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Here is Hollywood, where the young, the beautiful and the inspired come to live lives of disappointment marbled with betrayal. They spin gold into flax, striving to placate the unworthy sufficiently so as, one day, to be admitted to their number. Who might be immune? Only a philosopher. Ricky Jay came to Hollywood as an acolyte in 1972. He was 26 years old, and had been practicing magic since childhood. He was a world-class card manipulator and thought to be the youngest performer ever to play “The Ed Sullivan Show.” He came to study with the masters of close-up. They...

Gavin Cox, from Kent, claims he suffered lasting brain and body injuries after falling over during the "Lucky #13" vanishing act. Magician David Copperfield has been forced to reveal the secret of one of his signature tricks after being sued by an injured British audience member. Gavin Cox, from Kent, claims he suffered lasting brain and body injuries after agreeing to take part in the "Lucky #13" illusion in 2013. Mr Cox, who had previously cooked for the Royal Family, has not worked since he fell over while being led through a secret passageway at the MGM Grand in Las...

Scotland Yard is investigating magician David Blaine after a model accused him of raping her in London. Police have asked Blaine come to Britain to be interviewed, according to emails reviewed by The Daily Beast. Natasha Prince claims Blaine raped her at a private home in London’s Chelsea neighborhood in the summer of 2004, months after her 21st birthday, she told The Daily Beast in her first-ever interview on the subject. “Officers from the Met’s Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command are investigating an allegation of rape,” Scotland Yard said in a statement to The Daily Beast. “The allegation was...

To The Editor The Pope has the "That's-Not-What-He-Meant" Czardinal running his slippers off! In the pope's desperation to be relevant, Francis used words about Creation that will hurt Christians for a long time. However. while media outlets concentrate on Francis saying that God is not a magician, I grieve that a pope would dare to say that God is not divine. How can anyone support a pope—or church—that says that God is not divine? The church’s role as arbiter of so-called scientific thought seems so important to Francis that he is willing to sacrifice the divinity of our Creator in...

Magician Wayne Houchin, who grew up in Chico, had his head set on fire Monday in the Dominican Republic, and it wasn't part of the act. Houchin was the guest of a television show when a host poured flaming Aqua de Florida cologne on his head.

It’s not an illusion. Just weeks after the General Services Administration sparked controversy for hiring mind readers and clowns to take part in a lavish training event in Las Vegas, it turns out that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration posted, and has now cancelled, an ad seeking a magician motivational speaker for a June leadership conference. The agency’s ad, which was cancelled after news of it appeared in Government Executive magazine and was criticized by lawmakers, called for “physical energizers, magic tricks, puzzles, brain teasers, word games, humor and teambuilding exercises.” The performer was asked to create “a unique...

A federal agency needs illusionist David Copperfield to help escape from criticism over now-canceled plans to hire a speaker to train agency leaders using "magic tools." The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is in hot water because on May 1 it posted a notice seeking a magician motivational speaker for a June leadership conference in suburban Maryland. The agency said presentations should include "physical energizers, magic tricks, puzzles, brain teasers, word games, humor and teambuilding exercises." It asked for the performer to create "a unique model of translating magic and principals of the psychology of magic, magic tools, techniques and...

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Police have arrested three people on suspicion of killing a young magician known as "El Magnifico" who has performed on "The Tonight Show." Anaheim Police announced the arrests Friday, two days after 19-year-old Adrian Ramos was gunned down during a robbery attempt while walking home from a class at Fullerton College. Ramos, who called himself "El Magnifico," performed at charity events, at Hollywood's Magic Castle and had also made a number of TV appearances, including alongside Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show."

Barack Obama's political magic is based on an ever-growing bag of tricks, relying on illusion, misdirection, and the media's willingness to believe. Behind the stage presence of openness, bipartisanship, sincerity, transparency, and geniality are tricks learned from the hardball politics of Chicago. Every magician needs his stage assistants. Barack Obama has two key people helping to smooth his way: Rahm Emanuel and David Axelrod. Each knows plenty of tricks of his own. Rahm Emanuel was chosen by the chosen one to be his Chief of Staff -- a very astute pick indeed. Few realize that Emanuel was one of the...

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FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, Dec. 2, 2005 – International man of mystery, David Blaine, stopped by Brooke Army Medical Center here Nov. 22 to perform "street magic" for the wounded warriors recovering at the hospital. Blaine performed three shows at the center - in the Amputee Care Center, the Burn Center and the hospital auditorium - for different groups of patients. Well known for his on-the-spot magic tricks, Blaine thrilled his BAMC audience with his street-style magic as he moved about the rooms performing sleight of hand and card tricks for the patients. Internationally famous for changing the face of...

Magician Penn Jillette a father to Moxie CrimeFighter NEW YORK — Comedian/magician Penn Jillette's has a new sidekick — a baby girl. Jillette, 50, and his wife Emily, 39, welcomed 6-pound, 6-ounce Moxie CrimeFighter Jillette on Friday, according to publicist Glenn Schwartz. It was the first child for the couple, who married last year. "We chose her middle name because when she's pulled over for speeding she can say, 'But officer, we're on the same side,'" Jillette explained. "'My middle name is CrimeFighter.'" His show sidekick — the typically mute Teller — had no comment on the new arrival. Penn...