Murray Hatfield's annual touring illusion show, "Illusions...A Magic Spectacular!" begins a 6-week run in 27 cities and 85 shows throughout Canada. This year's cast includes Christopher Hart, Richard Forget, Brad Cummings along with Murray Hatfield & Teresa and their cast. The tour that will perform for more than 100,000 people is expected to raise around two million dollars for Canadian charities. Appearances in November include: The Pentastar Playhouse in Windsor (Nov. 17), Saunders Secondary School in London (18), Humanities Theatre in Kitchener (19), John F. Ross Auditorium in Guelph (20), Eastdale Collegiate Auditorium in Oshawa (21), St. Joseph High School Auditorium in Etobicoke (22-23), City Playhouse in Vaughan (24), Northview Heights Secondary School in North York (25), Aurora High School Auditorium in Aurora (26), Whiteoaks School Auditorium in Oakville (27), Chinuacousy School Auditorium in Brampton (28), and the Glenforest Secondary School in Mississauga (29-30). For ticket information contact the local ticket brokers (Ticketmaster) or event venues.(11/17)

The Harry Blackstone auction on Saturday is reported in an Associated Press article, "Hundreds of tricks and personal effects used by magician Harry Blackstone also were auctioned. The saw blade and other paraphernalia used in the illusion of sawing a woman in half fetched $28,200." A Reuters article reported that "More than 400 stage illusions and costumes from the Blackstone estate were offered in the sale."(11/17)
--To read the Nov. 16 Associated Press article titled "Karloff's 'Frankenstein' contract, Freddy Krueger's glove among items sold" click: HERE.(11/17)
--To read the Nov. 16 Reuters titled "Collector Snaps Up Dracula's Bow Tie" click: HERE.(11/17)

A less than positive view of the current magic scene in New York City is recounted in a New York Times article that concludes "…magic has fallen victim to the decline in live entertainment brought on by film and television around the mid-20th century. It has made a comeback in Las Vegas, but in New York there remain mostly a wistful regard for the art's past, and a lingering camaraderie that recalls its glory days." Mentioned in the article are Doug Edwards, Houdini, Vince Sabatino, David Copperfield, David Blaine, Jamy Ian Swiss, Mike Bornstein, Slydini, Al Flosso, Dai Vernon, Alexander Herrmann, Richard Cohn, George Schindler, Ricky Jay, Penn and Teller, and Theo Bamberg. The article ends with, "For magicians in New York, it seems, the best company nowadays may be among the dead." To read the Nov. 16 article by Alex Mindlin titled "Shaking the Last Cards Out of Their Sleeves" click: HERE.(11/17-subscriber site)

Maritess Zurbano will be presenting a one-hour show, "Magic Mondays," at the Blue Velvet (227 1st Avenue) in New York City every Monday beginning Nov.17. Shows will start at 7pm and will cost $10 (plus a 2 drink minimum) per person at the zagat rated Vietnamese restaurant. For reservations phone: 212-749-6958.(11/17)

Jeff McBride's upcoming appearance in Korea is reported in a Chosun Ilbo article that "Magic is the entertainment flavor of the month, which is convenient, because a worldwide magician is coming to Seoul. Jeff McBride, the most famous of Sin City's card tricksters, is coming to town to perform magic shows in Korea for the first time." To read the Nov. 14 article by Kyoyuk Munhwa Hoekwan titled "Jeff McBride's Show is Pure Magic" click: HERE.(11/17)

Rafael Benatar, Andrew Goldenhersh, Suzanne, David Sandy, Alfonso, Tom Burgoon, Hans Davis, David Goldrake, and Ron Saylor appear at the Magic Castle in Los Angeles on Nov. 17-23. David Goldrake lectures on Sunday Nov. 23.(11/17)

Roy's condition as reported by Bernie Yuman on Larry King Live is the subject of a CNN article that reported, "Yuman said he last saw Horn on Thursday, and that the entertainer is 'working diligently' in his rehabilitation. However, he would not respond when asked if Horn could feed himself." To read the Nov. 14 article titled "Vegas entertainer Horn continues to improve" click: HERE.(11/17)

Paul Daniels' problems in rebuilding his home are the subject of a Daily Mail article that reported, "Some estimates say it will cost Daniels more than 1million to knock down much of the house and rebuild it on pillars. Daniels himself says that it will cost twice as much as he has received from the insurers for flood damage. While they await the council's decision they are not redecorating." The article also discusses Daneils' career and business ventures. To read the Nov. 15 article titled "That's Not Magic!" supplied by YellowBrix click: HERE.(11/17)

Harry Houdini's experiences in Canada are recounted in a Halifax Herald article that reported, "To make matters worse, a publicity stunt Houdini tried to use to promote their show turned out to be a humiliating failure. He had announced he would pull off an amazing escape by freeing himself from a running horse to which he had been tightly bound. Unfortunately, the horse he was given was a high-spirited, half-broken colt, and once Houdini was on its back, it made a mad dash for the open road. By the time the magician freed himself, he was kilometres away from any spectators." To read the Nov. 16 article by Dorothy Grant titled "Down and out in N.S." click: HERE.(11/17)

Tricky Dicky Robinson who performs at the "My Ole Man's Restaurant and Lounge" in Phoenix is mentioned in a Republic article, "Robinson, a Valley native who has been tending local bars for 3 1/2 decades, began practicing magic tricks he purchased from the back of comic books at age 6. Robinson's bag of bar-friendly tricks involves coins, cards and drinks, among others, and he performs them with the deftness of a veteran magician's deftness." To read the Nov. 14 article by Curtis Grippe titled "Bartender serves up magic at My Ole Man's" click: HERE.(11/17)

Penn & Teller are featured on the cover of Showbiz Weekly where they discuss their accomplishments over the past year. Their long term contract at Rio is mentioned by Jillette, "We love playing here at the Rio… We have time to practice, write and rehearse; and still have friends and stuff like that that we never had before. We're putting lots of new stuff into the show." The article also mentioned some of their other accomplishments this year, "In addition to performing six nights a week at the Rio, the magicians produced the Showtime series 'Penn & Teller: Bullshit!' …The magicians also appeared on 'The Tonight Show' with Jay Leno, 'Late Night with Conan O'Brien,' 'The View,' 'The Bernie Mac Show' and 'Who Wants to Marry My Dad.' They entered the growing world of reality TV as contestants on NBC's 'Celebrity Fear Factor' and raised money for charity as participants in the 'Hollywood Squares' game show." To read the Nov. 23-30 article by Greg Cheeseman titled "Quite A Ride" click: HERE.(11/18)

"Grand Illusions: The Story of Magic Part Two" which was recently released on DVD is reviewed in DVD Talk where they conclude, "This is a nice series, especially if you are a fan of magic illusions. Not only do you get a chance to learn about the history of this fascinating branch of showmanship, but you can see vintage slips of some of the masters performing. I zipped through all six episodes in one sitting, and was sorry that there wasn’t more. Highly recommended for amateur magicians. Those interested in magic or the history of theater and vaudeville, should make an attempt to check this DVD out." To read the Nov. 17 review by John Sinnott titled "Grand Illusions: The Story of Magic Part Two" click: HERE.(11/18)
--To buy the DVD click: HERE.

Thin Air, Bob Sheets, Barry Wood, Puck, Joe Romano, and Larry Davidson perform at Wednesday Wizardry on Nov. 19 at 7:30pm at the Gaithersburg Arts Barn (311 Kent Square Road) in Kentlands, Maryland. Tickets are $15 per person and are available by phoning: 301-258-6394.(11/18)

This week's spoof of Siegfried & Roy on "Saturday Night Live" where Roy is attacked by a tortoise is discussed in a Las Vegas Review-Journal article that reported, "NBC's 'Saturday Night Live' took a tasteless swipe at the Siegfried & Roy saga over the weekend, signaling that the collective gloves are beginning to come off in some quarters. I have a theory as to why the sensitivity is waning: the PR campaign is becoming a national joke." To read the Nov. 17 article by Norm titled "Roy PR effort may produce ill effects" click: HERE.(11/18)

"Dan Chan the Magic Man" performs magic, juggling, escapes, and acrobatics at the Excelsior Branch Library in San Francisco on Nov. 19 at 1pm.(11/18)

James Songster and Joe Vecciarelli's show at the Camelot Days Renaissance Faire in Hollywood, Florida titled "Bunnies in Peril" is mentioned in a Sun-Sentinel article that described the event as, "one of the biggest stars of the show was a brown-and-white bunny. The anonymous rabbit, magically shot out of a cannon (not really -- it was a trick and the bunny emerged unharmed) and into a shoebox-size cage made for the grand finale of one of the vaudeville-style sideshows." To read the Nov. 17 article by Jeremy Milarsky titled "Camelot Days festival in Hollywood features magic, Renaissance romps" click: HERE.(11/18)

"Spooky House" which was released last year in theaters and has won several awards is now available on DVD. Staring Ben Kingsley as "The Great Zamboni" the movie features some magic and sleight-of-hand in addition to supernatural themes. Shawn Farquhar, John Gaughan, and Dean Gunnerson worked on the movie as "magic consultants" and Gunnerson also has an un-credited cameo appearance at the beginning as The Great Zamboni's assistant.(11/19)
--To purchase the DVD click: HERE.

Steve Cohen's "Chamber Magic" returns to The Ritz-Carlton hotel in San Francisco on Nov. 19-22 with two shows per evening at 7pm and 9pm. Tickets are $50 per person and are available by phoning: 415-773-6198.(11/19)

Lance Burton will appear on the FOX-5 (KVVU-Las Vegas) televison special titled "The Governor's Dinner" which will air on Nov. 27, Thanksgiving Day, at 1pm. The show was taped at The Presidential Suite at the Venetian and will feature local celebrities and politicians.(11/19)

Scott Sullivan's short film "Liberation" which debuted at the Midwest Entertainment Industry Conference Film Festival this weekend was a voted as a "Runner-up Best Short Film." The film is scheduled to be screened on Friday Nov. 28 at 7:30pm at the Kentucky Theater in Louisville, Kentucky as part of a program of short films. It is about "a failed, desperate escape artist who finds a way to make the world care about his work."(11/19)

Dorothy Dietrich and John Bravo's Houdini Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania is featured in a Times Leader article that that describes the contents of the museum and what the tour entails, "Throughout the tour interesting facts surface about Houdini, and you learn that there was more to this magic man than meets the eye. He was a brilliant man who often said 'my brain is the key that sets me free.' Houdini despised frauds and often exposed them, and wrote the book 'The Right Way to Do Wrong' to protect people from scams. He spent his life helping others, and during World War I he took a year off from performing to sell war bonds, and to teach soldiers how to escape German handcuffs and prisons." The article concluded that, "The highlight of the tour is the magic show performed by the museum directors who are also nationally known magicians." To read the Nov. 19 article by Kelly Gibbons titled "Wild about Harry" click: HERE.(11/20)

Del Ray who is perhaps the best close-up performer -- ever, is reported to have died on Tuesday Nov. 18. He was cremated on the 19th and a private service is scheduled for the 22nd. Known mostly for his outstanding close-up show with cards, dice and little mechanical creatures, he also presented a very unique stage act that used electronics as well as sleight-of-hand. In the 1940s he was an assistant to Blackstone Sr.(11/20)

"Disappearing Act" which runs at the Hudson Guild Theatre in Hollywood, California through Dec. 21 is reviewed in Backstage where they report, "…I must say this mixture of theatre and live magic has terrific stuff going for it. On the top of the list? Micah Cover as Sonny, the aforesaid searching magician. Cover couldn't be more charming, whether chatting with the audience during his 'act,' discussing the many implications of a magician's many secrets, analyzing the reaction of those who are upset with magic--'they think they're being lied to'--or playing the defensive male as he falls hard for the girl who sees through his tricks." To read the Nov. 19 review by Jennie Webb titled "Disappearing Act" click: HERE.(11/20)

David Blaine's starvation and his condition at the end of the stunt is the subject of a Telegraph article that discusses the findings of his doctor, Jeremy Powell-Tuck. The article reported that "Since Powell-Tuck estimates that a very fat person could survive 200 days without eating, he was not surprised that Blaine's faculties seemed unaffected. His blood volume, however, had decreased significantly and his heart had shrunk as his body had begun to cannibalise his organs."  Also reported was that, "It will be two or three months before Blaine returns to his normal weight and fitness, and he has agreed to give Powell-Tuck further blood samples. The results of the tests that were carried out immediately after Blaine left the box have not come back yet, but Powell-Tuck hopes they will provide vital information about vitamin deficiencies." To read the Nov. 19 article by Cassandra Jardine titled "The fruits of Blaine's fast" click: HERE.(11/20)

John Bohannon and George Schindler will be hosting the live and film presentation of "Masters Of Magic" on Saturday Nov. 22 at 8pm at the Academic Arts Theatre at the Westchester Community College (75 Grasslands Road) in Valhalla, New York. Also appearing on the show are Mike Makman, Jennifer Moyer, and Peter Gossimer. This is part of Lincoln Center's "Reel To Real" series. Tickets are $16-$18 per person and are available by phoning: 914-785-6262.(11/21)

The dangers of using wild animals in stage shows is the subject of an ABC News article that discusses the Roy Horn attack and also speaks to Kirby VanBurch, Garry Carson and Kelsey Kara, and The Majestix. To read the Nov. 20 article titled "No Illusions Here" click: HERE.(11/21)

Al Belmont's "Belmont Magic Show" appears at the Middle Township Performing Arts Center (Bayberry Rd.) in Cape May Court House, New Jersey on Saturday Nov. 22 at 2pm and 7:30pm. Tickets are $5-$10 each and are available by phoning: 609-465-8743.(11/21)

PENNSYLVANIA: Bob Elliott will headline at Bob Little's Super Sunday, on Sunday Nov. 23, with his close-up lecture. Featured performers include Mat Franco, Don Camp, Bill Dixon, Paul Michael, and Francis Menotti. Admission is a very low $25 per person for this 12-hour (10am-10pm), one-day convention held at The Warrington (Route 611) in Warrington. Auction hosted by Hank Moorehouse, free Champagne, cake, and homemade chocolate. For more information phone: 215-672-3344.(11/21)

David Oliver, RJ Lewis, and Chris Capehart headline at Monday Night Magic on Nov. 24 at 8pm in NYC. For tickets phone Ticketmaster at: 212-307-4100. For more information click: HERE.(11/21)

Greg Davidson who will be performing a benefit in State College is featured in a Centre Daily article that discusses his brand of magic as, "Davidson will share his faith, along with tricks and illusions developed over 28 years in the benefit inspirational magic show 'He's Calling....Pick Up!'" Davidson explained, "Mine happens to be magic… And what I try to do is empower people to use whatever gift they have to make an eternal difference." To read the Nov. 20 article by Chris Rosenblum titled "Benefit mixes magic, faith" click: HERE.(11/21)

Carl Mercurio performs for Fantasma Magic at FAO Schwarz (58th Street and 5th Avenue) in New York City on Saturday Nov. 22 at 2pm and 4pm.(11/21)

Eric Dasher is featured a Nov. 14 Burlington County Times article about his appearance as a library show and reported, "A Delran resident and professional magician, Dasher will be there as the owner of the Magical Shoppe of Wonders, an establishment that overflows with illusions and eye-popping surprises. The audience will be invited inside to behold its marvels, a spell-casting magic wand and a Harry Potter look alike among them." The article titled "Delran magician conjures up Shoppe of Wonders" also appeared in The Bucks County Courier Times and The Intelligencer.(11/21)