RICKY JAY ROCKS CANADA!

Ricky Jay seems to be the celebrity of choice in Canada as we lead up to the performance of his new show "Rogues Gallery" in Bathurst May 14-16. The first is "Man of Mysteries: from EyeWeekly, in which the Master Conjuror discusses everything from his early days opening for Cheech & Chong, his mentors Dai Vernon & Charlie Miller, and on to his first meeting with David Mamet, the Director of his stage shows. “David Mamet always used to say that he loved coming over to my house and going through print drawers and files because they’d become the introductions to all these crazy stories,” says Jay. “So we came up with the idea of doing that onstage. Many pieces that I’ve collected over the years will be projected on a screen and part of the show will allow people in the audience to suggest which images I will talk about. Some of these lead to performance pieces and others might lead to other surprising avenues.”

Now Toronto's Ricky Jay : He's a Magic Man describes Jay as the "odd man out" in the modern world of professional magicians which they describe as "re-envisioned, self-styled rock stars."

“You probably will not be seeing people dressed in fringe and severing various parts of their bodies,” Jay says about his act, on the phone from Los Angeles. “My show is a blend of sleight-of-hand, stories and conversation.”

Jay dodges comparisons to his contemporaries preferring instead to discuss his own style.

“One of my inspirations is old magic literature. Even as a kid, I realized that people who were interested in magic would buy the latest trick for sale, and I always wanted what I did to be different. My ideal crowd would be two or three people, but I do love live theatre.”

In this piece, they also offer several audio clips of Jay discussing the show. Listen Here:

• On his new show "A Rogue's Gallery" :: LISTEN TO THE MP3
• On his approach to performing :: LISTEN TO THE MP3
• On the difference between magicians :: LISTEN TO THE MP3
• On old magical texts for inspiration :: LISTEN TO THE MP3

In The Globe & Mail's article, "Ricky Jay conjures up a new kind of show," he focuses on the fact that "Rogue's Gallery" focuses not only on his love of conjuring, but also on himself.

“The first night I did it, someone happened to pick an image of my grandfather. I became quite emotional talking about him,” Jay acknowledged, then added, “I am one of these people who can wind up weeping at reruns of Gilligan's Island.” Still, he found that he “didn't dislike,” the way he felt, reacting like that in front of an audience.

• In addition, Listen to Ricky as a guest on CBC's "Q" the Podcast:

And.. there's yet one more...Ricky was the guest of honor on "The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulus" on May 13th, 2009. This one was particulary interesting because you actually get a preview of the show when Ricky comments on some of the images used in the show. Watch Here

Thanks to  Silverking for sharing this additional info with us!

PENN & TELLER TEST AIRPORT SECURITY

Penn & Teller have taken aim at the Transportation Security Administration in their live performances by introducing a set piece which Penn first discussed via Twitter. USA Today recently caught up with the duo and describe it as "a brand new bit for which Penn & Teller purchased their very own TSA-style metal detector creates a platform for discussing the Fourth Amendment, the section of the Bill of Rights that addresses unreasonable searches and seizures." Penn elaborates by saying,

"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," Jillette explains.

In addition to that real metal detector, Penn & Teller bring out one of those wands we've all had waved over us at the airport when the change in our pocket or the wire from our bra causes the machinery to beep. An audience member is invited up on stage to make sure the equipment is working, and when Jillette's pocket beeps he hands over a playing-card-sized piece of metal that just happens to have the Bill of Rights printed on it with the Fourth Amendment highlighted. Jillette says it usually elicits a big laugh when he gives the audience-assistant the mini-metal Bill of Rights and tells him how much fun it will be if he keeps it in pocket when going through the security checkpoint at McCarran International Airport.

MNW #110 :: JAMES RANDI

The Amazing Randi joins us on this episode of the "Spirit of Magic" podcast before appearing as a featured performer at the upcoming 100th Anniversary Salute to Magic show in New York City. Randi began his career as a mentalist and magician before becoming known as a scientific sceptic challenging those who claim to have paranormal abilities. He gained fame in this field after an ongoing feud between himself and Uri Gellar in the mid to late 1970's. Randi himself rejects the title of "debunker" preferring instead to be seen as an investigator in the field of pseudo-science and is the author of many books on the subjects of the paranormal, skepticism and the history of conjuring. Randi talks with me about his career in these varied fields and about his motivation as a paranormal skeptic.

LISTEN TO MY CONVERSATION WITH JAMES RANDI:

OTHER WAYS TO LISTEN: GET IT AT ITUNES :: MP3 DOWNLOAD HTML 5 PLAYER ::

GETTING PERSONAL WITH RICKY JAY

As he begins a run of his new show "Rogue's Gallery" in Toronto this weekend, Ricky Jay is interviewed by The Star and answers some questions from the readers. "What makes this show different from the other scripted ones I've done in the past," Jay says, "is that the audience actually helps decide the shape the evening is going to take by the images that they choose. It winds up turning it into the most autobiographical show I've ever done. "I love amazing people," Jay concludes. "I love dazzling them. That's why I think performing magic is one of the greatest things a person can do."

MAGIC NEWSCAST :: 100TH ANNUAL SALUTE TO MAGIC

Sal Perotta from Sam Assembly 1 in NYC joins us on this Magic Newscast to talk about the 100th annual Salute to Magic. the longest running annual magic show in the history. For the 100th Annual Salute, they have put together an extraordinary theatrical presentation that focuses on some of the highlights of that amazing history. Several special re-created performances and tributes to past important Salute performers will be featured. The show will also include the world premier of several new magical effects and illusions created just for this event! The Salute show will also include giant video screens on either side of the stage to enlarge the live performers, as well as, show film clips of some classic performers!  The performers will include Paul Daniels, Eric DeCamps, David Ben, Mike Caveney, Scott Interrante, The Pendragons, The Amazing Randi, Margaret Steele, Johnny and Pam Thompson and many surprise guests! This is a one night only performance to be held at 8PM on May 16th, 2009 at the Manhattan Center in midtown NY.

SPONSORED BY:

The Sorcery Shop • Maxello Magic • NY Magic Project Street of Cards • Magic Show Builder • Listener Donations

LISTEN TO OUR INTERVIEW WITH SAL PEROTTA

OTHER WAYS TO LISTEN:

RSS :: GET IT AT ITUNES :: ZUNE :: MP3 DOWNLOAD

IS IT STILL APRIL FOOLS DAY?

As we reported on April 1st, there were stories alleging that David Copperfield was consulting with Michael Jackson to deliver several magic effects in his upcoming tour performance. Chris Kenner told us that there was no truth to these discussions as reported in our story at that time. New stories are circulating which say that Jackson has fired Copperfield and hired Chris Angel after a disagreement over fees. Widely rumored, but not true. Criss Angel's spokesperson Steve Flynn says: "There is no truth to the Michael Jackson rumors whatsoever."

LANCE BURTON CANCELS SHOWS AFTER INJURY

In an email from Wayne Bernath we learned that Lance Burtonhas canceled his shows at the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino through June 2. According to Wayne, "During the Thursday night show, Lance twisted his right foot but managed to finish The show. It was discovered that the foot had been fractured when it was x-rayed on Friday. Lance Burton and his "Master Magician" show will return to their normal schedule on Tuesday, June 2. This is the first time Lance Burton has broken a bone during and of the 15,000 shows that he has performed over 30 years, or during his 13 years at the Monte Carlo. He is going in for treatment on Monday morning by an orthopedic surgeon. The doctor says it should take two to four weeks to heal. All tickets are refundable from the point of purchase." Norm offers further details on the incident in his LVRJ column :: "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."

MNW #109 :: PAUL DANIELS

Paul Daniels, arguably the best known magician in the UK is our guest on this episode of the "Spirit of Magic" podcast. Paul has been performing magic since he was eleven years old. He starred in his own television series "Its Magic" for more than sixteen years and was awarded Golden Rose of Montreux Award at the International TV Festival in Switzerland in 1985. In 1983, paul became the first magician from outside the US to be named "Magician of the Year" by the Academy of Magical Arts. Paul still tours with his magic show, and recently presented a intimate show focused on the ‘Magic of Max Malini’.

LISTEN TO MY CONVERSATION WITH PAUL DANIELS:

OTHER WAYS TO LISTEN: ITUNES :: MP3 DOWNLOAD

HTML 5 PLAYER ::

WHERE HAS THE GOOD MAGIC GONE

Piers Morgan, one of the judges for Britain's Got Talent, bemoans that lack of good magicians on the hit UK talent show in an article from the Sun. "I've seen some great magic acts and we're all aware of people like David Blaine and David Copperfield, and we've seen nothing like that on Britain's Got Talent in three years. I don't know where they are, or whether they're scared because we have a sort of anti-magician feel to the show." He said the programme has no shortage of great singers, dancers and musicians, but lacks good magicians, jugglers and fire-eaters. Here's one they seemed to have liked from a previous season::

THE PLAYBOY LIST OF SEXY MAGICIAN'S ASSISTANTS

The Playboy List this week delivers a montage of video clips which feature sexy magician's assistants including Pamela Anderson, Copperfield's "Voyeur" and Anthony Reed's eye candy. "Illusionists employ sexy assistants for a reason. Slight of hand and long of leg, they are the perfect misdirection. After all, who is going to notice what David Copperfield is doing when a half-naked double-jointed showgirl is pointing, preening and posing beside him? So, abracadabra: We tip our top hats to some sorcerers’ apprentices you’ll want to keep your eyes fixed upon."