It is a policy of Inside Magic to respond to letters to the editor related to inaccuracies or clarification from time to time or as required by a court order.
If you have a question or comment for the editorial staff of Inside Magic, please send it to us at editors@insidemagic.com.
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Dear Tim:
I read Inside Magic every day except for when you have repeats. Why do you repeat articles from a long time ago when if I wanted to read them, I could just look them up on your site? Are you trying to fool people by pretending it is new news?
K. Maloney, Orem, UT
Dear “K”:
Although you may read Inside Magic daily, there are many behind the Iron Curtain who are denied this privilege.
When our internet signal is not blocked by the censors along the East – West Germany border, we push through as many of the articles we can fit. Yes, this means some of the articles will appear to be revised versions of previously published works, but rest assured we are doing this only to promote freedom and individual property rights around this world. Although the Kremlin may haughtily impugn this site’s motives or discount the important news we bring to the repressed and imprisoned masses in the Soviet Blocked countries, until we are forced at gun point to salute a commie flag, we’ll keep up our often solitary fight to free our brothers and sisters squirming for liberty beneath Stalin’s huge, filthy thumb.
Also, we never just republish for the sake of republishing. We also update the information contained within the story so that it provides a unique retrospective telescope into the past with zest of the future we call present day.
For instance, we did republish the article about Chung Ling Soo being killed in the UK when his bullet catch trick failed. That article was originally published in the March 25, 1918 edition of Inside Magic. We did republish a version of it during on December 8, 1941 but only because it was a slow news day. And yes, it was republished 12 times during the 1960s and 1970s, twice in the 1980s, 15 times in the 1990s, only once from 2000 to 2010, and of course the latest republication not too long ago. Continue reading Letters to Editor: Republishing Magic Stories
The new trend in horror film stars are described by Cinematical today as “brooding, pale-skinned, sparkly, fangless, vegan vampires.”
The on-line movie site longs for the days of real horror icons. Cinematical wants real vampires, real, carnivorous creepy types trolling the earth for victims, not lovers.
Take, for instance, the 1980′s classic Fright Night. There were no pale, blotchy, moribund slivers of human flesh to be found in the film. The men were men and the women were victims and usually half-naked, according to the author.
To provide artistic balance to the wimpy, dysthymic, translucent-skinned, after-picture-for-a-weight-loss-plan-marketed-to-anorexics, boys and girls made fashionable by the ponderous paper-doll dramatis personae of Twilight, Hollywood is producing a remake of Fright Night.
The producers wanted a creepy, scary anti-hero and determined the best fit would be a Las Vegas magician.
David Tennant of Doctor Who fame will play Peter Vincent, a Vegas illusionist known for his horror-themed stage shows, who presumably overcomes his fear of vampires to become their worst enemy.
In an earlier piece on the pre-production gossip, Cinematical offered its hope for remake’s choice of characters.
The only concern with the new plot information is that the remake may stray too far from the original. The addition of Charley’s Chriss Angel mentor proves that even if our hero lives in a cozy abode off The Strip, we’ll eventually find ourselves under the Vegas lights . A straight remake was never the answer, but let’s hope (script writer) Noxon doesn’t push this too far.
We could see a Criss Angel type playing a vampire and a vampire hunter but think it would be so much better to have Lance Burton for either role. Lance Burton is classy, healthy, and has the beguiling smile sufficient to hide the horrific fears and emotions felt by the Vincent character. Or, maybe if they want to go contrary to all stereotype, why not use Carrot-Top?
Master Magician Lance Burton will end his historic run at Monte Carlo September 4, 2010.
The final performance follows 14 years of captivating audiences at the resort’s Lance Burton Theatre.
Beloved by fans worldwide and named the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s “Best Magician” for a dozen years running, Burton has been with Monte Carlo since its opening day on June 21, 1996.
“It has been an honor and a pleasure to have Lance Burton headline at Monte Carlo for the last 14 years,” said Monte Carlo President & COO Anton Nikodemus. “We are proud to have called Lance a member of the MGM MIRAGE family and wish him nothing but the best as he pursues a new chapter in his legendary career.”
Known for his astounding illusions and mesmerizing sleight-of-hand, Burton will continue to delight audiences at Monte Carlo through Labor Day Weekend, celebrating one of the longest and most fruitful partnerships in the history of Las Vegas entertainment.
“Performing at Monte Carlo and introducing over five million people to the world of magic has been a fantastic experience for me,” said Burton. “I have loved every minute of this historic run and look forward to turning my attention to new opportunities.”
Jerry M. Conklin, a regular at Abbott’s Get Togethers and lead of the long-touring Amazing Conklins lost his battle with cancer on Monday, March 29, 2010. He was 82.
Mr. Conklin was born in Battle Creek and served in the U.S. Army’s Special Services Entertainment Division after high school. He married his partner in life and magic, Shirley Robertson on June 24, 1951. Shirley passed away in 1987.
“In 1961, Jerry moved his family to Colon and began working at Abbott’s Magic Company. Soon afterwards, he became a professional magician, and the ”family of magic” known as The Amazing Conklins traveled throughout the United States, Nova Scotia, New Foundland, Quebec and New Brunswick. In the 1960s they performed at the Boy Scouts National Jamboree in Colorado Springs, Colo. Continue reading Sad News: Jerry Conklin Passes
The Boston Globe provides an excellent retrospective on one of the unique stars of our craft.
As, Le Grand David celebrates its 33rd year, The Globeasks how much longer it can exist.
The show, the theater, the performers, and the audience are an anachronism to a time that may have never existed.
The Globe asked Magic Magazine Editor, Stan Allen to speculate on the show within a show’s future.
That’s a very big question,” he said. “Le Grand David is very unusual, and the way the show came about is very unusual. There isn’t anything usual about it. It is as close to Brigadoon as anything in magic that we have. It doesn’t pack up its tent and go away.”
Like the mythical Scottish village that appears for one day each century, Le Grand David has been a constant but almost ethereal presence in Magic.
Be sure to check out the full article in The Globe.
Visit the show’s web site for great images, information, and show schedule.
Dear Tim:
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