COPPERFIELD'S "KING OF MAGIC" AWARD VANISHES INTO THIN AIR AFTER PARTY

According to the New York Post:

An award given to magician David Copperfield disappeared into thin air, the old-fashioned way, from his Midtown penthouse. Copperfield recently received a “King of Magic” honor, bestowed by the Society of American Magicians, at a reception at his apartment. After an evening of toasts, cake and champagne to celebrate - (snip) Copperfield followed the crowd out the door and enjoyed a late dinner on the town. But when he got back home -- presto chango! -- he discovered his front door was wide open, and the cherished plaque was nowhere to be found. The magic man is now offering a $50,000 reward for its safe return. 

I'm not accusing anyone of anything, but where was David's favorite "masked magician" at that time? ;-)

From the NY POST's previous reporting on the birthday party itself:

"Another eerie moment occurred during the tour of Copperfield’s pad when a mystery man was discovered inexplicably dancing in the tub in the bathroom adjoining the bedroom. The stranger was immediately ordered to disappear."

  

Another report on the party from WWD: 

One almost felt a little badly for David Copperfield on Wednesday evening at his birthday-cum-Fantastic Man launch party in his Park Avenue penthouse. 

“Has nobody heard of coasters?” Copperfield moaned in fake-exasperation that might have belied some real frustration. “This is our first party here, and I think maybe our last. I keep racing after people to pick up their glasses. I restored all these arcade machines, painstakingly. For years.” 

Copperfield tilted his head at an angle and handed back a Champagne flute that had been resting atop a wood-framed fortune telling machine to a partygoer who had been rooting around in her crocodile clutch. Though the scene was unfolding on Manhattan’s east side, it was impossible not to think of Las Vegas — not necessarily because of the glassed-in rooftop pool with balmy interior temperature and large, rearing terra-cotta horse statue above it, or the 360-panoramic views from any of the terraces or even the arcade games, which fill the entire first floor and line both levels of the living room — but because the look shot by Copperfield at an errant Champagne flute was one of those featured on Vegas’ billboards and buses. 

MORGAN STREBLER VANISHES FROM THE PAT BOONE THEATER

From PR Web: The Merlin award winning mentalist announced today that he has parted ways with the Pat Boone Family Theater. Strebler relinquished his ownership percentage within Liquid Metal Holdings LLC on September 3, 2011. Strebler stated that his decision was a difficult one, and that he loves the Myrtle Beach area. Morgan plans to return to Myrtle Beach when his non compete clause is up. He also stated that he wishes the Pat Boone Family Theater the best of luck moving forward with their future endeavors.

UPDATES:

WBMF NEWS REPORTS: "We're in talks with several illusionists, again just kind of hand-picking the best that we can bring to this corner because you only have one chance to open and do it right and we want to make sure that it is right," said Kelly Burton, Marketing and Sales Manager."

THE SUN NEWS: "Officials with the theater, which lost its main act three weeks ago when illusionist Morgan Strebler left, are still negotiating a contract with the illusionist picked to replace him, theater spokeswoman Monique Newton said. Newton said the theater, which had aimed to open this Saturday, has picked a replacement, but is still working out the details to bring the illusionist on board. The theater’s manager said Strebler left for health reasons."

WYRICK CLOSES NEW SHOW AT THE HILTON

As reported earlier, Steve Wyrick recently returned to Las Vegas with his new show "Ultra Magician" at the Las Vegas Hilton. Today I learned that he had cancelled all shows at the hotel. A call to the box office confirmed that there were no tickets scheduled for sale and that there was no information on re-opening or the long term status of the show at this time. Steve called me this evening to confirm that the show was on hiatus, but would in fact be reopening shortly.

Stay tuned for more info as we get it.

RIPLEY'S TO HOST STEVE SANTINI FOR AN EXTREME ESCAPE

From the Ripley's Believe It Or Not Newsroom:

 On Tuesday September 27 Steve Santini will play with death once again. His plan: escape The Dagger Trap – A 150 pound steel plate with more than a dozen razor sharp spikes aimed at his shackled body as he attempts to escape, leaving Santini with a fraction of a second and zero margin for error to avoid certain death!

The escape will take place at Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, located in Niagara Falls, Ontario on Sept 27, 2011 at 11 a.m. sharp.

This live escape marks Santini’s fifth anniversary as being named the World’s Most Extreme Escape Artist in the Ripley’s Hardcover Expect the Unexpected.  Ripley’s Believe It or Not! will be presenting Santini with an award and giving away a range of prizes to the audience in celebration.

CRISS ANGEL :: MAKING CARS VANISH AT BARRETT JACKSON

Criss Angel and his brother JD have decided to divest themselves of some of the more than 100 cars that they own between them. According to SpeedTV.com:

Master magician Criss Angel plans to make seven cars and motorcycles disappear at the Barrett-Jackson collector-car auction in Las Vegas. Well, not disappear in his usual manner (Poof! in a cloud of smoke) but sold to the highest bidders and gone from his car collection. 

"Each of these vehicles is a star in its own right," said JD, who was speaking for the collection since his younger brother, Criss, was on vacation of Mexico during a rare week off from performing. "The key is that each vehicle has appeared on Mindfreak multiple media specials and TV shows, car shows and displays at the casinos"

The official car for season three of Mindfreak was this custom 1969 Chevrolet Camaro coupe (Lot 652.2) which has been driven less than 100 miles since its complete restoration. As well as appearing on Angel’s show, the Camaro made many other appearances, including a stint on Larry King Live and MTV’s Cribs. The car has received a unique ghost-flame paint scheme with Angel’s signature skeleton images airbrushed in. The restored interior features another killer audio system from Kenwood, including V2 subwoofer and midrange amps. The bucket seats are adorned with the official Criss Angel autograph.

JD said that each winning bidder will receive special TV footage, publicity material and other extras along with their vehicle. There will also be “a special bonus to be announced for the winning bidders,” he added. 

READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE

STEVE COHEN AT CARNEGIE HALL

This just in from our friend Steve Cohen: 

I can't tell you how excited I am to share this newsletter with you.

Since I was a little junior magician, I always dreamed of performing on stage at Carnegie Hall. Well, it's actually happening! The date for my stage show, "Theater of Wonder" is set for January 12, 2012.

Tickets just went on sale this week at the Carnegie Hall box office, and I want to make sure that you knew about it first.

 

This is a one-night only performance of my stage show – which is entirely different from “Chamber Magic,” now in its eleventh year at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel. If you’ve been to my smaller show and want to see more magic, “Theater of Wonder” is for you.

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THE MAGIC OF SARMOTI CONTINUES

The participation of Siegfried & Roy in the annual launch of Octoberfest at the eight year old Vegas Hofbrauhaus is well documented.  On Saturday, the tradition continued as documented by Norm Clarke for the Las Vegas Review Journal.

To a wild ovation, Roy walked from the front door to the stage without a cane, walker or human assistance.

"It gave me goose bumps," said Stefan Gastager, managing partner.

It was another example of how far Roy has come since the career-ending, near-fatal encounter with a tiger at The Mirage in October 2003.

LOOK IN YOUR MAILBOX...

...but only if you registered for EMC 2011 ! Here's what I got today! Well done Marco & Luis!  Don't forget that it still isn't too late! Register Here to get this amazing 8 DVD set and access to the content online.   (Note: This is NOT a sponsored post! This is a post from a fan!)Remove

FROM THE ARCHIVES : THE MAGICIAN AND THE CARDSHARP

From August of 2006 via WBUR:

Dai Vernon, considered among the most influential magicians of the 20th century, could do just about any trick that called for sleight of hand. He was obsessed with learning the secrets of crooked card dealers. But there was one move he couldn't master.

In the The Magician and the Cardsharp, author Karl Johnson documents Vernon's quest to find the one man who was able to perform the holy grail of card tricks -- the so-called "center deal," dealing a specific card from anywhere in the deck, undetected.

Vernon's search took him from one sleazy dive to another: bars, nightclubs, pool halls, and smoke-filled back rooms. In 1932, the trail finally led him to a little white house in Pleasant Hill, Mo., where Allen Kennedy lived.

Kennedy didn't disappoint Vernon, showing him exactly how to perform the trick great gamblers had assumed was a fairytale.

Vernon died in 1992 at the age of 98. But at the Magic Castle, a Los Angeles club for magicians, there's a seat permanently reserved in his honor.

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NEIL PATRICK HARRIS RECEIVES STAR ON WALK OF FAME

One of the magic community's favorite hollywood connections will be honored with a star on the Walk of Fame today. Academy of Magical Arts president Neil Patrick Harris discussed it with Variety HERE saying,

"I did, when I was younger, fantasize about one day having a star on the Walk of Fame, and I always wanted it in front of Hollywood Magic. That was a magic shop, and there was one star that was never filled in, that was blank, right in front of the shop -- which last year shuttered, and doesn't exist anymore," the 38-year-old entertainer says sadly.

"This won't be the first time I've been plastered on the sidewalk in front of the Frolic Room," he said.
LISTEN TO MY FIRST INTERVIEW WITH NPH HERE:

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LISTEN TO MY SECOND CHAT WITH NPH HERE:

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