Women in Boxes

Women in Boxes is the first film to uncover the story of the Unsung Hero behind the magician. The devoted, if not masochistic Magic Assistant who distorts her body into impossible positions while the magician cuts her in pieces, stabs her, sets her on fire, crushes her, makes her disappear, then restores her to life with a dramatic Taa Daa and takes a bow to wild applause. Who is the woman who would subject herself to such torture, not to mention, the Magician's Ego? Are these women just bimbos parading around in skimpy clothes? Or are they the real magic behind the Illusionist?

Heretofore sworn to secrecy, this tough yet feminine group opened their homes, hearts and lives for the filmmakers and gave an insider’s view of love, life and magic family values. As this is a family affair, many of the women are joined on camera with their ‘more famous’ husbands, and some are interviewed with their daughters as they take their turn in the box.

In seeking out the greatest magic acts of the past 20th century, Women in Boxes went on a worldwide quest and hit gold in the untold lives of its main characters: Deanna Shimada, Coral (The Impossibilist) Reveen, Cathy (Shazzam) Daniel, Pam (Tomsoni and Co.) Thompson, Stacy (The Majestix) Jones, Luna Shimada, Moi Yo (Dante the Great) Miller, Frances (Willard the Wizard) Willard, Princess Irene Larsen (co-founder of The Magic Castle),
Gay Blackstone, Dove, Jan (Mis-made Lady) Jones, Lance Burton with Burton’s Babes, Criss (Mindfreak) Angel, and in a very rare occurrence, the magician Teller SPEAKS on camera!

Directed By: Harry Pallenberg, Directed By: Phil Noyes
2008, Running Time: 1:20
Content Rating: PG

Disillusioned

Disillusioned
A New Play by Susan Hodara
Directed by Noel Neeb

Starring:
Georgie Caldwell, Eric Powers,
and Keith Manolo Embler

Magician Consultant: Jeff Grow

What you see isn’t always what you get… The art is in the illusion.

Jane hid in shadows. She acted “blind” to combat stage fright doing magic shows with Bernie, and kept acting blind to keep the world away, until the act became reality… When Jane finally reaches out, she finds someone answers.

Disillusioned is the Winner of the Short Subjects Division in The Midtown International Theatre Festival. MITF is approaching its 10th year and presents the finest talent in the heart of midtown Manhattan.  

Where Eagles Dare Theatre Studios 
347 West 36th Street, 13th Floor
(between 8th & 9th Avenues)
New York City
Subway: A,C,E to 34th Street

Disillusioned has two more performances:
Thursday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 25 at 5 p.m.
Tickets are $15.00 can be purchased at smarttix.com or by calling 212.868.4444.

The Modern Con Man 3-DVD Collection

The Modern Con Man 3-DVD Collection
by Todd Robbins

You may have seen America’s #1 Con Man, Todd Robbins, on Leno, Letterman, or Conan. But it’s just as likely you’ve never heard of him - because Todd is a well-known authority and practitioner of all things deceptive.

Now, in The Modern Con Man Collection, Todd shares his catalog of cons and playful scams. This 3 DVD set shows you how easy it is to scam, bet, and trick your way to a free drink, a few extra bucks at the poker table, and laughs at the expense of your co-workers. Expect to make friends too, with this fun, tongue-in-cheek guide to suckering those you love — and those you’d like to know.

Learn games you’ll never lose, tricks they won’t figure out, and cons they’ll never see coming. With his concise and witty direction, Robbins ensures that all you’ll need to succeed is a smooth smile. Everyone loves a good con. And now, thanks to Todd Robbins, everyone can get in on the action!

Based on New York City magician and Tannen's Magic customer Todd Robbins' bestselling book, The Modern Con Man.

WORKPLACE PRANKS and other Way to Con Your Coworkers

When con-artists find the perfect sucker, they know they need to strike fast. Which is why your nightmare 9-to-5 is every grifter's dream: dozens of marks with nowhere to run. So stop thinking that you're stuck in an office with a bunch of lame coworkers. They're the ones who are stuck there with you!

HOW TO SCAM YOUR WAY TO FREE BEER and Other Bar Bets

Sit back and pour yourself a drink. It's the last one you're going to pay for. Todd Robbins shows you why the local bar has always been the best place for a scam artist to find a victim, or "mark." Shot on location in one of LA's "Hottest bars of the year" (Los Angeles Magazine), Todd shares his favorite "bar betchas" games your marks can never win, puzzles they won't solve, and tricks they'll never see coming. These 30 scams include NIM, an Egyptian matchstick game that once won Nick the Greek $200,000 shot glass turnover, a simple challenge that will drive friends crazy... and loads more.

POKER NIGHT GAMES and Other Card-Playing Tricks

The cards have been dealt, wages have been made, and drinks have been served. There's no better set-up for a con artist with a catalog of tricks. Take advantage of the gambling spirit with these games, scams and bets all designed for poker night. Todd Robbins, master of the late-night swindle, shows you 25 new cons including Australian Poker, a variation that won't ever fail you; Best Hand, a poker challenge you opponents will lose as quickly as they accept; No-Chance Poker, a lethal one-on-one game you'll win no matter how often they demand a rematch and many, many more.

Run Time: 195 minutes

See video and get it here!

Tommy Wind: Teen Magician of the Year at 2009 World Magic Awards

Tannen's Magic customer and Staten Island native Tommy Wind was named Best Teen Magician of the Year at the 2009 World Magic Awards in Santa Monica, CA. The show will air on November 19th, 2009 on MyNetworkTV. He performed in front of over 900 people. He opens his own show at the Palazzo on the Las Vegas strip in early 2010.

At 19, Wind is now one of the youngest magicians to have achieved the title of Master Illusionist, and has performed for a multitude of audiences in countless venues, ranging from New York City, to Atlantic City, to Las Vegas. He has entertained a vast range of clients,and has appeared on the hit NBC show, “I Do.” The performer of several large-scale illusions, including his Jet airplane and Lamborghini appearances, places Tommy in the ranks of some of today’s top performers. 

Using these skills and his magical talent, he creates a spectacular presentation of illusions in a show filled with both Rock n’ Roll and class. Surely one of the newest and hottest up-coming stars, Tommy Wind’s broad style encompasses many different forms of magic, ranging from close-up and mentalism, to escapes and grand illusions, making him one of the most versatile performers today.

Tommy Wind know that anything is possible. "I have a philosophy for business and life: If you look closely at the obstacle in front of you, you will realize the obstacle is just a stairway to success," he says. We wish him all the best as he starts his professional career.

Playing the Race Card

On a comedy bit on The Daily Show With John Stewart, Larry Wilmore performs magic tricks to show white people how to play the race card. At 2:50 in the video he goes into his ambitious card routine with some nifty moves.

In 2006, Larry Wilmore began appearing regularly on The Daily Show With John Stewart, where he is billed as the "Senior Black Correspondent" or a derivative form of the title, such as the "Senior Executive Commander-in-Chief Who Happens To Be Black Correspondent" (following the election of Barack Obama). His work on the show frequently centers on humorous observations of the black experience in American society.

Wilmore was featured in Genii Magazine in March 2009 in the fowling articles.
1. Creatively Speaking with Larry Wilmore by David Regal
2. South Side Opener aka Red-Hot Brother by Larry Wilmore
3. The Flop-Over Double by Larry Wilmore

Eli Tanenbaum: Teen Magician’s Stage Presence And Success Is No Illusion

This summer, Eli attended Tannen’s Magic Camp in Pennsylvania, a reputable, hands-on magic extravaganza geared toward helping budding magicians ages 11 to 20 hone their craft. Demonstrating the singular focus of the experience, Eli’s mom spoke of the “must bring” list sent home to parents: “No swimsuit!”

“Quite literally, it’s 24/7 magic,” Eli added.

Making an already fabulous experience even more so, Eli came home from camp with a first prize trophy for close-up magic in the 14 and under category.

“It was great!” he exclaimed.

by Brenda Bolinger of the Claremont-Courrier.

The city of Claremont is located in eastern Los Angeles County.

Read the entire article here.