UPDATE :: HOUDINI REMAINS MUM

Television medium Kim Dennis walked out of the Houdini Museum session when asked to answer three simple Houdini questions posed by James Randi.  Canadian television, radio and phone clairvoyant Kim Dennis contacted Mr. Jeff Blood, closest living relative of the Houdini family, claiming she was in contact with Houdini and requested a meeting. He decided to have the meeting at Scranton's famed Houdini Museum  Near the start of the meeting she asked if anyone had any questions for Houdini. Mr. Blood had a health question only Houdini would know, which she said she would answer later, but never did. Dick Brooks brought out three questions sent by James Randi, the answers to which were in a sealed envelope. She would not consider the questions, abruptly stopped the session, and angrily walked out of the session, never to return. Dorothy Dietrich, who organized the event, said, "We have it all on tape. Many have tried to contact the great Houdini since he died in 1926 but none have ever succeeded."  Kim Dennis later did not want to appear for a TV cameraman from network affiliate WYOU TV who arrived later to interview her, when she was in the outside patio. She ran away up the stairs to the parking lot and got in her car. She claims on her website, "I travelled to heaven where I was sometimes taught by a guide," but did not appear to have their help on this occasion. 

TELLER'S ZOMBIE TALES TWO

From Crackle: & Teller 2

DAVID BLAINE MAKES WISH COME TRUE

David Blaine recently made a trip to London where he made a boy's dream of meeting him come true. Tim Bingham suffers from an illness which has left him unable to move his limbs. It's so rare that it has been named Bingham's Syndrome. Tim recently contacted the Make a Wish foundation to see if they could help him meet his hero, David Blaine. David read about the request on the web and set up the meeting himself. According to press reports, They spent two hours chatting at the Hilton Hotel at Heathrow Airport, where David treated his exclusive audience to card tricks and made sure Tim had all the food and drink he wanted. Delighted Tim, who swapped numbers with the star and has been exchanging text messages since, said: "I was very nervous when I met him but he made me very comfortable and we had dinner together and now we're good friends. I'm looking forward to seeing him again."

MCCAMBRIDGE RECEIVES MERLIN AWARD

Gerry McCambridge has been presented with the The International Magicians Society's Merlin Award for Mentalist of the Decade. According to the press release, Gerry is the very first Mentalist in the organization’s 40-year history to receive the Merlin Award. The award was presented to Gerry by the president of the I.M.S., Tony Hassini, on August 25th, 2008 in Las Vegas immediately following Gerry’s performance. His wife and children were present on stage when he accepted the award.

TELLER SPEAKS

The IdeaFestival is a unique non-linear program designed to stretch people's horizon's and promote breakthrough thinking... utilizing multiple venues to showcase, discuss and "connect" important ideas in science, the arts, design, business, film, technology, education, etc. Among the speakers at the event in Lousiville is Teller who will ask why do we need magic tricks?  Why does every kid go through a magic phase?  And why do we cheerfully go into a theater to have someone abuse our cognitive skills?  Magic:  what good is it?  The Idea Festival takes place Sept 25 - 28. 

CONTACTING HOUDINI'S GHOST

Clairvoyant Kim Dennis, one of Canada's most famous mediums is flying to The Houdini Museum on Monday, August 25, in an attempt to get a message from Houdini who died October 31, 1926, for the Houdini families closest living relative, Jeff Blood. Also invited to attend the event that will take place at 7 PM will be Dorothy Dietrich, well known magician and curator of the museum; Dick Brooks internationally known paranormalist; Richard Bangs, former President of the Society of American Magicians in New York and others. The press is also invited as well to attend.  Kim has agreed to ask Houdini several questions to prove contact, at the start of the reading. Mr Blood has asked several participants to supply questions that only Houdini could answer. 

BILLY KIDD ON THE FRINGE

The Edmonton Fringe Festival attracts many interesting an unique performers. Among those is a hometown girl who travels the world performing in the male dominated field that is magic! Billy Kidd stands out from the crowd as one of the few successful female street performers, but has also appeared at more traditional locations as the Magic Castle in Hollywood. During her recent appearance at the Edmonton Fringe Festival, Billy was profiled in an article from the Edmonton Journal.   There are also some advantages to being the lone female magician on the site. Kidd adds a touch of sexuality to her performances. She not only showcases expertise in sleight of hand, but also a sleight of tongue. Additionally, Kidd can get away with certain jokes that would be offensive if a male told them. "I've got an androgynous look going," and can joke with both men and women, she says. She also makes light of her Asian background. Jokes are a key part of every magician's performance. she says. "Funny is money. It's all entertainment."

DIAMOND JIM TYLER :: MIRRORS MOVIE

The new movie MIRRORS has now been released in the US. The thriller stars Kiefer Sutherland and was directed by Alex Aja. Magician Diamond Jim Tyler was contacted to consult and says of the experience, "The company saw that I would be in Hollywood (working the Castle) at the same time they needed to produce their piece. I was called and we worked things out. They thought who better than a magician to deliver this. I encouraged them to shoot it at the Castle, which they did. It was a lot of fun." WATCH THE MIRRORS FEATURETTE:

MINKIN'S MAGICAL RAINSTORM

David Minkin continues to mesmerize his audiences with close-up magic including the production of rain at his fingertips as he prepares for the reprisal of his Evening of Enchantment at Malibu's Beau Rivage. A recent observer relates the experience in an article from the Jewish Journal. If you closed your eyes, it sounded like soft rain falling in the dimly lit wine cellar. The sound gradually grew in intensity as two-dozen hands rubbing against one another switched to rapid snapping, then to clapping, creating the auditory illusion of a rainstorm. David Minkin then turned the illusion into reality -- he conjured water out of thin air, standing a few feet away from his awestruck audience.

NY MAGICIAN ARRESTED FOR SECRET TAPING

Magician and photographer Robert Infantino, 50, is led out of Fifth Precinct stationhouse, heading for arraignment in Central Islip criminal court to answer charges in video-spying on a mother and her two daughters. (Photo by James Carbone / August 21, 2008) As posted earlier today, Robert Infantio was charged with secretly videotaping a mother and her two daughters while they changed for a photoshoot in his home. According to an updated story from Newsday, "Robert Infantino, better known as "Bob," bills himself as "Long Island's Favorite Magician." But chances are his customers are less than thrilled with his photography Thursday, the day after Infantino, 50, was arrested by Suffolk County police, who said he secretly videotaped a mother and her two young daughters during a "free photo shoot" at his home. The girls were aged 10 and 14, police said. At his arraignment Thursday at First District Court in Central Islip, Infantino was ordered held on $180,000 cash bail, and Judge Gerard Asher issued a temporary order of protection for the woman and her children.

A prosecutor said during the arraignment that investigators have discovered hard core child pornography on a computer seized from Infantino's house."