Magic Magazine's Stan Allen is back with us on the Magic Newswire to talk about the current issue of the magazine which profiles the career of Lance Burton. With unprecidented access to Lance, Magic Magazine presents all side of this great performer as he wraps up his final performances at the Monte Carlo. We also discuss the unprecidented interest in the upcoming 20th Anniversary of Magic Live which has now closed registration after only a week of opening to the public.
Recently acquired from the estate of Dr. Hans Berlitz. A fully functional Re-Animator, circa 1915. Dr. Berlitz experimented in re-animating small animals like bats and parts of animals such as a monkeys paw. It was also rumored that he could use the machine to teleport in-animate objects and open holes into other dimensions. The device comes inside an old aged wood box (and itself is primarily wood) about 14 by 12 inches and 14 inches tall. It has laboratory labels in German on the box. When you unlatch the bottom, the top of the box pulls off to reveal the Re-Animator.
A machine with working brass gauge, dials, switches, lights, plasma chamber, sound and even a working smoke exhaust pipe. The machine is activated by inserting a key into the lower front control panel. The second tier of the device has an "engine" made of wood on the outside with lights, brass tubes, steam vent and an active "plasma" chamber. Sitting next to the "engine" is a scientific bell jar dome. It is connected to the machine by various brass tubes and electrical wires.
You are provided with a "specimen". A tiny dead bat preserved yet still has fur on it and is slightly decayed. It is hand made with hand stitched fur and 100% real looking. Trust me, your spectators will not want to touch this bat. It is lying on a clear glass petrie style dish. You place the dish with bat inside the glass dome.
From the machine you pull out two electrical aged cotton covered cords. On the end of each cord is a conducting probe that you have a volunteer grasp in their fist. You explain that "this will drain a small amount of your life force into the device, you might get a little light headed, but don‘t worry, it will be over very quickly."
You insert the brass key and fire up the machine. Within a few moments the machine begins going through its systems "power up" phases. The dead bat starts to twitch and convulse as "lifeforce" is drained into the machine through the hand held probes. It appears you have successfully given some “life” to the previously dead creature. After several moments you tell the spec to release the probes. They release the probes they‘ve been grasping in their hand and the bat stops moving. Just as everyone starts to relax, the bat suddenly flies up off the dish with one last residual burst of life. And then crumples in a dead heap.
To the best of my knowledge, this is the first television appearance of Siegfried & Roy. This clip is from one of the magic specials that Dick Cavett hosted for HBO in the late 1970's. Enjoy watching them before they became SARMOTI!
In case you missed it, here is your chance to see Michael Grasso become the first magician in the history of the US version of America's Got Talent to move on to the top 10! Congrats Michael! And, to all the other magic acts that performed this year and gave us a reason to watch, please accept my heartfelt thanks!
I spoke with Stan earlier today, then got the following email. If you have plans to attend the 20th Anniversary blow-out of Magic Live, it looks like you need to make a decision asap!
From Stan: We have opened registration for Magic Live 2011 and the response has been completely unprecedented. We’re really quite taken aback! When we opened registration for 2009, we hit almost 100 within 24 hours, and we were elated. When we opened Alumni Registration this year, we took well over 100 within 24 minutes! Of the 920 places available, we currently have less than 100 left. I’m mentioning this because it’s you, our subscribers, that we would most like to have attend MAGIC Live! You’re part of our family. So, if you’re thinking about joining us next August, please go directly to our website, Do Not Pass Go, and sign up — now! It only requires a $50 deposit, which is fully refundable through December 31, 2010.
Tonight we learn if the magic will continue on this season of AGT. Last night were the performances and here they are if you missed them. What do you think?
08/30/10 :: From KION 46 News: Birthday Magician Shane Wright sentenced to 6 years for molestation of a 12 year old female victim. Wright also performed under the name Silva. Wright also is involved in renaissance fairs and has a "unconventional vagabond lifestyle," according to the District Attorney's Office. Sheriff's sex crimes detectives also got involved. Wright was arrested Sept. 7, but bailed out. He pleaded guilty earlier this summer to child molestation and was sentenced to state prison Thursday by Judge Paul Marigonda. This from the Contra Costa Times.
8/12/2010 :: I was sent a link to the booking photo of Jim Pace in July of this year and found a police blotter report covering his arrest, but have not seen any general media coverage of the story. In any case, well known magic creator Jim Pace is currently listed in the state of Oregon Corrections database as serving a 13 year sentence for a sex crime.
7/14/2010 :: From Newsroom America - A youth minister and magician who claims he has performed at a long list of metro Atlanta schools was arrested Thursday and charged with child molestation. Jeffrey Alan Wasley, 37, is accused of molesting a 7-year-old boy Monday in the men's restroom of the Target store at 740 Ernest Barrett Parkway in Kennesaw. Wasley ended up pleading guilty to one count of Production of Child Pornography in Federal Court. He was later sentenced to 20 years in prison to be followed by lifetime probation and having to register as a sex offender.
05/27/2010 :: From Newsday - The former Central Islip man who billed himself as "Long Island's favorite magician" pleaded guilty Thursday in Riverhead to secretly videotaping more than a dozen girls and women as they changed clothes at his home photography studio. Robert Infantino, 52, of Levittown, is expected to be sentenced next month to 5 to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty in Suffolk County Court to 108 counts.
04/03/2010 :: From the Queensland Times - A jury took just 40 minutes this week to find an Ipswich magician guilty of having a sexual relationship with a teenage girl and making a pornographic film with her. Franky Houdini, who is a well-known magician, comedian and escape artist in the Ipswich area, met the girl at Ipswich’s Riverlink shopping centre when she was aged just 15.
02/16/00 :: On February 16th, 2000, in the 268th District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas, Robert Markwood was found guilty of indecency with a minor. He was sentenced by Judge Brady Elliott to 12 years in prison.
Coming soon to Channel 4, Derren Brown, the acclaimed psychological illusionist, returns to Channel 4 for a thought provoking – and life transforming – special.
Following the successes of previous television specials such as Russian Roulette Live, Séance, The Heist and The Events, Derren once again creates edge-of-the-seat television as he takes ‘average Joes’ on an extraordinary psychological journey.
In a powerful transformation, which will include an amazing, must-watch live finale, Derren releases his subjects from the restraints that they have placed on themselves and allows them the opportunity to fulfil their true potential, opening the door to a new and exciting future…
UPDATE: (Sept 1, 2010) :Here is a slightly longer clip that also appeared on Derren's Blog just after we posted the one above:
Two years and two hundred episodes of the Magic Newswire podcasts have passed since the launch of Ringling Brother's first ever magically themed circus "Zing Zang Zoom," I am again joined by some of the key players in the this very unique show. As mentioned in previous chats with Jim, he acted as the magic consultant for the show, Alex Ramon has spent two years as the host of the most magical show on Earth, and joining us for the first time is Alex's magical counterpart, Tweedy. In this episode, we discuss everything from their most memorable moments to what they think could have been done better.
Magic Magazine's Stan Allen is back with us on the Magic Newswire to talk about the current issue of the magazine which profiles the career of Lance Burton. With unprecidented access to Lance, Magic Magazine presents all side of this great performer as he wraps up his final performances at the Monte Carlo. We also discuss the unprecidented interest in the upcoming 20th Anniversary of Magic Live which has now closed registration after only a week of opening to the public. 
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