(LAS VEGAS) - It's really a lot of fun doing my new show over at the Shimmer Showroom in the beautiful Las Vegas Hilton, watching the reactions of the audience members from the stage, and then talking with many of them afterwards.

And the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Mike Weatherford proclaimed the show a hit, and gave us a "B" rating, which I gladly accept (under protest...I was thinking "A-", but that's me...) and I must thank Mike for the great review and kind words. Come back again, Mike, we've made some improvements that should kick us up a level in the ratings...

It is obvious to me that most people have never had the chance to see magic in such a setting, performed without props or special sets. To me, this is the real magic, magic that is created in the hands, using age old methods of sleight of hand and misdirection perfected by masters before me. I was lucky to be tutored and coached by the greatest magicians who ever lived, and I owe my success to them. During the show I try to acknowledge them all and we even show a short film clip of the legendary Dai Vernon, whom we called the Professor, as a tribute to the remarkable man who had the distinction of being the only man to fool Houdini.

Some nights I even perform the same trick that Vernon used to fool Houdini.

To keep things fresh, I am constantly changing things, adding new routines and old ones that I haven't done in many years. I do that for myself as much as for the show. Helps keep me sharp and fresh.

Thanks to all who have come to see the show already and to all of you folks who say you are planning to come in the future. We'll be looking for ya!

My pals Penn & Teller on the cover this week, hard to believe they've been working for over 35 years together...as long as I have been working professionally in the field of magic as well. My how time flies when you're having fun.

I had a show in the historic Golden Nugget Saturday night, a gorgeous hotel inside and out, although the area is still pretty dicey at night. As we were loading into our car in the valet area, we had to wait for the police to handcuff and drag a trio of weird-looking ladies into a van parked in front of us. Before the last lady was thrown inside, she turned and threw a deck of cards in our direction, sending cards flying everywhere. Many people assumed she was with the magic guy, but, no, I did not know this girl. I did correctly predict the card that was to land on our windshield - the two of clubs - which impressed our guests who were already in the car hiding in the back seat.

Our mayor has been working hard to rehabilitate the downtown area, but there is so much vacant properties and dare I say homeless folks living within some of those structures, lurking in garages and street corners, making the downtown scene somewhat scary to people not used to seeing the seedier side of Vegas.

When we finally got out of there, we headed off to the Cannery to see our favorite Beatles band - THE FAB - perform at the Cannery. It was fan appreciation night, so the joint was packed with Beatlemaniacs from all over Vegas and a spendid time was had by all.

MUSIC SCENE HEATS UP - HOOKED ON A FEELING

It's that time again, when musical acts from yesteryear begin making their way across the country, and most of them stop in Vegas as part of their tours. This weekend we caught the legendary B. J. Thomas at the South Point, and what a fine evening of music and memories we were treated to.

Thomas simply mesmerized the crowd with his huge catalog of popular songs, music that everyone recalls, like "Hooked on a Feeling" and the wildly popular "Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head", peppered with amusing stories from his long career. It was one of those special nights we will never forget.