Houdini Festival

07/10/2024

Former President Trump will soon announce his Vice-Presidential pick. Magician Wayne Alan who is a long shot third party candidate for president has also been deciding who his VP pick will be. The magician with a sense of humor has cut his list down. Those who were under consideration but were dropped include:

Al B. Tross was considered on the VP list but dropped because it was felt he would not help but hold back Wayne Alan.

Professor P. U. Mann was considered. Nothing negative showed up in the vetting process but something didn't smell right so he was dropped.

Izzy Goudinov was also dropped because it was discovered that he was an imposter and not really Goudinov.

Igor Beaver was dropped because he seemed too anxious to get the job.

The last candidate for VP dropped was Doug Graves, his nomination was buried. Stay tuned to see who he really picks.
www.MagicianForPresident.com

06/30/2022

FRIDAY’S FUN FASCINATING FACT-Inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's famous mystery movie, 39 Steps, each week we share the previous Friday’s Facebook post which reveals one of 39 fascinating reasons why the Historic North Theatre is known as ‘America’s Most Unique Theatre’.
FRIDAY'S FUN FASCINATING FACT number 16-The Virginia Celebrity Rooms are the two rooms on the mezzanine behind the balcony. They are described as Planet Hollywood meets Hardrock Café meets Cracker Barrel. With the feel of ‘Hollywood comes to Danville’, it features photographs and memorabilia of Virginia, Danville and area celebrities. It also includes celebrities who live/lived in Virginia and also those that visited the Danville area.

Elvis performed in Danville in September of 1956, just before his breakout year. Some of the others included are Wendell Scott (August 29, 1921 – December 23, 1990) who was an American stock car racing driver from Danville. He was the first African-American driver in NASCAR, and the first African-American to win a race in the Grand National Series (now the Sprint Cup Series), NASCAR's highest level. The hit Hollywood movie Grease Lightning starring Richard Pryor is based on Mr. Scott’s life. Also featured is Camilla Williams (October 18, 1919 – January 29, 2012) who was an American operatic soprano who performed nationally and internationally and was born in Danville. In 1946 she was the first African American to receive a regular contract with a major American opera company, making her debut with the New York City Opera in the title role in Puccini's Madame Butterfly. In 1963, as part of the civil rights March on Washington, she sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the White House and before 250,000 people at the Lincoln Memorial, preceding Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.

04/01/2022

1. Michael Jackson Tribute Show on May 1 & more shows at Historic North Theatre www.HistoricNorthTheatre.com
2. Ask to be added to our theatre email list-Put 'newsletter' in subject line. Email: [email protected]

FRIDAY’S FUN FASCINATING FACT-Inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's famous mystery movie, 39 Steps, each Friday we reveal one of 39 fascinating secret reasons why the Historic North Theatre in Danville, VA is known as ‘America’s Most Unique Theatre’.

FUN FASCINATING FACT number 4. MIA/POW Seat-The Historic North Theatre in Danville, VA maybe the only theatre in the country that reserves a seat for soldiers missing in action and prisoners of war heroes. It remains perpetually empty to help people remember that even though our soldiers are not here, there is always space for them. It also honors all who have given their lives for our country and for all who are serving in the armed forces as well as our veterans. The seat is in the middle of the orchestra section with a commemoration plaque and a 24/7 mini spotlight shining on it from the balcony above.

03/24/2022

Tonight at midnight, as March 23rd changes to March 24th (the birthday of Harry Houdini), it marks exactly one year until the Houdini Festival of Magic on March 23-25, 2023 at the Historic North Theatre in Danville, Virginia. Over the next year each week we will be sharing one of 52 reasons why magicians, magic historians, collectors, escape artists, and even the general public should attend the first annual Houdini Festival of Magic.
www.TheHoudiniFestival.com

02/14/2022

NEW DATES for 2023
Houdini Festival of Magic
"A New Kind of Magician’s Convention"
March 23-25, 2023
Historic North Theatre-Danville, VA
he new dates are March 23-25, 1923. March 24th is Houdini's birthday. The festival will be held at The Historic North Theatre in Danville, VA.
We invite you to join us for 3 days of fun, friendship, southern hospitality and amazing magic. We will bring together stand-up and stage magicians, sleight of hand artists, escape artists and magic collectors and historians to enjoy a new convention as a tribute to the most famous magician of all time, Harry Houdini. It will feature FISM and Magic Castle award winners on the big stage and on the close-up magic show stage in the wonderfully raked and intimate seating of the balcony mini-theatre, dealers's room, auction, lectures, films and lots of surprises.

The Historic North Theatre is a charming 1947 vaudeville house with 500 seats and a full balcony that was beautifully restored with 3.5 million dollars. The theatre is owned and operated by illusionist Wayne Alan. Reasonable lodging and restaurants (one is in the theatre complex) are very near. Registration only $213.00. For more information respond to this email with subject line:Houdini Festival. www.TheHoudiniFestival.com

Call 434-793-SHOW (7469).

11/24/2021

NEW DATES
Houdini Festival of Magic
"A New Kind of Magician’s Convention"
March 24-26, 2022
Historic North Theatre-Danville, VA
With all of the uncertainty regarding the recent upsurge in covid cases and out of a concern for the wellbeing of our attendees and talent, my co-producer Robert Dadras and I have decided to reschedule the Houdini Festival of Magic. The new dates are March 24-36, 1922. March 24th is Houdini's birthday. It will be held at The Historic North Theatre in Danville, VA.
We invite you to join us for 3 days of fun, friendship, southern hospitality and amazing magic. We will bring together stand-up and stage magicians, sleight of hand artists, escape artists and magic collectors and historians to enjoy a new convention as a tribute to the most famous magician of all time, Harry Houdini. It will feature FISM and Magic Castle award winners on the big stage and on the close-up magic show stage in the wonderfully raked and intimate seating of the balcony mini-theatre, dealers's room, auction, lectures, films and lots of surprises.

The Historic North Theatre is a charming 1947 vaudeville house with 500 seats and a full balcony that was beautifully restored with 3.5 million dollars. The theatre is owned and operated by illusionist Wayne Alan. Reasonable lodging and restaurants (one is in the theatre complex) are very near. Registration only $169.00. For more information respond to this email with subject line:Houdini Festival.
Call 434-793-SHOW (7469).

10/08/2020

Presidential Magic Wand at The White House
Last night during the debate, Vice-President Pence talked about jobs and quoted President Obama as having said, "You would need a magic wand to bring them back." Through the years numerous Presidents have complained that they could not "wave a magic wand" to fix our national problems. With a little sleight of hand and tongue in cheek, magician Wayne Alan, America's only World Champion Illusionist, solved that problem by sending a magic wand to the White House early in 2020. President Trump graciously acknowledged receiving the wand in a letter to Mr. Alan where he opens with, "Thank you for the humorous gift!".

The Presidential Magic Wand was sent following the State of the Union address. Everyone jokes about and wishes they had a magic wand to wave away their problems. As a magician Mr. Alan also uses humor in his shows and he feels it is his civic duty to provide the President with such a wand.

Providing a magic wand to the President will be a non-partisan annual event. Every year the President, despite party affiliation, will receive a wand with one year of powers. Since 1976, beginning with President Ford, Wayne Alan has performed his comedy magic shows 13 times at the White House, for both Democrat and Republican Presidents.

Mr. Alan said, "Any President of the United States has the toughest, most important and most serious job in the world. If the wand can help make our President's job any easier, even if it is just to give him a moment of levity, or provide a prop for comic relief, then the wand has happily done its job." Wayne Alan has not met President Trump yet, but felt the President has a good sense of humor and would, as he did, accept the wand with a smile. Because the wand will "lose its power" after 12 months, a new one will be provided next year.

Wayne Alan has performed throughout the U.S., Europe and Australia. He has appeared numerous times on national TV and is the owner of the Historic North Theatre in Danville, VA. (www.WayneAlanMagic.com) Phone 434-793-SHOW (7469).

10/07/2020

Because of the continuing health risks my theatre remains closed and I am traveling only rarely to perform my magic shows. Humor can help us all relieve some of the fear, anxiety and worry surrounding us all during these troubling times. Please stay safe and try to have some fun.
Wayne Alan
TICKLE ME TUESDAY FUNNIES
This being the first Tuesday in October, Halloween Month, here are some ghost puns that I hope will raise your spirits.

What do you call a ghost who can't find his way back to his haunted house? A lost soul!

Why was the ghost refused service at a bar? They didn't serve spirits there!

Why are haunted houses so hard to find? They're all located on dead ends!

Why should you think long and hard about becoming a ghost hunter? The decision might come back to haunt you!

Why should you never enter a haunting contest with ghosts? You wouldn't stand a ghost of a chance!

What do you call it when people get together at a haunted house? An "I scream" social!

Why do ghosts have a hard time impersonating the living? The sheet is a dead giveaway!

These difficult times will pass. God bless us all.

05/12/2020

TICKLE ME TUESDAY FUNNIES-This terrible virus itself is no joke. It's a serious and deadly business, but humor can help relieve some of the fear, anxiety and worry surrounding us all.

With all of the self-isolation people are overeating. I'm on a whiskey diet...I've lost three days.

Some people are depressed by these challenging times. I'm going to the Hokey Pokey Clinic...I hope to turn myself around.

Putin's plan for the new economy after the pandemic. The goal? Make people rich and happy. List of people attached.

There is a national lettuce shortage...everyone please romaine calm.

There is also a shortage of spices all around the world. One entrepreneur saw the shortage coming and stocked up. His advisor was pushing to sell it soon so that people could have all of their favorite dishes. The entrepreneur looked at his advisor and said "What's the rush? We've got all the thyme in the world."

A Texan, a Russian and a New Yorker go to a grochery store.
The butcher tells them, "Excuse me -- if you want steak, due to shortage, we are out."
The Texan says, "What's a shortage?"
The Russian says, "What's a steak?"
The New Yorker says, "What's 'excuse me'?"

And remember, we will get through this together. Go bless us all.

05/05/2020

MARQUEE MONDAY at the Historic North Theatre in Danville, VA. Hoping to bring a smile to your face.

04/27/2020