Genii Speaks Contact us by calling 301-652-5800, e-mailing [email protected] Richard Kaufman or surfing our website at www.geniimagazine.com

I’m somewhere over the Atlantic ocean home in Montreal, found Ken on and brought on the way from the World Seminar in back an interview and some excellent tricks—”The Zen of Las Vegas to the biggest in Ken” forms our rather unusual “Magicana” this month. • the world in Blackpool, England. I must say, it’s Jeff McBride and Abbi Spinner McBride recently brought a schlep … up at 5 am in Vegas (a horribly busy their full evening show to a casino in Laughlin, Nevada. airport where John Moehring missed his flight As an east-coast boy, my reaction was, “Laughlin where?” to Blackpool last year because of the two-hour Mike Close answers that question and brings you an check-in line—I only made my flight because intriguing report on a great show on p.56. • Good colum- the folks at United treated me extraordinarily nists are the backbone of a magazine and three of your well), then a short hop to San Francisco, then an almost favorites are with us this month: Paul Osborne brings you a 12 hour flight to London. When I emerge from this flying “Poor Man’s Self ”; Roberto Giobbi breaks down petri dish (hopefully without catching a cold from the guy the components of “Artistic Magic”; and Tony Giorgio next to me with the leaky nose), and arrive at London at returns after a long hiatus with the elegiac tale of Mr. Z, 6 a.m., there’s an hour journey to Euston Station where I’ll an advantage player in his twilight years. * Our reviews catch up with Matt Field, editor of The Magic Circular, for this month are handled elegantly by Eric Mead, Joe M. our 10:30 a.m. train to Blackpool—another three hours. Turner, and a returning David Oliver, whom I’m pleased to Blackpool is hectic, but fun. Afterward it’s off to London for welcome back after a few months off. five days of work. Richard Turner is a remarkable guy: in addition to his expertise at martial arts and various daredevil activities like the trapeze and flying in military jets, he’s also one of the best sleight-of-hand artists on the planet. He was close friends with , Larry Jennings, and Michael Skinner (all of whom considered him the best they’d ever seen), and these days Richard counts Steve Forte among his close friends. Since a lot of people consider Steve Forte the best they’ve ever seen, I can only imagine what it’s like when these two guys sit down at a table together. Richard’s performing persona is that of a riverboat gambler from the late 1800s, and he performed in actual riverboat style venues for years. Semi-retired, he works at The twice a year and does a few other bits now and then (he was at the con- Plays Poker (above) finally appeared on the market vention in Vegas). He’s recently been putting out a series after several months’ delay and it was worth the wait. This of DVDs that are really just a taste of his enormous amount deluxe and smartly boxed set includes a CD with 21 poker- of original material. Jason England, no slouch at card table related songs, about which Ricky writes in the liner notes, work himself, strips Richard out of the pack for us on p.66. “Mercifully you will not hear me sing on any of these tracks, • I can’t recall if I was 14 or 15 when Ken Krenzel started so I am able to bet my entire stack that you will enjoy the answering my questions about card magic. At Tannen’s tunes that I’ve selected … .” And you will. For magicians, magic shop on 1540 Broadway on Saturdays, always fol- however, the CD itself is the least enticing item because lowed by a trip to the Governor Cafeteria afterward, he the box also includes a wonderfully produced booklet of would happily teach me really difficult things. This had a almost 70 color pages full of memorabilia, history, and wit great benefit: he once taught me his way of doing Jerry from Ricky, along with a 30-minute DVD where Ricky dem- Andrus’s Panoramic Shift. Having learned this notoriously onstrates some fine poker and betting-related routines in balletic sleight where a light touch and balance mean the a relaxed setting with some friends, topped off by a bet difference between cards on top of the deck or cards on where he knocks an egg balanced on a rolled-up playing the floor, I was then able to tackle equally difficult things in card into a glass of liquid by tossing a card at it. The box the books Tony Spina was doing his best to sell me on an also includes a custom deck of cards from the U.S. Playing almost weekly basis. Master one genuinely difficult sleight Card Company, printed on what feels like Bee stock, which and all other difficult sleights become available to you. has a one-way back design for added mischief. Buy it on Ken is still going strong and David Acer, bravely leaving his amazon.com through the Genii Forum where you can view

10 GENII Now performing THE MAGIC CASTLE LAS VEGAS APRIL 2 TO 8 Compiled by David Neubauer Close-Up Gallery (www.dnmagic.com) Early: 7, 7:45, 8:30, 9:15 Amazing Johnathan Bob Fitch 10 pm, (Dark Thurs.), Sahara Late: 10, 10:45,11:30, Midnight Beacher’s Madhouse Bill Goodwin Christopher Karpiak, Chuck Lane, W. C. Fields Bar Tyas Frantz, 9 pm pre-show. Last a clip from the DVD and receive a 10 percent discount and (Friday and Saturday only) Sat. of the month, Hard Rock free shipping. Joe Monti Bite (Vampire Strip Revue) The Parlour of Prestidigitation Antonio Restivo,10:30 pm Early: 7:30, 8:45, 9:30 (dark Thurs.) Stratosphere Those of you who found “The Remarkable Little Man,” a Bob Dorian David Copperfield hand-cranked automaton produced by Pierre Meyer, and Late: 9:45, 11:15, Midnight 7:30 & 10 pm, 4:30 Sat. & about which I wrote in the October 2005 Genii, interest- Dana Daniels some Sun. MGM Grand. ing, may be even more interested to learn that he has Palace Of Mystery Through April 19 produced a functioning miniature version that’s about 8:30, 10:00, 11:15 Gerry McCambridge— Eric Buss the size of the end of my The Mentalist John Shryock 8 pm (Dark Fri. & Sat.), thumb! This little mar- APRIL 9 TO 15 Rampart Casino vel is cheap when com- Close-Up Gallery Haunted Vegas Tour & Show pared to the $850 of the Early: Steve Silverman Robert Allen, Jac Hayden & original (which has since Late: Zamora, Greek Isle, 9 pm tour increased in price)—only W. C. Fields Bar and show (Dark Fri.) $100. In fact, Pierre pro- Doug Brewer Jason Bird duces several of these The Parlour of Prestidigitation The Shops in Desert Passage, Early: Matt Marcy Aladdin. Main stage, near the wee automata, and you Late: Brian Gillis “V” Theater, Thurs.-Mon. From 1:15 pm to 8:15 pm, Free may e-mail him for more Palace of Mystery information, or to order, Robert Baxt La Femme at pierregmeyer@hotmail. John Cassidy Stephan Vanel, 8 & 10:30 pm, com. Since the female Ice McDonald (Dark Tues.), MGM Grand Geisha he produced in APRIL 16 TO 22 , Master Magician Close-Up Gallery 7 pm Tues-Sat & 10 pm Tues. early 2006 (and which I Early: TBA & Sat., Monte Carlo profiled in the August Late: TBA Comedy Magic Show 2006 Genii), he has also created an automaton of Christian W. C. Fields Bar 1 & 3 pm, (Dark Sun. & Mon.) Fechner performing his stool levitation which I’ll describe TBA Harrah’s Clint Holmes Theater in more detail in a few months. Next on his list: a miniature The Parlour of Prestidigitation Nathan Burton automata of Robert-Houdin’s “Orange Tree.” It sounds Early: David Regal Comedy Magic Show impossible, doesn’t it! Late: Fukai 2 pm, (Dark Fri. & Sun.) V Theater in the Desert Palace of Mystery Passage, Aladdin The Big News in Las Vegas Ken Noyle right now is the new show star- Bravo Nakaya Penn & Teller ring Carmen Electra (who was supposed to headline a Albert Tam 9 pm, (Dark Tues.), Rio magic show that Gary Ouellet had been trying to sell Phenomenon before his sudden death) and Dutch illusionist Hans Klok. APRIL 23 TO 29 Hans Klok (with Carmen Electra), Close-Up Gallery Robin Leech (a long-time magic fan) broke the news on (Scheduled to open May 12th Early: Mark Matsumoto for a 13-week run), Aladdin the Vegaspop.com website, “The decision for Carmen Late: Steve Wyrick and Hans to star at the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood was W. C. Fields Bar 7 & 9 pm, Desert Passage, made by an almost uncanny, and eerie, coincidence as Doc Eason Aladdin former Aladdin magician Steve Wyrick opened his own The Parlour of Prestidigitation The Magic of Rick Thomas theater downstairs in the hotel’s Desert Passage shopping Early: Tom Ogden 2, 4, & 7 pm, (Dark various center. His new theater is a lifelong dream and a $35-mil- Late: B.J. Hickman days), Orleans lion investment. Klok and Carmen, ironically, will perform Palace of Mystery The Ultimate Variety Showcase Kerry Ross in the theater upstairs that he used to work in. The show’s 8 pm to Midnight every Michael Finney Tuesday, Free. Magicians: director will be Anthony Van Laast. He was the director Mercer Helms Christopher Karpiak and “S,” of the original Siegfried & Roy show at . Laast, Roxy’s Live, Sam’s Town Magic Castle Information who is British, was awarded an MBE (Member of the British Those with guest cards, V, The Ultimate Variety Show Empire) from the Queen for his contributions to world the- and those who belong to Jeff Hobson, Nathan & Sarah ater.” is doing the magic consulting and Ms. the IBM and SAM, are admitted to 7 & 9 pm, Aladdin Electra will certainly get the male audience twitterpatin’. The Magic Castle with dinner res- World’s Greatest Magic Show ervations. Please call 323-851-3313 Leech then wrote, “Expect Vegas magic to be kicked up a , Kozak and guests. for more information. Updates to Billy Fergueson (pre-show). 6 pm notch instantly. All this comes as Cirque du Soleil is days the performing schedule can be Sat.-Thurs., 8:15 Fri., Greek Isle away from officially and finally confirming their new $110- found at www.MagicCastle.com. Xtreme Magic Starring Dirk Arthur million spectacular at the Luxor with Mindfreak magician Tiffany Theatre, Tropicana .” 2 and 4 pm. (Dark Fri.)

GENII SPEAKS, continued on page 13 APRIL 2007 11 Goodbye to the Printed Word: In the February 6 Washington Good-byes: Jules Lenier died in February and it’s unfor- Post in section D5 there appeared, in the very brief givable that I neglected to mention it last month in my “International Briefing” sidebar, a note that the world’s old- haste to finish “Genii Speaks.” Jules was a unique, cre- est newspaper, which happens to be published in Sweden ative individual with a sardonic sense of since 1645 (read that date again) will cease printed pub- humor and I always enjoyed his writings. lication and become a web-only publication. Magicseen, He was associate editor of this magazine which proclaims itself as “Europe’s No.1 Magazine,” and in the late 1960s. We’ll have a memorial which is published in England, is now selling back issues piece in the near future. • A note arrived in downloadable pdf format at 3 pounds (roughly equal from J.K. Hartman on February 16: “Sad to $6), or half the cost of their printed version. The I.B.M. news regarding Joseph K. Schmidt. I just gives its members the option of opting out of receiving received a letter from his wife: ‘I want to as a printed magazine and allows them to let you know that my husband died on the download an electronic version from their website. In the 10th of January in the American Hospital. past one might have written, “The handwriting is on the He just fell to sleep, the way he always wall,” but now it appears to be on your computer monitor. wanted to die.’ There goes an institution, Slowly but surely, the end of the printed word is coming. perhaps the most prolific artist the world of magic has ever known and certainly The phenomenal French photographer Zakary Belamy is back the king of freehand illustrators. I think he was 86 or 87.” in the U.S.A. from March 6 to April 5 to continue his “World There were certain projects that only Joe Schmidt could Magic Photo Tour” in which he’s shooting the greatest handle—I used him to illustrate J.K. Hartman’s books Card magicians living in America. This time he’ll be in Las Vegas, Craft, After Craft, and Trickery Treats, as well as Arcade then in for a few days. After his first U.S. Dreams and The Magic of Edward Victor’s Hands. His photo tour in September and October, 2005, and a suc- greatest champion as an illustrator is , and he cessful photo exhibition at the recent FISM in Stockholm, has illustrated every single thing Karl has published since he’ll meet and shoot pros like Mac King, Joseph Gabriel, the late 1960s. Joe Schmidt was a friendly guy and a plea- The Majestix, Armando Lucero, Jeff McBride, Penn & sure to work with and he will be missed. • Also noted, the Teller, , Carl Ballantine, James Dimmare, Rick death of magician Howard Flint, a very funny man, whom Thomas, and many more. The list of the world famous most will remember for performing J.C. Doty’s “Bowling magicians that he has already photographed is enor- Ball from Briefcase.” mous—you’ve seen some of his work already in Genii and you’re going to see a lot more very shortly. For more, visit It Ain’t Like it Used to Be: The U.S. Government no longer him on the web at www.zakarybelamy.com. allows airline passengers to bring white doves in or out of the United States because of the fear of spreading The Wee Erdnase: Original publishing ideas involving the avian flu, despite the fact that no white doves have been classics are rare. Bill Kalush and the Conjuring Arts Research found to carry the disease. This has adversely affected any Center (and co-author of The Secret Life of Houdini: The dove worker either leaving or entering our country. • Los Making of America’s First Superhero) has published a new Angeles magician Simon Winthrop inadvertently caused edition of The Expert at the Card Table by S.W. Erdnase. the TSA to shut down the entire Palm Beach airport and Subtitled The Expert Bible, the new edition is described by surrounding roads, including a partial evacuation of the the publisher as a “… new take on the classic cardman’s terminal, because he packed a Butane canister in his bible … . It’s the perfect size to fit in your hand or pocket checked baggage. Winthrop uses it to shoot flames out and beautifully produced using the same paper as a Bible, of his wrists in his act. According to the Palm Beach Post, gilt edges, a ribbon place holder, and in a soft leather- “’Winthrop obviously is not a terrorist and will not be like binding.” The type has been completely reset and all charged with a crime,’ FBI spokeswoman Judy Orihuela the lines are numbered for easy reference in your notes. said. … The federal government could fine Winthrop if the It’s quite something—you’ll definitely need your reading materials in his checked luggage violate TSA rules, but a glasses if you’re among my brothers and sisters in middle spokesman said Saturday said he didn’t know if the items age. You can’t beat the price: $15. Order from the website were prohibited. … Officials from the sheriff’s office, airport www.conjuringarts.org or call 212-594-1033 and tell ‘em and FBI said they hope passengers with unusual posses- the Genii sent you. sions, like flame-throwing Butane tanks, will anticipate attention from the TSA and declare the items in advance.” No kidding! •

APRIL 2007 13