JAMES FRANCO AS CIRCUS MAGICIAN IN "OZ"

Several sources including Ace Showbiz have posted what appears to be a leaked Italian movie poster for the film "Oz" which gives us a first look at James Franco in the starring role.  

Franco once discussed his role when attending the 2012 CinemaCon in Las Vegas last April. He said at that time, "I get to play all these sides of Americano - the idea of American heroes - part of cowboy, part of weird magician, part con-man, part romantic man. I really got to play everything from classic cinema." 

"Oz: The Great and Powerful" imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum's beloved character, the Wizard of Oz. When Franco's Oscar Diggs, a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he's hit the jackpot. 

However, that only lasts until he meets three witches, Theodora, Evanora and Glinda, who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone's been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it's too late. 

HELL'S KITCHEN GETS MAGICAL

As we have been discussing on the Genii forums, the new opening for the 10th season of Hell's Kitchen has a magical theme. Until now, I could only point people to Hulu to see it. Now, thanks to JaSchAirbourne, anyone with access to YouTube can see it. Thanks to Mark Weisen for sending me the link!

BUY HARRY ANDERSON'S GRAPPLER!

Don't be fooled, folks. Potter & Potter's June 23rd auction may be billed as a Gambling Memorabilia sale, but there's plenty of material in the auction for magicians to love. From a first edition of Erdnase to holdouts, crooked dice and juice joints, there's likely something of interest for magic collectors. In fact, the cover of the auction catalog features a gambling device used by a famous magician - Harry Anderson. It's a holdout made by Owen Magic Supreme of California, and used by Anderson on both Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Take a look at the complete catalog, or watch a video of Anderson performing his holdout routine on Youtube.

CYRIL HANGS OUT IN MUBAI

PHOTO : DNA INDIAAs part of a promotion for his upcoming show "Cyril's Family Vacation :: Hawaii Edition," Cyril announced that he would perform a special illusion at the Carter Road Promenade in Mubai. The result is pictured here. His AXN show follows Cyril and his alter-egos of his grandmother (Grandma Magi), his very fat and food-obsessed cousin (ironically called Cousin Tiny) and his Uncle (obsessed with hot women) around Hawaii as they play tricks on unsuspecting people in public places. 

RAY BRADBURY - MAGICIAN

In addition to Jonthan Pendragon's excellent write-up on the passing of Raybradbury, Forbes has an outstanding piece which quotes Bradbury as saying:

"I always wanted to be a magician, and of course that’s what I turned out to be."

"The best description of me is a magician and not a science-fiction writer."

READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE

MAGICIAN ARRESTED FOR BANK ROBBERY

According to the NY Times, magician RJ Williams has been charged in a string of Bank Robberies in Brooklyn.

The authorities said the man, Robert J. Williams, 22, had robbed six banks, including three last Friday. He was arrested on Wednesday after returning to a bank that the police believe he robbed last week, the authorities said. Mr. Williams was in the process of writing a demand note on the back of a deposit slip at Apple Bank in the Midwood section, the police said, when a teller recognized him and their eyes locked. Mr. Williams disappeared out the door without any money, the police said, but two bank employees followed him and saw him slip into a doorway, reappearing after a quick change of clothes.

You can see Williams in action, eating a bulb not robbing the bank of course, in this video:

VERNON & HENNING IN EARLY CBC FOOTAGE

Thanks to Richard Hatch for sharing this link!

THE MAD MAGICIAN APPEARS ON DVD

From DVDDrive-in.com we learn that the 1954 Vincent Price film "The Mad Magician is finally coming to DVD under the Columbia Classic's brand label.

"Price is at his terrifying best as Gallico the Great, an inspired inventor of magic acts who longs to perform his creations himself. When he finally gets his chance, the production is closed by Gallico’s cruel manager, who wants a rival magician to perform Gallico’s greatest trick, The Lady and the Buzz Saw. An enraged Gallico turns into a homicidal maniac, taking out his victims with the same methods he used to create his illusions. The film also stars Mary Murphy, Eva Gabor and Patrick O’Neal (CHAMBER OF HORRORS). Originally shown in 3-D, the DVD will be the flat version, but presented widescreen anamorphic."

BANACHEK PREDICTS FRONT PAGE OF THE STAR

While at the Luminato Festival. Banacheck predicted the front page of the Toronto Star:

The surprise retirement of I’ll Have Another was there. The out-of-the-blue bid for the 2024 Olympics was there. The story on gang violence? There. He even had the feature article on Australian Aboriginals.

In a feat of unbelievable (no, really) news forecasting, U.K. mentalist Banachek seems to have accurately predicted the front page of Saturday’s Star 10 days in advance.

The professional magician, who’s worked as a consultant for Penn & Teller, David Blaine and Criss Angel, says he scribbled a mock-up of the June 9 front page on May 30.

READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE

THE PASSING OF RAY BRADBURY

by Jonathan Pendragon

"By the breaking of our hearts, someone loved now departs."

Ray Bradbury passed away on June 5th, at the age of 91. He was an honorary member of the Magic Castle for his contributions to the art, which are without equal. He was not a magician in the sense we are, but we will never surpass the wonder he conjured for his millions of adoring fans now and the millions more to come.

Neil Gaiman has written an obituary (which you can read here)  it takes an imagination like Neil’s to adequately express the genius that was Ray Bradbury. Given that task I can only stumble back to the cave of shadows with the reality I saw through Bradbury’s words, and hope the others can read. However, there is one story I can tell that forever links our art with his:

In 1932, a twelve year old Ray Bradbury wandered the midway of a traveling carnival. The ubiquitous melange of variety performers who appeared before him would eventually populate many of the his stories, but one in particular would be the catalyst of it all, and he was magician. The magician called himself “Mr. Electrico.” Not to be confused with Marvin Roy (Mr. Electric), we know almost nothing about this performer. He appears to have been a carnival magician who presented magic tricks using static charge, glowing arcs and other wonders relatively new to a public still in the dark about the science behind electricity. The young Ray Bradbury found a “good seat” in the front row—one where he would be close at hand should the magician need the assistance of a spectator. And sure enough, to his unimaginable joy Ray was chosen to participate in the show. Mr. Electrico approached as sparks jumped from his finger tips and grabbed the boy’s hand, delivering a mild shock. Then the magician looked into Bradbury’s eyes and exclaimed, “Live forever!”  And he did.