#12 – Million Dollar Muses [6/13/1996]
Million Dollar Magician:
Lance Burton was the first person to win the I.B.M. Gold Medal and the first American to win the F.I.S.M Grand Prix. Burton has been on TV many times in the past few months — his high-rated special in February has already been rerun in May, he made a feature appearance in every one of the multi-magician specials and has signed a five year deal with NBC to produce and star in his own TV specials. In 1994 he signed a 13 year 100 million dollar contract for his live show at the Monte Carlo Hotel in Las Vegas. His show will open next month in a brand new 3,000 seat theater called the “Lance Burton Theater.”
What else can one man do? I am glad you asked. How about a Lance Burton line of magic. Yes, that’s right, the Marshall Brodein Division of Harmony Toy Ltd. has announced the release of nine new items. These items are not going to be released to the mass market toy stores (not yet, anyway), They are being marketed to the magic and specialty trade. I am sure you will be able to buy them in Vegas next to the Lance Burton Theater.
The nine items include three magic sets: “12 Amazing Tricks Magic Set,” “Magic Hat,” and “25 Amazing Tricks Magic Set.” They also include six trick decks: “Magic Marked Deck,” “Magic Mystery Deck” (a stripper deck), “Magic Card Box & Deck,” “Magic Blank Deck” (a Nudist deck), “Magic Rising Card Deck,” and “Magic Magician’s Deck” (a Svengali). The cards and the sets seem to be the same as the original Brodien items which were originally marketed in the ‘70s under the “TV Magic” brand and later redesigned under the “Marshall Brodien Magic” line produced by Harmony Toy, Ltd. The only difference seems to be that Burton is now pictured on the packaging instead of Brodien. Get them while you can — they could become collectible.
World Magic Summit IV:
On May 23rd to May 26th close to a thousand magicians descended on Washington D.C. to attend the fourth annual “World Magic Summit.” This convention is getting the reputation of being one of the best around. Rich Bloch and Nick Riggerio have managed to consistently book the best acts in our industry. In so doing the registrants that attend the convention are also some of the leaders in our profession.
I know I have fun hanging out with everyone there, it’s like a who’s who in magic. Just walking around the hotel you see many magicians involved in meetings, negotiations, interviews, demonstrations, and lots of good magic going on. Is a matter of fact, between all of my work and socializing I didn’t find any time to attend the events. I did attend the banquet where awards were given to Herb Zarrow, Harry Anderson and Rene Lavand. Prior to the banquet we were entertained by the Collector’s Workshop “House Band” which featured magicians Chuck Fayne on the ukulele, Mike Close on the piano, Marcello Contento on the drums, Eric Mead on the trombone and Rich Bloch on the trumpet. (I hear they are available for weddings, birthdays and funerals if the price is right. We are talking Collector’s Workshop prices.)
The performers were: Close-Up artists: Arthur Benjamin, Mike Close, Dana Daniels, Daryl, Chuck Fayne, John Ferrantino, Jillian Gotlib, Roger Klause, Darwin Ortiz, Kerry Pollack, George Schindler and Bob Sheets. Lectures by: Davey Marlin-Jones, George Schindler, Meir Yedid, Darwin Ortiz, Daryl, John Ferrantino, Rene Lavand, Roger Klause and Marc DeSouza. Collectors lecture by Mike Caveney, Dr. Robert Albo and Carl Williams. Gala show performers: Jason Byrne, Yuji Yasuda, Mark Kornhauser, Tim Conover, Tom Mullica and Nicholas Night, the M.C. was Harry Anderson. Banquet show performers: Ryusei, Gerard Majax, Mike Finney, Leslie and Harry Anderson with Rich Bloch acting as M.C. The Midnight Madness performers: Darwin Ortiz, Mike Finney and David Williamson and friends.
www.uelectric.com/meiryedid:
Added 15 more items to my website last week. Hope to have all of the items I produce on the web by the end of June. If you have not visited the site yet, feel free to click on my logo to the left and you will be immediately sent to my site. This is the most comprehensive listing of the items I produce. It is a combination magic catalog and mall. Enjoy!
Pit Stops:
Here is where I will be. Come by and say hi.
• June 13 – Lecturing in Louisville, Kentucky.
• June 17 – Performing at The Udder Club @ Holy Cow, New York City.
• June 29 to July 4 – Have booth at I.B.M. National Convention in Norfolk, Virginia.
• July 7 to July 12 – Have booth at S.A.M. National Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.
