Twitter Updates

Go Ask Marilyn: Inside Magic Responds to Readers

 

Wrong Site, Wrong Marilyn

It is the policy of Inside Magic to publish corrections to articles appearing on Inside Magic within six to seven weeks following notification of the error; and to publish letters to the editor at around the same pace.

Correction for August 12, 2002 Inside Magic (North America Edition):

Billy McComb has not been named the actor for the upcoming summer blockbuster, Spider Man. The starring role will be played by Tobey McGuire. While the two names sound alike — especially when heard over a walkie-talkie — they are two different people with different skill sets.

The leading lady of Spider Man will also not be 1960′s Ed Sullivan Show icon Topo Gigio, but Kirsten Dunst. Mr. McComb denies recent press speculation of a romantic relationship with the diminutive mouse puppet.

To the Editor:

I am amazed you consider yourself a fan of magic. Your site is nothing but a bunch of stories about magicians and what tricks they are doing and where they are doing tricks we’re supposed to pay good money to see but likely will find a waste.

If that is what magic is to you, than I hate to think what you think non-magic is.

E.A. – Michigan

Editor Responds:

One of the things we pride ourselves on at Inside Magic is our ability to write run-on sentences longer than anyone we may encounter on the internet including people who write in to complain about our definition of magic.

We concede, however. Your abilities to avoid punctuation easily trump our efforts.

Correction for May 17th, 2005 (World-Wide Edition):

Magician Guy “Bug” Tussle was not injured in an otherwise tragic accident involving thrashing blades and darts.

He normally looks like that but without so much sweat.

To the Editor:

Why do you say “we” all the time? Talking in the third person is arrogant and irritating. Unless you have tapeworms, you should refer to yourself in the first person singular.

M.B. -Texas

Editor Responds:

We apologize for the pronoun usage. It has not been long since we were separated from our conjoined triplets and old habits are hard to break.

On that note, we thank the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine for performing the delicate 26 hour surgery necessary to separate us and ruin our occupation in sideshows.

While we are appreciative of the medical expertise, we do not appreciate having to pay three co-payments.

To the Editor:

What is your favorite magic trick and why?

Editor Responds:

We love the Silk Egg Bag put out by …
Continue reading Go Ask Marilyn: Inside Magic Responds to Readers

June 10th, 2005 | Category: Magic Stories | Leave a comment

Research Benefit Mail Bag Escape Set for August 16th

 

Research to Help Young People

The Leeds Today reports local magician Magic Michael Arnold will attempt the Mail Bag escape on stage to benefit Children Heart Research.

Mr. Arnold is well-known to his day-job co-workers for his constant — but appreciated — demonstration of new magic. But that is close-up and an escape is, well, an escape. What is driving him to take on this public presentation of what most would agree is a difficult stunt?

Mr. Arnold’s bride, Amanda, was born with a hole in her heart and thanks to medical research she has thrived with placement of a heart pacemaker. The charity’s mission hits close to home. The cause is of optimum concern to Michael as he says, “everyday children are born with heart defects, and they need our help.”

Magic Michael will be handcuffed, before being secured inside the seven foot bag by a metal pole and padlocks. His goal is to escape within two minutes.

Tickets cost ?4 of which ?1 from each will be donated to the children’s charity.”

Continue reading Research Benefit Mail Bag Escape Set for August 16th

June 10th, 2005 | Category: Magic News | Leave a comment

Simon Lovell Levels on Hobbies

 

Mr. Lovell Entertains

The New York Daily News warns its readers at the start of their feature on Simon Lovell:

Do not, under any circumstances, invite the man in the photo above to sit at your table. Not even for dinner. He’s Simon Lovell, a charming, chatty chap from Manchester, England – and a world-famous cardsharp, hustler and con man. He’s also an irrepressible showman who loves nothing more than to show off his dubious skills for an audience.

So if you are cautioned to not allow him at your card table, how can you encounter him? You can take a trip to the Soho Playhouse in New York City (he’s downstairs) where you will see his aptly-titled one-person show, Simon Lovell’s Strange and Unusual Hobbies.

Mr. Lovell describes the show as “a roller-coaster ride that I invite the audience to come along with me on, as opposed to me just performing to them. I do a whole potpourri of things, but I basically put together some aspects of my life.”

His life is colorful plus.

“When I was 19 to about 30, I was a professional con man and a card cheat,” says Mr. Lovell, who, as a 4-year-old, was introduced to confidence games by his grandfather, a professional poker and dice hustler. “I started playing in big-time poker games, and cheating became a career for me.”

Like all great magicians, Mr. Lovell did a couple nights in the hoosegow before deciding to go straight. He said he got tired of leading “a double life.” “Cheating is an incredibly lonely occupation,” he says.

Some would argue he chose the cheating life but with an emphasis on entertainment. It’s nice to get paid to be bad.

The … worst thing about having done it for a living is that when you get a conscience – which I got – you kind of feel there has to be some payback, some karmic balance. The secret of a con man is not what he does with his hands; it’s that he doesn’t have a heart. I actually found a heart and I’m sure my grandfather is flipping in his grave right now.

You can check out the show and if you know the secret word, you can get two tickets for the price of one.

Continue reading Simon Lovell Levels on Hobbies

June 10th, 2005 | Category: Magic News | Leave a comment