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Just like that! New Tommy Cooper biopic reveals turmoil behind the laughter..

Just like that! New Tommy Cooper biopic reveals turmoil behind the laughter..

  He was one of Britain’s best-loved comedians, known for his trademark red fez and memorable stage routines, combining magic tricks, slapstick and brilliant one-liners. 

Yet, away from the spotlight, Tommy Cooper was an altogether darker man, whose complex personal life was almost as farcical as his stage act.

Now, 30 years on from his death, it is this, the private side of the public icon, that is the focus for new one-off ITV drama Not Like That, Like This.

The two-hour special, scripted by Men Behaving Badly writer Simon Nye and starring Shameless actor David Threlfall in the title role, will give viewers a revealing insight into the legendary comic behind closed doors.

In particular, the drama will explore the Welshman’s volatile relationship with wife Gwen, known as Dove (played by New Tricks actress Amanda Redman), and his 17-year extramarital affair with his personal assistant, Mary Kay (Helen McCrory)…

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Indonesia’s “Hogwarts” helps magicians realize their dreams..

Indonesia’s “Hogwarts” helps magicians realize their dreams..

A school in the Indonesian capital Jakarta is working its magic to help hundreds find successful careers in the entertainment industry.

This small building on the outskirts of Jakarta might not look as grand as Harry Potter’s Hogwarts, but the Magic Mania School of Magic is helping scores of people turn their dreams of becoming professional magicians into reality.

The school has a strict curriculum. Students have to sign up and pay $250 dollars for 4 levels of beginner classes, to make sure they don’t leave the school before mastering the very basics.

The school’s headmaster Abdul Muhaimin has studied magic in the U.S. He says he saw a business opportunity at home where professional magicians are still a rarity.

He said, “Magic is a part of the world of entertainment that never stops. To be entertained is a basic need, and doing magic can provide an income and a livelihood for magicians.”..

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Story of a… Magician

Story of a… Magician

Kostya Kimlat created a career out of magic using some sleight-of-hand and a lot of hard work.

“I was 12 years old when I watched a show called The World’s Greatest Magic. I recorded it on VHS and watched it 50 times. I was hooked.” Nearly two decades later, Kimlat has shared the stage with every magician from that show, performing on five continents. Not bad for a kid who got his start in the 8th grade when he walked into a Don Pablo’s restaurant in Casselberry and asked if he could do magic tricks for the diners. “I walked out a half-hour later with $12 in my pocket, and I knew this was what I wanted to do with my life.” (Nice article by Kristen Manieri to appear in the May issue of Orlando Magazine..)

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Kirby VanBurch sues former theater..

Kirby VanBurch sues former theater..

This article by Cliff Sain in the Branson Tri-Lake Times is a follow-up to the recent article published in Magic News…. 

The company that produces Kirby VanBurch’s magic show has filed a suit in Taney County court claiming that the theater where VanBurch recently performed will not turn over property that belongs to the company, including tigers and magic tricks.

Bambi Worldwide Productions, which produced VanBurch’s show at Music City Centre, has filed for an action known as a replevin, which is a specific legal request asking the court to compel the defendants to return items allegedly belonging to the plaintiff.

VanBurch recently left Music City Centre and announced that he would start performing at another venue. However, he has not been able to perform at the new venue until they can get their equipment, the suit states.

The suit alleges that the theater is still in possession of show equipment totaling more than $100,000. That includes items such as magic tricks, rigging, animal cages and the animals themselves, including tigers.

In an unexpected twist, VanBurch himself is the defendant on one of the six counts filed by his production company. In that count, the production company claims it was not paid $2,500 per week, nor allowed access to the theater’s books as set forth in a standard engagement agreement..

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