Magician Ricky Jay Can Make You Cry, He’s So Good

Inside Magic Image of Deceptive Practices Movie PosterInside Magic Favorite Magician is so good, his magic can make people cry.

That’s how The Jerusalem Journal begins its very positive review of Deceptive Practices: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay.

We are told of a British journalist who dined with Mr. Jay in a café on a hot, sticky day. (The article doesn’t say “sticky” but we believe it was implied and will stand by our interpretation).

He related a story about , “who once borrowed a woman’s hat, placed a silver dollar underneath it, then lifted the hat to reveal that the coin had transformed into an enormous chunk of ice. And at that moment, the journalist recounts, Jay lifted his menu with a flourish to reveal his own 1-foot-square block of ice, which materialized as if out of thin air. The journalist was so astounded by ‘this supreme piece of artistry,’ she says, that she ‘burst into tears.’”

Deceptive Practices lovingly created by filmmakers Molly Bernstein and Alan Edelstein will open this Friday, May 17th in Los Angeles. You can check out the official movie site for listings in other areas and states here.

The Journal says Mr. Jay keeps his secrets – particularly when it comes to magic effects or personal matters – but does perform some pretty amazing things for the camera and the audience beyond.  It “unfolds like a magical mystery tour of Jay’s professional art and artifice. On camera, he transforms a paper moth into a real insect, flings a card at 90 miles per hour to pierce the skin of a watermelon and dazzles audiences with his specialty — astonishing card tricks — with maneuvers so virtuosic they defy the imagination.”
Continue reading Magician Ricky Jay Can Make You Cry, He’s So Good

Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp 2013 Special Guest, Justin Flom!

Inside Magic Image of Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp LogoAmidst the rampant Facebook and Twitter speculation, Sorcerers Summer Safari Magic Camp just announced bringing in famed -based Magician as the special guest at Camp this summer.

With several best selling DVDs, a cover of IBM’s magazine and a ton of great unpublished ideas – Justin Flom has lots to offer the campers. Famous for his Ellen appearances,  Justin Flom’s YouTube channel has also received international acclaim. The campers are going to love him!

The inspiration for asking Justin Flom to spend time at Sorcerers Safari, explained Mike Segal, owner of the performance art camp, “He simply loves magic and would be a perfect fit for camp and the kids.”  Segal continued, ”And there really is no better way to spend quality time immersed in the art of magic than with one of your heroes. Who doesn’t love Justin Flom? He’s awesome!”

The idea of having the ‘rising stars of magic’ as special guests at camp is always one of the hot debates at the annual executive staff meetings.

Sorcerers Summer Safari Magic Camp chooses only the best of the best to come up as their special guest. After unanimously agreeing Justin Flom was a perfect fit, they asked and he gladly accepted.
Continue reading Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp 2013 Special Guest, Justin Flom!

David Copperfield Extends Contract, Gets Theater Name

Inside Magic Image of David CopperfieldRobin Leach reports via his always fun  to read Strip Scribbles that Inside Magic Favorite and the have agreed to a three-year contract extension.  According to MGM’s president, Scott Sibella The Hollywood Theater might be renamed The Theater this fall.

The theater will be dark for a about a month this September to convert the space into a new configuration.  Mr. Leach also reports Mr. Copperfield will have a new show with new illusions for the show’s re-opening just before Christmas.

Check out the entire Strip Scribbles: Did you know that Elvis Presley had a son? – Las Vegas Sun News.

Sad News: Peter Reveen Passes

Inside Magic Image of Peter Reveen - The ImpossibilistPete Reveen aka “The Impossibilist” passed away Monday morning at his home.

He was far more than just an outstanding magician, international star, Vegas icon and manager of Master Magician .

We will remember him as a considerate gentleman who loved magic and was willing to give a boost and kind word to a work-a-day magic news source located in a fictional midwestern town.

We have been ignored by lesser magicians and their public relations folk and so when someone of Mr. Reveen’s status takes the time to pass along a kind word and unsolicited encouragement, we become fans for life.

He was a true gentleman who cared deeply about his craft and our art.

Lance Burton knew Mr. Reveen well and benefited from his counsel and friendship over the years. Mr. Reveen negotiated the Master Magician’s record-breaking contract with the Monte Carlo Hotel in Vegas.

Mr. Burton issued a short statement to the press Monday afternoon.

was a giant in the world of magic. His illusion shows were lavish and innovative. As a stage hypnotist, he had no peer; he was simply the best in the business. As my manager for 20 years, he was my most trusted adviser. Reveen was my very close friend for 30 years. I am sad today. I will miss him.

Mr. Reveen leaves behind his four sons and his wife, Coral.

We join the prayers of his family and friends and mourn his passing.

Copperfield Picks Next “Great Magician”

Inside Magic Image of Paw-Paw Lawton's Instructional DVD Teaches the Magic Trick Glorpy (a/k/a Hyrum the Hilarious Hank)

David Copperfield made the tough choice of successor, sort of, as part of the ’s Magic Mondays.

The finalists, in order of the last letter of their first name: Kayla DrescherJeff Prace and Ben Jackson.

NBC’s publicists claim “hundreds of aspiring magicians sent in videos of themselves performing in TODAY’s quest to find the next . Producers teamed up with Copperfield to pick the three best to perform on Monday’s show.”

Ms. Drescher is a magic bartender from Boston and performed “a magic bottle cap trick, swapping Heineken caps with Sam Adams and Bud Light tops right before their eyes.”

Mr. Prace is college student created a stir by producing “a full pack appear from just a single stick.”

Mr. Jackson tore a picture of the show’s hosts and restored same.

Mr. Copperfield chose Ms. Drescher to win the show’s Magic Mondays trophy plus a trip to witness the master magician’s acclaimed show currently at his home in the desert, the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino.

Mr. Copperfield correctly observed, “[t]o have more women doing magic is a great thing.  We’d like to see more of that.”

Congratulations to the finalists and to Ms. Dresher for bringing home the big win.

, the erstwhile Inside Magic stringer, said a NBC producer returned his entry tape with a perfunctory note.  He performed Hippity Hop Rabbits in the 43 minute video.  He was proud that the “turn-it-around” portion of the trick lasted more than a half hour and featured a student audience from Mystic Hollow Elementary School.

“I think a lot of it is political,” Mr. Panner wrote.  “They didn’t want someone on the show who could show up the big star.  They knew I could milk their studio audience with the trick like nobody’s business.  Copperfield’s tricks are all over in a few minutes – that’s why he has to do so many in his shows.  It’s like five minutes and bang, on to the next illusion.”

We do not disagree that Mr. Copperfield performs effects more quickly and of a greater variety than Mr. Panner but do note that some audiences actually prefer more tricks per show rather than less.  Mr. Panner disagrees.

“Copperfield does like six illusions in the first 24 minutes of his Vegas show.  That averages around four or five minutes an illusion.  The audience never really gets a chance to see what’s happening.  Boom, Copperfield appears on stage.  Boom, girls appear out of nowhere and then vanish.  Boom, his motorcycle appears flying over the audience.  Boom, a duck eats a scorpion while Orson Welles talks about cards or something with a license plate with graffiti. 
Continue reading Copperfield Picks Next “Great Magician”