COPPERFIELD ON COLBERT REPORT

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COPPERFIELD :: KING OF MAGIC

DAVID COPPERFIELD NAMED ‘KING OF MAGIC’ AND ‘MAGICIAN OF THE CENTURY’  

For Immediate release  New York, NY   (September 14, 2011)

The Society of American Magicians (S.A.M.) will award illusionist David Copperfield their highest honor today, “Magician of the Century”, and name him the ‘King of Magic,’ an award which has never before been given by the association. S.A.M., the oldest and most prestigious magic organization in the world founded in 1902 and led by past president Harry Houdini himself, is recognizing Copperfield for his efforts to preserve, promote and enhance the art of magic throughout his legendary career.  Its esteemed national president, Vinny Grosso, says that Copperfield has, "accomplished more than anyone else in the field of magic today."  Copperfield was named Magician of the Century for the last century, and Magician of the Millennium from other organizations.  

 

Among his many achievements, S.A.M. highlighted Copperfield’s dedication to excellence which has earned him the Living Legend Award from The Library of Congress, the first Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame awarded to a living magician, a knighthood by the French government, 11 Guinness World Records and 21 Emmy awards. He has sold more tickets than any other solo artist in history and recently crossed $3 billion in ticket sales worldwide. In 1982, Copperfield created Project Magic, which teaches sleight-of-hand magic to those with disabilities as a method of physical and occupational therapy.

 

In addition, Copperfield is the creator and curator of the International Museum and Library of Conjuring Arts, which holds the world’s largest collection of historical magical artifacts, including Houdini's Water Torture Cell and Orson Welles' Buzz Saw Illusion.

 

The Society of American Magicians was founded on May 10, 1902 in Martinka's famous magic shop in New York City, New York. For over a century it has promoted the ideals shared by Kellar, Houdini, Thurston and over 45,000 others world-wide who have held membership in the society. 

Copperfield said, “I’m humbled by the honor and grateful to be recognized by this great organization.”  

Contact  www.magicsam.com  718- 336 -0605

DAVID COPPERFIELD :: FANTASTIC MAN

From Page Six, we learn that David Copperfield is hosting a party in his NYC Penthouse apartment to celebrate his birthday and a fourteen page spread on the illusionist in the new issue of "Fantastic Man" Magazine as previewed below. According to the piece, "Nibbles from Nobu and a one-of-a-kind confection created by Crumbs for Copperfield’s birthday will disappear into the night, no magic needed."

An unrelated article in the Great Falls Tribune reports onan offer by DC to assist in the restoration of a one of a recently identified and one of a kind "Mills Verbal Fortune Teller."  

 "I don't have to have it for me. I want to make sure that she is restored to her original glory and properly preserved for generations to come," Copperfield said in a recent interview. 

"There are other verbal fortunetellers that exist, but a Mills verbal like that — that's the only one," Copperfield said.

MNW #320 :: EMC 2011 WRAP

It is no secret that I am a huge fan of the Essential Magic Conference. In this episode of the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic" podcast, I am joined by three of the presenters from this years conference, Jonathan Bayme, Rudy Coby and David Kaye. Representing the attendees are myself and Christopher Martin.

Don't forget, it isn't to late to get access to all of the fantastic videos from this year's EMC! You'll also receive the complete DVD set when they are released! Find out more and sign up today!

LISTEN TO OUR EMC 2011 WRAP ::

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R PAUL WILSON :: SCAMMED

From the History Channel TV Listings for Wednesday September 14th, 2011:

Scammed

There are essentially five cons that are the basis for every swindle since man walked upright. For example, today's Nigerian email scam is nothing more than a derivation of a Spanish Conquistador's bait and switch con that started around the year 1400. Paul Wilson, dubbed the "World's Greatest Con Man," and his team take viewers inside long and complicated schemes and even the micro-cons that have plagued unsuspecting people for hundreds, even thousands of years. Paul has successfully pulled more scams on real people than anyone in history, but he doesn't take their money. His goal is to expose these cons, hustles and schemes so that he can teach others how to avoid them.

JOSHUA JAY :: A PATIENT'S STORY

Joshua Jay recently forwarded this video in which he talks about the injury that threatened his magic career and is reunited with the surgeon that he credits for saving it:

A Patients Story :: Joshua Jay from Magic Newswire on Vimeo.

JONATHAN PENDRAGON AND THE SEARCH FOR THE GRAIL :: PART 6

"I could have conquered all of Europe, but I had women in my life."
Henry II in The Lion in Winter, by James Goldman

Women in magic? The question constantly shows up on the magic newsgroups. Often, the question comes from women themselves: “why arenʼt there more females in magic?” Have you met the male magicians?

We write books on how to pick-up women in bars with card tricks. We ask them to wear costumes that make them more an object and less a person. In grand illusion we bend them into positions we could never successfully recreate without the help of several large and determined Sumo wrestlers. And then we take the bow... alone!

The Old Boyʼs Club certainly sees women as a threat, as competition for the jobs and chances to perform they want... but then, they see everybody as a threat. There is the quasi- science of determining if a womenʼs hands are big enough to perform difficult sleights, and whether girls are introduced to the same kind of role models that boys see. Mythically speaking —and I am a myth (“there are some who call me... Tim”)—the lore is full of magical females. In Homerʼs Odyssey a goddess of magic, Circe, turns men into pigs. Women in bars, having recently endured an assortment of card tricks, might do the same without too much difficulty. There are many female magicians in the history of magic, and many performing today. So, why arenʼt there more? There will be, because all things change.

The women I am working with now came to magic before I met them. Liberty Larsen grew up with the Magic Castle. She has assisted me in an elegant two-person presentation of my “sawing,” Clearly Impossible. But she has the desire to present magic on her own, and has asked me to mentor her development in the art. HER requirements are that the magic she presents be work I would be proud to call my own. When we sat down and talked about her philosophy of presentation, I was struck by the sophistication of her thoughts as well as the chances she is willing to take. When you present something you care deeply about, you open yourself up to a scrutiny from the audience that few are willing to accept. Easier to mask yourself behind stock words and moves; itʼs something entirely different when those words and moves are your own. She is brave enough to do exactly that, and that compels respect

Misty Lee and I have performed together before, and she actually got me to sing onstage in my show Ghosts of Broadway, which is a miraculous achievement all itʼs own. Now we present “Metaphysics” together as magicians of competing points of view. Misty works harder than anyone I have ever met, and has an enthusiasm that leaves me breathless. She is stunning—with a quality that seems iconically magical—but she never takes the easy road of resting on her looks. In our show, I play a hyper-rational being and she represents the mystical. We compete and assist each other in a series of effects that display a wide range of skills. Her relationship with me has been both as student and peer. Tough goals donʼt frighten her, rather they energize her; this too demands respect.

In a previous column here on the Magic Newswire, I discussed my work with Mystina, who continues to perform with me in shows where she also presents her own material. Mystina needs no introduction... although an award would be nice; she has earned it.

Then there is my lady, West, who is my life, having given me a reason to live it. She is involved in all I do, including writing these columns (except this one; these are my words alone). Soon we will have a new performance piece we created together.

I find an ambition in the women I work with to be accepted on their own as unique and credible magicians. Itʼs all they ask for. I will continue to help them achieve what we males have always taken for granted.

Until next month... Jonathan Pendragon

SORCERER'S SAFARI : LIP DUB

T11 INSIDER 34 :: LIVE WIRE

"MAGIC IS THE BEST HOBBY IN THE WORLD!"

.... Says Magic Castle President Neil Patrick Harris in an interview with Entertainment Enquirer:

"Asked to talk some more about his passion for the art of illusion, the star of the hit movie, “The Smurfs,” and the TV series, “How I Met Your Mother,” said, “My hobby is magic. I loved going to the magic store when I was a kid. Magic is the best hobby in the world, because you can buy little tricks, learn them, then present them. You can study the history of magic, learn close-up card or illusion, mentalism and so on.”

“It’s a great private club,” he said of the Magic Castle, a residential mansion built in 1909 that is now a members-only venue offering shows, dinners and brunches. In these laid-back times, the Castle is known for its strict dress code: Coat and tie for men, and evening wear for women. “And, we’re making some changes. The food is better than ever. I never had any idea that I would have to make fiduciary decisions in a $9-million company – but, here we are!”