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Performing at Illusions Theater & Bar

Recently brought this trick back after not doing it for 30 years. Great fun!

 

Tom Frank to perform at Illusions Theater & Bar in San Diego

I'll be performing at Illusions Theater and Bar in the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego next weekend, September 3rd & 4th!  

Here's a link for more info and tickets. Hope to see you there!  

Illusions Theater & Bar

After a year and an half hiatus from performing, I'm ready to get my freak on!  2 shows on Friday night, two shows Saturday night, 45 minute headliner stand-up sets promise my best work yet. Very excited.

 

A foul mouth blast from the past.

Creative Arts Primetime Emmys

Here in LA there are two award ceremonies, celebrating the achievements of the fine folks who bring you all of the television programming. There are “The Primetime Emmys” which award the writers, directors and actors and the “Creative Arts Emmys” which celebrate and award the “Below the line” trench workers.

We met Dennis Parker and his partner Paul, at the Nokia Live Theater downtown. Dennis is the Hair Department Head on ABC’s Dirty, Sexy Money and does a great job. He’s an excellent hair dresser and has always been very nice and supportive to Polly. He brought Polly in as his 2nd when the show came to LA to re-shoot parts of the pilot and then got picked up.

HBO's miniseries John Adams and AMC's drama series Mad Men were the big hits at Saturday night's Creative Arts Primetime Emmys in Los Angeles. John Adams earned eight awards, the most for the evening, while Mad Men took home four, including awards for hairstyling, art direction, cinematography, and main title design

After the lengthy awards ceremony we walked across the street to the convention center where the dinner party was getting underway. The room was dressed beautifully with hundreds of round 10 top tables, hanging chandeliers, hot and cold running women and plenty of good food and booze. Polly looked absolutely stunning in her new dress and I put on my tux for the first time in a few years. We got all dressed up and for the most part fooled everyone into thinking we were real grown ups, not the fake ones you see on TV.

It was a lovely evening that ended with a glass of scotch and a cigar. I wish Dennis, Polly and their department would have won for the standout hair design on the nominated episode, but as everyone always says “It’s just nice to be nominated”.

The new TV season is upon us and we’ll just have to tune into out favorite shows and see how they do. Endless hours of work create these shows for our entertainment. For all those in the television and film industry, I say. . . “Keep making the magic!”

Click pics to enlarge

The Plot Thickens

FBI raids magician Copperfield after Seattle woman says she was raped

By Jennifer Sullivan and The Associated Press

A Seattle woman claims that magician David Copperfield raped her earlier this year in the Bahamas, according to authorities.

Seattle police have a copy of the rape report, but have turned the case over to the FBI because the alleged incident happened abroad. The woman didn't report the assault until she returned home. On Thursday, Seattle-based FBI agents raided a Las Vegas warehouse owned by the famed magician.

FBI Special Agent David Staretz, spokesman for the FBI office in Las Vegas, told The Associated Press, "I can confirm that there's investigative activity at the warehouse." He would not say more and directed further questions to the Seattle FBI office, which is leading the investigation.

Robbie Burroughs, FBI spokeswoman in Seattle, declined to give specifics of the investigation. She said Seattle agents are investigating a case with connections to Las Vegas. She wouldn't say whether the case is connected to Copperfield.

"The investigation is related to a Seattle case. The Seattle case is pending and that means we can't say anything about it," Burroughs said.

Las Vegas television station KLAS-TV reported that on Wednesday night, 12 agents raided the warehouse owned and operated by Copperfield, who is a regular performer at the MGM Grand casino-hotel. The station reports that the agents seized a computer hard drive, digital-camera system and nearly $2 million in cash.

Copperfield, 51, is perhaps the world's most famous magician. He is known for staging large-scale illusions, including making the Statue of Liberty disappear and walking through the Great Wall of China.

Copperfield has dubbed his Las Vegas warehouse the International Museum & Library of the Conjuring Arts. He apparently stores tricks and memorabilia from around the world at the warehouse.

Copperfield's Las Vegas attorney, David Chesnoff, said his client had been contacted by investigators.

"We understand there is an investigation, are in touch with the investigators, and are respecting the confidentiality of the investigation," Chesnoff said.

Copperfield has been a longtime performer at the Hollywood Theater at the MGM Grand casino-hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, where he has performed in six to eight-week stints several times a year, said MGM Mirage Inc. spokeswoman Yvette Monet.

Monet said Copperfield performed two shows Wednesday night, which were at the end of his most recent run. Monet said Copperfield was next scheduled to perform in Jakarta, Indonesia.

FBI Probes Vegas Warehouse of Magician David Copperfield

Magician David Copperfield's next trick just may be getting his property back from the feds. Thursday, the illusionist's Las Vegas warehouse was raided by twelve Seattle FBI agents.

Agents confiscated a pile of cash worth nearly two million dollars, a computer hard drive and a memory card.

The Seattle FBI office confirms an investigation was conducted in Las Vegas, but wouldn't confirm Copperfield was the target.

The Las Vegas FBI office says agents also went to the MGM Grand. Copperfield performs at the venue every other month.

The FBI say the MGM was not the target, but, would not comment on what they found at the hotel.

Copperfield's attorney says he and his client are in touch with investigators and they are respecting the confidentiality off the investigation.

Dirty Sexy Money Shooting Location

IMG_1371, originally uploaded by stuartjudah.

Yesterday I enjoyed spending a couple of hours on location in Pasadena. I try and time my arrival with lunch being served. Base camp was set up a mile a way in an Elks Club Parking lot, but but catering was set up in front and on the side of the house. Polly had been on site since 5:12 AM. I was rolling in near 2 PM. Just a gorgeous day!

Took a stroll around the estate, must be in the 25 million dollar range for a house like this, in this beautiful old neighborhood. They had been shooting outside in the morning and were turning around to shoot a couple of scenes indoors. The billiard room downstairs was being used as an auxillery hair and make up area for touch ups. They got the actors ready in their trailer at base camp, took the shuttle to the location then touched them up as needed on set.

I thought it was cool to hang out with some of the stars before they starting shooting. Video village was set up off the right of the foyer, Polly's set chair was behind video village in a large formal living room. I sat behind the script supervisor and the director as the scene played out around the corner.

Cool stuff, I learn more about the process every time I watch. Had an interesting chat with a woman named Bonnie, one of the camera operators. We talked about HD 24P. I love this stuff.

Quick, Robin. . . . to the Bat Cave Na Na Na Na Na Na

Just a short drive from Hollywood Blvd. is a site that's been the backdrop for shows and movies for decades. Most famous as the Bat Cave, it's also been used in Star Trek, Bonanza , Gunsmoke , Little House on the Prairie, Invasion of the Body Snatchers and dozens of other shows and movies.

This area was originally a rock quarry where rock was crushed to build surrounding roads like Sunset Blvd. Now it's a small back corner of Griffith Park.

Besides the caves, there's a nice park with playground equipment, more trails, and Camp Hollywood, an inexpensive city camp for girls.

From the front you see one entrance, but inside it splits into three which all exit into the quarry hollow. As you exit head to the left and you can see a wonderful view of the Hollywood sign.

The Batcave: Bronson Canyon

Paradise Cove, Malibu

When it gets really hot in the valley, I head to the coast. Up the 101, through the Santa Monica Mtns. and Malibu Canyon. A nice drive to the beach. Thought about going to Zuma or Point Doom, but the nostalgia of the Rockford Files, a show I used to love, I was attracted to Paradise Cove where Rockford lived. A popular shooting location, it's always been curious to me.



I pulled off the PCH and down into the cove. I had cocktails and some food in mind at the Piradise Cove Cafe. I read my Neil Young Biography while enjoying a drink and some calamari in the sun on the beach. Just a beautiful day with a nice ocean breeze.

After lunch I took a nice cigar walk on the beach. Hot chicks in bikini's. . . . you got to like this place!

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Over the holidays we had a house guest named Ruth. She’s a friend of Polly’s who is a touring theatrical hairdresser. For the last 6 months she’s been working on Jersey Boys in San Francisco. She called the other day telling us that she was going to be in town this afternoon to work the Tonight Show.

When I heard this, I thought “Hot Damn!” maybe she could hook us up with some tickets. She did, but Polly had to work, so I went by myself and had a great time seeing how a big time Live, TV show is shot.

I got to the studio around 3 PM and noticed the long line of people waiting to get in. I parked and went around back to guest relations where Ruth had put us on the guest list. I was ushered back to the green room where there was some food and drinks. After a bite, I was taken to my seat. So this was the Tonight Show Studio! I was happy and excited.

Jay Leno came out in blue jeans and a denim shirt, before the show started and told the audience how the taping would go. He said the show was live to tape and that there wouldn’t be any stopping. Mistakes and all would be in the finished show.

The guests on tonight’s show were actor, Terrence Howard, comedian, Bruce Fine, and music from the hit show - Jersey Boys

My eyes scanned all the shit hanging from the ceiling. There where tons of lights, TV monitors, speakers, mics, wires. They had 6 HD cameras rolling. 4 big studio cameras, one on a telescoping jib arm and another roving. Pretty impressive operation.

The show ran smoothly and Jay Leno was funny. The interview, comedy and music made for a good hour show with probably 10 to 15 minutes of commercials.

Thanks Ruth for hooking me up with a cool afternoon at the NBC Studios in Burbank (a short 10 min. drive from our house).

Hermosa Beach Comed Magic Club

I started my day out yesterday spending money I didn't have on a new microphone from Guitar Center. While it functioned perfectly, I still was unhappy with my performances. Technically, they were fine. I'm still just having trouble getting the folks to express any enthusiasm, or for that matter any reaction what so ever. Whatever. . . I worked from 4-7PM. I wasn't too happy about leaving when the traffic was finally picking up, but I had another engagement to attend to.

My old pal Mickey O'Connor was working the Comedy Magic Club in Hermosa Beach and had invited me to see the show. When I arrived at the club my vibe was low. That was about to change. The MC / Opener was a young black comic who did a nice job. I can't remember his name. It was driving me even further into a tizzy that the audience was so happy to be there and laugh at everything on the same evening that I was having trouble getting someone to even smile or nod politely.



What's cool about LA is that you never really know who might just show up to do a surprise guest set. Last night there were two special guests. The first was Kevin Nealon (from Saturday Night Live). He did a nice set to a very appreciative audience. It was cool to see him, study the structure of his comedy and lose my fucked up mood. I stared to relax and enjoy the evening.



Next up was Mickey, who rocked the room for 30 minutes without saying a word. Mickey started out on the street then worked cruise ships for the last 15 years. He and is wife are expecting their first child soon and he will be here in LA for the next 3 months. I'm sure I'll get to see more of the both of them. I wonder what gags he has worked up for the delivery. . . . cut and restored umbilical cord? Juggling the placenta. . . who knows?



Surprise guest #2 was none other than Michael Richards (Kramer from Seinfield). It was interesting to see him as a stand-up. I've been a fan of his for over 20 years and it was a real pleasure to see his unique, high energy, physical comedy. Even at his age, he still hit the floor with some very funny pratt falls several times during his set. Certainly one of the highlights of the evening.



Finally, the headliner was introduced a young comic named Darren Carter. . . "The Party Starter". Nice set.



After the show I was invited back stage to the green room where Mickey, his very pregnant wife and I hung out for a bit. Mickey introduced me to the Entertainment Director who told me to send him a tape.

Another fun night in LA. You never know what might happen. Shit, someone might actually enjoy one of my performances. . . I'm keeping my fingers and eyes crossed.

Peace out homies -

This doesn't happen every day. . .

This doesn't happen every day. . that you get invited to dinner by two film and television stars. Polly describes this couple as her adopted Hollywood parents. We enjoyed filet mignon and good conversation. Ken and Polly worked together on Scrubs for the last 5 years. Ken and Katharine are a great couple. We talked about the theater, Katharine has written a musical and is now scouting for a Broadway theater to present the show.

It was a colorful discussion that bounced from fairies to ectoplasm, from magic to the magic of film and TV. At times I felt like I was in a Woody Allen movie with these great show-biz characters. I could tell how fond they were of Polly and was happy to just be along for the ride. It's been fun getting to know her friends. Kirsten also worked on Scrubs with them as a film mag loader.

I've been here less than a week and I can already feel my creative juices starting to flow again. This is so cool! Polly and I are goofy in love (disgusting really, but were loving every minute of it).

As we were leaving Ken saw someone he knew at another table, he went to shake hands and say hi to Matthew Perry (one of the stars of the hit TV show Friends). Well there you have it my first official celebrity sighting.

Ken Jenkins .... Dr. Bob Kelso



Welcome to Paradise (2006) .... Reverend McNamara
"Scrubs" .... Dr. Bob Kelso
- My Transition (2006) TV Episode .... Dr. Bob Kelso
- My Urologist (2006) TV Episode .... Dr. Bob Kelso
- My Déjà Vu, My Déjà Vu (2006) TV Episode .... Dr. Bob Kelso
- My Fallen Idol (2006) TV Episode .... Dr. Bob Kelso
- My Lunch (2006) TV Episode .... Dr. Bob Kelso
(112 more)
The Sum of All Fears (2002) .... Admiral Pollack
... aka Anschlag, Der (Germany)
Home Room (2002) .... Police Captain
Clockstoppers (2002) .... NSA Agent Moore
Fidel (2002) (TV) .... Herbert Matthews
I Am Sam (2001) .... Judge Philip McNeily
"All Souls"
- Running Scared (2001) TV Episode .... Dr. Lohman
"The X Files"
... aka The X-Files (USA)
- Medusa (2001) TV Episode .... Deputy Chief Karras
The Tailor of Panama (2001) .... Morecombe
"Family Law"
- Generations (2000) TV Episode .... Judge William Jankowski
- Love and Money (2000) TV Episode .... Judge William Jankowski
Lucky Numbers (2000) .... Dan Schuff
... aka Bon numéro, Le (France)
Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000) (uncredited) .... Televangelist
"Brutally Normal"
- Barricade (2000) TV Episode .... Mr. Kirschner/Thomas Jefferson
"Sliders"
- Dust (2000) TV Episode .... Professor Jack Bigelow
- Revelations (1999) TV Episode .... Robert Clark
"Chicago Hope"
- Letting Go (2000) TV Episode .... Jim Carroll
- The Virus (1995) TV Episode .... Health Marshal Stanley McGee
"Beverly Hills, 90210"
- Tainted Love (2000) TV Episode .... Pastor Neal
- Baby, You Can Drive My Car (1999) TV Episode .... Pastor Neal
- Laying Pipe (1999) TV Episode .... Pastor Neal

"Pensacola: Wings of Gold"
- Burke's Breach (1999) TV Episode .... General Mitchell Burke
The Last Marshal (1999) .... Judge Wooley
Balloon Farm (1999) (TV)
"Vengeance Unlimited"
... aka Mr. Chapel
- Legalese (1999) TV Episode .... Jack Humphrey
Psycho (1998) .... District Attorney
"Early Edition"
- Deadline (1998) TV Episode .... Winston Thorpe
Thirst (1998) (TV) .... Lou Wolford
Life of the Party: The Pamela Harriman Story (1998) (TV)
... aka Life of the Party: Pamela Harriman
Where's Marlowe? (1998) .... Linguist
"The Magnificent Seven"
- Witness (1998) TV Episode
"Murphy Brown"
- Tempus Fugit (1997) TV Episode .... Paul Cookson
"Babylon 5"
... aka B5 (USA: promotional abbreviation)
- No Surrender, No Retreat (1997) TV Episode .... Captain Trevor Hall
"NYPD Blue"
- I Love Lucy (1997) TV Episode .... Marshall Hastings
Last Man Standing (1996/I) .... Capt. Tom Pickett
Fled (1996) .... Warden Nichols
Courage Under Fire (1996) .... Joel Walden
Last Dance (1996) .... Warden Laverty
Executive Decision (1996) .... General Wood
Hiroshima (1995) (TV) .... Secretary of State James F. Byrnes
Past the Bleachers (1995) (TV) .... Hilton Burberry
"Legend"
- Legend on His President's Secret Service (1995) TV Episode .... Ethan Catridge Steele
"Cybill"
- As the World Turns to Crap (1995) TV Episode .... Ed
White Mile (1994) (TV) .... Jerry Taggart
"The Stand" (1994) (mini) TV Series .... Peter Goldsmith
... aka Stephen King's The Stand
"Hearts Afire"
- The Big Yes (1994) TV Episode .... Mr. Conway
A Time to Heal (1994) (TV) .... Don Peterson
... aka Jenny's Story
In the Best of Families: Marriage, Pride & Madness (1994) (TV) .... Bob Newsom
"Mad About You"
- Married to the Job (1993) TV Episode .... Jack Farrer
"Sisters"
- Back on Track (1993) TV Episode .... Judge Guisewite
And the Band Played On (1993) (TV) .... Dr. Dennis Donohue
"Homefront" .... Mike Sloan, Sr.
- All Good Things (1993) TV Episode .... Mike Sloan, Sr.
- Shabbat Shalom (1993) TV Episode .... Mike Sloan, Sr.
- The Lacemakers (1993) TV Episode .... Mike Sloan, Sr.
- By Word or Act (1993) TV Episode .... Mike Sloan, Sr.
- Garfield Slept Here (1993) TV Episode .... Mike Sloan, Sr.
(23 more)
A House of Secrets and Lies (1992) (TV) .... Ed Norwood
Crossing the Bridge (1992) .... Lou Morgan
A Private Matter (1992) (TV) .... Frank Kearns
... aka Miss Sherri (USA)
"thirtysomething"
- A Stop at Willoughby (1991) TV Episode .... Durstin
Edge of Honor (1991) .... Bo Dubs
Love, Lies and Murder (1991) (TV) .... Rubright
In Broad Daylight (1991) (TV) .... Bob Webb
Descending Angel (1990) (TV) .... Sam Murray
"Gabriel's Fire"
- I'm Nobody (1990) TV Episode .... Potter
Dark Avenger (1990) (TV)
Air America (1990) .... Major Donald Lemond
By Dawn's Early Light (1990) (TV) .... Looking Glass Colonel - 'Sam'
Shattered Dreams (1990) (TV) .... Hal Witt
"Mancuso, FBI"
- Night of the Living Shred (1990) TV Episode
- Kiss the Girls and Make Them Die: Part 1 (1990) TV Episode
- Kiss the Girls and Make Them Die: Part 2 (1990) TV Episode
"Wiseguy" .... Paul Beckstead (1988-1990)
- Meltdown (1990) TV Episode .... Paul Beckstead
- And It Comes Out Here (1989) TV Episode .... Paul Beckstead
- Dead Dog Lives (1989) TV Episode .... Paul Beckstead
- Where's the Money? (1989) TV Episode .... Paul Beckstead
- All or Nothing (1989) TV Episode .... Paul Beckstead
(4 more)
Family of Spies (1990) (TV)

"Star Trek: The Next Generation"
... aka Star Trek: TNG (USA: promotional abbreviation)
- Evolution (1989) TV Episode .... Dr. Paul Stubbs
In Country (1989) .... Jim Holly
Breaking Point (1989) (TV) .... Col. Lowe
The Abyss (1989) .... Gerard Kirkhill, Benthic Petroleum Co. Representative
Roe vs. Wade (1989) (TV)
The Outside Woman (1989) (TV) .... Junior Miller
Words to Live by (1989) (TV) .... School Board Lawyer
Disaster at Silo 7 (1988) (TV) .... Clarence
"Knots Landing"
- Borderline (1988) TV Episode .... Border Thug #1
"Newhart"
- Town Without Pity (1988) TV Episode .... Al Griswold
"Amen"
- Fear of Flying (1988) TV Episode .... The Pilot
The Wizard of Loneliness (1988) .... Joel Spender
Matewan (1987) .... Sephus Purcell
"The Equalizer"
- The Children's Song (1985) TV Episode .... Sheriff
Heart of Steel (1983) (TV) .... Priest

In Fashion (1974) (TV) .... Aubin

Katharine Houghton



Katharine appeared on Broadway in Our Town, The Front Page and A Very Rich Woman. She won the Theatre World award for her performance in A Scent of Flowers Off-Broadway in 1969. For several seasons she was a member of New York’s Mirror Repertory Company where she played Mary Stuart (Vivat, Viva Regina!), Gabrielle (The Mad Woman of Chaillot), and Mary L. (The Time of Your Life). In 1987 she performed at New York’s West Bank Cafe and at the Ivoryton Playhouse in her own trilogy, The Hooded Eye. In regional theatres she has played major roles in over fifty productions, including Portia (The Merchant of Venice), Kate (The Taming of the Shrew), Nina (The Seagull), Yelena (Uncle Vanya), Nora (A Doll’s House) and Catherine (Suddenly, Last Summer). On television she was Nabby Adams in the award-winning Adams’ Chronicles. She has appeared in both featured and guest roles in several series and soap operas, including All My Children and One Life to Live. In film she is best known for her role in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? Other films include Ethan Frome, Mr. North, The Night We Never Met, Billy Bathgate, The Gardener and Let it Be You. She has performed her one-woman show To Heaven in a Swing, The Last Day in the Life of Louisa May Alcot in New York at the American Place Theatre, York Theatre and Barnard College, as well as in Houston, Amherst, Ivoryton Playhouse, Orchard House in Concord and various other regional theatres. Her play Buddha, was published in Best Short Plays of 1988. Other plays that have been produced include Merlin, The Merry Month of May, Mortal Friends, On the Shadyside, The Right Number and Phone Play. Her newest play, Only Angels, is in development in New York. Her screenplays include Spot, an animated/live action script co-written with Elizabeth Rose, The Heart of the Matter and Acting in Concert, co-written with Anna Littles. At NJ Rep, Katharine starred in Best Kept Secret, a play that she wrote.


Kinsey (2004) .... Mrs. Spaulding

Let It Be Me (1995) .... Homeless Woman
... aka Love Dance (UK)
The Night We Never Met (1993) .... Less/More Cheese Lady
Ethan Frome (1993) .... Mrs. Hale
Billy Bathgate (1991) .... Charlotte

Mr. North (1988) .... Mrs. Skeel
"I'll Take Manhattan" (1987) (mini) TV Series
The Eyes of the Amaryllis (1982)
The Color of Friendship (1981) (TV) .... Miss James

"The Adams Chronicles" (1976) (mini) TV Series .... Nabby
Seeds of Evil (1975) .... Ellen Bennett

"Judd for the Defense"
- In a Puff of Smoke (1968) TV Episode .... Suzy Thurston
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) .... Joanna 'Joey' Drayton
"ABC Stage 67"
- The Confession (1966) TV Episode .... Bonnie