Curtis Lovell Escapes Death on Halloween

is well-known to television audiences.  He cut Paris Hilton in half on her show The Simple Life, provided instructions to from handcuffs on the Spike TV show Manswers.  He called out David Blaine and John “I talk to dead people” Edward.

Neither performer had the guts to take him up on a magic duel.

Mr. Lovell made a great impression with his performance of his Cube of Death on the USA Network’s Road Characters.

On the 84th anniversary of ’s passing, Mr. Lovell literally went underground.

By performing an escape Houdini himself said was too dangerous to repeat, Mr. Lovell took an enormous risk — an not just to his career.

The Buried Alive escape is a test of physical endurance and mental focus.  Oxygen is in short supply and panic is a constant enemy; ready to steal the limited amount trapped within the sealed coffin.

Mr. Lovell attempted the escape as part of The Halloween Haunt in Grand Terrace California’s Pico Park. Continue reading Curtis Lovell Escapes Death on Halloween

Japanese Court Denies Magicians Suit

Shintarou Huziyama Performs for Press

It is not over until it is over.

A Tokyo trial court dismissed a suit Japanese magicians brought against Nippon Television for exposing secrets related gimmicked coins.

Readers of Inside Magic no doubt recall the very strange police raid and seizure of magic coins.  The police charged the magicians with defacing Japanese currency.

Just as the story attracted Inside Magic’s attention back in 2007, television news reports in showed entirely too much of the seized booty.

Magicians sued the two major television networks for exposure. Continue reading Japanese Court Denies Magicians Suit

Criss Angel’s Believe – “No Wonder”

The reviews are in on .

Unfortunately, they are not much better than those received during previews.

There was hope here at Inside Magic and likely other magic hubs that changes promised after the limited preview run would help.

Of course with a ten-year run, there should be time to correct mistakes and improve.

The Las Vegas Sun‘s article “Illusion is Elusive in Angel’s Believe” begins its scathing review with the terse summation “No wonder.”

The Sun‘s rival, The Las Vegas Review-Journal did not disagree.

Midway through his new show, turns and asks his audience the night’s big question: “Are you still there?”
He probably meant it as, are the fans he made with his slam-bang “Mindfreak” stunt-magic hanging on for this new career left turn; a journey through a Cirque du Bizarro ballet?
But the fans might be asking him the same question from their seats. It looks like their guy (most of the time, anyway), and talks like him. But is he still there?

The Los Angeles Times‘ reviewer found the audience fell into one of two camps: Continue reading Criss Angel’s Believe – “No Wonder”

Disbelievers: Criss Angel’s Friends ‘No-Show’

The Los Angeles Times hoped to have an interview with either before or after the Halloween debut of his new hundred million dollar show, .

Their entertainment writer was relatively certain an interview could be had.

After all, Mr. Angel has not been shy in the past.

He takes pains to share intimate details of his love lives and his party goings-on go on-and-on.

Richard Abowitz writes:

But when I contacted Angel’s representative, I was told by e-mail: “We aren’t granting one on one interviews with Criss for the forseeable (sic) future.” I asked if there was an explanation for this change in policy, and the reply was simply: “No.”

Why?

Criss Angel and his people believe it is the press that has brought the negative vibe to his new show. Rather than improve the show or work to smooze the press, they decided to freeze them out.

Continue reading Disbelievers: Criss Angel’s Friends ‘No-Show’