The USA Today features a new Penn and Teller routine involving the ubiquitous airport metal detector to their stage at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Vegas.
Penn tells the reporter, “What really bothers us about the TSA is not the men and women employed there. We’re just against the idea of people allowing themselves to give up freedoms when confronted with fear.”
The Bad Boys of Magic added a metal detector identical to the type we have all been through at airports.
“The bit is essentially comparing magicians, who earn their living by doing things that are sneaky and disingenuous, with bad people who do things that are sneaky and disingenuous,” said one of our favorite authors Penn.
(Make sure you read his How to Cheat Your Friends at Poker before seeing the show. It doesn’t have anything to do with the show but it will get you in the mood).
The USA Today article explains the routine as seen by an audience member. We don’t want to ruin it for you. However, if you would like to ruin it for yourself, check out the full article here.
We must have seen the movie more than any other, save The Wizard of Oz.
Tony Curtis’ portrayal of Harry Houdini in the classic 1953 story of the great magician’s life and death was more than inspiring — it was perspiring.
After seeing the film for the first time, we tried every escape an eight-year-old can create. In any other household, cries of “C’mon, Mom. Tie me up good this time!”" would likely bring an intervention or rescue.
It was a bit disheartening to learn Houdini did not die as portrayed in the film. But that’s Hollywood.
We met Tony Curtis in Las Vegas a few years back. He was still in great shape and looked ready to make another dozen films. Let’s not kid ourselves, he was and remains one heck of a good-looking man.
Check out the live showing of Houdini at the Million Dollar Theater in Los Angeles on June 13th. The film is part of the Jules Verne Adventures Festival.
Inside Magic Favorite Curtis Lovell III will be performing an incredible escape in celebration and in the spirit of Houdini.
There is no accounting for taste. Michael Jackson has dropped David Copperfield from his upcoming London shows because Mr. Copperfield was “too expensive.”
We are not sure what that says about the rates charged by Criss Angel.
According to Mr. Jackson’s press people, Mr. Copperfield wanted to charge the gloved-one $1 million a show.
Actually, that seems pretty reasonable. You have to figure that every day he is with Mr. Jackson, Mr. Copperfield is missing out on performing in his own show. Plus, he has to perform with Mr. Jackson. That’s got to be worth a cool million.
According to the South African paper The Sun: “Michael was excited about working with David, but they fell out over money. Michael’s delighted to have Criss on board – not least ‘cos he costs less!”
Okey doke.
This is probably not exactly the same but reminds us of how steamed we get when we are underbid for a show by one of our fellow magic club members. Mr. Copperfield and Criss Angel have two entirely different approaches to magic. It is hard to believe Mr. Jackson sees the two as fungible elements of his show.
Lance Burton, Master Magician, will be out of commission for possibly as long as four to six weeks after orthopedic surgery next Monday.
Norm Clarke of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports Mr. Burton has been forced to cancel 19 shows due to the injury.
The Associated Press and other outlets covered the story extensively but none explained how the incredible showman injured his foot during the show.
Leave it to Norm Clarke to dig a little deeper:
The accident occurred 15 minutes into the show as Burton was preparing to do the floating bird cage with Elvis the bird.
When Elvis flew into the audience, Burton left the stage and retrieved the bird. The injury took place when the entertainer twisted his right foot on his way up the steps.
Burton finished the show despite considerable pain but “not knowing anything was broken,” said Bernath.
International escape artist Curtis Lovell II invites you to witness him strapped into a straitjacket and lifted 170 feet into the air — as the rope is set on fire. When Lovell frees himself, he immediately will be lowered, handcuffed and sealed into a box of water — secured with Master locks.
Through wind, fire and water in his performance of “Hang-Man,” Lovell must face his fear of heights and his fear of drowning. Neither Lovell nor any other escape artist — including the great Houdini — has ever combined these elements for a stunt of this magnitude.
The City of Grand Terrace, California, will host Lovell’s death-defying stunt as part of its Halloween Haunt in Pico Park, slated for 8 p.m. on Oct. 30, 09. Last year’s theme element was Earth, during which Lovell faced the universal fear of being buried alive. The stunt attracted more than 1,500 visitors and national media.
“It was spine-tingling last year with Lovell being buried alive,” said Steve Berry, Acting Manager of Grand Terrace, “We are looking forward to Hang-Man, his next death-defying feat.”
Lovell conceived the idea of Hang-Man as he studied the works of his childhood hero Harry Houdini.
“I always wanted to perform an aerial, upside-down straitjacket escape, but I wanted a twist,” Lovell said. In addition to the danger of this stunt, Lovell truly fears heights and drowning. “I believe this will help me overcome both of these fears and bring me closer to nature and life,” he said, confidently.
The USA Today features a new Penn and Teller routine involving the ubiquitous airport metal detector to their stage at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Vegas.
We must have seen the movie more than any other, save The Wizard of Oz.
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