Genii Speaks Richard Kaufman Contact us by calling 301-652-5800, e-mailing [email protected] or surfing our website at www.geniimagazine.com IF YOU’VE WATCHED the most famous which you’ll find inside the polybag with this issue of magicians of our day during their careers— Genii. This year’s FISM in Stockholm, Sweden, is most like- including David Copperfield, Siegfried & Roy, ly the last of its kind. A complete reorganization of FISM’s Lance Burton, Doug Henning, and Criss structure will greatly reduce the number of contestants at Angel—then you’ve seen illusions built by John all future conventions. Tim Ellis and his wife Sue-Anne Gaughan. Working in a non-descript building in Webster, inspired by Bill Larsen’s past FISM articles, have an area of Los Angeles you’ve never been to, done complete FISM coverage for the last few contests John and his employees have been helping and, at my invitation, have supplied complete coverage stage magicians make magic happen for for us this year including Sue-Anne’s description of almost decades. I flew out to L.A., every single contestant’s act. In Dustin Stinett picked me up at addition, I interviewed FISM the airport, and Pete Biro joined International President Eric Eswin us for a fascinating day at John’s on both the controversies at this workshop. In addition to seeing year’s FISM and all the coming lots of illusions up close, we were changes within the organization. able to enjoy all of the fabulous Michael Albright has done a bril- automata that John has refur- liant job designing and produc- bished, including the chess- ing our FISM supplement. • playing Turk, Robert-Houdin’s Stockholm was only the second Antonio Diavolo, and his Orange FISM I’ve attended and the Tree. Then we were given a tour organization paled in compari- of his collection of antique son to my first, three years ago in magic. Finally, they hooked me Holland. The latter ran smoothly up to a Flying rig and hoisted me and the only real negative was in the air amid lots of chuckles— the gross overcharging for FISM read all about it on p.38. • The new movie The Illusionist attendees by the hotels in the area. This FISM, the hotel opened on August 18 in select theaters and then spread prices were better but the organization had several prob- out to more theaters on September 1. Amid overwhelm- lems, including a venue that (I feel) was simply not suit- ingly positive reviews, I found it to be intelligent- able for the size of the audiences who wanted to see var- ly written and directed by Neil Burger, ious events. With rooms that didn’t hold enough superbly acted by Edward Norton and Paul people, and poor organization in getting people Giamatti, and it has the most positive por- seated, there was much unhappiness and even a trayal of a magician we’ve seen in a film in near riot on one occasion. The site of FISM in decades. Norton’s performance as 2009 is Beijing, China, and it will be interesting “Eisenheim, The Illusionist,” is strong, to see how the organizers attack the problems smart, and heroic (but not foolishly so— which we saw in Stockholm. • This month’s col- he’s not a comic book character). The umn by Paul Osborne features a Halloween-per- magic advisers in pre-production fect “Resurrection” illusion in which a mucky- were Ricky Jay and Michael looking skeleton is brought back to life; The fans Weber, while magician/pick- of a certain Las Vegas magician will find Max pocket James Freedman worked Maven’s “Inquisition” extremely funny; Mike on location. We have exclusive Close returns with thoughtful book reviews, behind-the-scenes coverage with with Danny Orleans giving the latest Freedman and an interview with tricks the once-over and Joe M. Director Neil Burger starting on Turner finding some DVDs he really p.62. • Bill Larsen, Jr., produced doesn’t like. • I was in Barnes & FISM coverage for Genii that was Noble a few weeks ago and, for unrivalled in our field. When I first reasons I can’t explain, bought a bought Genii, there were really too magic book for the public titled many other things competing for my Ultimate Street Magic by British attention and our FISM coverage has, magician Gary Sumpter. Imagine my frankly, been lacking since then. We make surprise when Jon Racherbaumer’s latest up for it this year by producing our first- “Slant” column showed up and I discov- ever 32-page supplemental magazine, ered that he had bought the same book! Sue-Anne Webster 10 GENII Now Performing THE MAGIC CASTLE LAS VEGAS OCTOBER 2 TO 8 Compiled by David Neubauer • And, on top of everything else, we’ve got a great Close-Up Gallery (www.dnmagic.com) “Magicana” this month with a stunning effect where a Early: 7:00, 7:45, 8:30, 9:15 Amazing Johnathan Brad Henderson razor turns into a matchbook (using a method you’d never 10 pm, (Dark Thurs.), Sahara Late: 10, 10:45,11:30, 12:00 Beacher's Madhouse guess in a million years), a jaw-dropping “Wild Coin” rou- Rich Cowley Tyas Frantz, Chris Karpiak & Seth tine from Nathan Kranzo, and much more. The Parlour of Prestidigitation Grabel - 10 pm - Hard Rock. Early: 7:30, 8:45, 9:30 Jason Bird Jon Armstrong It’s been a busy summer with lots of traveling. I just returned The Shops in Desert Passage— Late: 9:45, 11:15, 12 Aladdin. Main stage, near the “V” from 31 Faces North, a mini-convention held in Toronto by Larry Wilson David Ben and Allan Slaight. There are only 31 attendees Theater, Thurs.-Mon. Various times Palace Of Mystery from 1:15 pm to 8:15, Free (hence the title), and it’s really a gigantic combination 8:30, 10, 11:15 Bite (Vampire Strip Revue) party/brainstorm session. This year the guests of honor were Romany Antonio Restivo Hillel Max Maven and Bob White. Others attending included (magic and fire manipulation) Stephen Bargatze Michael Weber, Steve Beam, Eric Mead, Stephen Minch, Bob 10:30 pm (dark Thurs.) WCF Bar Farmer, Glenn Farrington, Kostya Kimlet, Eric DeCamps, Stratosphere Brian Ochab Eugene Burger, Noah Levine, Herb Zarrow, Bill Goodwin, Lance Burton, Master Magician OCTOBER 9 TO 15 Gabe Fajuri, Bill Kalush, Ron Wohl, Tom Ransom, Jamy Ian 7 pm Tues.-Sat., Close-Up Gallery 10 pm Tues. & Sat., Monte Carlo Swiss, and others my weary brain can’t recall at this instant. Early: Gaston Quieto David Copperfield Late: Michael Vincent Everyone is expected to perform, and if it isn’t bad enough 7:30 & 10 pm, 4:30 Sat. to get up in front of a group like this, Weber’s hilarious heck- The Parlour of Prestidigitation & some Sun. MGM Grand. ling certainly made it worse for the performers though Early: Shawn McMaster Nov 9-29, Dec 21-31 Late: Earl Nelson riotous for the audience. I managed to fumble my way Tyas Frantz, Chris Karpiak, Palace Of Mystery through a few Cliff Green routines and emerged relatively Seth Grabel Whit Haydn Beacher's Madhouse 10 pm, unscathed. The Jay Marshall Award was presented to Bill Eric Buss Hard Rock Goodwin for an outstanding lecture. Also lecturing and/or Murray Haunted Vegas Tour & Show giving shows were Mead, Weber, White, and Burger. All OCTOBER 16 TO 22 Robert Allen & Jac Hayden & excellent, thought-provoking, and entertaining. Home for Close-Up Gallery Zamora ,9 pm tour and show just two days, and I’m off to TAOM in Dallas. Then I’ll sleep Early: Earl Nelson (Dark Fri.), Greek Isle Late: Suzanne … perhaps. Illusionary Magic of Rick Thomas The Parlour of Prestidigitation 2 & 4 pm, Stardust (Dark Wed.) Early: Tom Ogden La Femme Jim Steinmeyer’s latest illusion Late: Robert Baxt Stephan Vanel, 8, 10:30 pm is something called “Op-Art.” Palace Of Mystery (Dark Tues.), MGM Grand You can get an idea of what it Bruce Gold (2) Mac King Comedy Magic Show Murray is by looking at his ad on 1 & 3 pm, (Dark Sun. & Mon.) p.58. It defies natural law … WCF Bar Harrah's Clint Holmes Theater where the heck is the rest of Derek DelGaudio Gerry McCambridge—The Mentalist OCTOBER 23 TO 29 Mon-Sat, 9 pm Jinger? This is an amazing Close-Up Gallery piece of work and I’m won- Hypnotic Lounge, Stardust Early: Martin A. Nash Nathan Burton Comedy Magic Show dering why more profes- Late: Jonathan Levit 2 pm, (Dark Fri. & Sun.) sionals haven’t added this The Parlour of Prestidigitation V Theater in the Desert Passage, miracle to their shows … it Early: Mark Cannon Aladdin might have won someone Late: Unholy Three Penn & Teller first place in the Illusion cate- Palace Of Mystery 9 pm, (Dark Tues.), Rio gory at FISM in August. Cer- Derek Hughes V, The Ultimate Variety Show Kenji Minemura Jeff Hobson, Nathan and Sarah, tainly nothing the finalists in Goldfinger & Dove 7 pm and 9 pm, Aladdin that category did begins to compare with “Op-Art.” OCTOBER 30 TO NOVEMBER 5 World’s Greatest Magic Show Close-Up Gallery Kevin James, Joseph Gabriel, The In September’s “Genii Speaks,” Early: George Tovar I wondered aloud how the Majestixs, Kozak. Billy Fergueson Late: Jason Latimer I.B.M. could have picked such a poor hotel and location for (pre-show). 6 pm Sat. Thurs., 8:15 The Parlour of Prestidigitation its convention and show-theater this past June.