Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Copperfield projects magic with Project Magic

Abracadabra?

Hardly. Being a patient and going through a rigorous physical therapy program is often far from magical.

But David Copperfield is offering his magic touch to a new and innovative program -- Project Magic -- which integrates magic into physical therapy.

Copperfield is hosting an event Aug. 27 at HealthSouth at 2650 N. Tenaya Way to personally kick off the program in Southern Nevada.

Project Magic was designed to help people with various physical, psycho-social and developmental disabilities. It uses sleight-of-hand tricks to help patients achieve new skill levels and boost self-esteem. Copperfield told VegasBeat he started the project 20 years ago when he received some letters from a fan who he assumed, based on the handwriting, was an elementary school student. It turned out to be a man in his 20s confined to a wheelchair.

"It was so great that his self-image was as a magician, not as a person in a wheelchair," Copperfield said. "It got me thinking, and Project Magic was what I came up with."

When he is touring, Copperfield regularly makes appearances at facilities that use Project Magic. The program is administered out of a Kansas hospital.

"Magic is such a huge part of the Las Vegas community, so it's nice to see a local hospital embracing it," Copperfield said. He returns to MGM's Hollywood Theatre Aug. 20 through Sept. 3.

Local loss

Gregory Hines, who died this week of cancer at age 57, was for many years a Las Vegas resident.

He and his family -- father Maurice Hines Sr., brother Maurice and mother Alma -- moved from New York City in 1964, when Gregory was 18.

For many years, father and sons performed as a trio called Hines, Hines and Dad in Vegas lounges. The brothers also took dance lessons from Tony Award-winning choreographer and tap teacher -- and Las Vegas resident -- Henry LeTang.

Strangers

Roseanne Barr is going to have two-faced "An Evening at La Cage" star Frank Marino on her new reality show.

Yes, two-faced -- there's now a Marino bobblehead doll with two faces. He is himself on one side and Joan Rivers on the other.

"But the doll is not anatomically correct," Marino adds.

And yes, Marino will appear on "The Real Roseanne Show" this fall. She and Marino hooked up when they were both on a recent cruise in the Bahamas; she was the official entertainment on the Holland America cruise, and he provided unofficial shenanigans.

Crews were following Barr around and filmed much interaction between the Domestic Goddess and Marino, a self-described "true Long Island Jewish American Princess -- of Italian descent."

The $10 doll -- which Marino says is the first of a Strip personality -- is on sale at the Riviera, where he performs in "La Cage."

Sweet gift

The financial statements Arnold Schwarzenegger filed when he entered the California gubernatorial recall election had a distinctive Las Vegas connection.

Among the papers Schwarzenegger filed were disclosure statements dating to 2001 of gifts he received and their value. One of the names in the five-page document was Bernie Yuman, Siegfried & Roy's manager.

His offering to Schwarzenegger was a box of chocolates valued at $150. Yuman said the gesture is nothing out of the ordinary -- he regularly gives such gifts to high-profile visitors to Siegfried & Roy's show at The Mirage.

Palm Saturday

Another weekend, another celebrity-filled event at Palms.

This time it is Stuff magazine, one of the so-called "lad books," which is having young actress Jaime Pressly unveil her new lingerie collection at the Skin Pool Lounge on Saturday night.

Also on the schedule: a model search at ghostbar, a Phat Farm fashion show at rain, and a "Sinfully Sexy After-Party" with red-carpet arrivals.

Organizers expect party regulars Paris and Nicky Hilton to attend. Also expected to take part are, from "That '70s Show," Wilmer Valderamma, Danny Masterson and Laura Prepon and, from "CSI," Gary Dourdan and Aisha Tyler.

VegasBits

Rock: One of the music world's most critically acclaimed bands, White Stripes, has been booked to play The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel. Tickets go on sale this weekend for the Sept. 20 show.

Rock on: A classic rock double bill, Aerosmith and Kiss, is scheduled for Vegas. They play the MGM Grand Garden Arena Oct. 24 and Oct. 25. Tickets, priced up to $200, go on sale Saturday ...

Share: A new male co-anchor has been hired to sit across from Cher Calvin on KVVU Channel 5's morning news show. But he asked us not to use his name in print until he tells his Florida station that he is coming to Las Vegas ...

Newsman: Fox News talk show host Bill O'Reilly might do some shows out of Vegas in the fall, we hear ...

Returning: A Caesars Palace spokesman called Tuesday to say that Celine Dion plans to put the segment of "A New Day ...," where she is suspended over the stage, back in the show. VegasBeat reported Tuesday -- accurately -- that the segment was dropped after "A New Day ..." resumed performances last week following a summer break. But the absence of the popular segment, where Dion sings "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," is only temporary as technical problems are ironed out, according to Caesars Palace.

From the wire

Actor Tom Sizemore's attorney denounced former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss as a liar, extortionist, convicted felon and pseudo-celebrity who wrongly brought domestic abuse allegations against the actor, her former fiance.

Sizemore, faces charges including vandalism, threatening to inflict injury to a person or property, corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition, and making harassing phone calls. Jurors are expected to begin deliberating his fate today.

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