March 30, 2012 | Latest News, Reviews
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Splash-Logo with Quote

Splash Magazine Review

The Magic of Ivan Amodei: Intimate Illusions – Magic is For Grown-Ups

By Ma'ayan Cohen

 
Magic is for grown ups, as Ivan Amodei demonstrates in his dexterous 90-minute performance at the acclaimed Beverly Wilshire.
 
From his sleight of hand in a sharp black suit to the reciprocal tunes of concert cellist, Irina Chirkova, in her scorching red dress – classics such as Bach and Dvorak, the Mission Impossible theme, and comical lone notes – we see magic played right.

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November 16, 2011 | Show Illusions
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Intimate-Illusions-logo

The Illusions in the Show

Lots of guests who want to see the show often email us and ask, “so what kind of magic does he do? Intimate Illusions is not your typical magic show. Everything from the illusion selection, the set design, the luxury suite, the lighting, the live music, and finally the gorgeous Beverly Wilshire location really creates an exceptional and theatrical experience for each guest.

The illusions that I present in the show are some of the most valued magic I have ever created. Each piece also sends a deeper message through the presentation. Audiences often walk away with more to think about than just, “how’d he do that?” 

You’ll see light-hearted, dangerous, funny and mind-boggling pieces in the 90 minute show, but each one completely unique from the other. Knives, iPads, iPhones, apples, darts, slingshots, boomerangs and live animals are some of the articles you might see on any given performance. 

Here’s a listing and brief description of the illusions that I perform in my show:

Around the World is probably my favorite illusion I perform in the show.

Due to its sheer dangerous and high-risk nature, the intriguing storyline about Houdini’s biggest kept secret keeps you riveted while you watch me defy a trip to the hospital for your entertainment pleasure.

With 196 countries, 50 states and 2,469,501 cities all over the world, which one are you thinking about?

 

  

Telepathy is the supposed communication of thoughts or ideas by means other than the known senses.

Can you transport thoughts invisibly, quietly and clearly through the air to another person?

The entire audience participates in this display and tries their turn at discovering if they have the “gift” of mental telepathy. Are you the one?

Read more about "The Messenger" here.

 

People often say, “they have to see it to believe it, when they hear an effect described from the show, but with this illusion, I can simply say, “you must first BELIEVE it, in order to see it.”

An elegant glass, a lovely assistant and a illusion over 2000 years in the making, this on the edge-of-your-seat piece builds up to an unbelievable and surprising finale.

Read more about "The Miracle Worker" here.

 

There are moments in your life that are burned into your consciousness. You remember all the details such as, who you were with, what you ate, what you wore, etc.

This illusion guarantees to add one more unforgettable moment to your database of memories.

 

All I'm allowed to say about the most talked about illusion in my show is "a picture is worth a thousand words." Let your imagination do the rest.

Read more about "JAWS" here.

 

One apple and one 9” surgically sharpened throwing knife make for a thrilling presentation for a lucky audience member.

A wrong move, even an unexpected sneeze, could send this demonstration in a deadly direction.

We all know the story of William Tell is a children’s fable, but this attempt at re-creating his famous feat could not be more real, nerve-racking, stressful and funny all at the same time.

 

Some call it destiny, but most wonder “do we have a say in it,” or is some higher power pulling the strings?

This illusions puts that theory directly to the test. With the millions of combinations and mathematical possibilities, this effect proves that you indeed hold your fate in your own hands.

 

Another one of my favorites because there is no script and mostly spontaneous interaction between me, a spectator, his wife and the audience. A husband and wife make for some of the funniest moments in my show.

How well do husbands know their wives? What they are thinking about at an exact moment in time?

Not only does the audience witness a miracle, the husband is just as shocked as they are.

 

Rainman-Image

In this piece, I demonstrate one of the most unbelievable abilities that a mega-savant did everyday – effortlessly.

Something that doesn't seem realistic, logical or even possible. It was as if he was performing real magic in his everyday life.

Read more about "Rain Man" here.

 

A very visual routine with a funny storyline about how I visited jail one day. Audiences love it because it has magic literally every moment in the illusion. Of course, with my signature surprise ending that will shock even the most astute observer.

 

Magicians are known to make ladies float in the air or even float themselves right in front of you. This illusion takes that premise in a completely different direction.

What I can say is something flies around the room which makes an unexpected and surprise appearance to the comfort of one lucky audience member. It's difficult to follow the illusion with anything else.  It's definitely a closing piece.

 

We all know that money comes and goes and this illusion demonstrates that to a tee. Not only do you see the magic, but this effect also has audible details that enhance the illusion.

A really fun and interactive piece where the audience can see and hear the magic all at the same time.

 

Learn more about "Easy Come, Easy Go" here.

 

More to come!

 

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September 22, 2011 | Houdini
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Houdini-in-chains

Rare Publicity Photo of Houdini

This is a very rare publicity photo of Houdini. I find it inspiring how well, in a time when there wasn't internet and high tech methods of publicizing yourself, how Houdini did everything to market himself masterfully.

Almost 100 years later, his name is as well known as it was then. Amazing.

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September 22, 2011 | Houdini
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Houdini-Art-and-Magic

Houdini: Art and Magic

Pictured here and a bit blurry (my camera didn't take a great shot), but you can read a great history about Houdini that was on display at the Skirball Museum this summer.

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August 29, 2011 | Houdini
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Houdini-Museum-image

Houdini Museum Online

I just found a Houdini Museum in Scranton, PA . Take a look around and enjoy! Click here to see the website.

 

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Houdini's Needles

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

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May 18, 2011 | Houdini, Intimate Illusions
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Houdini-&-Needles

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.

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Book-art

Magic’s Most Amazing Stories -The Book

 
A Collection of Incredible Stories From World Famous Magicians

Nominated by ForeWord Review for book of the year for 2010 in the humor category. This book has no effects, no tricks to learn and no moves to master. 

Filled with inspiring, hilarious, gripping, remarkable and shocking stories for all!

 Over 75 contributors, over 100 stories, beautifully illustrated, completely in full-color and over 250 pages of incredible stories, crazy facts, great anecdotes and fantastic tales about famous magicians of the past and present. 



Magicians of the past and current magicians including: Houdini, Doug Henning, Dai Vernon, Tony Slydini, Tommy Cooper, Jimmy Grippo, Harry Blackstone, just to name a few.

Reports from the road, at the airport, technical problems, hecklers, lost props, fire, animal mishaps and anything else you can think of IS ALL HERE! Get an inside look to what happens to the pros while they travel and work in this exciting profession. 

Compiled by Multiple Award-Winning Magician Ivan Amodei



BUY IT HERE

 

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May 05, 2011 | Houdini, Rec. Reading
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Houdini-&-Nate

Danger in the Dark: A Houdini & Nate Mystery

What a great book. Perfect for the kids who love magic.  "When an unscrupulous man plots against his mother, a young boy gets help from the famous magician, Harry Houdini."

Pick up your copy at Amazon.com.

 

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1,690 views
 
Houdini-in-Chains

“Lock Picking” as Told by Avani Mehta

Here's a great story from my book about Harry Houdini. 

 
Without a doubt, Harry Houdini is the most famous escape artist in the history of magic. I’m not sure if the story I’m about to share with you is well known, but it surely is fascinating. Houdini was very confident in his talents. He claimed that he could escape from any jail cell in the world in less than an hour, provided he could go into the cell dressed in street clothes.
 
And every time he was given this challenge, he accepted and did just as he promised in a few short minutes. 

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May 05, 2011 | Houdini
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Houdini-in-Chains

Houdini in Chains Promo Photo

More about Harry Houdini

Born Ehrich Weisz in Budapest, Harry Houdini was a Jewish immigrant to the United States. His first escape was with his family, when he was four, fleeing anti-Semitism in Central Europe and settling in Appleton, Wisconsin.

The young Weisz quickly found the bright lights of the stage more appealing than the dim synagogue of his father's rabbinic profession.

After running away to join the circus, he made his debut as trapeze artist "Ehrich, Prince of the Air" at age nine. The metaphor of escape is essential to Houdini's phenomenal success: resisting the title of magician, he favored "escape artist." At the height of his fame, Harry Houdini was a living icon.

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May 05, 2011 | Houdini
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Houdini-and-Bess

A rare photo of Houdini, Bess and his Mother

A rare photo of the three of them. Houdini gave Bess a secret code word, that only she knew. If he could reach her from "the other side" she could verify it was actually Houdini by hearing that code word. That never did happen.

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