Magic Castle

Judy Seckler Kids fascinated by the exploits of magicians David Copperfield or The Amazing Randi, honed their own skills Wednesday at the Glendale Parks, Recreation & Community Services' magic class -- "Pull the Rabbit Out of a Hat." While no rabbits showed up to distract the budding magicians, children 8 to 13 spend each week receiving helpful pointers on card tricks, coin and rope magic plus tricks with everyday objects. Instructor Ken Fedorka, a professional magician, member of the Magic Castle and an elementary school teacher, conjured up plenty of encouragement for his young charges who may someday know the thrill of performing before a live audience.

Fremont Elementary will host a family fiesta Friday, May 7, from 5 to 9 p.m. The event will feature food, games, a petting zoo, bounce houses and a dunk tank. There will also be a cake walk and a bake sale. A silent auction will feature items from amusement parks such as Six Flags and Sea World, local businesses such as Joselito's, Once Upon a Time, and Tom's Toys. There are also items donated by the Magic Castle, Karl Strauss Brewery and Science Adventures, available for bidding.

Come and hear classical children's tales come to life with the Pasadena Pops Orchestra featuring the vocals of international cabaret star Anna Bergman at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday at Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada Flintridge. Bergman stars in "Fairy Tales Can Come True," an evening of music from "Sleeping Beauty," "Cinderella," "Pinocchio," "Beauty and the Beast," "Peter Pan" and "The Wizard of Oz." Guest artist, Magic Castle magician Tina Lenert, will also be performing.

On Nov. 17, La Cañada Books & Toys brings a little history and magic to the community. Gerald Schiller, noted author and magician, will be signing True Stories of Old California from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at La Cañada Books & Toys. Schiller, a member of The Magic Castle, will also entertain with his special form of magic. Schiller has combined careers in a variety of fields. For almost 30 years he taught high school English and cinema studies, and, at the same time, wrote and directed educational and documentary films.

LARRISON -- HEATH Deanna "Dee" Larrison and David Heath exchanged wedding vows at their home in La Crescenta. The Rev. William D. Simon officiated. The processional music was "I Got You Babe" performed by the groom's sister, Barbara Summers, and cousin Lloyd Hopkins. The recessional music was Frank Sinatra's "Love and Marriage," which is also the theme from the TV show "Married With Children." The couple's wedding day was also the 23rd anniversary of their courtship.

For the first time in the history of things "off the wall," illusionist Misty Lee and Real-live Cartoon Sylvester the Jester perform together at the Colony Theatre this Memorial Day Weekend. Shadows come to life. A tongue rolls out to five feet long, Get ready to be cut in two by a saw, and see sparks fly when this magical duo descend upon Burbank. A portion of all ticket sales will benefit Sante D'Or Animal Rescue, a foundation dedicated to giving animals in crisis a second chance in life.

Blessed with a sinister countenance, Burbank native Rob Zabrecky uses it to his full advantage in his act as a magician. “There is a Norman Bates quality that I personify on stage; that is what I’ve been told, so there is an unnerving quality to the character,” he said. “Some strange and bizarre things happen in context with that character.” Zabrecky is a regular at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, and will perform as part of the pre-show attractions for the Alex Film Society’s two screenings of the 1954 horror movie “Creature from the Black Lagoon” on Saturday at the Alex Theatre in Glendale.

You take a mathematician, cross him with a magician and what do you get? A mathemagician of course. Students at Fremont Elementary School learned that math can really be magic when mathemagician Arthur Benjamin visited them on Nov. 9. “I love math. I love magic,” Benjamin told the crowd of students. He started wowing the audience first with a magic trick. “I will do a card trick that has never been seen before,” he proclaimed. “Because the cards are invisible.

Joyce Rudolph DOWNTOWN -- Internationally known magicians will appear right before your very eyes when the 2001 edition of "It's Magic!" pops into The Alex Theatre. The show opens its four-day run tonight with stars who have appeared at The Magic Castle in Los Angeles, around the country in Las Vegas and Reno and throughout the world. The show is the flagship for the organization that has been producing programs for 42 years, Milt Larsen said.

The Glendale News-Press was being much too polite in mentioning in their editorial that all Glendale Water & Power needed was a full-time proofreader (“Utility needs proofreader,” Dec. 5). Yes, with the 33% increase in user rates, the utility can well afford one. Perhaps employing one could save the utility much needed embarrassment and ridicule; however, the bottom line is not pointing the finger to a trainee, but to the utility management team itself, starting at the top with the general manager.

You take a mathematician, cross him with a magician and what do you get? A mathemagician of course. Students at Fremont Elementary School learned that math can really be magic when mathemagician Arthur Benjamin visited them on Nov. 9. “I love math. I love magic,” Benjamin told the crowd of students. He started wowing the audience first with a magic trick. “I will do a card trick that has never been seen before,” he proclaimed. “Because the cards are invisible.

  BOOK SIGNINGS Gerald Schiller, author of “True Stories of Old California” — Nov. 14, 3:30-5:30 p.m. La Cañada Books & Toys, 653A Foothill Blvd., La Cañada, will bring a little history and magic to the community with this book signing. Schiller, a member of The Magic Castle, will also entertain the crowd with magic. The shop will have copies “True Stories of Old California” available for signing, as well as some of Schiller’s other books for young readers, “More True Stories of Old California,” “The Dog that Belonged to No One,” “Two Dogs, an Emperor, and Me” and “The Abracadabra Kid.” For information call (818)

Blessed with a sinister countenance, Burbank native Rob Zabrecky uses it to his full advantage in his act as a magician. “There is a Norman Bates quality that I personify on stage; that is what I’ve been told, so there is an unnerving quality to the character,” he said. “Some strange and bizarre things happen in context with that character.” Zabrecky is a regular at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, and will perform as part of the pre-show attractions for the Alex Film Society’s two screenings of the 1954 horror movie “Creature from the Black Lagoon” on Saturday at the Alex Theatre in Glendale.

On Nov. 17, La Cañada Books & Toys brings a little history and magic to the community. Gerald Schiller, noted author and magician, will be signing True Stories of Old California from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at La Cañada Books & Toys. Schiller, a member of The Magic Castle, will also entertain with his special form of magic. Schiller has combined careers in a variety of fields. For almost 30 years he taught high school English and cinema studies, and, at the same time, wrote and directed educational and documentary films.

The Academy of Magical Arts, Inc. at the Magic Castle announces that award-winning actress and Magic Castle member Tippi Hedren (star of Alfred Hitchcock films "The Birds" and "Marnie") and actor Steve Valentine ("Crossing Jordan"), will co-host a benefit and silent auction for The ROAR Foundation, supporting The Shambala Preserve, to be held at the Magic Castle. The evening includes dinner, a silent auction and shows at the Magic Castle. The Magic Castle will be open to the general public for this event.

For the first time in the history of things "off the wall," illusionist Misty Lee and Real-live Cartoon Sylvester the Jester perform together at the Colony Theatre this Memorial Day Weekend. Shadows come to life. A tongue rolls out to five feet long, Get ready to be cut in two by a saw, and see sparks fly when this magical duo descend upon Burbank. A portion of all ticket sales will benefit Sante D'Or Animal Rescue, a foundation dedicated to giving animals in crisis a second chance in life.

Come and hear classical children's tales come to life with the Pasadena Pops Orchestra featuring the vocals of international cabaret star Anna Bergman at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday at Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada Flintridge. Bergman stars in "Fairy Tales Can Come True," an evening of music from "Sleeping Beauty," "Cinderella," "Pinocchio," "Beauty and the Beast," "Peter Pan" and "The Wizard of Oz." Guest artist, Magic Castle magician Tina Lenert, will also be performing.

JOYCE RUDOLPH For this year's "The Nutcracker," Artistic Director Natasha Middleton has added magic to Tchaikovsky's holiday ballet, in two shows on Sunday at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. Two illusions from the repertoire of the late Harry Blackstone Jr. have been loaned to Middleton for this weekend's performances. A second-generation magician, Blackstone Jr. traveled around the world performing his 2 1/2 -hour show of illusions during the 1970s and '80s, said Dale Hindman, president of the board of the directors of the Academy of Magical Arts, which makes its headquarters at The Magic Castle in Hollywood.

Fremont Elementary will host a family fiesta Friday, May 7, from 5 to 9 p.m. The event will feature food, games, a petting zoo, bounce houses and a dunk tank. There will also be a cake walk and a bake sale. A silent auction will feature items from amusement parks such as Six Flags and Sea World, local businesses such as Joselito's, Once Upon a Time, and Tom's Toys. There are also items donated by the Magic Castle, Karl Strauss Brewery and Science Adventures, available for bidding.