TIME CHATS WITH DAVID BLAINE

"He performs less than once a year on average, but David Blaine's is the most harrowing of jobs. The master magician-cum-"endurance specialist" has earned worldwide renown by pushing the limits of the human body. He's buried himself alive for a week, been frozen in ice and, on Wednesday, set a world record by holding his breath for more than 17 minutes. TIME interviewed the Guinness Book of Records' newest entrant about the genesis of his death-defying feats, what it feels like when your body starts eating itself for sustenance, and what stunts are next on his slate." Time Magazine Health reporter Allen Altman talks with David Blaine.

KELLAR HONORED IN ERIE

A Pennsylvania historical marker honoring Erie magician Harry Kellar was dedicated at Griswold Plaza in Erie on May 9. Kellar, known as the "Dean of American Magicians," traveled the world entertaining audiences, performing for both U.S. president Teddy Roosevelt and the Queen of England. Kellar was a friend and mentor to Harry Houdini. Watch the video and read more from GoErie.

HOUDINI'S AUSTRALIAN RECORD

"On Friday, March 18, 1910, with a band of reputable citizens including a couple of journalists, HOUDINI motored out to Diggers Rest, 30 kilometres from Melbourne, fiddled and tested and consulted his mechanic, and then trundled off in his Voisin biplane," reminisces the author of an article from the Sidney Morning Herald. 

"WOMEN IN BOXES" PREMIER

The world premiere of Women in Boxes (the only documentary about Magic’s Better half) will take place June 19^th and 21^st at the Cinevegas film Festival.  Go to the website for more information:  www.womeninboxes.com. The documentary’s creator, Blaire Baron Larsen will be on NPR’s “Weekend America” Saturday May 17^th – along with Sophie Evans (Kevin James right hand) in a piece about magic assistants.  Go to womeninboxes.com for the link to the times – it airs nationwide.

MAGIC AS AN OLYMPIC SPORT?

A magician is bidding to introduce a 'touch of magic' to this year's Olympics event in Beijing! The once vibrant and popular sport of Synchronised Magic, also known as Sink Magic, has long been forgotten but could be set for a dramatic renaissance thanks to magician and children's entertainer, Bob McBratney, who is also president of The Harrogate Society of Magicians," opens an article from the Harrogate Advisor.  "There is far more to the Olympics than a bit of running. We already have synchronised swimming so what's the different between that and synchronised magic," says the magician in a piece from the Yorkshire Evening Post. According to the Yorkshire Post, " It is thought magic was last performed at a competitive level during the reign of Henry V."  

CELEBRACADABRA :: CHRIS MARTIN

In the first of our series of Celebracadabra Conversations, we featured an interview with Magic Castle member and Celebracadabra Executive Producer Chris Martin. Chris is the driving force behind the idea of a celebrity reality show focused around the art of magic and illusion. Our friends at iTricks.com have also posted an interesting discussion with Chris following the airing of the second episode in which the Comedian Ant was eliminated. Chris teases us with the possibility of a return of the show's villain and welcomes people to email him questions at show@itricks.com.   In our with Chris from late April, he takes us through the complete magical journey from inspiration to execution. Click the PLAY button below to listen to our interview with Chris Martin. (Subcribe to the "Magic Newswire" via iTunes HERE.)  

THAT TRULY AMAZING KRESKIN

The View Magazine profiles Kreskin in an article bearing the above title that calls him the most respected "supernatural thinker" of our time. “As a mentalist, the one ability I have is that I’m able to perceive peoples’ thoughts,” explains Kreskin of his craft. “I believe in telepathic phenomena, but I really think that the predictions are intuitive because of the backlog of stuff that I must be thinking that I’m not conscious of. It’s organized, it’s put together — I don’t think I can look into a crystal ball and [answer] someone who asks, ‘am I going to get married next year?’ But many things that happen are starting now. Many things that take place are not as spontaneous — certainly elections are not, unfortunately some wars not, but the weather is not either."

FREAK OUT BUSINESS

A review of Christopher Carter Messes with your Mind from the Pioneer local promotes the mentalist's show which is to be presented  at 8p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 9 and 10 at the Skokie Music Theatre. Carter's mind-bending talents became evident early. As a kid, he hung around his Uncle Bud's poker games. Between emptying ashtrays and fetching snacks, Carter discovered he had an uncanny ability to read "tells" -- the subtle, all-but-subliminal physical clues that indicate whether people are bluffing. Before he got out of grade school, he was able to predict which card someone was going to play merely by tuning into their body language.

 

NATHAN BURTON PRODUCES LARRY KING IN DRAG

From Robin Leach's Luxe Life Column we lear that Las Vegas Magician Nathan Burton was among the performers selected to open the 20th Anniversary gala for Larry Kings Cardiac Foundation dinner in Washington DC. Larry made his entrance to the event after Nathan Burton made the talk show personality dressed in a pink showgirl costume like those worn by the female performers in his Flamingo stage show. While dressing in drag before the performance, King told Burton, “I’m 74, I might die getting out of this thing.” 

TEACHER FIRED FOR "WIZARDRY"

  WATCH THE VIDEO REPORT ON THIS STORY FROM TAMPAS NEW'S CHANNEL 10: