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LAST WEEK

{LAS VEGAS) It's been a busy week as we prepare for the "soft opening" of my new show Impossible Magic here in Vegas. The very exclusive dinner show opens this weekend, on Saturday and Sunday eve, and hopefully we will be running for the rest of the year. Time will tell. Actually, ticket sales will tell.

I want to thank Frank Lieberman for the great interview piece he did for this cover story. I'll see at the opening, Frank (and Karen). Be sure to come hungry.

Show details here.

Well, David Letterman survived the Magicians Week deal, but just barely. For the details, check out my blog.

My favorite moment was after Dirk Arthur finished his mistake-riddled routine and the camera returned to Dave, who just stared at the camera and said, "That was creepy".

You think he meant the act? The clothes? The ridiculous smile? Hard to tell.

NEW BOOK FROM THE ENCHANTRESS

Diana the Enchantress, that is. We told you all about it already, and this weekend the book launch happened here in Las Vegas at the quaint bookstore called "Never Ending Story". And we were there!

Saw the amazing Peter Reveen, who is Lance Burton's manager, and also a world famous hypnotist, who is getting ready to another tour of Canada by popular demand.

Nobody can surpass what the Amazing Reveen the Impossiblist did when it comes to hypno shows. Peter broke all records in so many theatres around the world, before retireing and managing Lance. He just can't stay away, though, and that is a good thing for the lucky people who get to experience his high energy show. Together with his lovely wife Coral, and London-based producer Paul Stone, we all joined Diana after the book event for martini's and munchies at a nearby restaurant where Diana had to be restrained from giving away copies of her book to the bridal parties who popped by to say hello.

So great to spend time with Diana, whom I have known since the seventies...when we were both hanging and performing at the Magic Castle "back in the day". SO many wonderful memories.

I just started reading the book and it is a wonderful read. Sending off a copy to my son, Jesse; he'll love this as much as the Harry Potter books, I am sure.

The book is produced first class all the way, with amazing illustrations in full color throughout. She produced both a limited edition hard cover and a soft cover version at the same time, and both of them are selling like hot cakes.

This season’s “must read” fantasy adventure novel Kandide and the Secrets of the Mists by Diana S. Zimmerman explores the downside—and downfall—of a mysterious, enchanted society obsessed with vanity, perfection, & intolerance.

Kandide and the Secret of the Mists
Distributed by Ingram, Baker & Taylor, and Greenleaf Book Group
May 2008 * Softcover $9.99 * Juvenile fiction ISBN: 978-0-9794328-2-8
diana@cmsbiz.com

www.kandide.com

AND ANOTHER NEW BOOK GOES BEHIND THE SCENES

The second book to discuss is of a completely different nature.

In the first ever book-length exposé of the legendary Las Vegas duo, Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn, readers get a salacious look at the rags-to-riches tale of how two poor and lonely German men paired up to become international gay icons and one of the most famous magic acts of the century.

Having known Siegfried for over 30 years myself, I was anxious to see what dirt they dug up for this tell-all tomb. I must say, very little.

What they did print is impossible to verify, and it basically amounts to case of sour grapes from former employees of the duo, who were fired and barred from the scene. Seems they figured a tell-all book would be their ticket to riches. I sincerely doubt this book will do that.

The duo met while Siegfried was performing comedy routines for guests on a cruise ship. Roy’s feedback on the performance was less-than-stellar, and the two wound up joining efforts on an entertainment tour de force combining illusions and exotic animals. First headlining hot spots throughout Europe, they came to Las Vegas in the 1960s, forever changing the face of entertainment on the Strip. Night after night, the German illusionists put their lives in danger, parading onstage with uncaged, wild beasts and risking death before adoring crowds, including countless celebrities from Elizabeth Taylor, Liberace, and Michael Jackson, to Grace Kelly, Shirley MacLaine and Cary Grant.

The three co-authors had unprecedented access into the world of “Siegfried & Roy” and intimately share the often shocking but always juicy details of what they saw, heard and experienced over the course of the magicians’ careers. Jim Mydlach was in charge of security for Siegfried and Roy for over twenty years. Louis Mydlach was Roy Horn’s bodyguard and personal assistant in the years following his ill-fated 2003 tiger attack. Jimmy Lavery was privy to secrets of Siegfried and Roy via his girlfriend, Lynette Chappell, who was their longtime stage assistant and the Evil Queen in their show.

For many decades, Siegfried and Roy have maintained a carefully crafted façade, telling us what they want us to know, but not necessarily what we want to know. This fascinating tell-all pushes past the public personas to divulge the secrets they’ve kept guarded for years:

My take on this is pretty simple.

Lots of he-said and she said baloney and not much that can be called truth. If Lynette said or did all the things they claim in this book, I suspect Siegfried & Roy would never speak to her again. On the contrary, she is by their side day by day, and clearly, they do not believe she had anything to do with the book (she didn't) or the questionable facts it purports to present.

Disgruntled employees are like old girlfriends scorned. They lash out with details and facts that may excited and gather headlines in a way to inflict pain and suffering on the target.

They mention drug and alcohol abuse as if it will shock readers, and they suggest that some of the animals are buried throughout the desert. And that Steve Wynn buries the dolphins on his golf course.

They also needlessly reveal details concerning certain illusions, obviously as a way of enticing people to read the book.

It was a quick read, not very engaging, and nothing earth shattering is revealed about them. Are they gay or are they hiding it seems to be a theme throughout the book. Siegfried & Roy admitted being gay long ago, there is nothing new here.

They also talk about Darren Romeo and his "relationship" with Siegfried as if readers will be shocked by what has been known for years.

No one understood, exploited or tamed Sin City like these two larger-than-life German celebrities. They set the benchmark and paved the way for such world-famous performers as David Copperfield, Lance Burton, and Penn & Teller. However important Roy was to Siegfried’s success, or vice versa, it’s quite clear in hindsight that the two couldn’t have climbed to such heights without each other.

How true that is, and this book seems like an annoyance to them, and an invasion of their privacy. It reads like a scandal sheet in one of those trashy newspapers we see at the grocery stores. There is obviously a market for this type of book, but it struck me, as I finished it, that it was one book that didn't need to be written.

Have a great week...

Magically yours,

Steve

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Compiled by David Neubauer

PRODUCTION SHOWS:

America's Headliners
Jeff Hobson (emcee)
7 pm. KRAVE Theatre - Planet Hollywood.

Beacher's Madhouse

Christopher Karpiak, Chuck Lane, Tyas Frantz
9 pm pre-show. Last Sat. each month
Hard Rock Hotel.

Bite (Vampire Strip Revue)
Antonio Restivo
10:30 pm (dark Thurs.) Stratosphere.

The Brett Daniels Magic Show: Wohscigam
Opens April 15
3 pm - Sahara.

Crazy Horse Paris
Stephan Vanel
8 & 10:30 pm, (Dark Tues.), MGM Grand.

David Copperfield
Apr. 17-May 5.
, 7:30 & 10 pm. MGM Grand.

Gerry McCambridge - The Mentalist
8:00 PM Sunday, Saturday at 6:00 PM
Hooters Casino Hotel.

Haunted Vegas Tour & Show
Robert Allen, Jack Hayden & Zamora - Greek Isle.
9:00 pm tour and show (Dark Fri.)
$10 off coupon:

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Lance Burton, Master Magician

7 pm Tues - Sat & 10 pm Tues. & Sat.
Monte Carlo.

Mac King Comedy Magic Show

1 & 3 pm, (Dark Sun. & Mon.)

Clint Holmes Theater - Harrah's.

Nathan Burton Comedy Magic Show

4 pm. (Dark Thurs.) Main Showroom - Flamingo Hotel.

Penn & Teller

9 pm, (Dark Tues.), Rio.

Steve Dacri: Impossible Magic - opens May 17

7 pm, Sat. & Sun. $300 includes gourmet meal. 30 seats only.
Six Tables Restaurant at Summerlin. 2110 N Rampart, Las Vegas.
www.vegasinsidetips.com/MAGIC_impossible.html

Steve Wyrick
7 & 9 pm. (dark Friday) Miracle Mile Shops, Planet Hollywood Resort.

V, The Ultimate Variety Show

Jason Byrne (most Tues. - Sat.) or Nathan Burton (most Sun. - Mon.)

7:30 & 9 pm, Planet Hollywood Resort - www.vtheshow.com
2 for 1 coupon

Viva Las Vegas

Max Clever and Katalin
Plaza - Downtown2 & 4 pm (Dark Sun.)

www.plazahotelcasino.com/entertainment/special-events.php

World's Greatest Magic Show

Various magicians constantly rotating.

6 pm Sat. - Thurs., 8:15 Fri., Greek Isle.

Xtreme Magic Starring Dirk Arthur
Tiffany Theatre, Tropicana
2 and 4 pm. (Dark Fri.)

$10 off coupon

X Burlesque

Seth Grabel (pre-show) 9:30 pm, Mon. – Wed. - Flamingo.

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OTHER VEGAS MAGIC

RESTAURANTS:

Eric Allan, Outback Steakhouse (Green Valley), Fri. & Sat.

Jayden LaCross, TGI Fridays, Wed. & Sun.

Jamie Porter's Radio Side Show

Sat @ 5 am, KLAV FM 1230.

Las Vegas Magic Organizations

Darwin’s Magic Club meets every Wednesday at 10pm.
at: Boomers, 3200 Sirius Ave.

I.B.M. #257: 7 pm 1st Monday.

Las Vegas Children’s and Family Entertainers Association

7 pm every 3rd Monday, Amazing Clowns, 3525 E. Flamingo.

YMS (Young Magicians Society)

7 pm every 2nd Monday, IHOP Boulevard Mall on Maryland Pkwy.