David Blaine was among artists visiting Bridgeport, Connecticut schools yesterday as part of the Turnabout Arts Program. He told students that he loved math, but eventually turned his attention to magic. Read more about the visit on the Connecticut Post website (which is where we found the above video).
David Blaine made an unannounced trip to Baltimore yesterday to attempt to help to lighten the mood in the besieged town. According to the Washington Post (also the source of the video above) he said “I just want to be here, to let people know we care and to see people smile for a moment.” The International Business Times had additional coverage of Blaine’s trip to Baltimore. Hopefully, his appearance can help to lessen the tensions in the riot torn city.
International iTricksters may not be aware that today is Presidents’ Day in the States. Basically, it is a bank holiday that brings us sales on linens and automobiles. To celebrate this fine holiday we bring you not discounted duvet covers but this video of David Blaine with former president George Bush from the Real Or Magic special.
The footage above, from KPIX in San Francisco, shows magician and escape artist Zack Mirza performing an upside down straightjacket escape last Friday over the Justin Herman Plaza.
As reported last week, Friday was Roy Horn’s 70th birthday and the Las Vegas Sun has coverage of his celebration, which was held at 1923 Bourbon & Burlesque and included the cast of Michael Jackson One.
According to CBS Sports, Minnesota Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders is trying a variety of things to engage and motivate his players, including bringing in magician and motivational speaker The Amazing Hondo. You can learn more about Hondo at his website.
The New York Post is reporting that the warden that allowed David Blaine to come in and entertain prisoners at The Manhattan Detention Center in New York City has lost his job. They report that the performance was the reason for his dismissal; his superiors were upset that Blaine’s appearance had been made fun of by people such as Dvid Letterman.
Finally, iTricks tips its hat to Penguin Magic. After the most recent Tarbell: Every Trick In The Book lesson, on thumbtip magic, came out many magicians were no doubt looking at their battered tips and thinking about getting a new one. Penguin sent an email out to subscribers (and maybe everyone who had purchased the lesson, we are not sure) not to advertise their thumbtips but to give away gift certificates good for a free classic Vernet tip! Shipping was even included.
First up is Mat Franco’s second performance from last night’s episode of America’s Got Talent. Tonight’s results show will see each of the finalist performance with a celebrity and all have been announced except for who will be joining Mat Franco. Birthday boy David Copperfield (maybe)? David Blaine (we think he is still in Asia)? Penn and Teller (probably not; they would be running against their own show in many markets)? Kathie Lee and Hoda (again)? Tune in tonight to find out.
Speaking of TV, we still have Fool Us and Masters of Illusions to look forward to in the US this week. Did you see Wizard Wars last night? Great line up, another solid show.
Speaking of David Blaine, he is still in the Philippines and there was another write up of his show on the site Inquirer.net. Apparently he was joined in his underwater breath holding demonstration by a skeptical young lady from the audience… He clocked over ten minutes and she lasted “a few seconds!”
Robin Leach’s Strip Scribbles column in the Las Vegas Sun has a bit on the Naked Magicians, who will be making a limited run at the Tommy Wind Theatre in Vegas late October.
Finally, The Hollywood Reporter has a review of Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles, which just played Telluride. You may want to catch it when it comes to your town (or favorite video on demand outlet).
David Blaine continues his tour, arriving in Manila yesterday and stopping by the studios of Umagang Kay Ganda to amaze the hosts before his live show.
Screenrant is reporting that Now You See Me 2 will be released on June 10, 2016 and that it will be titled Now You See Me 2. Between you and me, I worry about any sequel that can’t even think of a better name than Original Title 2…
Lest you were worried that there was no magic at the Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka wedding, guest Kelly Ripa reported on her show Live! With Kelly and Michael that there was, as well as music from Elton John.
Lest you were worried that Dynamo’s final season of Magician Impossible would end all of the Dynamo/One Direction talk, The Mirror is reporting that they may tour together.
Hey you sharps and cardists out there, have you seen the new Tycoons from Steve Cohen and Theory 11? Pretty sweet… they are on the Theory 11 site.
The Lantern ran a very cool story about the P3 Magic Theater in Columbus, Ohio. That is where, every Tuesday night, shows are held to work out material and shoot footage for Penguin Magic releases. Check it out here.
VegasNews.com is reporting that Murray SawChuck will be adding another magician to his show this fall. Rob Anderson, his Wizard Wars team mate, will join the show at the Laugh Factory in the Tropicana.
Speaking of Wizard Wars, it was the subject of a Fast Company article yesterday. They spoke with Penn Jillette as well as contestants Adam Trent and Dan Sperry about magic and why it remains relevant in the 21st century. Over at JerseyNews.com, Mark Calabrese (who competed on the show last night with John Stessel against Billy Kidd and Leon Ettiene) was the subject of a nice profile.
David Blaine is touring Asia right now and Malaysian news site The Edge reviewed his show. He was joined by Yann Frisch and Todd Robbins.
Congratulations to Tony Chris who, as discussed in a recent Tri Cities Now article, won a silver for mentalism and the gold for stage magic at the recent Pacific Coast Association of Magicians competition.
Finally, Mike Super’s performance from last night’s America’s Got Talent is running above… tonight’s results show will reveal the fate of Super, David and Leeman and Mat Franco but it is scheduled to run at the same time as President Obama’s address to the nation in the Eastern and Central time zones. At time of writing, there was no word from NBC on whether the episode would be shown after the address or simply rescheduled.