Archive for October, 2008

Why Did Houdini Flick Fail? Inside Magic Knows

Death Defying Acts is out on DVD says Lisa Miller in The Imperial Valley News. Inside Magic had high hopes for the 2008 drama staring Guy Pearce and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Inside Magic opined during the film's pre-production that it was a sure fire hit. How could it go wrong with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Houdini? Sure, the story was completely made up, but how was that different from anything you might read on this website? Who were we to fling objects that look like rocks? The drama based on a fictitious tale about Harry Houdini had the components necessary for a hit but apparently did not find the audience Houdini and Ms. Zeta-Jones deserved. The film told the story of Houdini searching for a true psychic. The great magician is taken in by Ms. Zeta-Jones' character Mary McGarvie and her young daughter Benji. Already the story sounds good, right? Who couldn't love a film where Catherine Zeta-Jones has a daughter who is a dog? We saw all of Benji's movies in the 1970's and again later during detox (the second one).

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Sad News: Ted Lesley Passes

Ted Lesley was an innovator in so many aspects of our magicial arts. He was an inventor and visionary. His obituary will be written and re-written on other sites and each will no doubt give a different perspective on this great mind and incredible performer. Several message boards carried posts notifying the magic public of Mr. Lesley's passing yesterday around noon in an extended care home in Berlin, Germany. Mr. Lesley was born in Dueren, Germany August 1, 1937. He fell in love with (or at least was smitten by) magic when a school teacher showed the young man an effect. He considered magic as a profession but his parents suggested he look a "real profession."

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Up-Close with David Copperfield

If I'd just been sitting a few rows back I wouldn't have seen the wires that controlled the singing and dancing tie, or the slightly concave bottom of the magical "shrinking table," or the girl that appeared and disappeared in the "reserved" seat next to me wearing three different outfits, or Copperfield's caked-on makeup and spray-on hair.

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