Splash Magazine Review
The Magic of Ivan Amodei: Intimate Illusions – Magic is For Grown-Ups
By Ma'ayan Cohen
Ventura County Star Article
Ivan Amodei is Ventura County's hottest magician, as evidenced by his more than one-year run of weekend illusion shows at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.
Intimate Illusions Trailer #2
Here's another trailer that gives you a glimpse into the show.
Beverly Hills Courier Article
Steve Simmons of the Beverly Hills Courier stopped by to see the show over the holiday.
"Magician Ivan Amodei has been packing them in at the Beverly Wilshire. So, to mark his one-year anniversary of sold-out shows, L.A.'s No. 1 magician has added three New Year's Eve shows at 6, 8 and 10 p.m. in the hotel’s historic Le Grand Trianon Theater.
Clips from Intimate Illusions
Here's another video that has testimonials, reviews and clips from the show.
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.
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.
Houdini Museum Online
I just found a Houdini Museum in Scranton, PA . Take a look around and enjoy! Click here to see the website.
Irina returns to the Show!
I am so excited to have Irina returning to my show on August 27th after a six week absence while she performed with superstar Celine Dion at Caesar's Palace Las Vegas
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


































