Saturday, February 03, 2007

David Copperfield • An Intimate Evening of Grand Illusion

An affecting, life-changing event that reaches into the audiences' minds and hearts and takes them on a feast of wish fulfillment. True to its title, "Grand Illusion" is the logical and incredible evolution of this conjurer's art. Copperfield's goal is to take one's dreams (and maybe a few nightmares) and make them become reality using his state of the art wizardry. Displaying his off-the-cuff brand of humor, Copperfield breaks new ground and takes his art to a grand yet intimate, personal yet universal dimension for an evening of wonders that will never be forgotten.



$75/$55/$40

Friday, February 2 at 6:00 & 9:00 PM
Saturday, February 3 at 5:00 & 8:00 PM
Just Added! Saturday, Feb. 3 at 2:00 PM

Friday, February 02, 2007

Quote du Jour

To pretend, I actually do the thing: I have therefore only pretended to pretend.

- Jacques Derrida

Thursday, February 01, 2007

An afternoon at Dean Dill's

I got a call from Vaclav last week. He had moved down here from Seattle around the time I did, but we haven't seen that much of each other. We made plans to go participate in one of the famed Dean Dill Wednesday afternoon Barber Shop Magic Sessions. Needless to say, we were not disappointed. It turned out to be a freaking who's who of the magic world. A bunch of the guys working the Castle were there. There was a young fellow named Rick Merrill, I had never heard of him, but it seems that he's been causing quite a stir since winning the FISM Grand Prix, last year. I'm always the last one to find these things out.

Bob Sheets, Gene Anderson and Steven Bargatze were all in attendance and also working the Magic Castle this week. After finding this out Vaclav and I made plans to see the guys perform that evening. Great group of guys and and things gelling into a pretty decent session. Some guys from San Diego showed up as a bunch of us went around the corner to get a bite to eat. When we got back Dean performed a newly unveiled item of his. A very cool version of coins through table. I like Dean's thinking and his work.

Next in was another interesting character. This young whipper snapper finger fling'en card man happens to be the center for the Philadelphia Eagles. Performing for us with two broken fingers, he did a nice job and scored bonus points for grace under pressure.




Bob Sheets has a special place in my heart. I'm not sure why, but we've known each other for at least a couple of decades. Can't say that I really know him, but when we see each other; it feels like no time has past. The last time I saw him was his Seattle Lecture in 2005. Here he is performing his version of Patrick Pages 3 Card Monte Routine. He just cracks me up. Not only is he a funny guy, but a wonderful magician and great entertainer. Bob Sheets brings a lot to the table when he performs. A unique, funny and well developed character, great chops and an overall understanding of what he's doing. He's got his own thing going on.





More magicians arrived including Jon Lovick, Pete Biro and a cast of thousands. Steven Bargatze entertained with a card routine but it wasn't till seeing his performance in the Palace of Mystery later that night that I realized what a freak this guy is. Fun stuff and a well balanced show with Gene Anderson as a co-headliner. Lots of different styles, lots of different approaches. We had been at the Barber Shop for three hours but if felt like we just got there,

Dean performed his famous "Dean's Box". I remember learning this trick and thinking how happy I was to add it to my repertoire. At my shop in Cincinnati I sold 9 of these boxes. I love the trick, simple, easy to do, and a real fooler. Dean should be commended for his excellent work in community building here in LA. Scene's like this are disappearing. The magic session is an endangered species and Dean deserves the respect and appreciation of the community that he fosters in his establishment.

What other barber shop in the world has a cup collection like this? The welcoming atmosphere, ever changing cast of bizarre characters and good magic is enough to keep me coming back! It's a good life. Although things can get strange and the whirlwind of weirdness that is my life can be overwhelming, It always seems to come down to magic and making people happy.



When hanging out with other magicians, There is a sense of family. Were all in this together. We're all trying to do the same thing in our own way. Make the world a better place, one smile at a time. It was a great afternoon of friendship and magic. Of seeing old friends and making new ones. Thanks to Dean Dill for being the great guy that he is. Vaclav and I both agreed that we might just have to make this a regular Wednesday afternoon thing.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Dad, Fulke & Me at LAX

Dad

My father and step mother were in LA very briefly on Sunday. They live in Atlanta and keep a very busy schedule traveling all over the world. They had taken a small cruise ship (650 passengers) through the Caribbean and then on through the Panama Canal. Sounds like they had a good time.

Their ship let them off in San Pedro, where they were bussed to LAX for their flight back to Atlanta. Polly and I met them at the airport and spent an hour or so catching up. Nice afternoon.

Monday, January 29, 2007

Smokin' Aces


View Trailer • Click Here

Rock me on the water • Jackson Browne



Oh people, look around you
The signs are everywhere
You've left it for somebody other than you
To be the one to care
You're lost inside your houses
There's no time to find you now
Your walls are burning and your towers are turning
I'm going to leave you here and try to get down to the sea somehow

The road is filled with homeless souls
Every woman, child and man
Who have no idea where they will go
But they'll help you if they can
Now everyone must have some thought
That's going to pull them through somehow
Well the fires are raging hotter and hotter
But the sisters of the sun are going to rock me on the water now

Rock me on the water
Sister will you soothe my fevered brow
Rock me on the water
I'll get down to the sea somehow

Oh people, look among you
It's there your hope must lie
There's a sea bird above you
Gliding in one place like Jesus in the sky
We all must do the best we can
And then hang on to that Gospel plow
When my life is over, I'm going to stand before the Father
But the sisters of the sun are going to rock me on the water now

Rock me on the water
Sister will you soothe my fevered brow
Rock me on the water, maybe I'll remember
Maybe I'll remember how
Rock me on the water
The wind is with me now
So rock me on the water
I'll get down to the sea somehow

Jackson Browne