Genii Speaks Contact us by calling 301-652-5800, e-mailing [email protected] Richard Kaufman or surfing our website at www.geniimagazine.com HERE WE ARE, Volume 70 of Genii, The Genii you’ll find a free sample of the full Five of Spades Conjurors’ Magazine, and I’m pleased beyond bruise. And, we’ve got a contest for the inspired among words to welcome Jim Steinmeyer as our you: we’ll award $250 to the person sending in the best Associate Editor. His expertise in almost every idea for utilizing any of the bruises in field of magic, in addition to being one of a magical effect. Here’s one possible our field’s finest writers and graphic designers, idea sent in by a friend: “Card picked, makes him an invaluable addition to our family. replaced. Something about finding it This month we also welcome two of my old- in the spread. Cards spread up the est friends in magic to Genii with new columns. arm (flourish), arm turnover and catch. Eugene Burger begins a series of interviews with famous All about the cards bruising your arm, magicians on showmanship, which will run every other et cetera.” While we’re giving you only month (the first is with Johnny and Pam Thompson); Harry the Five of Spades bruise in Genii, a Lorayne joins “Magicana” with “Hidden Gems,” a monthly quick hop over to your local dealer or treasure hunt through the hundreds of his own items he’s www.creativemagic.net (click on the Some notable bruises written up over the years with the goal of pointing us Street Magic tab) will enable you to toward some lesser known but excellent sleights and tricks. purchase “Bruised” and give you a wide choice of differ- The inaugural sleight, “Peek Lap,” is something I learned ent bruises to choose from. Contest submissions will be from Harry in 1975 and have used often since then—it’s a accepted until January 31, 2007 (must be postmarked by superb, economical sleight that has been utterly ignored that date) by snail mail only, at: Creative Magic, 1581 S. since publication. If you do “Card to Wallet” (or any 930 W., Payson, UT 84651. impossible location, such as Jennings’s “Card to Bottle”) while sitting, this method of going south with the signed On January 1, the price for registering for the combined selection can’t be topped. • Our cover story focuses on IBM/SAM convention in 2008 will rise from $295 to $395. Tony Chapek, whose magical act with a television has been This is going to be the convention of a lifetime for most drawing cheers at conventions around the world over the of us in the U.S., so send in your dough while it’s still last several years. Jon Racherbaumer, always fascinated by cheap! This is going to be a FISM quality convention and the odd interaction of various electronic media and human you don’t have to fly to Europe (or China!) to go. You can beings, tells the tale. • Earlier this year, the Walt Disney always cancel your registration (as late as March 2008, only Company collaborated with Kenneth Feld to produce a few months before the convention) for a full refund minus Disney Live: Mickey’s Magic Show. Jim Steinmeyer, who a $25 service fee. Don’t wait! designed all of the magic for the show, provides an over- view, then I interview the two magicians, Brad Ross and Shortly after returning home to California after a difficult Alex Gonzalez, who perform along with the characters. first performance of their new show Ghosts of Broadway The show is unique in that it mixes real people in with the in New Jersey, Jonathan Pendragon is reported to have characters, and also because Feld hired two real magicians fallen on the broken-off upper end of an arrow while hang- rather than actors. Our in-depth coverage begins on page ing a lamp in his home. It pierced various organs appar- 58. • Roberto Giobbi returns with a potpourri of ideas in ently starting near the groin and upward to the heart, but “Genii Session;” Mark Wilson brings the Chinese acrobats he has recovered enough to continue performing, though to the U.S. in “The Inside Story;” Jim Steinmeyer examines a male assistant has been doing most of the illusions with Maskelyne’s “Will, the Witch, and the Watchman” and Charlotte. We wish him a speedy recovery. publishes a photo which has been unseen for over 100 years; Max Maven moonwalks his way through another The Associated Press reported on November 10 that the “Inquisition,” and Jamy Ian Swiss, Dustin Stinett, and “Thief tricked by David Copperfield pleads guilty. One of Danny Orleans will help guide your last-minute holiday three teenagers charged with attempting to rob illusionist shopping (if the post office is kind enough to actually David Copperfield as he left a performance has pleaded deliver this issue before the end of the month). guilty. Terrance Riley, 17, was sentenced Thursday to two years in prison for three counts of robbery with a weapon In this issue you’ll find a gift from Brian and Rebekah at and one count of attempted robbery. … Copperfield, 50, Creative Magic: a free “Bruise.” When you purchase and two female assistants were walking from the Kravis “Bruised” you receive an instructional DVD and 15 sheets Center to their tour bus when they were approached by of temporary body tattoos of many different types of the teens April 23. The assistants handed over money bruises that can be used to reveal chosen cards, ESP and a cellphone, but the illusionist turned his pockets symbols, etc. There’s even a bruise of a quarter for the inside out to reveal nothing, although he was carrying his masochistic coinmen among you. Inside this issue of passport, wallet and cell phone. ‘He said in depositions 10 GENII Now Performing THE MAGIC CASTLE LAS VEGAS JANUARY 1 to 7 Compiled by David Neubauer Closed Monday Amazing Johnathan that he had things on him, but it wasn’t difficult to make Close-Up Gallery 10 pm (Dark Thurs.), Sahara it seem like there was nothing there,’ prosecutor Sherri Early: 7:00, 7:45, 8:30, 9:15 Beacher’s Madhouse Collins said.” Asi Wind Tyas Frantz, Chris Karpiak, Late: 10:00, 10:45,11:30, 12:00 & Seth Grabel Brian Gillis 10 pm, Hard Rock Barry Govan writes: “I have seen those Mr. Moto films … W. C. Fields Bar Bite (Vampire Strip Revue) and have even been using some of the sleight of hand (Friday and Saturday only) Antonio Restivo As far as I know Peter Lorre did some of the sleights, but Karl Hein 10:30 pm (dark Thurs.), Paul LePaul did the major work. Another item of interest The Parlour of Prestidigitation Stratosphere is that in an old western serial the crooks used the Early: 7:30, 8:45, 9:30 Haunted Vegas Tour & Show Ehler idea of a series of dots on the edges of the cards Raymond Karch Robert Allen, Jac Hayden & Late: 9:45, 11:15, Midnight Zamora, 9 pm tour and show and the people at the other end knew the order in which Danny Sylvester (Dark Fri.), Greek Isle to reassemble the deck so that the dots became legible Palace Of Mystery Jason Bird words. I think they read something like: ‘We meet at devils 8:30, 10:00, 11:15 Main stage, near the “V” canyon.’ Interesting!” Al Lampkin Theater, Thurs.-Mon. Various Farrell Dillon times from 1:15- 8:15 pm. Free. Ricardo The Shops in Desert Passage, Although I’ve known for some time, it has become public Aladdin JANUARY 8 to 14 that Bruce Cervon is battling throat cancer. He’s been La Femme Close-Up Gallery undergoing radiation and is unable to talk, but would be Stephan Vanel, 8 pm, 10:30 pm Early: Tom Ogden (Dark Tues.), MGM Grand very happy to have letters from well-wishers. You can reach Late: Joe Monti him at 10074 Ashland St., Ventura, CA 93004. Lance Burton, Master Magician W. C. Fields Bar 7 pm Tues.-Sat. & 10 pm Tues. Jon Armstrong & Sat. Monte Carlo Few of you (okay, none of you) will know who Shiriki The Parlour of Prestidigitation Mac King Comedy Magic Show Utundu is. He’s the little African Early: Asi Wind 1 pm, 3 pm, (Dark Sun., Mon.) Late: Rob Zabrecky statue that causes a ruckus Harrah’s Clint Holmes Theater Palace of Mystery in the new Tower of Terror Nathan Burton Duane Laflin & Mary ride in Tokyo DisneySea. Aside Comedy Magic Show George Saterial 2 pm, (Dark Fri. & Sun.) from the fact that they use Norman Ng the same Jim Steinmeyer V Theater in the Desert JANUARY 15 to 21 Passage, Aladdin concept for a new type of Close-Up Gallery Penn & Teller Pepper’s Ghost already Early: Derek DelGaudio 9 pm, (Dark Tues.), Rio seen at the attraction in Late: John Carney The Magic of Rick Thomas W. C. Fields Bar California, there’s a souve- 2, 4 pm, Orleans J.C. Wagner nir from the Tokyo version that may Steve Wyrick Real Magic The Parlour of Prestidigitation be of interest. It’s a custom printed deck 7 & 9 pm, (Dark Fri.) Aladdin Early: David Williamson of cards whose two Jokers differ in a way that Late: Handsome Jack The Ultimate Variety Showcase make a fun effect possible. In one, Shiriki is printed in 8 pm, Midnight every Tuesday Palace of Mystery A different live show every color with his eyes open and a malicious grin on his face.