Scarlett Opens a New Magic Show in Vegas With Nude Assistants

[Mark Lewis]

I didn't realise that Opie was 70 years old. That is dreadfully, dreadfully old. I must say that one learns something new every day.

I agree with Bobon. I do not approve of this disgraceful trend nowadays of crude magic. I am personally a great believer in prudishness, victorian morality and proper behaviour. Magic is supposed to be a wholesome art.

However having said that I have worked with strippers galore and indeed remember appearing at the Gargoyle club in London for three months. This was actually a strip joint and I remember Billy Mc'Comb and Jay Marshall came in to see me work. Or at least I presume I was the reason rather than the strippers. Even so I expect they found the strippers more entertaining being the degenerates they probably were.

I must confess that I was present at a discussion between two strippers about their occupation. It was quite an eye opener. They were discussing what they did as if it were performance art which I suppose perhaps it was. It was like two card experts discussing intricate moves. One would talk about putting her foot there and the other would talk about putting her elbow there.They were discussing timing and music with such vehemence that I forgot the ultimate purpose of their entertainment. Very impressive indeed.

However commendable as it all was I do not believe that nakedness and vulgarity should be mixed with magic. Magic is a wholesome art which should not be degraded by sinful impropriety.

[David Alexander]

I worked a couple of topless reviews in the 60s and 70s and, amazingly enough, the world did not end.

I had a friend who owned one of the last real burlesque houses in Southern California. I'd drop by and do close-up for him and his friends. His show was always three strippers and a burlesque comic. The star of the show was a well-known stripper like "Miss Beverly Hills" who worked there several times.

The girls were serious about what they did and spent a lot of time and money on working up routines and designing elegant costumes. None of them were hookers. Some were married, some were single moms supporting their children, etc. This was long before the proliferation of topless and bottomless clubs where porno actresses were featured "dancers."

Joe ultimately closed because he couldn't compete with the cheap topless bars. It wasn't the prudes who drove him out of business. It was economics.

[Pete McCabe]

I went to a topless review, and the ends sure whirled.

A friend of mine hosted a burlesque show at The Bordello Bar in Los Angeles just last night. It's not quite dead.

[Richard Kaufman]

Tiny, nice to see you here. I have no problem with looking at nude women. :) But nudity is a detriment to the performance of good magic because the men aren't looking at, or concerned with, the tricks. They're looking at the bits of the women which are usually covered up!

[David Alexander]

I should point out that when Frakson performed at the Lido in Paris and when I did my turn in a couple of similar places (though not as classy as the Lido) the semi-nude girls were never on stage during the magic. They were always part of separate production numbers.

[nico26]

Hey, it's Vegas Baby!

[bobon]

There is nothing perverted about a naked lady. Perversion would be if it was a chicken in a gimp mask.

Yes.They are.The people who comes to watch those shows and who are performing 'Magic'.Both are equaly.One is mentaly sick and another taking advantage of it.

Would you like to see a famouse Magic magazine coverpage showing a nude lady holding fan of cards and captioned 'Secret Reaveled'?I guess you have hide this mags form your kid,your wife and whoever comes to visit your house.It will be a worst day
in your life.

So dont try to sell magic with sex.If you like watch boobs ask your girlfriend.I hope she will help you.But if you need variations on these(boobs) I have doubt on your character and the kind of person you are.Really(I wont invite you on dinner in my house :D).

"If you want to do something good like learning magic,You have to be very good person"-Goutam Guha(my magic teacher).

Its not making money,Its dedication and self-contribution.

Thanks
Prabir

[mrgoat]

There is nothing perverted about a naked lady. Perversion would be if it was a chicken in a gimp mask.

Yes.They are.The people who comes to watch those shows and who are performing 'Magic'.Both are equaly.One is mentaly sick and another taking advantage of it.

Maybe you do not understand the word perversion?

Perversion is a concept describing those types of human behavior that are perceived to be a serious deviation from what is considered to be orthodox or normal.

You think enjoying seeing naked women is a "serious deviation from what is normal". Fine, you are allowed your opinion. But it is certainly not, by any definition, perversion.


Also, to be so very rude about people you don't know is a dangerous game. I love my girlfriend. And her boobs. And, get this, I like looking at other people's boobs too!

Please don't have the audacity to judge me, or anyone else for this.

Live and let live.

If your morals are offended by a naked human being, sobeit. But you are more than entitled to your opinion. Just don't be so fast to judge others who may think the naked form is something to be admired as a thing of beauty. Like, say, Rodin.

[jason156]

"Would you like to see a famous Magic magazine cover page showing a nude lady holding fan of cards and captioned 'Secret Revealed?"



uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, yes.

[Ray Eden]

Any book or magazine offering to explain the secret of what makes women tick would be more than welcome. I've never figured them out. LOL

[opie]

Psychic Lawrence: Yeah, I am 70 and still groaping, but I do need
glasses these days....tsk tsk....

opie

[Tiny]

Richard;
I see where you are coming from - and I would like to see you broaden your sights a little bit.

Seriously, I do appreciate the properness of magic. (Ask anyone who knows me - I love the ways of the days gone by in magic) - but I can also appreciate the new styles - or at least TRY to see the artistic value.

Kinda like mixing Peanut butter and chocolate (Thank you Reeses peanut butter cups!)

I enjoy "Chocolate" all by itself.
And Peanut Butter has a taste & texture that is so very different and also is very good alone.

The combination is a good taste also (NOT ALL THE TIME, but occasionally)
You see, I can appreciate the mix.
I can also appreciate the mix at the appropriate time.
Would I eat Reeses peanut butter cups for my dinner salad & main course of my meal?
No.
Not an appropriate time.

Desert or snack?
Yes!

Would I like to see topless magicians at my school, church, or other family function?
No - wrong time. Wrong place.

On the stages of Las Vegas (Which is billed as an adult Disneyland), yes.
In an adult Cabaret Show in Paris?
Yes.

A time and place for everything.

Life is too damn short to NOT enjoy all it has to offer!
Everyone is entitled to their opinions, that's what makes life so great and thought provoking. Would I want to go through life eating just salad and a main course meal each day?


No.






I like my Reeses every now and then...
:o)

[Richard Kaufman]

My point is that it makes for bad magic, that's all.
Chocolate and peanut butter mix well.
Magic and naked women don't. But that's just my opinion, and I'm not the target audience.

[Tiny]

I understand.
I am not trying to pick a fight with ya Richard - I admire you greatly and I DO understand your opinion (Believe it or not)
I think we can "agree to disagree" (Which is why this Genii-chat-form-thingy is so great!)

Thanks for allowing me to put my opinion out there next to yours...

Ya know, where I am from (Midwest) they say, "No matter how thin the sheet of paper is - there are ALWAYS two sides to it"
:o)

Thanks for sharing YOUR side of the paper!

[Bill Duncan]

...I can also appreciate the new styles - or at least TRY to see the artistic value.

Kinda like mixing Peanut butter and chocolate (Thank you Reeses peanut butter cups!)

I enjoy "Chocolate" all by itself.
And Peanut Butter has a taste & texture that is so very different and also is very good alone.

Wow. That's a really terrible analogy. Both peanut butter and chocolate are hybrid flavors so blending them is as natural as blending whiskeys.

A magic act with a naked performer isn't the blending of two "flavors" it's a combining of two different points of focus (stop snickering Cabral). A better analogy would be watching the movie Castaway, while reading a book. You can do it, but you're going to miss a fair amount of information from one or the other.

Since magic requires that the audience focus be directed by the magician, and since laymen assume we distract them to accomplish our tricks...

[Richard Kaufman]

Tiny, discuss is what we do here and opposing points of view are always welcome and give the discussions depth and sometimes continue them until an interesting consensus is reached.

[Dustin Stinett]

And fortunately for us, Tiny, a consensus proves nothing; never has and never will.

Dustin

I dont mind being part of a consensus. I only object to being told that a consensus proves anything.
Larry Sheldon

[Gord]

Last Christmas I had the privilege of performing magic in a burlesque style show. There were no topless women on stage with me but there were before and after.
It was weird. Fun but weird.

Gord

[Tiny]

Bill says: "That's a really terrible analogy. Both peanut butter and chocolate are hybrid flavors so blending them is as natural as blending whiskeys. A magic act with a naked performer isn't the blending of two "flavors" it's a combining of two different points of focus..."

Bill, I think you might have taken that analogy the wrong way.
I was thinking of the commercials that pound into our heads that it was a "cozmic mistake" the two flavors ever got together in the first place! Lol

As for "points of focus" - think about what I said earlier - The dress ("costumes") of magicans can also play into the presentation of the magic...
No matter if it is a tux and tails - rainbow colored overalls - or street clothes. It is all merely a way to present the magic.
Dusty Summers was Las Vegas' ONLY "NUDE" Magician. She counted on "that kind of misdirection" to help her with her act! She would walk out on stage wearing nothing but a sheer (see-thru), open fronted nightie and a smile. She would dance about the stage and then suddenly stop and produce TWO LIVE DOVES from outta NOWHERE!
(Get your heads outta the gutter, boys...)
It is just another form of the art.
If we all had to stick with the ORIGIANL way magic was presented (And I am no historian onthis subject) but I bet we all would be sick fo seeing "Merlins" walking around as the only magicians!
Lol

Bill, I do understand what you are saying - I guess I am just trying to see the "artistic" side of the discussion. Not the "logistical" side of things...
:o)

[Tiny]

UPDATE/UPDATE/UPDATE:
I went to see the show tonight. (SCARLETT ~ PRINCESS OF MAGIC)

John and Scarlett are dear friends - but all of my friends know I am brutally honest when it comes to things involving the stage. (I currently have 19 magic students I mentor to - and I am not "nicey-nice" to them at all - "I calls em as I sees em" (thank you Mammy Yokum!) how else will they learn if I just stroke their egos, ya know?)

In all fairness, the show has only been open for 8 shows - and this was with a 2 week notice!
So it is VERY unfair to review a show that hasn't had time to "gel" yet...

Basically - I didnt care for the toplessness in the show...
HUH?
After spending so many years teaching the girls in Showgirls of Magic a lot of the magic (They were dancers and they wanted to DANCE - the stage at the San Remo was so small - very little actual "dancing" could happen, like putting a young deer in a small enclosure and saying "go ahead, run around!" - we went through a new "cast" of Showgirls of Magic almost every 3 to 6 months)
In Showgirls of Magic - the toplessness was just added "eye-candy" and was tasefully presented by beautiful girls who could dance and KNEW how to show off their bodies in a very skilled and smooth, choreographed, flowing way.

After watching Scarlett's "assistants" come out with basically no shirts on... (The costumes are ill-fitting - they need to be tailored to the girls bodies to fit and present their breasts in a confident and professional way) and with no meaning to what was going on in the show at all.
Yes, it almost seemed like the naked breasts coming out were "out of place" in this show - they are not presented properly at all in my humble opinion.

Scarlett reminds me of Gypsy Rose Lee - Scarlett is NEVER topless - but some of her outfits are tight enough to leave not much to the imagination. She is a talented, beautiful young woman, (Just as talented as some of the club magicians running around saying THEY are professionals!) And the show has potential. I feel it is not put together well (transitions, dance numbers, the variety act is WAY outta place in a show like this, etc.)
HOWEVER, She opens in a tux doing a card trick that simply draws you into her.
Her work with the Rings is flawless, as is most of the magic she presents. The "Bette Boop" character I could take or leave - I would rather see LESS "characters" and more of SCARLETT - I walked away with a friend I took to see the show - he asked me "So what is Scarlett like?"
I said "What do you mean?"
"What kind of person is she? I couldnt tell from the last 70 minutes or so I spent watching her, she was too many characters for too short of time for me to really get to know who SHE is..."
Of course, I know her (kinda) and feel like that friendship we share comes across the footlights to me - but I was wrong about it coming out to others - due to the "characters". The Bette Boop Multiplying bottles is a work of art.
Of course, the thrilling climax to the show is the water tortue cell. She presents this VERY well - It just has no real "punch" to it to reach over the footlights and really GRAB the audience... Which is sad , because it IS a masterflly presented peice in her show.

Back to the Toplessness of the show...
The ads all read "Scarlett and her seductive Ladies of Magic"
I assumed the "Ladies of Magic" would actually DO some magic - nope - not in this show - they are merely assistants with no shirts on. Jggle, jiggle, jiggle as one brings out a prop - Jiggle, jiggle, jiggle as another helps hold a curtian. NBo real "meaning" for the toplessness. AND it didnt really seem to "fit" with the "character peices" that were presented.

I study shows like this and I always sit in the back of the house to see a show - I want to take it all in and this includes seeing the reactions from the customers. The house emptied after the show I saw and NO ONE said ANYTHING. (Not a good sign)
The show doesnt build up to a climax, nor does it really slap you with powerful magic in your face or hysterical comedy.
Still, it is MUCH better than a few of the "home-grown" shows working in Vegas right now!

I say, give this woman and her producer/manager sometime to get the bugs worked out and find the right combination to allow them a successful run in Vegas - Showgirls of Magic ran for 11 years - which was (at that time) the longest running MAGIC SHOW on the strip IN ONE LOCATION.
(S&R had moved from the Frontier to the Mirage at that time - Dirk Arthur had been at Ballys & Riviera - Rick Thomas was at the Tropicana then the Stardust - Lance was at the Trop for 9 years, Hacienda for 4 years, and had been at the Monte Carlo for only a couple of years when Showgirls of Magic finally closed it's doors thanks to the building being sold to HOOTERS...)
If some of the shows that feature "questionable magicians" have enjoyed lengthy runs on the strip (egos and all) - then I say let Scarlett have her turn at it all...
:o)

If you dont care for the mix of Tits and Magic Tricks (Hey, THAT could be a title for a new show here in Vegas!) Lol - then simply DONT GO!
Low to NO ticket sales is what will close a show faster than anything!
Remeber gang - it IS called show BUSINESS for a reason!
If the patrons DONT want to see it - they WONT buy tickets and the show WONT last..
:o(

Thats my two cents on Scarletts Show...
:o)
(And I do think she is a wonderful woman and a bright, up & coming magician!)

[angelx03]

Did Scarlett do her Houdini's water torture cell escape by any chance?

[Sebastien L.]

Read the review in full and you'll see.

[angelx03]

Ahhhh, there it is! I curious on what that person means there's wasn't much "punch" on the trick. Was it not thrilling or intense enough for the audience to feel scared or shocked?

[Richard Kaufman]

The Water Torture Cell is not an illusion that is easy to present. Houdini was upside down with his ankles in stocks. He had a curtain drawn around the tank and he would appear sometime later.

Most magicians who do the trick are simply chained. They are not upside down with their ankles locked. This makes it much more impossible.

The fact that it's difficult to present is also why magician's frequently turn it into a trick, where one of the "helpers" who rushes up with an ax turns out to be the magician.

The original Water Torture Cell, which I saw both before and after its restoration before it was burned was an extremely claustrophic looking torture device. The idea of being stuck in there upside down was frightening. It did not look anything like the big fishtanks people are using today.

There is a good opportunity here for someone with the right mixture of charisma and mystery to do it as originally presented and make a great illusion out of it.

[Dick Christian]

Back to the original topic, the topless showgirls -- I used to get excited about that sort of thing, but since I turned 70 big bothers don't censored me a bit.

[Tiny]

Ah, what a difference 2 weeks can make (and the producer taking the show back into his own hands, instead of the "hired help" he had placed it into...)

The topless dancers are still in the show.
They truly are not needed to make this show a good show. The show has tightened up, tech problems are smoothing out wonderfully, and Scarlett is becoming more relaxed with her speech & is starting to emerge as a true magician.

I went back and watched the show last night - many of the suggestions I had made were used and the show seemed to be "gelling" much better. There is still work to be done - but all in all - it is coming together nicely.... Visions of Melinda pop up here and there (And say what you want about Melinda - she WAS an exceptional magician. Sadly, the "male-ego" minded-idiots who put her & her show down could not hold a candle to what this woman could do...)
I would HIGHLY recommend seeing Scarlett's Show in Vegas at the Riviera. It is magic performed the way magic should be performed... if you want to see "art"..

..buy a ticket to "BeLIEve"....

If you want to see a magician who has been doing magic for well over 30 years...

...See Lance...

Cats?..

...See Dirk or Rick....

Classic struggling talent?...


..see Dixie Dooley...

Best comedy magician?

...Mac King....

Ego filled Magicians?


...........(come on, do you REALLY think I would list ALL of their names here?)
Lol

No, Scarlett is NOT "Lance", or "S&R" or "Johnny Thompson" ~ but then again, neither were they when they were 22...
:o)

[Pepka]

I thought I'd chime in here as I've seen the Showgirls of Magic show Steve was in. It was my very first time in Vegas and thought "Hey, I love magic, I love boobs, it's perfect!" I went by myself and originally, I thought I would be the only one paying attention the magic. Not true. The audience loved the show, and responded very enthusiastically. There were one or two girls that really stood out. You could tell they were ENTERTAINERS, not just strippers who had been taught a few tricks. One girl who served as the "leader" was spot on. I think she's just a born entertainer and could really be comfortable doing just about anything. She just happens to be almost naked. Just like there are magicians who are entertainers who use magic to entertain, and there are guys who just do tricks.

To me, the best parts of the show were Steve with Antonio and Russ Merlin doing his balloon and mask bit. That's what I really remember enjoying the most. The whole cast came out to talk mingle and take photos after the show, which was a nice touch.

I totally see where Richard is coming from though. But, would I go see another topless show? Well, I've seen DC, Lance, Dirk, P&T, Rick, Ka, and Mystere. I'm running out of options, so yep!

[Bizzaro]

I think she has potential, but she needs a strong director and a good scriptwriter. And the willingness to be directed and speak lines.

Took the words out of my mouth completely. (Holy hell, do me and Kaufman agree one something? Weird) So many tine things that would be easy to fix, however I think someone has placed blinders on the poor girl. I think not only a good director is needed but a good creative director as well. There is so much room to make her AND the show stand out.

[Tiny]

Bizzaro;
They HIRED a creative director - (Bobby) and he screwed them over royally.
That's why the show looked so poorly those first few weeks...
They have a month under their belts (and G-strings) now (*That's 24 shows, boys and girls)and the show IS getting much better...
Unless you have TRULY experienced putting a Vegas show production (and I mean a LARGE STAGE PRODUCTION such as the old SPLASH SHOWROOM at the Riv) into working order - it is a beast that takes weeks to tame.
I see GREAT improvements in the show already!

Thank you Pepka for such kind words. I enjoyed working in Showgirls of Magic all those years a lot. We went through a LOT of girls - I am willing to bet I know which "lead girl" you were thinking of - and I am sad to say, she is living a rough life now - thanks to a drug addiction.
I would also like to (kindly) correct you on your term for those girls - they were not (nor were they ever) "strippers" - they were DANCERS.

If you had a little sister who took dance lessons as a child - you were looking t little girls who grew up after taking those same dance lessons...

They were all trained, skilled Ballet, Jazz, Tap, etc dancers who were taught the magic. To combine your dance training (something MOST if not ALL male magicians lack - the basic gracefulness of moving on stage properly), WITH the skill of PRESENTING magic on stage, is not an easy task.
Las Vegas has built their fame on "topless" showgirls - thus, the girls were required to "loose their tops" while performing... This act is somehow equated with a sense of "sleeze" here in America. They all become "Strippers" or "Hookers" or "Prostitutes"... They are never recognized as "dancers"...
:o(

Wonder how the male magic community would react if the tables were turned?

What if Vegas was known as the "male bottomless" capitol of the world? Wonder what folks would say about male magicians doing their illusions with no pants on?
Wonder if such terms as "Gigelo" or "Gay" would be associated with these guys?
Imagine if this were the case - I bet people like Lance, Criss, or David would not exsist - they would be to ashamed to have to put up with the looks and snears given to them after their shows... Even though they are TRAINED MAGICIANS, they too, would probably move on with their lives and quit the show....

These ladies were just that - Ladies. And sadly, all anyone could see of them were the size of their boobs...
(Except Pepka who noticed a couple of the girls personalities...)

[Tim Ellis]

Doesn't Criss do most of his show topless anyway? ;)

Oh well, good luck Scarlett. Sounds like the breast is yet to come.

[Pepka]

Thanks for your insights Steve. Are you still in Vegas?

[Tiny]

Tim:
You are SO PUNNY!
Lol
Pepka:
Thank YOU for your kind words! After that much time and effort into a show (Even though it was NOT MY SHOW - It (at times) sure felt like it!)
Lol
I loved the show and the cast I had the pleasure of working with. The funny thing was - the HARDEST WORKING MEMBER OF THAT CAST was NEVER SEEN on stage! I eventually got him to walk on stage with a note for me - (My sneaky way of getting him some "stage time") - and that was our AMAZING stage manager - Vinnie. That little guy could move like nobodies business and was as stealth as a ninja warrior... He was assisted my the equally adept "Steve" and the two of them TRULY MADE THE MAGIC HAPPEN... I would often laugh to myself - thinking how the REAL magic was watching these two professionals work BACKSTAGE during a show!
Amazing...
THOSE TWO GENTLEMEN are the true "stars" of Showgirls of magic...

Am I still in Vegas? YEs. I still LIVE here - I rarely work here nowadays...
Two years ago, I took a magic student of mine (I had worked with him since he was 14 - he is now 23) and the two of us did a 2-man show - touring the USA in a suburban FILLED with props, an 18 foot backdrop, animals, and costumes. We did 186 cities in 7 months tie (all one-nighters) - Last summer we add a former Ringling Bros clown friend and the three of us did a 5 month-110 city national tour of the USA.
In one week I open my shortest national tour ever - 48 cities in 52 days (Yep, we get 4 days off over 7 and a half weeks!)
All one nighters - it is a Comedy Hypnosis Show - (I am Americas First and only Female Impersonator HYPNOTIST!)

Big whoop...
Lol
Hey, its a gimmick and it SELLS!
:o)
I am laughing all the way tot he bank...
As I have lectured for the last 2 years across the country - In my "Welcome to Las Vegas, NOW GO HOME!" Lecture - I explain that a performer does NOT make any REAL $$$$ working in Vegas....
True to form, I am making 5 times my paycheck here in Vegas working on the road!
After this tour - I will clear as much as I had made working the showrooms here in Vegas after 10 months!
SO!
I can work 2 months and "rest" 8 more here in Vegas - not a bad life...
:o)

Always happy to see friends come to Vegas - if you are coming out - look me up! We'll go see a show...
:o)

[Mike Carr]

Tim, do you know what a "merkin" is? That's how bizarre it gets in the US

NYSE - Amalgamated Merkin (MUF) Thursday close 6 1/2 Up 1 3/8 on the day.
Analysts believe the sudden spike to be the result of their company's premier line being mentioned on a international discussion forum.

Recommendation on (MUF) - Hold