Wednesday
May142008
SNEAK PEAK OF "ILLUSIONIST" AT CANNES
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Pathe will unveil the much-anticipated first footage from the Sylvain Chomet animated film "The Illusionist" (L'Illusionniste) at the Marche du Film in Cannes. Chomet is both the writer and director of this adaptation of original and previously unproduced material by Jacques Tati. Work on the project was started in 2006 and it is scheduled for release in the UK and France in 2009. The budget for the 2D and CGI generated film is said to be $22MIL. "The Illusionist" tells the story of "a dying breed of stage entertainer whose thunder is being stolen by emerging rock stars. Forced to accept increasingly obscure assignments in fringe theaters, garden parties and bars, he meets a young fan who changes his life forever."
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In the most recent of our 
It is with a heavy heart that we report on the passing of on of the legends of magic, Herb Zarrow. Born in Paterson, New Jersey in 1925, Herb Zarrow became interested in magic at a very young age after obtaining a Gilbert magic set and books on the art. He later became one of magic's innovators and is best known for creating the Zarrow Shuffle. He also invented: Herb Zarrow's Switch Change, Herb Zarrow's Trapeze, Herb Zarrow Retention Pass, Zarrow Block Addition and the Universal Count Grip. His creations have been included in such revered works as the Tarbell Course in Magic, Epilogue, Pallbearers, Chronicles, Apocalypse, Rigamarole, MUM, & Linking Ring plus books by Dai Vernon, Karl Fulves, Harry Lorayne, Richard Kaufman and J.B. Bobo's Modern Coin Magic. Zarrow was featured on the cover of The Linking Ring magazine after being honored at the 2001 annual Fetchers' Finger Flicking Frolic convention for lifetime achievement. Mr. Zarrow died from complications of pneaumonia. Services will be held on Tuesday May 13th at 1:30pm at Temple Sholom (385 Howland Ave) in River Edge, New Jersey. His close friend and Past National President of the Society of American Magicians, Warren Kaps will perform the traditional “Broken Wand” ceremony. Herb, thank you for walking among us.
According to the UK Mirror
A recent meeting of the Victoria Magic Circle turned into a memorial for one of its most accomplished members, Tony Eng, who died on Sunday at the age of 61. "The Ambassador of Magic," was to have made the annual presentation of the trophy named in his honor to the member presenting the most original close-up trick or routine. 
"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." 
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 
"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 
The world premiere of Women in Boxes (the only documentary about Magic’s Better half) will take place June 19th and 21st at the Cinevegas film Festival.