Show’s Seating Chart
Here's a schematic of the private suite's seating chart.
You may also download a .pdf version here.
Ivan’s tells stories from his book
Listen to me talk to iTricks.com about my book Magic's Most Amazing Stories and tell some great stories from it.
T. Nelson Downs – King of Koins
T. Nelson Downs (1867-1938), the King of Koins, is pictured with his two books, the "Art of Magic" and "Tricks with Coins", which have become sleight of hand classics.
Downs created an act consisting entirely of coin manipulation. The conventional wisdom was that coins would be too small to be seen from a distance, but Downs' act not only defied conventional wisdom but went on to become one of the most popular and highly paid acts in vaudeville.
The 'Miser's Dream' routine he created, in which a seemingly endless number of coins were plucked into existence at this fingertips, has been emulated by performers ever since, and remains the standard classic of coin magic.
My effect, "Easy Come Easy Go", which is featured in my Intimate Illusions show is my version of this classic effect. It also comes with a twist as I like to present. I created this piece quite a long time ago and recently decided to introduce it into the show.
Beautifully set to Bach, I love performing it silently. My cellist simply plays this piece wonderfully.
See you at the show.
The Illusionist
One of my all-time favorite movies about magic. The film is a big deception and will throw you for a curve. If you have not seen it, do yourself a favor and buy or rent it on a rainy day, stay home, grab some popcorn and watch it uninterrupted. Fantastic movie.
"In turn-of-the-century Vienna, a magician uses his abilities to secure the love of a woman far above his social standing."
Here's a trailer for the movie to wet your taste buds.
The Prestige
Here's another magical movie that coincidentally came out only a few months of time from The Illusionist. This one is just as great as The Illusionist, so have a complete and magical night of movie watching and see two these back to back.
"The rivalry between two magicians is exacerbated when one of them performs the ultimate illusion."
Here's a trailer for it.
L’illusionniste (original title)
This film is amazing and such a fresh movie about the world of magic.
"A French illusionist finds himself out of work and travels to Scotland, where he meets a young woman. Their ensuing adventure changes both their lives forever."
Here's a trailer for it.
Houdini’s Needles
I recently went to the Skirball Cultural Arts Center in Los Angeles to see the Houdini: Art & Magic exhibit. I loved it. I saw some amazing artifacts directly from private collectors and other museums. This one struck me (notice I didn't say stuck me) powerfully. Pictured here, and a bit blurry, are the actual needles that Houdini used in his recreation of the famous Indian Needle effect.
There are a handful of magicians who perform the effect almost identically in presentation as Houdini did it. Teller (of Penn and Teller) does it beautifully. In my effect, thirty to forty 2" needles are swallowed, similar to Houdini's version, but in my Intimate Illusions show, the ending of this effect takes the piece in a completely different and "mind-boggling" (as Dick Clark would say) direction.
Each performance of it gives me new nuances to insert and perform. It's my passion and I'm always thinking about how to improve each piece. It is one of my favorite effects in the entire show.
Thanks again for stopping by and see you at the show.
Ivan
Houdini’s East Indian Needle Trick
For years, I wanted to perform the East Indian Needle trick. I didn't want to do it the way Houdini or other magicians of the past and present perform it. So after a few years of toiling, it came to me of how I was going to my it my own.
Here's a brief description of the effect: In this trick, Houdini swallows 50 to 100 needles, 20 yards of thread and brings them all up threaded, after his mouth and throat have been inspected by a committee.
"Around the World" is one of my favorite effects that I perform in my show Intimate illusions and is fast becoming the talked about illusion in the show. Mainly because it has so many great qualities that make an effect great: danger, mystery and of course, impossibility.
Actual footage of Houdini Escaping from Straitjacket
Here is rare footage of Houdini escaping from his straitjacket upside down.
Houdini Rope Escape
Master magician Harry Houdini (1874-1926) starred in five silent films from 1919 to 1923.
The famed illusionist/escape artist also founded his own movie company, the Houdini Picture Corporation. In 1919, the great Houdini entered the movie business, eventually appearing in a total of five silent films that are now available in a special three-disc DVD box set: Houdini:
The Movie Star DVD (Kino International, 2008). I have not been able to confirm the exact film that this scene is from, but my guess is that it was a part of "The Master Mystery" (Octagon Films, 1920), a 15 chapter serial — also known as The Houdini Serial — which starred the great Houdini as Quentin Locke, an enterprising G-man who tries to crack a powerful criminal organization.
Tony Curtis as Houdini
Tony Curtis portrayed Houdini in the classic film, "Houdini" and here's a clip from it as Houdini is escaping from a straitjacket.
Enjoy!
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