeks ago, Curtis took a “leave of Absence” from the “World’s Greatest Magic Show”, and his life long dream was achieved!
The operation was a complete success, and he returned to Las Vegas to recuperate before returning to his performances at the Greek Isles Casino. Sadly, Curtis came down with Pneumonia and went into the Hospital with breathing problems. An emergency Tracheotomy was inserted and within 2 hours, Curtis left us here on Earth…
Curtis came to several of our “Late Night Breakfasts” at Terribles, (He actually DROVE his own Van specially outfitted for his requirements! ~ Amazing!), and we were very excited about some new projects he and I were working on together – He asked me to design and build a “Chicken Suit” for him!
What a brilliant idea!
Having spent many years building Costume Characters for Amusement Parks and Sports Mascots – I was eager to take on this challenge! Imagine, a man who is only complete from the waist up, and walks VERY well (better than I do on two feet!) on his HANDS! The idea of a mini Chicken (yet larger than a normal chicken) was a unique picture!
Curtis was also a very physically fit young man. He had set up a frame in his apartment and was rehearsing a “Silk Act” where he swings around above the audiences heads by hanging onto two long pieces of silk “scarves” hanging down form the ceiling…
Curtis was such a talented and loving guy.
For those of you who had the opportunity to see this incredible man perform, you saw an angel work.
And if you actually knew him, then you KNOW you met an “Angel”…
Again, My friends, PLEASE make EVERY day “Special”…
The English edition of the Asahi Herald reports today starting this month, Kyoseikan Welfare and Medical College, a vocational school specializing in the medical field, will bring its program, “principles of performing arts and welfare” to nursing care facilities.
The hope is to not only improve communication with the elderly patients but to also stimulate their brain chemistry.
Mr. Ito, a physician with the school’s faculty, told reporters the secretion of the chemical interleukin 6 (IL-6), which is blamed for aggravating several symptoms, including articular rheumatism, decreases when people laugh.
The students are taught the necessary tools to “do everything possible in the fields of medical treatment, nursing care and welfare to help bring joy to the elderly and give them something to live for. It’s good to have students learning how to make them laugh.”
So how do doctors and nurses learn to bring laughter to their charges? In addition to the usual courses in nursing care and welfare, the school’s two-year performing-art-in-welfare program includes instruction in magic tricks, street performances, singing and playing musical instruments.
Mr. Ito loves to perform magic tricks for his patients but for medicinal purposes, of course. “I like to use laughter to bolster the immune system.”
Unfortunately, the Asahi Herald reports the governing board for the school is against the curriculum. “Prefectural government officials in charge of supervising vocational schools said they had never heard of any school curriculum that includes a good laugh.”
Maybe there is a connection between intelligence and humor, then.
Rich Ferguson is the newest columnist for Bluff magazine — a publication dedicated to poker players. Go figure. We thought it was for those who love to visit the steep fall-offs along rivers or lakes.
But more importantly, he is a magician and a poker advisor. To us, it is more important that he is a magician first. This young man has chops. He has been just about everywhere, done so many types of shows, and still looks too young to buy a beer at an IBM post-show party.
Mr. Ferguson wants to bring magic to the new column. “I bring some entertainment, style and ex-psyche-ment to the poker table. Having a regular column in Bluff magazine allows me to illustrate to poker players worldwide the versatility and appeal of chip tricks and other poker stunts.”
Mr. Ferguson is a long-time poker player and claims to be the World Record Holder for coin rolling. We thought we held that title until we realized one was required to keep the coin rolling on one’s hand. This was a set-back but did keep us from choking to the point of gagging as much. It also encouraged people to take their coin back from us after the demonstration.
Bluff seeks out poker players of all levels and boasts a circulation of about 200,000.
Mr. Ferguson will not only teach tricks with poker chips but he conveniently sells them on his expertly designed website. We love on-line magic tricks and think Mr. Ferguson’s site has the best collection we’ve seen in a while. Check out the Fido animated mind reading effect.
(Don’t think us too obsessive but he uses black and white superbly on his site. Very well assembled, easy to navigate, not too many plug-ins or gimmicks. Classy, black and white).
Check out Mr. Ferguson’s website for some neat poker chip tricks and other magical pastimes. You can visit Chip Tricks on-line to check out the DVD, Chip Tricks and other accoutrement. We understand dealer’s inquiries are welcome for wholesale purchase of the effects and media.
Today’s issue of Bluff is the first for this promising young magician. Good luck to you, Mr. Ferguson.
The Saratogian sent its reporter to meet with magician Joe DiDonna on the 131st anniversary of Houdini’s birth, March 24th.
The article traces Mr. DiDonna’s entrance into the world of magic as a demonstrator at Planet Magic. He was so excited to have a job; he dedicated himself to perfecting the sleight-of-hand necessary to sell. His work paid off in his position — he became the manager — and in his life, at 28 he now does what he loves.
From first shows as a birthday magician to a magic consultant to New York City’s Ballet, his desire to learn more and perform better has driven him.
The reporter describes Mr. DiDonna’s style as reminiscent of great magicians and showmen from the past:
His style is a throwback to the snake oil merchants of old, who plied their wares from the backs of cars and wagons, hawking liniments and suspect medicines. Those trunk magic shows evolved to vaudeville at the turn of the century. They, in turn, grew in to the big-trick multi-media shows of today, performed before millions by illusionists David Copperfield and Lance Burton.
Today, sleight-of-hand magic seems so old-fashioned, its spectacle not nearly the razzle-dazzle of making an airplane disappear.
He too intends to move from “trunk magic” to the larger illusion shows but wants to hone his performance skills as he progresses to larger venues and larger illusions.
The young man will offer workshops for aspiring magicians beginning this weekend. The reporter suggests you ask him to perform the very low-tech, “rubber band trick” when you see him there. It apparently doesn’t take the large equipment to give a memorable show. It is likely Mr. DiDonna already knew that.
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