Visions Magic News & Events

ITEM: May 12th, 2008
Herb Zarrow has passed away. Herb Zarrow, likely most famous as creator of the Zarrow Shuffle died yesterday of pneumonia. He was 82. Zarrow's many contributions to the art of magic will be remembered as much as he will be missed.

ITEM: May 6th, 2008
Fla. Teacher Accused Of Wizardry: Man Made Toothpick Vanish In Class. Teacher Jim Piculas does a magic trick where a toothpick disappears and then reappears. Piculas recently did the 30-second trick in front of a classroom at Rushe Middle School in Land 'O Lakes. Piculas said he then got a call from the supervisor of teachers, saying he'd been accused of wizardry. Click here for more.

ITEM: March 11th, 2008
Dan Harlan charged with vandalism, breaking and entering, and safe-cracking. From centralohio.com: "A 'magician' who lost both his pants and his teeth during a chase from a register heist early Thursday morning apparently couldn't make the register he stole disappear. Daniel Dean Harlan, 43, of Santa Monica, Calif., was charged with breaking and entering, vandalism and safe cracking after a 2:20 a.m. incident at Legendz bar on Fifth Street, Fremont police said." Click here for more.

ITEM: October 18th, 2007
FBI probes magician David Copperfield in Las Vegas. From the Las Vegas Sun: "Law enforcement authorities have been in contact with David Copperfield and the FBI has conducted an investigation in Las Vegas where the magician has held regular shows, his lawyer and FBI spokespeople confirmed Thursday. Local station KLAS-TV reported that an FBI raid with 12 agents took place Wednesday at Copperfield's warehouse, where he apparently stores tricks and memorabilia from around the world. He has called the location the International Museum & Library of the Conjuring Arts." Click here for more.

ITEM: August 26th, 2007
Jerry Andrus has passed away. Jerry Andrus, S.A.M. Honorary Life Member, writer, creator, and innovator, died this afternoon after a long, brave battle with cancer.

ITEM: June19th, 2007
Magic shows banned from Arab television. ARABSAT, one of the Arab world's leading satellite operators, has caved in to pressure exerted by the Muslim World League to remove television channels broadcasting magic shows, the London-based daily A-Sharq Al-Awsat reported. Click here for read the article from Media Line.

ITEM: May 24th, 2007
Bruce Cervon has passed away. Bruce Cervon, writer, performer, and co-publisher of L&L Publishing has died. Details to follow.

ITEM: October 25th, 2006
Convention announced! I.B.M. National Capital Ring 50, Magi-Whirl 2007 April 13 & 14, 2007. Four lectures, plus two close-up performances, and a Gala evening show. Magi-Whirl is being held at Bishop Ireton High School, 201 Cambridge Rd, Alexandria VA. $45 in advance, $50 at the door. Details available at the official "Magi-Whirl" website.

ITEM: September 1st, 2006
"The Illusionist" announces worldwide magic contest! "The Illusionist", a new movie featuring magic and magicians, is announcing a magic contest, with the winner getting an appearance on the DVD of the movie. See the official "The Illusionist" website for details.

ITEM: July 10th, 2006
Theatrical release of The Illusionist set for August 18th. The Illusionist, a supernatural mystery that combines romance, politics and magic, and starring Edward Norton and Paul Giamatti, is due in theaters August 18th, 2006. See the official website for more details.

ITEM: June 26th 2006
Tommy Wonder has passed away. Tommy Wonder, author, performer, and inventor, probably best known for his series of books, "Words of Wonder", died yesterday after a fight with cancer.

ITEM: April 30th, 2006
Billy McComb has passed away. Billy McComb, magical inventor, doctor, actor, author, and magical historian, died in hospital today.

ITEM: March 19th, 2006
Channing Pollock has passed away. Channing Pollock, considered by many the father of modern dove manipulation, had a huge influence on stage performances and served as a mentor to many of the greatest stage magicians and an influence on many, many more. He died of cancer at the age of 79.

ITEM: January 10th, 2006
Alex Elmsley has passed away. Alex Elmsley, one of magic's greatest innovators, perhaps best known as the inventor of the "Ghost Count" (which later became known as the "Elmsley Count"), has died of an apparent heart attack in London.

ITEM: December 19th, 2005
S.C.A.M. announces "Magic Weekend in Columbia". The South Carolina Association of Magicans Convention is set for January 13-14, featuring Jade, Joshua Jay, Gazzo, and many more. Visit the official S.C.A.M. website (http://www.scamcon.org) for details on tickets, show times, and other information.

ITEM: November 3rd, 2005
Tony Raven has passed away. Tony Raven (real name Bob Lynn), a co-founder of the Psychic Entertainers Association and a major force in the bizarre magic movement, has died.

ITEM: November 3rd, 2005
Blaine, Copperfield sued for "stealing god-like powers". A Minnesota man is suing David Copperfield and David Blaine for using his powers without prior permission. Christopher Roller, who claims to have many powers and abilities (including making a million women pregnant) is seeking over $50M in damages. The newsbrief can be seen here.

ITEM: October 19th, 2005
Ormond McGill has passed away. McGill's career of some 70 years in performing around the world earned him the rightful title of "The Dean of Stage Hypnotists". He was also one of the world's leading authorities on hypnotherapy and sat on the board of the American Council of Hypnotic Examiners. During his career, McGill also wrote some twenty-plus books on magic, mentalism, and hypnosis. He will be missed.

Article: July 29th, 2005
"Bursting the Magic Bubble". An article in the UK's Guardian features an examination of how performance magic tricks audiences. From the article, "Psychologists now recognise that magicians know an awful lot about how people perceive the world." The interesting and thought-provoking article can be read at the Guardian website here.

ITEM: July 17th, 2005
MARS 2005 headliners announced. MARS, Magic At the Red Sea, has announced their headliners for their 2005 "convention vacation". The line-up includes Max Maven, Fl!p, Pit Hartling, Menny Lindenfeld, Anthony Darkstone, Duane Laflin, and Charles Brook. See the official MARS 2005 website for more information.

ITEM: July 15th, 2005
George Schindler new Dean of SAM. The Society of American Magicians has appointed the illustrious George Schindler as it's new Dean. Schindler has been the recepient of many awards and honors, including the Gold Star of the Inner Circle of Magic, the SAM Magic Hall of Fame, and the Christopher Award for Lifetime Achievement. Schindler takes on the appointment after the passing of former Dean, Jay Marshall. We wish Mr. Schindler all the success in the world with his appointment. See the SAM website for more information.

ITEM: July 9th, 2005
Death-Defying Act at 30,000 Feet: Surgeon, Amateur Magician Assists Man Aboard Plane. "Dr. John Powell saved his best trick for last on a return flight Sunday from a magicians conference," reports the Owensboro, Kentuck, Messenger-Inquirer. "He helped revive a fellow Southwest Airlines passenger whose heart nearly stopped" while returning from the IBM convention. Details and story at the Messenger-Inquirer website.

ITEM: June 22nd, 2005
Roy Horn leaving Las Vegas. Roy Horn, of the legendary "Siegfried and Roy", is returning to Germany to continue his recovery and rehabilitiation. Details are available on E! Online.

ITEM: May 10th, 2005
Jay Marshall has passed away. Maria Ibanez, National Second Vice President of the Society of American Magicians, released a statement that Jay Marshall, the Dean of Magic, has died. Marshall, a true giant in our Art, held numerous awards and honors in magic and held the lifetime position of Dean of the Society of American Magicians. Further details will made available at a later date.

ITEM: April 21st, 2005
Di Sato (Harry Thierry) has passed away. Bob Alan (email, website) reports that Di Sato (Harry Thierry), has passed away at the age of 67. Di Sato won the FISM award twice, once in 1964 in Barcelona (in the Manipulation category) and again in Baden-Baden in 1967, winning the Grand Prix and becoming the World Champion of Magic. He will be missed.

ITEM: April 2nd, 2005
Tim Ellis and Sue-Anne Webster recognized by Guinness. Ellis and Webster, along with the Magic Unlimited team, have been recognized by the Guinness World Records as setting a new record for "The World's Longest Magic Show". The team tripled the previous record of twenty-four hours by producing a show 75 hours long. More info is at "World's Longest Magic Show".