We are quite certain this is no longer news to anyone in the magic world.
The New York Sun has a nice write-up about Mr. Marshall.
Jay Marshall’s passing has been noted affectionately by magicians and magic-lovers all over the world.
His impact on our art was so much greater than the link he provided to Chicago’s rich magic history. Chicago is our home town and the place of our physical birth as well as our delivery into the wonderful world of magic. Chicago magic was Jay Marshall to us.
Magic Inc. was every bit the Mecca that Colon’s Abbott?s was and perhaps even more so.
Mr. Marshall never lost his wonderful sense of humor and love for our art.
He was at the age where he no longer had to fake an interest in the art form upon which his career was based and yet he remained one of its biggest supporters.
With his cat, Ali Bongo at the foot of his bed, he passed on to the loving embrace of those who had gone to make a place for him.
A little boy is sick and can't go to church on Palm Sunday. His parents and siblings come home with palm leafs.
"What are the palms for?" the little boy asked. "These are what the people used to wave over Jesus when he came."
The little boy looked disappointed and said, "Boy, that stinks; the one day I don't go to church, Jesus comes."
That joke has nothing to do with this article. In fact, this article — unlike most of the articles on this website — poses a serious question for which we have no answer.
So, here's the question we have to ask:should an Irish Catholic or any Christian, Jew or Muslim perform mentalism?
We have written prior essays about whether a Christian can perform magic and came out with the answer that "yes, a Christian can perform magic without offending his or her faith."
But now, as we think about our act, we wonder if we should claim special powers. To set the record straight on two issues: first we don't claim special powers in any show; second, we have no special powers. In fact, we can barely perform a double lift.
But in Tom Hardy act, we claim to be able to read peoples' minds, predict what they will say or the card they will select, or move objects with the mental powers.
This is not a Christian Magic Act.It is at best a comedy mentalism act performed by a struggling and fallen Christian.
We reported the sad news from Las Vegas last month of Kurtis Walker’s passing. The gifted young man worked with Kevin James in the World’s Greatest Magic Show.
Mr. James has invited all to attend the memorial service for his friend and co-worker to be held this Sunday, May 15th at 2:00 pm. The location will be the current home of the World Greatest Magic Show, the Greek Isle Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
In addition to the Broken Wand Ceremony, The Greek Isle Hotel will rename and dedicate the forum as The Kurtis Walker Theatre.
If you have a chance to be in or around Las Vegas this weekend, stop by the Greek Isles to support the memorial and dedication.
In a town where performers are allegedly nothing more than chattel, it is nice to learn some properties care about the people working under their roofs. It is also fitting, right, and commendable for Mr. James to organize and promote the memorial / dedication.
We are lucky to work in an industry with people like Mr. Walker and Mr. James.
Our thanks to the incomparable Steve Daly for the information.
Magnus Franklin offered a nice profile of the incredible Derren Brown recently.
Right off the bat, Mr. Franklin points out two differences between Mr. Brown and others who perform our art. He promises no special skills, no box tricks, no illusions, and nothing that could not be explained by “psychology, magic, misdirection and showmanship.”
He enjoys his “Something Wicked This Way Comes” tour because he says performing on the road is one of his favorite things. In that regard, he is like Paul Daniels who famously termed television specials “the crap end of magic.” “I love touring,? he says emphatically. ?Once you get into the routine, you can change things around a bit. Of course, the audience doesn?t always know about it, but I get quite a lot of satisfaction just knowing it for myself.”
As much as he enjoys the intimacy of the audience and the immediacy of their feedback, he knows he’ll go broke touring halls and theaters. “You need the TV jobs as well. I will try to carry on the way I am going now. Of course there is such a thing as media saturation, but performing is what I want to continue doing.”
Mr. Brown was not originally intending to be a magician. He didn’t plan on standing before strangers, lying, using props, and working always to convince them something that wasn’t true. No, indeed, he was originally intent on being a lawyer. He believes both professions use the same “set of skills.” We’re not sure what that means but we know a lawsuit when we smell one. Someone ought to sue someone.
What’s the downside with being an incredibly famous magician with facial hair performing occasional television specials?
?I have been compared, especially in the beginning, to David Blaine,? Derren explains. ?I guess we are similar in many ways. He was the first, really, to get into this deeper, darker style. I can?t say I haven?t been influenced by him,? he admits. Having said that, though, he has moved on: ?I have developed my own style and in many ways we are quite different.?
One of the biggest differences between the two men is enunciation and the ability to perform an effect on the first take without using the magic words, “Hey, wait, c’mon, watch this, seriously.”
Mr. Brown’s scrupulous refusal to claim true psychic powers is not only admirable but also enables him to expose those beyond the fringe – the quacks and charlatans. “I wouldn?t want to be generally negative, but I think psychics and those who submit to new age philosophy without questioning it are quite narrow-minded. I couldn?t say that everything they say is wrong, but in general there tends to be an explanation to mysterious things.”
The British Magi traveled to the United States for his latest television special on Channel 4, Messiah. The one-hour “documentary-style” show had Mr. Brown questioning Americans about their religion and whether they blindly believe what they are told – be it religion, atheism, or something in between…. Continue reading Derren Brown’s Wicked UK Tour
The papers across the water we enjoy calling “The Atlantic Ocean,” are all a buzz over England?s Steve Webster finally winning the European Tour title after ten years. How did he do it? Well, technically, he won the Telecom Italia Open at Castello di Tolcinasco Golf Club near Milan by three strokes.
But we take it you mean, how did a magician help him win the title?
The young man was under big-time pressure — you know the pressure. Like when you think you succeeded in the Classic Force but aren’t entirely sure but don’t want to peek at the deck before going on. Like when you use the Toppit for the first-time in a real, live show.
?I was concentrating really hard. My mind was racing ahead. I always thought I could win and with nine holes to go I was telling myself you are going to win this. But to make the winning putt with a couple of shots in hand was a great feeling.?
So, where other golfers would gravitate towards the latest gimmick offered on late-night television, Mr. Webster (coincidentally the name of David Copperfield’s duck), turned to a professional magician for help.
The European Tour Golf Reports sets forth the following as if it should make sense:
He decided to transform his fortunes by consulting a mind magician Jamil Qureshi, who performs in touring shows as well and also works with several European Tour players on the mental side of playing, including Nick Dougherty who also won his maiden title earlier in the season.
“Jamil and I have had some great sessions this week, an hour every night, it really got me focused and it proved its worth today,” added Webster.
Earlier in the week, Mr. Webster announced his work with Mr. Qureshi was paying off:
?He?s a magician and mind-reader and can pull a rabbit out of your trousers and all that,? said Webster. ?He performs a lot all round Britain and in Europe. I met him through Gary Evans. I had wanted to change my mind a bit and get a few new ideas and I had a meeting with him and we seemed to get on great straight away. He gets me very relaxed.?
So who is this magician/mind-reader and golf guru? One Irish golf website did some digging and learned “Qureshi is described as a ?new-wave mentalist performer? who is ?fresh, cheeky, exotic and imposing, equally at home performing at intimate private shows and performing on stage.?
We think “cheeky” means he is precocious — not that he has a large bottom or jowls.
This whole story comes together as pretty as Susie Amy. Ms. Amy played Chardonnay on the hit ITV (UK) television series Footballers Wives. Her character was dropped from the show after Chardonnay went on a no-eating binge following the death of a lover — she bopped his grip… Continue reading Conspiracy? Magician Helps Golfer Win First European Title
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